In about 1987 we had a first ever (and only) Pearl Harbor Celebration in Indiana. We combined Det-4 and MWCS-48 and wore our Green uniforms to a Japanese Restaurant in Indiana.
The pairing of the two units was awkward. Woz, Eric Bennet, Drew Davis, and I had been members of both units. But the other Marines did not know each other and the two units had little in common. But it went pretty well.
We had not realized it was Pearl Harbor Day. The poor proprietor of the restaurant probably was frightened. He was talking fast and telling us his life story. Something about being interned in WWII. But then he realised we were friendly, unaware of the date, with no plans to avenge Pearl Harbor.
We had a fine time at the Japanese restaurant. And got pretty lubricated. There are some other stories that shall not be repeated online.
Then we went to another bar where a fashion show was underway. The bikers were buying us shots and beers. Naturally, being Marines in uniform, we had to consume it.
I personally was so drunk that as I drove home I was stopped by a train, and fell asleep, waking up after the train had gone by.
S/F
Craig ________________
1. Good thing you didn’t die; 2. Good thing no one else didn’t die; 3. Good thing the Statute has run.
I hesitate to tell this story because it is so un Marine like but it is interesting. Current Marines won't believe it and neither did a lot of Marines back in the day. All Marines get a nice haircut on their first day in boot camp. This is me at Parris Island in March 1967. The Marine Corps is a very disciplined outfit and demands and enforces tight grooming standards. Short hair is required.
The high and tight is very popular. The photo to the right is of a friend - now a General - getting a haircut in Vietnam. When I was a Private at 29 Palms our NCO's would march us to the barbershop each week for a "High and Tight" haircut. Long hair was very popular in California in 1967 and we were laughed at when we hitchhiked into Los Angeles. In 1972 the Marine Reserve was filled by very smart individuals who joined the Reserves to stay out of Vietnam. Some of the smart guys included lawyers who filed suit in Federal Court seeking permission to wear long hair under short haired wigs. Judge Bill Lynch, formerly Mayor Daley's law partner and formerly a Naval Officer, and a family friend, felt that this request was reasonable. He issued a court order which said that any Marine in the Ninth Naval District could wear a wig that met Marine standards. It was of course not possible to meet Marine grooming standards with the wigs. Most of the troops bought cheap wigs. If you had them cut down to be evenly graduated the cords of the wigs would show and look terrible. When we took our wig wearing Marine Reservists to our two week training exercises at regular bases the active duty NCO's went ballistic, threatening the wig wearers and us. The wig wearers got the Judge to threaten that he would jail anyone who disciplined the wig wearers. Bob Dart and Dennis Herring have a funny story about this. A Regular Staff NCO was ballistic about this (They all did). He fired up Dennis who was new to the Reserve - what had he gotten into? He told CWO Bob Dart about the problem. Bob informed the SNCO of the Judge's order and that the SNCO would go to jail if he interfered with the wig wearing. The SNCO demanded that Bob put this order in writing. Bob did so. Bob later became friends with the SNCO who had the order framed behind his desk. We were none too fond of the wig wearers. We were trying to fit in with the active duty folks who hated the wig wearing. So we were pretty tough on the wig wearers. We would not let them take the wigs off and required them to shower with their wigs on, and to sleep with them. Not the most comfortable situation in hot bases in the field in the summer. I knew Judge Lynch, who was a family friend of my in-laws. I told him about the anger in the Marine Corps, but he simply thought the Marine Corps was unreasonable. Needless to say I did not tell my Marine superiors about my connection to the Judge. We were in New River, North Carolina on an exercise. We were visited by General White. We hid our wig wearer, LCpl Havrilla, in the TSC-15 Van where he would not be seen. Everything was going well and the General was leaving. Then we received a call from Glenview on the TSC-15 radio. One of our SNCO's (What was he thinking?) shouted to the General, asking him if he would like to talk to Glenview. "I believe I would" he said, and started walking to the Van. I quickly got in the van and placed myself between the wig wearing Havrilla and the General. And I got on the radio and said, "We have an O-7 who wants to talk to you on the radio, Get somebody on the horn who can talk to him." Silence. I am dead, I thought, The young radio operator at Glenview will freeze up when the General gets on the net, and he will not be used to the fast way that pilots speak on the radio. So the General gets on the mike, and speaking very rapidly, says " we are having a great time down here, everything is going well, and the weather is great. How is everything at Glenview?" "Everything is fine, here, Sir. Weather is great. Glad you are enjoying yourself" replied Lt McClure, an experienced Air Controller who was used to talking to pilots on the radio. He had just happened to be walking by when he heard my call, and took over the response. SAVED! The General never saw Havrilla. And he did not know that we could not talk to nearby Cherry Point and Camp Lejeune, which was what we were trying to do. The signal skipped right over those close bases to Glenview. He thought we were hot stuff. A friend of mine had just graduated from college and was going to enlist. "Go as an officer and go as a Reservist. If you like it stay in, if not stay in the Reserves." I told him. He did as I suggested. He was and is a big strong guy and I was proud of having recruited him. He was a member of the infantry battalion at Foster Avenue on the west side of Chicago. Then he joined a band and started wearing a short haired wig. I quit bragging about how I recruited him. Needless to say he was not popular in the Battalion. Eventually the guys who joined to avoid Vietnam left and the new guys joined who were willing to follow Marine requirements. After a while the wigs went away, and we breathed a sigh of relief. We even had some of our wig wearers stay in the Squadron for a career, notably GySgt Storbeck, our admin chief, who of course quit wearing the rug. It is still fun to tease him about his wig wearing days. The link below is from 1975 when the courts decided that male Marines could not wear wigs. Glad that that is over. https://books.google.com/books?id=9CZL_dnagLkC&pg=RA11-PA29&lpg=RA11-PA29&dq=marine+corps+wigs&source=bl&ots=QacWYUvoFu&sig=ACfU3U2hEXv8AUG9XAH_ak-e7SAtLLIV0Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjzqr2k4LLmAhWMxVkKHXxFAXMQ6AEwHHoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=marine%20corps%20wigs&f=false
Semper Fi Craig Hullinger "Everything id fine at Glenview, Sir. Weather is great"
Head or facial hair cannot be grown or cut in a way that yields eccentricities in appearance. Hair coloring must be a natural color and complement a person's ...
On November 10, 2023, U.S. #Marines around the globe will celebrate 248 years of success on the battlefield and reaffirm their commitment to our Corps' proud legacy of honor, courage, and commitment.
The battalion has infantry officer openings across sites in Madison, Des Moines, Milwaukee and Chicago. Officers interested in discussing billet openings with 2/24 should contact the battalion's Inspector-Instructor and the Prior Service Recruiting OIC for 9th Marine Corps District.
I checked Google, and the address for 2/24 is reported to be 3155 Blackhawk Dr., Ste 701, Fort Sheridan, Illinois 60037. It shows the Bn CO as a LtCol. Ryan P. Kenny, an Intel guy, and in 2006 in Al Anbar Province with 3rd Recob. He now lives in Chicago working for Boeing.
Also shows the Sgt Major, Bryan J. Axelrod, enlisted in the USMC in 2003, makes me feel really old! He's an 0311, deployed to Fallujah June 2007, and EAS December 2007, then joined the Reserves, Marine Wing Support Squadron 471. He later deployed to Afghanistan 2011, Security Plt Sgt for Motor Transport BN. Promoted to 1st Sgt April 2019, assigned to Wpns Co. 3/23 May 2022. He was promoted to SgtMaj June 2003, and was reassigned to 2nd Bn 24th Marine Reg.
Found this and more after googling 2dn Bn 24th Marine regiment.
Joe Brooks
Check out what Chicago is doing at our former Bn Hq!!
Provide trained combat and combat support personnel and units to augment and reinforce the active component in time of war, national emergency, and at other times as national security requires; and have the capability to reconstitute the 4th Marine Division, if required.
History
Founding
The origin of 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines can be traced back to the establishment of the 9th Reserve Battalion in 1922. They were mobilized in November 1940 as part of the preparation for World War II. Many of Chicago's reservists became part of the newly founded 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force.
The Mad Ghosts
World War II
2nd Battalion, 24th Marines was activated on 26 March 1943, as part of the 4th Marine Division. Their first action was the invasion of the Marshall Islands on 1 February 1944, securing the first portion of the Japanese Empire to be conquered by the United States in World War II.
On 19 February 1945, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines landed on Iwo Jima and fought for 35 days until the island was finally secured on 26 March 1945. From D-day until the 24th RCT relieved the 25th RCT the Seabees of the 133rd NCB were the 2nd Battalions Shore party. The Battalion was awarded a second Presidential Unit Citation for its participation in the capture of Iwo Jima. Captain Joseph J. McCarthy, Commanding Officer, Co. G, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, and a Chief in the Chicago Fire Department, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his gallantry during the battle.[1] The battalion was demobilized on 31 October 1945.
Korean War
In October 1950, they were mobilized and sent to Camp Pendleton, California, for further transfer to Korea, where Chicago Marines saw combat during the Korean War.
Gulf War
On 30 November 1990, the battalion was mobilized as a result of the Presidential call up in support of Operation Desert Shield. Training and final preparation for the war in the desert was conducted at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, during December 1990. Upon the battalion's arrival in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it was assigned the mission of security for critical facilities.
The 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines were initially assigned the mission of protecting the I Marine Expeditionary Force commander's primary bases in Northern Saudi Arabia, to include the Naval Air Field at Al Jubail, the ammunition storage site near Abu Hadriah and the defense of I MEF headquarters at Ras Safanya and Marine Aircraft Group 16 at Tanajib, thus providing security for an area over 40 miles wide and 135 miles deep. Echo company provided security for Ras Al Mishab just south of Khafji and 1st platoon was pulled to the Battle of Ras Al Khadijah. After the town was taken elements of Echo Company provided security for the Navy Seabees while they were in the town. Even after some units took on enemy fire from Iraqi artillery the unit never received a combat action award.
As Operation Desert Storm commenced, the area of responsibility increased further west to Kibrit and north to Al Khanjar. During the ground war, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines provided security to the largest ammunition supply point in the country, at the loss of which would have critically impaired the ground offensive. During the liberation of Kuwait, elements of 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines provided security to I Marine Expeditionary Force Command Post in Kuwait. Additionally, they took up defensive positions at Al Jaber Airfield south of Kuwait City.
While maintaining its mission of providing security, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines was also responsible for the handling and processing of over 10,300 enemy prisoners of war in a 96-hour period. The battalion returned to Chicago on 12 May 1991, after 5 months of deployment, with 3½ months in Southwest Asia.
Global War on Terror
Chicago's Own was mobilized again in June 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). The battalion trained at Camp Pendleton until Sept. of that year when they relocated to Mahmudiyah, in the North Babil Province of Iraq, an area known as the "Triangle of Death". The battalion was engaged in intense combat operations against members of the Iraqi insurgency.[2] 2/24 made Marine Corps history when they became the first reserve infantry battalion of OIF to operate independently, isolated on its own forward operating base.
Two-time Pulitzer Prize Winner John F. Burns, the Chief Foreign Correspondent of The New York Times described his time spent with 2/24 this way: "A week with the 2/24 Marines at their bases 15 to 30 miles south of Baghdad, in the heart of the area known as the Triangle of Death, was a window on the demands being made of reservists, and on the resourcefulness and resilience they bring to the challenges. There is little they cannot do, with hard work and improvisation, the battalion's officers say, reflecting the widely varied backgrounds of the men in the Chicago-based unit - doctors, policemen,[3] engineers, teachers, carpenters, truck drivers, lawyers, computer specialists, community counselors, college students, to name a few."[4]
After establishing additional strong points in the area, working closely with the Iraqi Army and Police, providing security for the first-ever open democratic elections in Iraq and arresting over 1,000 suspected insurgents (with an incredibly high conviction rate,) 2/24 returned to California in March 2005. They deactivated in May 2005.[citation needed]
Company F, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment search a field during a dust storm for weapons caches in Khalidiyah, Iraq on April 17, 2008.
In March 2006, elements of 2/24 participated in Operation Shared Accord in Niger. The Marines taught basic military tactics to groups of soldiers from the Forces Armees Nigeriennes and also provided humanitarian support to some of Niger's neediest citizens.[5] In May 2006, Echo Company of 2/24 participated in Operation Noble Shirley in Israel by conducting desert warfare and joint counter-terrorism training with the Israeli Defense Forces [IDF].
On September 10, 2007, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines were once again activated in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and relocated to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. The battalion began another tour in Iraq beginning in January 2008 and operated in the vicinity of Habbaniyah, operating out of base formerly known as RAF Habbaniya. On August 10, 2008, they turned over their area of operations to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines and returned stateside in late August.[6]
Joe Brooks and I are exploring a drill site for Det 4 in the Chicago area in May, 2024. A personal recon of the AO shows that the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa at Lake Geneva grandgeneva.com would be a suitable CP for this drill. The place has two decent chow halls and and two bars. Also has 36 holes on two golf courses, shops and a spa.Joe is looking into area restaurants and boat dinner cruises. There is also an entertaining private league baseball team (the Milkmen) that play nearby as well as the Brewers or Cubs. Might be easier to deal with MKE traffic than Chicago.
I’m sure that Billy Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee would be easier to fly into than ORD. The idea of using Lake Geneva is to see some of our surviving colleagues from 2/24 and its respective companies and the air types from Glencoe. I think 2/24 is now relocated but we could try to get a report from that unit.
We have a sales person wanting to work with us from the resort but we need some guidance:
(1) Is there an interest in this drill?; and,
(2) Do the dates 10-12 May 2023 work for everyone? (The12th is Mother’s Day if that matters) If not, do the dates 3-5 May work?
Let us know your thoughts on this.
S/F
Joe Brooks and Larry Anderson
______________
Sounds good to me. I'll be there, Lord willin', and the creek don't rise.
WILKES
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Marines,
Sounds wonderful, CondiNest ranks it second in Midwest.
(Only behind my old house in Griffith, IN.
Sarah/Sally and I are attending, The God Lord willing.
At BWI at moment, nothing conflicts in my phone.
Will check more upon getting back to quarters.
Interrogative, even though we always Drilled on weekend is there some unintended consequence(s), or problem with drilling during one of the weeks?
Love y’all.
S/F,
Ivan/Zim
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Good point, Ivan. No magic to the weekend for most of us. And some places might be cheaper during the week. Why don't we expand the discussion to include the weekdays between the two weekends? Either weekend and also the weekdays in between work for us. We prefer the second weekend but will come on either one and/or during the week.
This is a great location.
S / F
Craig
______________
Great idea. Being retired, every day is a Saturday and every night is Friday night.
Lynn Wardlow
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Craig/Ivan make a great point (even if they are zoomies) weekdays with kids still in school would definitely be cheaper and it's not like any of us have "critical work issues" anymore. I vote for the week between suggested dates.
S/F Mac
______________
Ivan / Homan / Braun are Zoomies.
Woz, Craig Wood RIP, Eric Bennet, Jim Bailey and I are commo's and worked for a living.
We tell the grunts and zoomies what to do, when to do it, and where to go!
Craig
______________
So Craig are you under the illusion that we listened
Byron
_______________
No! No illusions that the grunts and zoomies paid any attention.
Funny story. Drew and I came up with the bright idea to tell TBS Lieutenants about the Marine Reserves. Drew and I were at Quantico for Command and Staff College.
Most of us did not know anything about the Reserves when we were on active duty. When I got off active duty I grew my beard and started college. After a few months I decided to look into the Reserves and went to Glenview. I had a full beard, and I saw a Captain in the hall. I told him I used to be a Marine Lieutenant and did they have any Reserve jobs for a commo. He said no. I had no idea there was a Comm Squadron near my home! Almost missed my Marine Reserve career.
Drew and I contacted TBS and volunteered our services for a presentation.
The RLU Col went high and to the right. He caught us at some reception and fired us up! How dare we do this without clearing it with him! He was afraid that the active duty would think this was an effort to steal Lieutenants from the active forces to the Reserves. Pretty stupid, but he was wound up.
I was apologizing and genuflecting. Not Drew. He fires up the Col. Great fight! The dispute went up to the General level, and we were permitted to make our pitch to TBS.
The RLU Colonel told us our presentation would be closely monitored and we had better watch it. No stealing from the active duty ranks.
They added a Zoomie presentor to Drew and I. He was a CH-46 pilot with two silver stars.
The Zoomie pitched the zoomie business and Drew pitched the grunts. I talked about the air control, comm elec, and electronic warfare units. We told them about Reserve units, how to get a Reserve job, where the units were, and to consider joining the Reserves if they decided against an active duty career.
I used my line about commo's telling the grunts and zoomies what to do and where to go. Got a good response.
I think those Lieutenants learned much more about the Reserves than we ever knew while we were on active duty. I think it likely we got some good officers in the Reserves.
______________
Interested but too early to say dates work.
Ken Morey,33,PP
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Larry/Joe great job...this location looks outstanding. Either weekend works for Sue and I; Sunday Mothers Day Brunch at this location will be very busy. We will most likely drive, but MKE is a superior option to ORD.
S/F Mac
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Sounds good to me so far, but Mother's Day is out.
Lynn Wardlow
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Gents,
Thanks for the planning…Lake Geneva is a wonderful spot…we have both weekends on our calendar, but prefer the 10th-12th as 3rd Battalion 5th Marines reunion is the following weekend and it would be nice to wrap the trips together
Byron
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June & I are in for, during week, Grand Geneva dates…
Comments: MLK is better than ORD but be careful you don’t connect thru ORD!
Last time I played golf there rate is over $100 but Retired/Military rate was $30 cart fee
James Homan Col USMC (ret)
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Sounds good, but I am unable to travel.
Semper Fi
Jim Bailey
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I would love to attend in Lake Geneva, however, I cannot predict if we will be able to attend. Jack is still recovering from pancreatitis, et al, that started 15 July 2022. Hopefully final surgery scheduled for next week.
Thanks for the invite.
AliceMarie Joralemon-Strong
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Joanne and I are good for the first week/weekend of May.
I get to drop off my youngest son at O’Hare tomorrow morning for the first leg of his PCS to Okinawa. They have changed the tour length from the 12 months when I did it in ’86 to 36 months for him.
Semper Fi!
Terry Sebold
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Hey Marines,
The 10-12 May dates would work for us but the weekdays following would be even better. We have our Grandson’s high school graduation Sunday 19 May in Wheaton, IL so we wouldn’t be able to make the Reunion if it was that weekend.
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