Before I moved to my new vehicle (it's got wheels), I was writing about our foray into Washington D.C. I'd been there in the early 70s with Vietnam Veterans Against the War. We scared Nixon. He was worried about us taking over the town- they were a paranoid bunch.
In its time, D.C. was a decadent party town, anything you wanted. I loved it. Hung out at a bar called the “Hawk and Dove”. I met a lot of crazy women. Along with 50 Vietnam Veterans we lobbied Congress to set up a discharge review board. The DOD had been passing out thousands of less than honorable Discharge Papers to ‘Nam Vets who had admitted to smoking dope. They were quizzed on their way out of 'Nam with questions like: Do you want out now? Have you ever smoked marijuana?
We prevailed and a committee was set up. We knew then we were gonna get screwed, starting with the Dept of Defense!! I came to understand why we were in that war. I hated it. We thought we could change it. We were wrong. We didn't have the money. Who gets it done is who has the money...it was then as it is now. A democracy it ain't! 'Nuff Said…
Anyhoo in 2000, Jim “Famous Writer” Northrup (whose middle initials shall be 'FW' from now on), Walter, myself and sons Zac and Tom made our way to D.C. to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. At that black granite wall we took rubbings of friends who were casualties of the War. We would meet a Gold Star Mother from Wisconsin. She had suffered the ultimate loss, and would attach herself to Jim “FW” Northrup after seeing his Fond du Lac, Minnesota veterans jacket- she was from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. She spent her time comforting saddened veterans. I think of her often.
On to Arlington where we paid our respects and took pictures at the Marine Memorial of the 2nd Flag raising on Mount Suribachi Iwo Jima. That picture shot by Joe Rosenthal would become the most famous photograph in the world. Its sale would help fund America's effort in WWII.
Being tribal, we went to see the Pima, who was made infamous by “The Ballad of Ira Hayes” written by Peter LaFarge (Johnny Cash covered it).
Anyhoo after this we needed to party, and being it was November 10th- the Marine Corps birthday- we found an old VFW in Virginia that was giving away the most gawd awful tasting beer we ever drank. IT WAS FREE! You gotta drink the first three down real fast then who gives a shit. Kinda like the way Love Stinks- hold your nose, after your first three, who gives a shit.
Seems wherever we go, Jim “FW” Northrup and myself attract the strange and insane. At this VFW, it was no different. As soon as we were seated at a long table, a vet with no face sat down across from us, exclaiming, “I suppose you wanna know what happened to my face?”
“Okay,” I responded, “I will play. What happened to make you so ugly?”
“I was shot in a live fire training exercise! Do you wanna feel it?”
“Okay,” said Jim “FW” Northrup, sticking his finger in the hole in his face.
Met a big biker with a Santa Claus beard, this 5th Regt. Marine who had a scar on his forehead. Said he was struck by lightning! Met a Hawaiian- a Vet from the 1st Cav- along with an Australian. We formed a fire team. Drank and told war stories throughout the day. As the afternoon became evening, and the free spaghetti feed was over, we watched as the most famous day of the Marine Corps was set up. It's a much -beloved ceremony celebrated by Marines all over the world!
10 Nov 1775, the Marine Corps was founded in Tun Tavern Philadelphia. One of its founders was a Quaker, Maj. Samuel Nicholas, who was booted out of the Quakers after they heard he was hangin' out in taverns. Anyhoo, back to the year 2000... A large cake was brought in and set on a table, the tradition being that the youngest and oldest Marines present. They would cut the cake with a Marine sword. OOPS some ”shitbird” FORGOT THE SWORD!!!
”Any one of you Marines here have a sword?”
“I do” responded Jim ”FW” Northrup! “Zac get my sword out of the van!”
A little Marine History,In 1805 Marine Lt.Presley O'Bannan marched his Plt. 600 miles across Africa to Tripoli, where he defeated pirates who are doin' the same thing today! A Mamaluke Chieftain presented LT. O'Banna with this sword, making it the oldest weapon in the U.S. armed forces. Enough history, let's have another round!!
Hearing this my brain suddenly awoke. Hey, the last time I saw that sword, Jim”FW'Northrup's grandson Aaron was cutting up dogshit in the yard with His NCO sword, back at Fond du Lac. I better do something- that dogshit won't taste so good!! Meeting Zac, who was returning with the sword, I saw the cook standing at the door.
“Hey man, can you sterilize this thing?”
“Sure thing- I got boiling water.”
The sword was cleaned, the cake cut, we all ate, and drank more beer. It was then I let the secret out!
Happy Birthday Jarheads! “Eat The Apple! Fuck the C--ps” Still A PFC, RAT!
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