3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

military

Day 297-298: Honoring my Dad on Veterans Day

by

My Dad was a private quiet man. He served in World War II and in Korea. However I know very little about his WWII experience other than he was in the Navy, on a destroyer operating one of the big guns at Normandy and in the Pacific. His papers and commendations were all lost when he arrived home on New Years Eve and put his sea bag down in Times Square. Someone else picked it up. Considering he used his brothers ID to get in at age 16 I don’t know what I can find out.

For the sake of possibly finding anybody who served with my Dad I’m listing his full name: Leo Thomas “Terry”  Tyrrell, his nickname in WWII was Tiny Terry the Terrible. He wasn’t very big, 5’6″ and weighed 125 lbs sopping wet. But, from what I understand you didn’t want to mess with him. He fought like a little bantam rooster. I often compare his physique to Clint Eastwood, not an ounce of fat on him.

Leo Tyrrell, Korean War Memorabilia
Leo Tyrrell, Korean War Memorabilia

He reenlisted in the Korean War with the Army airborne and I do have his papers and airman’s wings which I treasure greatly. (There is a longer story on this shadow box which I will relate later) He was a paratrooper and after the war worked for a parachute factory in Manchester Connecticut. The area is now called Silk City. For many years he didn’t talk about the war, but he would watch all the black and white television shows on WWII and occasionally he would say “I sat there, that’s what I did.” I wish I had paid more attention when I was a kid.

Here’s to my Dad and all the veterans today that served our country and have given us the freedom we enjoy today. We are a safer country and world for what you did many years ago. We salute you.

Veterans Honor Memorial Flag
Veterans Honor Memorial Flag
Related articles

Where Poppies Grow, In Flanders Field

by

I could make it to the Elmwood-Murdock Veterans Day program this year, so I’m posting last years tribute from the high school choir. It’s my favorite  and never fails to give me chills.

Thank you to all our veterans who have served and who are now serving in the United States Marines, Army, Navy, and Air Force.

The Flag Still Stands For Freedom

by

The Flag Still Stands For Freedom
The Flag Still Stands For Freedom

During last years trip to Washington DC I had a chance to visit all of the war memorials. The Vietnam Wall affected me the most. To see all those names stretching out into the horizon gave this new Marine Mom a new perspective. Some day it could be my son’t name etched in the granite of a memorial.

It is through tears that I write this, just a little under two months before my youngest son leaves for Marine boot camp. The risk has doubled, the sacrifices of families, and loved ones that served and gave their all still proves that the Flag Still Stands for Freedom.

Thanks to MCPActions for having a Memorial Day contest to submit images of patriotism, freedom, and peace. Deadline is May 27th, so if you would like to submit yours head over there, a free 16 x 20 print will be awarded to ten winners.

Day 165/365: Marine Teaches Recruit to Square Uniform

by

Didn’t know it would be the United States Marine Corp that would teach my sons to iron, but a squared away uniform is a sense of pride in the Corps. My oldest son gave his recruit brother a lesson and tips  on ironing his uniform and squaring his cover during his latest leave. (home for his brothers high school graduation)

Marine recruit Squaring Uniform
Marine Teaching Recruit to Square Uniform

It’s the attention to detail Marine recruits are taught during boot camp at MCRD San Diego or Paris Island. How to properly shine your shoes, iron your uniform, pin your ribbons exactly 1/8″ of an inch from the top of the pocket, and how to clean a toilet and sink to pass inspection.

United States Marine Corps (USMC) And Navy Uniform RegulationsU.S. Marine Corps Uniform Guide (Look Sharp!)

Why do these mundane tasks matter? I believe they are used to teach discipline and patience, to learn how to pay attention to detail in everything a Marine does, regardless of the task.

Marine Cover
Unsquared Marine Cover

As a birthday/graduation present received a wore out set of his Marpat desert cammies to wear at the big airsoft game, Oklahoma Invasion 6, coming up Memorial Day weekend. Out of the sea bag the cover looked a bit crumbled. There was no way a Marine would be caught with a cover like this. Before it could be worn it needed squaring away, Marine style. No starch, but water, paper towels, steam, high heat, and cardboard stays would have to do for now.

Recruit squaring a cover
Marine Recruit Squaring a Cove

Never thought I’d ever see this,  a photo opportunity if I ever saw one. The process took an hour, with lessons given on tips and tricks of a great squared away Marine uniform. I overhead Army uniforms are “garbage” and how to properly wear your cover. “It’s not a hat, don’t pull it down on your head, you’ll look like a tool”

Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego (Images of America)Live At McRd San Diego [Explicit]

Squared Away US Marine Corps Cover
Squared Away US Marine Corps Cover

Looks better doesn’t it? Sleeve rolling was next, but I left the boys to bond and discuss uniform care. It’s a big part of boot camp, the beginning of teaching attention to detail and discipline. If they pay this much attention to just their uniforms imagine what is required in the other aspects of mission training. No wonder the United States Marine Corps is the best fighting force in the world.

ULTIMATE MARINE RECRUIT TRAINING GUIDEBOOK: A Drill Instructor’s Strategies and TacticsMaggot the Accounts of a Journey through Paris Island

Information About Marine Corps Uniforms

CO: Soldiers Will Wear Marine Corps Uniforms To Improve …

David Hodne has ordered his soldiers to eschew wearing traditional Army uniforms laden with combat patches, jump wings, and other insignia. They will instead spend their time wearing Marine Corps uniforms. “It’s a culture …

Marine Corps Uniforms Index: By Chapter | Blood Stripes

Sebastian served in the Marine Corps infantry on active duty and in the reserves from 2004 to 2013. Sebastian has always been driven to mentor the marines in his charge, and continuously strives to better himself as both a …

Uniforms; Uniform Regulations, MCO P1020.32G W CH 1-5 …

MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL, OR TO MARINE CORPS UNIFORMS, ARE CONTAINED IN THIS CHAPTER. 2. NO ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE TO EXCERPT OR INTERPRET THE LAWS OF ANY STATE. COMMANDERS …

Where Can You Buy Marine Corps Uniforms | Internet …

The United States Marine Corps (USMC), popularly known as Marine Corps has always been the most valued branch of United States Armed Forces. While the bravery.

Appropriate times to wear uniforms? – Leatherneck.com

I was wondering when the appropriate times/occasions/places/etc you are allowed or most common to wear certain uniforms upon graduation from Recruit Training. I believe these are all the Marine Corps uniforms, but I may …

United States Marine Corps Uniforms, Insignia and Personal …

Harlan Glenns “United States Marine Corps Uniforms, Insignia and Personal Items of World War II” is a reference book which every WW2 USMC collector should own. It is a massive 272 page hardcover book featuring …

Day 106/365: First Encounter With a Marine Drill Instructor

by

USMC Recruit Family Night

In just a little under four months I will have two sons in the United States Marines. My youngest, a high school senior, is in the delayed entry program and got a little taste of Marine boot camp during last week during Family night for the Lincoln Nebraska recruiting station. A visiting drill instructor from San Diego put them through their paces and had them sounding off like grunts in no time.

My youngest son  leaves for boot camp in July. He’s the one on the far right with red tape on his arm (gave blood at school earlier in the day, his 7th pint) For a better understanding of what they went through in ten minutes here is a short video below, might want to turn your volume down for this.