He’s a senior NCO in the Delta Force. SGM Payne enlisted in 2002, serving as a sniper in the 75th Ranger Regiment until 2007, when he joined the Delta Force.
(SGM Payne in Afghanistan)
In 2015, then-SFC Payne’s unit was deployed to Iraq to help combat ISIS. His unit advised and trained the newly formed Kurdish Counter Terrorist Group. One day, fresh graves are seen outside of a known ISIS prison. The joint team is given the green light.
Payne’s team arrives with the CTG at night time. Upon arrival, they’re hit with volleys of gunfire. The Kurds not having conducted any operations before, are nervous and don’t move forward. The Deltas lead the way, giving their friends courage to press forward. Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler is killed leading his comrades into battle.
Meanwhile, SFC Payne and his team press into the building. They reach a bolted door that holds in the Iraqi hostages. The team attempts to break it, but there is too much fire coming their way. Payne braves the fire and breaks the bolt. The joint team then starts getting all of the hostages out. As the firefight continues, ISIS terrorists start setting off bomb vests, causing fires which cripple the building’s stability. After securing multiple hostages, they move outside.
(Then-SFC Payne, left or center)
However, plenty of hostages are left. SFC Payne keeps moving back inside to make sure no man is left behind. By doing so, he is risking getting crushed or burnt to death. At one point, a tired hostage believes he is going to die in the fire and can no longer walk to the outside. Payne helps him up and gets him outside.
Overall, due to then-SFC Payne’s actions, over 75 Iraqis are rescued. At first, he is awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest American military award. However, on September 11, 2020, SGM Payne was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military award in the US.
I sat overlooking a beaver swamp, with a bait barrel full of fish heads and moose bones, waging war on the black flies. The temperature had risen to nearly 70 degrees that afternoon, and I was being eaten alive. I’d packed a couple of sandwiches and a can of soda for the evening vigil, and though I’d just gotten to my stand, I was hungry already. I had just unwrapped one of the dainties when I saw—for it did not make a sound on approach—a decent boar come into the bait site. Flies be damned, this was exactly what I was waiting for.
I raised the handy .308 Winchester and put one 180-grain bullet into his boiler room, turning the black bear into an infuriated beast, but a second bullet ended the affair. It was my first bear, and I was immediately hooked. I’ve spent much more time hunting for bears than actually shooting bears, but it’s a hobby I enjoy very much. That spring, among the beautiful lakes that make up the Quebec landscape, was the first I’d hunted big game here in the States, and it was something that would become part of my life. Let examine the reasons to book a spring bear hunt.
1. It’ll take to you to a different part of the world. Much of the spring bear hunting is done in Canada, with our U.S. opportunities being in Alaska and a few Western States. A change of scenery represents an adventure—at least in my book—and for many of us, a trip to those areas that allow spring bear hunting can be a great time. I know that you need not ask me twice to begin planning a trip to a different destination, and more than likely, the country you’ll see will become a very fond memory.
2. It’s halfway to deer season. It’s been quite a while since deer season closed—in most areas anyway—and if you’re like me, you’re starting to feel that itch. Yes, turkeys offer great sport and will always be a part of my spring ritual, but bears offer a reason to grab a rifle and experience a whole new type of big-game hunting. Whether it’s black bears over bait or glassing for brown bears, a spring bear hunt will help ward off the irritability and shortness of breath that is usually experienced when one realizes how far off deer season actually is.
3. It’s not just about the bears. Many of the areas in which spring bear hunts are conducted also offer great fishing. Where I hunted in Quebec, the early morning was usually spent checking the bait stations, and a good part of the day—up until about 3:00 p.m.—was spent fishing the numerous lakes. Fresh fish, neatly fried up, was a delicious treat in bear camp, and with a minimal amount of fishing gear, we had a great time. Depending on the area you’re hunting, deep sea fishing may be involved, or perhaps fly-fishing for trout in a Western stream, but no matter, you’ll be outdoors all day long.
4. Bear hunting is an amazing experience. Be careful, you may end up with a new favorite hobby. Bear hunting can be addictive, as they are after all dangerous game. Even a black bear can turn the tides on a hunter, especially if hit wrong, so hunting them requires a bit of a different level of attention than other animals. They’re smart, wary and silent. They can be brazen—I’m sure you’ve seen videos of a bear climbing the very tree that a hunter occupies—and they can be as witty as they come, circling the bait station, just out of range, until they feel comfortable coming in. Sometimes they’ll wait until well after dark, especially the big boars that have been educated, and though you’ll find tracks, you’ll never get a glimpse of him. Only when you’ve seen a bear will you get an idea of exactly how quietly they walk on those large pads, adding to the mystique. If it’s a brown bear you’re after, well, that alone is an amazing experience, and one I’m keen to have. It’s beautiful, rugged country and just being there is worth the price of admission.
5. It just might be an excuse to buy a new rifle. Well, not that any of us really need an excuse to buy a new rifle—I’m a firm believer in ‘the-more-the-merrier’—but this is as good a justification as any. Been wanting that .35 Whelen? Perhaps that sweet .300 Magnum you’ve been eyeing is just an excuse away from joining the team. No matter, so long as it’s a bear-worthy caliber—usually .270 and up for the black bears, and .300 on up to around .375 for the browns—I say go ahead and set up your own bear rifle. Maybe a rugged, all-weather affair makes sense for the locale you plan to hunt, or it may just be a familiar design in a different caliber. You could also experiment with a different projectile in a rifle you already have, something good and strong that can easily break those large shoulder bones. At any rate, the planning and purchasing of gear can be an awful lot of fun, and booking a bear hunt is a good impetus for just that.
I wish more states would open up a spring season for bears. Populations are most definitely on the rise, and the additional license money would help keep our public lands well-funded. There are some very affordable bear hunts available. I know I’ve seen some good deals for black bear in Idaho, Quebec and Alberta, and some very expensive ones as well—an Alaskan Kodiak bear hunt is no small financial investment—so there should be something for almost everyone’s budget. Get on the computer, make some phone calls and start planning your great adventure.
Situation: Famous as a leader in combat, Chesty Puller was a skillful pistol fighter as well.
Lesson: Training, skill and the best equipment are enormously helpful. Perhaps most important, though, is the fighting spirit that made General Puller a legend. And … a pre-war start in guns and hunting can shape a more survivable combatant.
Lewis “Chesty” Puller. In his time, his name was a household word, and if asked “Who was the most famous U.S. Marine?” — many people today would answer, “Chesty Puller.” He first made his mark in “police actions” in places like Haiti, rose to fame in the South Pacific campaign during World War II, and became solidified in legend by leading the Breakout in the Korean conflict.
There are many books about Puller. Most focus on his leadership and courage. One book is even devoted to his famous quotes. But most give short shrift to the general’s formidable pistol fighting skills.
Burke Davis (1913-2006) was the author of many historical non-fiction books, specializing in war and warriors. One of his trademarks was a personal touch, with deep insights into the heroes about whom he wrote. One of Davis’ classics is Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller, subtitled The Only Marine in History to Win Five Navy Crosses.
It is to Burke Davis we are primarily indebted for the following accounts of General Puller’s pistol fights, his training and background with guns and his general attitude toward related matters.
Puller In Combat
Puller’s first deployments were in Haiti and Nicaragua, supporting friendly governments who were fighting anti-American insurgents. In the latter country in 1929, he found himself traveling with a Thompson submachine gun, cased with ample spare ammunition.
Two years later, he found himself fighting for his life with his .45 pistol in Nicaragua. Davis tells us, “They were more than a hundred miles from Jinotega, Company M marching over open country on high ground beside the swift Cua River. Puller and (Col. William) Lee were not far apart when they saw, almost at the same instant, a native dugout canoe speed around a bend to their rear, bearing two men. One of these men fired, wildly. There was also a burst of rifle fire from across the river — another attempt at ambush.
“Puller reacted as usual. He ran at top speed toward the riverbank, straight for the canoe, pulling his pistol as he went. He fired in motion, and one of the canoeists fell across the gunwale. The patrol killed the other Indian, and when men splashed across the river, they found the band had fled.
“Lee thought Puller’s action a climax of the fighting in Nicaragua: ‘It was the greatest field shot I ever saw. He shot that bird from 15 to 25 yards away from that canoe, going at full speed, and the canoe moving, too. He drilled him right in the ear, so perfectly that we looked over the body for several minutes before finding the wound. He had shot him precisely in the opening of the ear. I don’t think such shooting was accidental.’” (1)
Some of the accounts of Puller’s personal engagement in combat are sketchy and short on details. Here is one, from when he was a Colonel on Guadalcanal: “A grenade fell near the Old Man — no more than eight yards away, Captain Zach Cox estimated, but Puller turned when he saw A Company scatter and yelled: ‘Oh, that damned thing ain’t going off.’ It helped steady the men. The grenade was a dud. Cockrell’s B Company was being cut up in the woods by snipers in trees with light machine guns, and fire from Puller’s front became spotty. The fight was now at close quarters: The Colonel had killed three men with his .45 — one of them a Japanese major.” (2)
There were many men in combat along with Puller who were glad they, too, were carrying pistols. One was Captain Regan Fuller, who spoke of an experience he had on Guadalcanal. “It was rough country, up and down everywhere, with plenty of cover. I sent one of my boys, Corporal Turner, up a grassy hill to our right, where we were trying to persuade the Old Man to stop for the night. I walked behind Turner — and we almost stepped on two Japs who were eating rice by a hidden fire at the base of a big tree. They were as astonished as we were, and we all scrambled. I fired three clips from my .45 and killed one of them, but the other ran down the trail toward our main body. Turner’s squad had deployed into line behind us. There was a little shooting, and then quiet …” (3)
The Guns Of Chesty Puller
Most of the time when an enemy was killed by Puller’s own hand, it appears to have been with his service pistol.
While there exists a photo of Puller shooting offhand with a very long barreled, non-issue DA revolver, virtually all the photos of him in the South Pacific and Korea depict him wearing a standard .45 auto. Burke Davis’ anecdotes all refer to him using a .45. I’ve been unable to find if or where Puller’s sidearm still exists today. Most photos of him wearing it are taken from the front, so we can’t see whether it wore a flat (1911) or arched (1911A1) mainspring housing.
There actually exists a chest holster named the Chesty Puller, but it appears to be a modern play on the great Marine’s nickname. In every photo I’ve seen of him in combat theaters, his .45 is in a standard issue flap holster on his right hip, backed up with a web double magazine pouch at the left front of his web belt. While many military officers did carry their .45s in the tanker-style chest holster during WWII, I’ve seen no indication Puller was one of them. He became a Marine early enough he was presumably issued a 1911, since the A1 dates to relatively late in the 1920s. Of course, if he preferred the 1911A1’s features (slightly better sights, longer grip tang to minimize hand bite, shorter trigger, arched housing), he had the “pull” to requisition one once they became available.
In any case, whenever Puller personally fought with a pistol in hand, it was the government-issue pistol known colloquially in his time as simply “the .45 automatic.”
Puller had specific opinions on other small arms. Pictures of him in the field almost invariably show him wearing a pistol and two spare magazines, and he expected fighting men to be constantly armed when in danger zones. Davis writes of one day when Col. Puller was selecting staff members: “When he was choosing his intelligence officers, his exec pointed out a major sent in for the purpose by headquarters. Puller scoffed loudly, ‘Hell, that man hasn’t even got on a weapon. Find me another one.’” (4)
Only The Best For His Men
He also worked hard to make sure his troops had ample ammunition. Again, from Burke Davis: “As the time for a new campaign drew near, Puller drove his staff to complete the last detail in preparation. He warned the regimental supply officer, an Army Quartermaster general, was to check their requisitions. ‘Notify me at once when he arrives,’ Puller said. ‘I want to explain things in person.’
“The Army general arrived when Puller was out, and the lieutenant took the inspector to the supply dump. Puller found them there and overheard their conversation:
“‘Lieutenant, your requisitions are excessive.’
“‘I’m sure Colonel Puller would never have signed for more than we need, sir.’
“‘But he’s asked for 10,000 brass buckshot shells. What the devil does he want with those?’
“‘To kill Japs with, sir.’
“‘Doesn’t Colonel Puller know buckshot is prohibited by the Geneva Convention?’
“‘Sir, Colonel Puller doesn’t give a damn about the Geneva Convention — any more than the Japs did at Pearl Harbor.’” (5)
It should be noted short barrel pump shotguns were indeed used in the Pacific Theater. My late mentor, Bill Jordan, a veteran of that campaign, told me he used a Winchester slide-action trench gun and an S&W 1917 .45 revolver when clearing enemy pillboxes in the island campaign. The brass buckshot shells had been requisitioned because paper shells swelled up in the heat and humidity there, getting stuck in the magazines and chambers.
Puller’s demands for the best equipment for his Marines weren’t limited to guns and ammo. Wrote Davis, “(Puller) spoke to War Production Board officials in Washington: ‘I want to ask you why American troops shouldn’t have the world’s best fighting equipment. On Guadalcanal we saw our trenching shovels break at the first use. All of our men now have Jap shovels because they’re better and more dependable. Jap field glasses are better, too. I have good ones myself, German glasses I’ve carried for 20 years. Why should American glasses be so poor? Not worth a damn in the tropics. They fog up because they are improperly sealed, and once they get damp, they’re done for. I’ve seen hundreds of pairs tossed away in the jungle or the sea, because men know they can see as well with the naked eye. What kind of American ingenuity — or patriotism — produced those?’”
Yet, curiously, Puller wasn’t a fan of the M-1 Garand that George S. Patton had called “the best battle implement ever devised.” Davis reports the following:
“There was a squabble between A Company and some of the 164th Army men, for Regan Fuller’s men had bartered for, or stolen, some new M-1 rifles during the big night’s fighting, and Army officers wanted them returned. The Colonel was amused by the affair. For himself, he favored the old rifle they brought to Guadalcanal: ‘For sheer accuracy, if you want to kill men in battle, there has never been a rifle to equal the Springfield 1903. Others may give us more firepower, but in ability to hit a target, nothing touches the old ’03. In my opinion, nothing ever will. A perfect weapon, if ever there was one.’” (6)
The following seems contradictory to the above, but Davis noted, “… Puller was asked by Marine Corps Headquarters for a full report on his experiences with the Thompson submachine gun under field conditions and sent in an enthusiastic report on the weapon’s value on patrol.” (7)
Puller’s Training & Quals
While based in Hawaii, having shot Expert Rifleman five years running, Puller was affronted when a grizzled sergeant offered to teach him to shoot. When the sarge promised to bring his rifle score up 20 points in two weeks, Puller accepted the challenge. Davis reported, “Puller became the sergeant’s pupil, shooting when targets became vacant during the training, and shot an average of two bandoleers daily. He improved rapidly, and brought his record score from 306 to 326, of a possible 350. During all these years he qualified as expert with both rifle and pistol, and when a rifle team was sent from Pearl Harbor to a competition in San Diego in 1928, Puller was a member.” (8)
Davis adds, “… in the first report period, Puller posted an average score in bayonet drill; a fellow Marine, Lieutenant Gerald Thomas, finished 10 places ahead of him. But in marksmanship, with the automatic pistol, he ranked as expert, with a score of 91.13 out of 100 points. As a rifleman, he fired 335 of a possible 350, and stood 16th in the class of officers. He also ranked as expert with the machine gun, in which he stood high in the top third of the class, with a score of 340.” (9)
The quality of marksmanship training in the United States Marine Corps is, of course, legendary. That said, Puller famously credited his survival and many of his accomplishments in battle to having been a young armed citizen before he enlisted in the Marine Corps.
Born in Virginia, he learned guns and hunting early. He was about 10 years old when cancer took his father, and he supplemented the larder by shooting small game and wild turkeys. He became a trapper, selling muskrat pelts to pay for his ammunition. “Lewis learned both accuracy and frugality, for he bought his own ammunition,” biographer Davis wrote. (10)
Another writer, Michael Martin, wrote, “After his military fighting career was over many years later, Chesty noted he learned more about the art of war by hunting and trapping than he learned from any school. He insisted the skills he learned as a kid, living off the land, saved his life many times in combat.” (11)
Lessons
The constant presence of his sidearm saved Chesty Puller’s life more than once. It is no surprise you see his holstered .45 in almost every photograph taken of him in a combat environment, from his early days in the banana republics to the Pacific Theater to Korea. Note he insisted all his men be within reach of their guns in combat environments, at all times. It saved his life multiple times over … and, doubtless, the lives of many of his troops, including Captain Regan Fuller, as noted above.
Puller was a contemporary and friend of Herman Hanneken in his early combat days. Hanneken was the man who had killed the revolutionary leader Charlemagne Peralte in Haiti in 1919, with a single .45 slug to the heart from Hanneken’s USMC-issue Colt 1911. Puller had doubtless incorporated this knowledge into his trust in the same weapon, which he learned to keep constantly close.
His critics felt too many USMC casualties had accrued from Puller’s aggressive tactics, while his defenders argued those aggressive tactics were what won his major victories. Both sides need to remember Puller was a casualty himself, blown up on Guadalcanal with shrapnel savaging his legs, yet he returned to lead from the front sooner than his doctors wanted. Many who served under him were heard to say they’d follow him into Hell … and that he actually led them there and did his damnedest to get them back out after they’d won.
It is vital to remember this legendary Marine gave credit to his survival and victories to the hunting and shooting skills he learned in boyhood and adolescence. This sort of “pre-service preparation” has served American fighting men since the beginning of our nation. Woods-wise citizen soldiers with their own rifles and muskets won the Revolutionary War. The National Rifle Association was founded in 1871 by Yankee officers who had noted the superior fighting ability of individual Confederate soldiers who had grown up hunting and shooting. Sergeant Alvin York in WWI, WWII’s most decorated soldier Audie Murphy, Carlos Hathcock in Vietnam and Chris Kyle in the most recent conflict all fit the same mold: super-soldiers whose skill at arms had been developed before they joined up. This heritage is one reason why we at the Second Amendment Foundation where I currently serve as interim president have brought lawsuits to allow young Americans ages 18 to 20 to buy their own AR15s and prepare for a career defending their nation with firearms similar to the faster-shooting true assault rifles they’ll be issued when asked to die for their country.
There is much, much more to the history and legacy of Lewis “Chesty” Puller than can be presented in this short space. We conclude with thanks to the late biographer Burke Davis, who gave us so many valuable details from this particular side of the Puller legend. He is the one to thank for what you’ve just read; hell, I merely “wrote the book report.”
For more info: SAF.org. References: 1) Davis, Burke, Marine! The Life of Chesty Puller, P. 56. 2) Ibid., P. 118. 3) Ibid., P. 118. 4) Ibid., P. 181. 5) Ibid., Pp. 169–170. 6) Ibid., P. 148. 7) Ibid., P. 61. 8) Ibid., P. 46. 9) Ibid., P. 61. 10) Ibid., P. 9. 11) Martin, Michael. “Chesty” Puller and the Southern Military Tradition, Abbeville Institute Press, 2018.
Reliability brings us the same comforts as a warm shelter and full stomach does. Maybe that’s why everyone loves Stan so much? You see, Stan shows up every weekend at our club shooting range. There’s nothing extraordinary about him, unless you count the fact, he’s 92. Some guys show up just a much, but they’re nowhere near as loved as Stan.
Sure, he moves slow, but he’s moving. He takes his time carrying his cased rifle to the bench he’ll be shooting at. Then he gets a few sandbags, a couple of carpeted shooting blocks of wood and shuffles them to his bench. On weekends our range has designated range officers (RO), usually four. When Stan comes, most of the RO, if not busy, help Stan get set up, carrying his blocks and bags for him to his bench.
They’ll help set his target up, usually running it out to the 100-yard line for him. Stan doesn’t ask for help but appreciates the helping hand. He’s earned the respect of every RO at the club with his grit and determination. He just doesn’t give up. He comes every weekend to shoot, while obviously in pain. As he says, “beats sitting at home doing nothing.”
Even at 92, Stan shows good firearm safety and handling abilities.
Smoke Poles
Stan’s favorite shooting rifles are muzzleloaders, beautifully built muzzleloaders. Some were built by Stan, some were bought as is, others were repaired by him. He shoots both flint locks and cap lock guns. He has a steady, methodical ritual when loading his guns. Taking his time, he looks around, smiling, taking in the day, as he loads. Even with the muzzleloaders crude sights and his aging eyes, everyone is amazed how well he still shoots.
As Stan shoots and reloads, everyone always stops by to talk with him. He’s that kind of guy. He usually tells a story if prodded. He grew up in the Bronx and is a Korean War veteran. He married his sweetheart after the war, was a successful businessman, and had several children, two of which are doctors. After the war, he continued his fascination with guns.
No muzzleloader today! Stan showing me his AK-74.
Surprise! Surprise!
This past weekend, as I write this, it was one of my days to be RO. It was a beautiful day, steady with shooters, and filled with good conversation naturally about guns, handloading and the latest politics.
Around 1 o’clock I see the unmistakable silhouette of Stan walking towards the range house to sign in. The range being slow at this time, everyone acknowledges Stan, helping him get set up. I help Stan carry his cased rifle to his bench, asking him what muzzleloader he brought this day. Stan chuckles, saying I got a surprise for you today.
Stan unzips the case, revealing a scoped AK-74 rifle. He goes on explaining it’s the only scoped rifle he owns, stating, “ever since my eye stroke, I can’t see the front sights on my muzzleloaders. So, Stan improvised, bringing his AK-74 to the range so he could enjoy some rest and recreation. I just laughed when I saw the rifle, surprised a die-hard muzzleloader man would have such a rifle. Not that there’s anything wrong with having an AK-74 rifle. Heck, everyone should have at least one.
Stan goes on telling me about his monthly injections in his eye to hopefully regain vision in it. He says it’s slowly starting to get better. He hopes to be shooting his muzzleloaders before too long.
Stan showing good form aiming at his 100- yard target.
How many guys carry a picture of their wives when they first met? Stan Does!
There’s More…
This naturally led to a discussion on today’s Russia/Ukraine conflict. Stan stated his ancestors were from Ukraine, before immigrating here, to the Bronx. Stan continues about meeting his wife, even showing me a picture of her when they first met.
We close the range at 5 p.m. and Stan was waiting for the range to go cold, so he could retrieve his target. Of course, I offer to get it for him. Ol’ Stan had every shot in the black bullseye, his entire box of 5.45X39 in about a 4-5” group. I ask Stan if he wants the target and he says, “yes, because you never know when your last day of shooting will be, and I can always look at the target and remember…”
Here’s what Stan feeds his AK-74.
Be Like Stan
I don’t know why this story touches me so, but it does. Maybe its because if we’re lucky enough, we will live to be as old as Stan. I know I was tickled by his diverse choice of guns, but I shouldn’t have been. Gun guys like every type of gun as we rotate through every type of gun type there is, eventually. I know I’m looking at AK-74’s now after shooting Stan’s.
Also, his grit is lovable, making it to the range every weekend and his statement, “beats sitting on the couch.” When I asked Stan how old he was he replied, “92, can you believe it?” I replied, “that’s great!” And he chuckled, “not for me, I hate it” showing we’re still the same 13-year-old voice in our head as our bodies and time betray us.
All I can say is try and be like Stan. He’s truly worthy of someone to aspire to.
The Marine Corps is a small fighting force deep in lore, history, culture, and intricacies that can be tough to navigate. Marines can serve for years and not find their way to the bottom of Marine Corps knowledge. As such, I’ve come to learn a few things as both a Marine, and now a civilian fascinated by history and culture. These USMC facts are easily escapable for the average Marine, and these five represent an odd mixture of regulations, culture, and tactics that many, even Marines, may not be aware of.
The USMC Boat Marines
I served as a Marine infantryman for five years. I worked with weapons and line companies, I worked with LAR, Recon, Scout Snipers, and more. It wasn’t until years later I that I became aware of the Boat Marines. By Boat Marine, I mean 0312 Riverine Assault Craft Marine. The Corps dumped the MOS in 2020, but I was on active duty between 2008 and 2013 and never heard of these guys.
USMC Boat Marines also include the defunct 0314 and the still-active 0316 MOS. 0316 is an additional MOS and supplements a traditional infantry MOS, and utilizes rubberized small crafts. The 0312 and 0314 Boat Marines operated Riverine Assault Crafts. These ruggedized patrol crafts were used in Iraq to patrol rivers and control these areas.
Boat Marines were a combined effort between the Navy and the Marine Corps and shouldn’t be a surprise. Marines are water-borne infantry by their very nature, so boats have to be a factor eventually.
Capes are allowed
Have you ever looked at the Marine dress uniform and thought, “Man, it’d look a lot better with a cape?” Of course, it would. Dress blues, a sword, and a cape sound sick. Well, boys, the USMC offers you the Boat Cloak. As far as USMC facts go, this is the most fashionable. Male Marine officers and SNCOs are allowed to wear the Boat Cloak with the Dress A or B blues uniform.
The Boat cloak features a black exterior and red interior with a soft wool-like collar and a button-down design. It’s a special order item and costs about 750 bucks to make and order. Please allow eight weeks for delivery! The Boat Cloak is rarely seen, but come blues season, at least one SNCO will pop up wearing this bad boy.
A separate fitness test for one specific role
Marine Corps Body Bearers have both the honorable and sad job of carrying Marines to their final resting place. These Marines are subject to strict requirements, including: having a first-class PFT and CFT, being between 70 and 76 inches tall, being within regular Marine Corps height and weight standards, and being a Sergeant or above.
Additionally, they have to pass a Body Bearer fitness test and maintain these weight lifting standards. Body Bearer Marines must be capable of completing ten reps of the following exercises:
Currently, this is the only fitness test the Marine Corps utilizes weight lifting techniques for. This has led to USMC Body Bearers being labeled the strongest Marines in the Corps. These USMC facts help me set my own goals even as a gross civilian.
We use grappling hooks
It’s true, of all the USMC facts we have, at least one makes us look like Batman. We use grappling hooks! Marines wield grappling hooks for a variety of reasons. This includes searching for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and mines. Marines can tuck behind cover, throw and drag a grappling hook through a suspected IED area. It’s like a version of the claw game you see with teddy bears in supermarkets, but it’s for things that explode.
Lance Cpl. Douglas Jorgensen, a squad automatic rifleman with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, tosses a grappling hook to search the area for notional mines aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 28, 2014. The training provided the Marines with the knowledge to breach laid wire in a combat situation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)
Grappling hooks make an appearance in urban operations and give a means for Marines to climb over walls and into windows. While it sounds like Batman, the grappling hook often gives a holding point and a little boost to the climbing Marine. You aren’t scaling up the sides of buildings like Batman and climbing multiple stories. However, an 8-foot wall or second-story window is easier to get over while wearing full gear with the assistance of a grappling hook.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. John Robbart III
The Yucca Man
Finally, we get to the story of the Yucca Man. This is likely the most widespread of the USMC facts on this list. Anyone who was stationed in Twentynine Palms knows the story of the Mojave bigfoot. According to legend, any Marine unlucky enough to find himself on watch in the endless desert of the Twentynine Palms training area may have an encounter with the Yucca Man.
The natives of the area have long told stories about these desert bigfoots and their spread to the Marine Corps. I think it’s due to two main reasons. First, these stories are fun to tell new Marines and work them up a bit before sending them out for some night guard duty or road guard position.
Second, training at Twentynine Palms for a battalion level combined arms exercise (CAX)/Mojave Viper training event will exhaust the Marines. It’s made to simulate a month at war, and Marines are constantly training and dealing with the desert heat, endless training operations, and sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation and exhaustion can cause hallucinations, and I’m willing to bet some exhausted Marines have had some visual and auditory hallucinations.
On my first deployment, I remember many nights on post after a 24-36 hour operation guarding the base and having a healthy amount of hallucinations.
USMC facts, myths, and beyond
America needs an Army, an Air Force, and a Navy, but America wants a Marine Corps. The Marines have long held the heart of the American civilian. A mixture of glory and capability mixed with a perception of a plucky underdog gives the Marine Corps a completely different cultural impact. Part of that impact is the unique culture, roles, and capabilities the Marine Corps has. These small USMC facts are only part of a much richer culture, so sound off below on your favorite USMC facts that we might not know.
