Some of you may recall my posting on this forum that my nephew/Godson would be going to Namibia with me next month for his first hunting trip anywhere. Well, as much as he wanted to go, he felt a stronger calling - a love of his country. He joined the Marine Corps and started his basic training 2 weeks ago. His first letter was filled with please "write, just write anything". So what I'm asking you for is a couple minutes of your time to just drop him a line and let him know he's remembered and thought of. His address is:

Rct. Green, Andrew S.
Plt. 3052 3rd Bn. M Company
Box 13052
Paris Island, S.C. 29905-3052

Just mention you heard about him from his Uncle Mike. Thanks

Post edited here: please do not send any gifts, gum, candy, etc.,only letters. New recruits are strictly regimented, and during their basic training are only allowed letters-nothing else. Thanks.

This old fart Marine will certainly write your nephew tomorrow.

I went to a graduation last year and was honored to be the CG's guest. I hated to admit it, but the young men were every bit as "squared away" as I thought I was in 1966. The Marines still do it right!

I can not imagine a choice about which you can be more proud than that made by the young man. Duty, according to R.E. Lee, is the most sublime word in the English language. Someone at home must have done some good mentoring.

Semper Fi

Mike ,

I will for sure write your nephew! I was never in the armed forces but I reall have to thank every man and women that has served and is serving.

I'm sure you and your family is very proud of him, I know I am!!

Mike,

Letter written and in the mail. I am a 24 year old man, and I have to say your nephew's courage and sacrifice are awe-inspiring. Many of my close friends are in the services and many are overseas fighting right now. I thank God that I live in a country with men like your nephew. Thank you for posting what you did. It's an honor to be able to bring even a little comfort to a man in uniform.

Blake

Done! I know how much letters mean.

I just want to say thank you for sending Andrew a letter. As a veteran, I can tell you that letters mean so much to our men and women in uniform. For many of them it's their first time away from home, friends and family. I have a box in my closet that contains every single letter I received while I was serving back in the '60s. Thanks again.

Mike, you have every reason in the world to be proud of your nephew. It's sacrifices like this that allow us to do what we do. As Judge G said: Ëthe Marines still do it rightË, and he couldn't be more correct. You can count on this former Marine to write to him as well.

Mike,

Consider it done. My son returned in November,
'03 from Iraq. He was a NBC specialist in the Army. He's been out of the Army since then, and has just re-enlisted. He knows that he'll be going somewhere dangerous, but he does it out of committment to his country. I am unbelievably proud of him and ALL that serve in the U.S. and allied forces . Thanks for telling us about your nephew.
Very best regards, Brad Starcevich

Done, my first Christmas away from home was spent on the East/West German border on an OP...........................JJ

I'll write to him. I know what it's like to be present for mail call and not hear your name.

Russ

This old Recon Marine will get a letter off ASAP.He must be one fine young man. I will consider it an honor to welcome him to the brotherhood. May God bless him,our country,and our Corps.
Gene

PS
unless it has changed, DO NOT send gum,pogie bait, cake or other slimey civilian items. if you do,that young Marine will hunt you down

Even though no one has posted, I have recieved phone calls asking why. In 66 in MCRD SD a brother rct. recieved 2 packs of gum that he chewed all at once and stuck to the end of his rack.(bed) This became the duty gum.My girl friend sent me 2 packs of gum that i had to chew
all at once then add the Duty Gum to it and chew it all and stick on the end of my rack. There were 75 letters going home the next day saying DO NOT SEND ANYTHING. One letter went out to late and that kid looked like he had a softball in his mouth. He graduated with the Duty Gum. I hear he still has it . I would.

quote:

Originally posted by invader66:
Even though no one has posted, I have recieved phone calls asking why. In 66 in MCRD SD a brother rct. recieved 2 packs of gum that he chewed all at once and stuck to the end of his rack.(bed) This became the duty gum.My girl friend sent me 2 packs of gum that i had to chew
all at once then add the Duty Gum to it and chew it all and stick on the end of my rack. There were 75 letters going home the next day saying DO NOT SEND ANYTHING. One letter went out to late and that kid looked like he had a softball in his mouth. He graduated with the Duty Gum. I hear he still has it . I would.

Thanks for the heads up! You're right. Please don't send anything but a letter. I had planned on having his hometown newspaper sent to him daily, but his mother said that new recruits are allowed nothing but letters. Thanks for the reminder.

I wanted to let you know that my sister called me 5 minutes ago to let me know that Recruit Andrew Green has started receiving a few of your letters already. He was so excited and grateful. He's enjoying his training, with two exceptions: he's developed "walking pneumonia", and had to be put on light duty, and last week while training out on the sand he got caught swatting a sand flea that was biting his ankle, so his drill instructor made him dig a 3' X 3' X 3' "grave" and bury the sand flea and hold a funeral service for it To his credit, he said it drove home the lesson that you are told to do, and not do things for a reason. In this case, if he were in an ambush situation and he or someone else in his platoon started swatting at insects and was seen by the enemy, that could get them all killed.

At any rate, thanks for your letters. It has really given him a boost. Thank you.

Will do. Without goodies. When my little brother was headed off to basic training, I joked that I was going to send him an economy size bag of Oreos (he's allergic to chocolate) and an inflatable doll. He was very clear and very serious about that being a bad idea.

H. C.

Mike will do!! I will let my Boyfriend know also he is a Former Marine as well he still talks about funny stuff that happened in boot camp like the "Grave" that your Nephew dug. He went to MCRD San Diego then Camp Lejuene NC then ended up with the 4th Force Recon here in K-Bay,HI.

Very Proud of that young man,Very Proud Indeed!

Thank you. After his leave following boot camp, he will be going to Camp Lejuene as well.

Just as an aside, for you WW II Marines, my Dad was in the Corps. Saw some heavy action in Okinawa and Saipan. Perhaps some of you were with him. His name is John Homcha, from Nesquehoning, Pa. at the time.

quote:

Originally posted by HenryC470:
Will do. Without goodies. When my little brother was headed off to basic training, I joked that I was going to send him an economy size bag of Oreos (he's allergic to chocolate) and an inflatable doll. He was very clear and very serious about that being a bad idea.

H. C.

H.C. that was pretty funny. I made a copy of it, and enclosed it in a letter I just sent to him.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeh416Rigby:
... and last week while training out on the sand he got caught swatting a sand flea that was biting his ankle, so his drill instructor made him dig a 3' X 3' X 3' "grave" and bury the sand flea and hold a funeral service for it

I guess he never saw "The D.I." with Jack Webb. Poor kid. Would have saved him if he had. Maybe you should buy him the tape (or DVD) as a graduation present.

Russ

quote:

Originally posted by Russell E. Taylor:

quote:

Originally posted by mikeh416Rigby:
... and last week while training out on the sand he got caught swatting a sand flea that was biting his ankle, so his drill instructor made him dig a 3' X 3' X 3' "grave" and bury the sand flea and hold a funeral service for it

I guess he never saw "The D.I." with Jack Webb. Poor kid. Would have saved him if he had. Maybe you should buy him the tape (or DVD) as a graduation present.

Russ

Thanks Russ. On your recommendation I just put an order in for it. I should have it by next Monday, so I can give it to him when he graduates in June.

Good to go!

It's a classic, anyway... besides the sand-flea burial. I first saw that movie when I was a little kid and a lot of it stuck with me. (I hope they have fewer general orders to remember these days.)

Russ

I'll ask him in my next letter to him.

I received a letter from Recruit Green today, and he is really in to it, and doing well. He asked me to thank you all for your letters and words of encouragement. He also said that he remembers all of you in his prayers each night, and that he someday, hopes to visit you in person to thank you "face to face". He will try to answer all of your letters as time permits, but right now he doesn't have a lot of "down time".

MikeH

Funny story about "contraband" in recruit training. A recruit in the company next to mine (in 1958) was caught with a paper back western novel in his personal effects. We had a brief "smoking lamp on" time in the afternoon in the "grinder" area next to the barracks. The offender spent his break riding a broom horse around the area shouting Hi Yo Silver!

Hey Uncle Mike,

Very nice gesture from you....That kid must have his head on straight.

To show our appreciation to him as fellow americans, I would like to send your Godson some of our Made in the USAQ Tactical Nylon Gear.

What is his shipping address (UPS)??

We'll get him some cool stuff to use!

Jeff

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Wemmer:
Hey Uncle Mike,

Very nice gesture from you....That kid must have his head on straight.

To show our appreciation to him as fellow americans, I would like to send your Godson some of our Made in the USAQ Tactical Nylon Gear.

What is his shipping address (UPS)??

We'll get him some cool stuff to use!

Jeff

Jeff, I sent you an email.

Unfortunately, as a new recruit in basic training, he's unable to receive any packages from home. But, thank you very much for your kind offer.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Wemmer:
Hey Uncle Mike,

Very nice gesture from you....That kid must have his head on straight.

To show our appreciation to him as fellow americans, I would like to send your Godson some of our Made in the USAQ Tactical Nylon Gear.

What is his shipping address (UPS)??

We'll get him some cool stuff to use!

Jeff

Jeff, the package you sent for Andrew was on my back porch when I got home from work today. Thank you. I haven't opened it, because it's addressed to my nephew, but the carton looks like it is in perfect condition. When he comes home on leave in June, I'll be sure to give it to him. Thanks again. By the way, I noticed that the packaging tape on the carton says Support Our Troops. Your company certainly does. God bless you.