Additional Marine Corps Sites, Images, Backgrounds,

and Stories
 


Great Marine Corps Sites (official and otherwise):

 

Marines.com
USMC.mil
USMC Poems.com 
Marine Corps Pride
Marine Corps Stuff

U.S. MARINES:
Capt. Jason D Grose, USMC

BobRohrer.com

Gene's Marine Corps Pages 

Al Varelas' Marine Corps Pages
 

Marine Corps Legacy Museum
"The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band

nps.gov/gwmp/usmc.htm
mclm.com/

pos.net/Marine/quotes.html
temple.edu/temple_times/5-23-02/iglesias.html

Newly Added Upon and Arranged - 07/07/04

A great Naval Aviation website:

mofak.com 

Courtesy of CWO Frank J. Kovacs, USMC (Ret.) via Maj. Joseph A. Madagan, USAR (Ret.) ('57) of FL - 07/12/04
Thanks, Frank - and Joe!


More great sites from Major Madagan - 07/15/04 and 05/18/06:

National Museum of the Marine Corps
Marine Corps Association

USMC History and Museums Division

http://www.seagoingmarines.com

Thanks, Joe!


For you actual Marines out there (as opposed to mere Marine "Groupies" such as I am),
as of 07/16/04, Joe Madagan ('57) of FL would like to introduce you to a wonderful growing site:

Click HERE for a sample of their Newsletter from July 2004.

Thanks again, Joe!


http://www.krystalvision.com/marines/marines.html

Courtesy of Herb Hice of MI - 12/27/04
Thanks, Herb!

 


May I please nominate Lt. Colonel Clovis C. "Buck" Coffman, Jr. USMC (Retired) [Deceased] for the Famous Marine page, please.
1949 Graduate of Craddock High School, Portsmouth, VA.
Entered USMCR 1949, and served in the USMC during the Korean War, including the battles at Chosin Reservoir.
Graduate of the University of Richmond.
Gunnery Sergeant, 97th Rifle Company, Fleet Marine Force, Newport News, VA - 1963 to 1965.
Volunteered for Active Duty in USMC 1965, sent to Vietnam with Force Recon Unit,
awarded the Navy Cross for valor in action.
Resided in Virginia Beach until his recent death.

- Maj. Joseph A. Madagan, USAR Ret. ('57) of FL - 07/07/04
Certainly!  Thanks, Joe!


Coffman, Clovis C., Jr.
Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)
Co. C, 1st Force Recon Bn., 1st Marine Division
Date of Action:  October 10, 1966

Citation:
The Navy Cross is awarded to Gunnery Sergeant Clovis C. Coffman, Jr., United States Marine Corps (Reserve),
for extraordinary heroism in action against Communist Forces while serving as a Platoon Leader with Company C,
First Reconnaissance Battalion, First Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam on 10 October 1966.
Sergeant Coffman was leading a thirteen man patrol assigned the mission of observing
a valley near Long Bihn, Quang Ngai Province for enemy activity.
Early in the afternoon, while leading his unit from their observation post to a helicopter landing zone,
the patrol came under a heavy small arms and grenade attack from an estimated thirty-five to fifty man enemy force.
Reacting immediately, Sergeant Coffman skillfully organized and directed the return fire of his out-numbered unit.
Fearlessly disregarding his own safety, he repeatedly exposed himself
in order to deploy his force and deliver maximum fire power against the attackers.
On one occasion during the ensuing fierce action, he observed a wounded Marine lying helpless forward of his position. Courageously he went to his stricken comrade's aid. Although wounded himself,
he killed three of the enemy at point blank range in order to reach the stricken Marine.
Sergeant Coffman was successful in his effort to return his stricken comrade to friendly lines.
When the patrol's medical corpsman was disabled by wounds,
he skillfully administered first aid to four seriously wounded Marines.
Sergeant Coffman directed fixed wing and armed helicopter attacks against the enemy with devastating accuracy,
with the result that helicopters were able to land and extract the force.
Although wounded, he remained until all of his men were safely embarked, resolutely defending the landing zone.
As the last rescue helicopter was loading, he and another Marine held the landing zone alone,
killing four of the enemy in close combat.
Only after all of his patrol were embarked, did he board the aircraft and depart the embattled area.
By his courageous devotion to duty, and extraordinary leadership, Sergeant Coffman reflected great credit
upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

- Courtesy of  Maj. Joseph A. Madagan, USAR Ret. ('57) of FL - 07/08/04
Thanks again, Joe!


This image from television shows part
of the Marines advertising campaign.
The Marines have launched a new,
more patriotic ad campaign since the war
with Iraq (
news - web sites) began.
The new ads incorporate the credos ''
For Honor,''
''For Courage,'' ''For Country'', with the longtime slogan
''The Few. The Proud. The Marines.''

(AP Photo/US Marines, HO)

- Courtesy of http://www.marines.usna.edu/yard-events/photos/2001/JUL/12-JULY-2001-Eigth-I/ -
05/29/04
 

   
1917 - THE LIVING EMBLEM of the UNITED STATES MARINES

100 Officers and 9000 Enlisted Men
at the Marine Barracks, Parris Island, S.C.


Courtesy of  Frank J. Kovacs of FL via Maj. Joseph A. Madagan, USAR Ret. ('57) of FL - 07/08/04
WOWZERS!!!  How incredible!  Thanks, Guys!

 

Interesting People

Actor Lee Marvin Giving Tribute to the Heroism of Fellow Marine Bob Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo)-Fiction!

The other side we seldom hear about. Captain Kangaroo turned 75 recently, which is odd, because he's never looked a day under 75 (Birthday 6/27/27). It reminded me of the following story. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Some people have been a bit offended that Lee Marvin is buried in a grave alongside 3- and 4-star generals at Arlington National Cemetery.
His marker gives his name, rank (PVT) and service (USMC). Nothing else. Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time; why the heck does he rate burial with these guys?

Well, following is the amazing answer:

I always liked Lee Marvin, but did not know the extent of his Corps
experiences. In a time when many Hollywood stars served their country in the armed forces, often in rear-echelon posts where they were carefully
protected, only to be trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond
promotions, Lee Marvin was a genuine Hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima. There is only one higher Naval award...the Medal Of Honor.
If that is a surprising comment on the true character of the man, he
credits his sergeant with an even greater show of bravery.

Dialog from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson: His guest was Lee Marvin. Johnny said, "Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima... and that during the course of that action you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded."

"Yeah, yeah... I got shot square in the ass and they gave me the Cross for
securing a hot spot about halfway up Suribachi...bad thing about getting
shot up on a mountain is guys gettin' shot hauling you down.

But Johnny, at Iwo I served under the bravest man I ever knew... We both got the Cross the same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison. The dumb bastard actually stood up on Red beach and directed his troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach. That Sergeant and I have been lifelong friends. When they brought me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant, and he lit a smoke and passed it to me lying on my belly on the litter and said, 'Where'd they get you, Lee?'

Well, Bob... if you make it home before me, tell Mom to sell the outhouse!

Johnny, I'm not lying...Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever
knew..... Bob Keeshan... You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo."

Summary of the eRumor:
The message says that Lee Marvin appeared on the Tonight Show in the 70's when host Johnny Carson brought up Marvin's record in the Marines.  Carson said people may not have known that Marvin fought in Iwo Jima, one of the best known battles of World War II, and was awarded the Navy Cross.  Marvin then tells a story of heroism in battle about the bravest man he ever knew who was also awarded the Navy Cross...Bob Keeshan who later became best known as Captain Kangaroo. 

The Truth: 
This story almost complete fabrication.

Lee Marvin and Bob Keeshan did both serve in the Marines.

We checked with Bob Keeshan, who is now living in Vermont, and he said he never served at Iwo Jima, was not presented with the Navy Cross and, in fact, never saw combat.

There is no record of Lee Marvin at Iwo Jima or winning the Navy Cross.  According to a biography that we have on file at
http://www.TruthOrFiction.com , Marvin did see a lot of action in the Pacific participating in the invasions at Kwajalein and Eniwetok and was wounded in Saipan, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart.  Marvin is buried in Arlington Cemetery.


(Last updated 3-20-02)

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Washington Post
November 26, 2002
Pg. 29
My Heart On The Line
By Frank Schaeffer

Before my son became a Marine, I never thought much about who was defending me. Now when I read of the war on terrorism or the coming conflict in Iraq, it cuts to my heart. When I see a picture of a member of our military who has been killed, I read his or her name very carefully. Sometimes I cry.

 In 1999, when the barrel-chested Marine recruiter showed up in dress blues and bedazzled my son John, I did not stand in the way. John was headstrong, and he seemed to understand these stern, clean men with straight backs and flawless uniforms. I did not. I live on the Volvo-driving, higher education-worshiping
North Shore of Boston. I write novels for a living. I have never served in the military. It had been hard enough sending my two older children off to Georgetown and New York University.

John's enlisting was unexpected, so deeply unsettling. I did not relish the prospect of answering the question "So where is John going to college?" from the parentswho were itching to tell me all about how their son or daughter was going to Harvard. At the private high school John attended, no other students were going into the military.

"But aren't the Marines terribly Southern?" asked one perplexed mother while standing next to me at the brunch following graduation. "What a waste, he was such a good student," said another parent. One parent (a professor at a nearby and rather famous university) spoke up at a school meeting and suggested thatthe school should "carefully evaluate what went wrong."

When John graduated from three months of boot camp on Parris Island, 3,000 parents and friends were on the parade deck stands. We parents and our Marines not only were of many races but also were representative of many economic classes. Many were poor. Some arrived crammed in the backs of pickups, others by bus. John told me that a lot of parents could not afford the trip.

We in the audience were white and Native American. We were Hispanic, Arab and African American and Asian. We were former Marines wearing the scars of battle, or at least baseball caps emblazoned with battles' names. We were Southern whites from Nashville and skinheads from New Jersey, black kids from Cleveland wearing ghetto rags and white ex-cons with ham-hock forearms defaced by jailhouse tattoos. We would not have been mistaken for the educated and well-heeled parents gathered on the lawns of John's private school a half-year before.

 

After graduation one new Marine told John, "Before I was a Marine, if I had ever seen you on my block I would've probably killed you just because you were standing there." This was a serious statement from one of John's good friends, an African American ex-gang member from Detroit who, as John said, "would die for me now, just like I'd die for him."

My son has connected me to my country in a way that I was too selfish and insular to experience before. I feel closer to the waitress at our local diner than to some of my oldest friends. She has two sons in the Corps. They are facing the same dangers as my boy. When the guy who fixes my car asks me how John is
doing, I know he means it. His younger brother is in the Navy.

Why were I and the other parents at my son's private school so surprised by his choice? During World War II, the sons and daughters of the most powerful and educated families did their bit. If the immorality of the Vietnam War was the only reason those lucky enough to go to college dodged the draft, why did we not encourage our children to volunteer for military service once that war was done?

Have we wealthy and educated Americans all become pacifists? Is the world a safe place? Or have we just gotten used to having somebody else defend us? What is the future of our democracy when the sons and daughters of the janitors at our elite universities are far more likely to be put in harm's way than are any of the students whose dorms their parents clean?

I feel shame because it took my son's joining the Marine Corps to make me take notice of who is defending me. I feel hope because perhaps my son is part of a future "greatest generation." As the storm clouds of war gather, at least I know
that I can look the men and women in uniform in the eye. My son is one of them. He is the best I have to offer. He is my heart.

 

Frank Schaeffer is a writer. His latest book, co-written with his son,
Marine Cpl. John Schaeffer, is "Keeping Faith: A Father-Son Story
About Love and the United States Marine Corps."

The following (courtesy of my nephew's wife, Leslie - Thanks, Leslie!)
is provided by Joe Galloway, author of "We Were Soldiers Once, and Young."
FYI.  The author of the letter was a teen-aged Marine who marched and
fought as a rifleman to and from the Chosin reservoir in Korea in 1950.
 He cross-decked to the Army, and served as a Special Forces officer in Vietnam.
After Vietnam he joined the CIA, and went back to Korea.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 If you aren't interested in the ramblings of an old man, please delete now.
If you're still there, pull up a chair and listen.

    Is there anyone else out there who's sick and tired of all the polls
being  taken in foreign countries as to whether or not they "like" us?
The last time I looked, the word "like" had nothing to do with foreign policy.
I prefer 'respect' or 'fear'.  They worked for Rome, which civilized
and kept the peace in the known world a hell of a lot longer than our puny two centuries-plus.

     I see a left-wing German got elected to office recently by campaigning against the foreign policy of the United States.
Yeah, that's what I want, to be lectured about war and being a "good neighbor" by a German.
Their head honcho said they wouldn't take part in a war against Iraq.
Kind of nice, to see them taking a pass on a war once in while.
Perhaps we needed  to have the word "World" in front of War.
I think it's time to bring our boys home from Germany.
Outside of the money we'd save, we'd make the Germans "like" us a lot more,

after they started paying the bills for their own defense.

    Last time I checked, France isn't too fond of us either.
 They sort of liked us back on June 6th, 1944, though, didn't they?
If you don't think so, see how nicely they take care of the enormous American cemeteries up above the Normandy beaches.
For those of you who've studied history, we also have a few cemeteries in places like Belleau Woods and Chateau Thierry also.
For those of you who haven't studied it, that was from World War One, the firsttime Europe screwed up and we bailed out the French.

     That's where the US Marines got the title 'Devil Dogs' or, if you still care about what the Germans think, "Teufelhunde".
 I hope I spelled that right; sure wouldn't want to offend anyone, least of all a German.

    Come to think of it, when Europe couldn't take care of their Bosnian problem recently,
guess who had to help out there also.
Last time I checked, our kids are still there. 
I sort of remember they said they would be out in a year.
Gee, how time flies when you're having fun.

     Now we hear that the South Koreans aren't too happy with us either.
They "liked" us a lot better, of course, in June, 1950.
 It took more than 50,000 Americans killed in Korea to help give them the lifestyle they currently enjoy,
but then who's counting?
I think it's also time to bring the boys home from there.
There are about 37,000 young Americans on the DMZ separating the South Koreans from their "brothers" up North.
Maybe if we leave, they can begin to participate in the "good life" that North Korea currently enjoys.

   I also understand that a good portion of the Arab/Moslem world now doesn't "like" us either.
Did anyone ever sit down and determine what we would have to do to get them to like us?
Ask them what they would like us to do.
 Die?. Commit ritual suicide? Bend over?
Maybe we should follow the advice of our dimwitted, dullest knife in the drawer, Senator Patty Murray,
and build more roads, hospitals, day care centers, and orphanages like Osama bin Laden does.
What with all the orphans Osama has created, the least he can do is build some places to put them. 
Senator Stupid says if we would only "emulate" Osama, the Arab world would love us.

   Sorry Patty; in addition to the fact that we already do all of those
things around the world and have been doing them for over sixty years,
I don't take public transportation, and I certainly wouldn't take it with a bomb strapped to the guy next to me.

     Don't get me wrong: I'm not in favor of going to war.
 Been there, done that. Several times, in fact.
But I think we ought to have some polls in this country about other countries,
and see if we "like" THEM.
Problem is, if you listed the countries, not only wouldn't the average American know ifhe liked them or not,
he wouldn't be able to find them.
 If we're supposed to worry about them, how about them worrying about us?

     We were nice to the North Koreans in 1994, as we followed the policies of "Neville" Clinton.
And it seemed to work; they didn't re-start their nuclear weapons program for a whole year or so.
 In the meantime, we fed them when they were starving,
 and put oil in their stoves when they were freezing.

    In a recent visit to Norway, I engaged in a really fun debate with my cousin's son,
 a student at a Norwegian University.
I was lectured to by this thankless squirt about the American "Empire",
and scolded about dropping the atomic bomb on the Japanese.
 I reminded him that empires usually keep the stuff they take;
we don't, and back in 1945 most Norwegians thought dropping
ANY kind of bomb on Germany or Japan was a good idea.
 I also reminded him that my uncle, his grandfather, and others in our family spent a significant
time in Sachsenhausen concentration camp, courtesy of the Germans, and they didn't all survive.
 I further reminded him that if it wasn't for the "American Empire" he would probably be speaking German or Russian.

    Sorry about the rambling, but I just took an unofficial poll here at our house,
 and we don't seem to like anyone.

Happy New Year.
 


TOYS FOR TOTS

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity, independent of the U.S. Marine Corps,
is the fund raising, funding and support organization for the U.S. Marine Corp Reserve Toys for Tots Program.

The Foundation’s mission is to raise funds to provide toys to supplement the collection of local Toys for Tots coordinators.

From 1991 through Christmas 2000, the Foundation supplemented local toy collection campaigns with over 29,000,000 toys
valued at nearly $14,000,0000!


I finally found the name of the book written by Lt. Colonel Clovis Clyde Coffman, Jr. USMC (Ret).

In addition to being an Artist, he is an Author. Kindly add this to his profile at your convenience.

Here is the name:

Hoi An, Vietnam: 1st LT Clovis C. Coffman, USMC, is conducting training for Korean Marines, and at age 38,
the author of
"Reconnaissance Marine" joined the USMCR in 1949, and holds DSM.
He has also conducted training for Vietnamese and Malaysian soldiers.

This portion of an article written by a news correspondent working in Vietnam is helpful.
I do not recall the name of the reporter.
He had written an earlier article on Gunnery Sergeant Coffman during his first tour in Vietnam,
when he was awarded the Navy Cross.
He was surprised to find him still in Vietnam on the reporter's return trip, and reported he had been promoted.

According to one of the Platoon Leaders serving with "Buck" Coffman, he retired as a Major.
Upon his death, the Secretary of the Navy promoted him to Lt. Colonel, which is quite unusual.
A
building at Fort Story, Virginia bears a memorial and the building is named after Colonel Coffman.

Semper Fidelis, Joe

- Joe Madagan ('57) of FL - 07/21/04
Thanks, Joe!


The United States Marine Corps Hymn

Words: L.Z. Phillips (?) (1919)
Music: Jacques Offenbach from Genevieve de Brabant (1868)
 

From the Halls of Montezuma
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom 
And to keep our honor clean; 
We are proud to claim the title 
of United States Marine. 

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in ev'ry clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes; 
You will find us always on the job--
The United States Marines. 

Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve 
In many a strife we've fought for life 
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes; 
They will find the streets are guarded 
By United States Marines. 

"Marine Corps Hymn" lyrics courtesy of http://www.fiftiesweb.com/usa/marine.htm

"Marine Corps Hymn" midi courtesy of http://www.f11view.net/usaflag/midmusic/marine2.mid

"The Few.  The Proud" logo courtesy of Joe Madagan -f FL - 06/10/04
Thanks, Joe!

Marine Corps logo also courtesy of Joe Madagan of FL - 06/12/04
Thanks again, Joe!

Famous Airmen
Famous Coast Guardsmen and Famous Merchant Marines
Famous Marines
Al Simms' Visit to the National Museum of the Marine Corps 
and Heritage Center - 07/04/07
Famous Sailors
Famous Soldiers
Return to Newport News High School
 

 

Famous Marines

"Once a Marine, Always a Marine"

 

If you have images or stories pertaining to the United States Marine Corps
which you would like to be included on this page,
please submit it to the Web Mistress for consideration:

Carol Buckley Harty of NC: cluckmeat@nc.rr.com

Thank you.

07/22/01