Happy Birthday and Semper Fidelis, Marines!

I have a little story about an important Marine Corps hero, you may find of interest. I learned this story back to in 2009 when I was serving as Commandant of Marine Corp League Detachment 1340 in Orcutt, CA.

Christmas was approaching and I was shopping in a local store when a gentleman approached me asking if I was a Marine. I answered yes, with a little confusion as to why the question was being asked. Then I remembered the Toys for Tots cap I was wearing.

After introductions, John Hayashi then went on to tell me about when he was a small boy growing up in Nipomo, CA, a Marine came up from Southern California to visit his family almost every weekend. He was excited to tell me how this Marine was loved and that he became thought of as part of the Hayashi family. The Marine apparently enjoyed being with kids and did virtually everything the Hayashi kids did. So much so, they called him uncle.

What he said next just captured this old Marines’ imagination. He told me that he was in college and studying U.S. history when he realized his Uncle Chesty was a pretty important Marine.

Soon memories came to me of boot camp. There are traditions associated with hitting the rack and lights out that are difficult for Marines to forget as they are part of the Marine Corps experience.  Most of them include the platoon,  in a strong Marine Corps voice, saying in unison,  “Goodnight Chesty Puller wherever you are.”

So, Happy Birthday Marines and

“GOODNIGHT CHESTY PULLER WHEREVER YOU ARE!”

Video: Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend (1976), by John Ford

With commentary by John Wayne.