I attended church on Sunday.

Sunday is a day for paying respects. Sunday is a day for prayer. Sunday is a day for thanks.

I did all three while on a small side trip to the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

I did not know what to expect when ConcreteBob reminded me that the museum was "right down the road" and suggested that I tag along on the side trip.



While this may be considered "sentimental", speaking as a former "gator" squid, and a brother and uncle to former Marines, I have to second this quote.



The USMC has created an incredible museum that absolutely tells the story of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children. A visitor first enters the museum to find oneself in a beautiful, glass enclosed room, a vast space filled with the weapons and dioramas of vitally important periods of the Corps. Around the perimeter, carved into the marble, are the opinions that others have had of the Marines.
Most sailors disparage Marines, as is our tradition and, well...., our right. The Marines, while THEY don't want to admit it, are OUR Marines. And it was good to have them around when stationed in a desert, far, far away.

But don't let it go to your head.....


I was lucky to catch a tour. We started in the main room. The diorama that dominates the room is one depicting the Tarawa landing. It was a horrible fight. Due to miscalculations, inappropriate gear and training, mechanical breakdowns, etc, the Marines were massacred on what they expected to be a cakewalk. Trapped on the beach, the first wave of Marines watched helplessly while the second wave was cut to pieces. The ensuing battle was the first time that US Forces faced resistance to a beach landing.

It was my great honor to meet a former Marine of the Tarawa campaign while there. He was looking at the diorama while the guide was telling us the story of the battle. His sister told me, "He was there." Later, upon talking with him, he opened up in a small way, about his later experiences in the Philippines and on Guam. He spoke of laughing with his buddies, sitting on a beach in the Philippines, watching General McArthur make a fool of himself with his repeated camera shots of his "return." Then he spoke of the horrible time that they had under constant fire, taking shelter in their fighting holes, while the Japanese infiltrated in the dark and the rain, and friends were killed by friends by mistake. No one ever slept.

Apparently, this is the most that he has told anyone in the decades since WWII. I am deeply, deeply honored that this man told me even this small amount. Thank you.

Our tour continued into the story of Uncle Sam's Children. Starting with their creation in Tun's Tavern, our guide spoke of the mission of the Marines in the United States Navy, killing enemy officers.

The adventure continued, though not in detail, with a quick rendition of the history of the Marines in WWI and the Latin American campaigns.

The story of the modern Marine Corps can be found in the history of WWII. With the attack on Pearl Harbor, patriotic Americans swelled the ranks of the USMC. Our guide told us the heartbreak of Wake Island.


The flag flying over Wake was cut down by a Japanese soldier upon the surrender of the US forces. The flag was mailed home, but that soldier did not survive the war. How do we know this?

A Marine, standing sentry at Yokosuska, Japan, was approached by an elderly Japanese woman. Upon seeing him, she approached, and bowed deeply. She then handed him a box. Getting an interpreter, the sentry was told that this lady had received this from her son, during the war. She felt that it was about time to make peace with the Marine Corps and the United States. Inside was the banner from Wake Island.

The Museum also contains the first flag raised over Mt. Suribachi, along with bronze plaques containing a Globe and Anchor or an Anchor for each of the 6000+ Marines and Sailors killed at Iwo Jima.

Mt. Suribachi can be seen in the reflection in the plaques when photographed from a certain angle.


There is a reason that the only candy bars sold in the gift shop are Tootsie Rolls. That reason is the Retreat from the Chosin Reservoir. Starved, freezing Marines would suck on the frozen candy, which, though slight, enabled them to keep marching. Thousands of the wrappers lined the route of march.

Pictures cannot do justice to the other dioramas concerning that forgotten war: Korea.


Moving onto more recent history, our guide directed us into the steaming jungles of South Vietnam. Dominating the entrance to that area, the icon of that war, was a helicopter, much like the one flown by my brother.

Further stories of heroism, of course with an element of "the proper way to disobey orders," brought home much of the nature of that theater. The complexities in war fighting were illustrated by dioramas showing Hue City and Khe Sanh.

While not found at this museum, this sticker is appropriate at this time. I'm sure that Marines of a certain age will appreciate the sentiment.

I urge everyone to visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Go give thanks for the Jarheads. I'm sure that they'll appreciate it. And your soul will be better for attending church.

Semper Fi!