Knny187...Thanks for picking up on all that stuff. Sometimes a person wonders if the memories are wasted, ya know. And also to have other Marines recall certain things helps to confirm questions and events deep in the brain housing group (you know, like the trigger housing group, M-1 & M-14, both of which I qualified for). These memories we dig up in the love/hate/love relationship with the Corps, are in additional defense of the training, testing, physical, mental, emotional, and regimental rigors. The equipment/supply thing, while seemingly insignificant, tells reams about what Marines have accomplished...with so little, relatively speaking. No matter how tough certain other (elite) divisions within the services are reported to be, the Marines accomplish MORE w/ LESS, in many cases, far, far less. It's just one of those little biG somethings that falls through the cracks. Also, despite outward confidance and Espirit de Corps, etc., that Marines are noted and famous for, the Corps and countless leathernecks are quite modest, reserved...considering all things. But I give
endless respect and support to ALL servicemen and VETS. Period.
Now, Stunt (&Knny187): Stunt, earlier on you mentioned that Major Hockaday
(what a name, what a guy, what a Marine) was not a lifter, per se. Just out of
curiosity, did you ever see him without his shirt on? (All your little memoirs
brought back this for me.) First, Walker was in his 30s, about, what 5'9"-5'91/2", weighed probably 150-160 pounds, tops. And he had a rather
poor posture, sloped shoulders, bent upper back and caved (literally) chest.
This rather less than textbook body was matched with close-set, keen-like
eyes, high cheek bones, a Roman hook nose and thin lips, all layed upon a
chauky-like skin color. Not exactly your picture-perfect Mack Marine look, to
say the least.
Again, worth repeating, Stunt, did you ever see Hockaday without his shirt,
bare upper body? As another point of reference, it was believed that Major
Walker had received wounds in 'Nam that affected his upper structure (posture
and spine, etc.), especially the mid to lower back. Anyway, one time, away
from Corps structure and the school's routine that he lead, a bunch of us
noticed him with PT outfit on, little green shorts, tennis shoes, minus t-shirt,
cover. He was over in one of his sandpits doing the very exercises he made us
do...by himself, off duty, if there was such a thing for him, and just before sun-
set.
Remember an old time strongman, lifter named Alan P. Mead, a famous physical
culturist? He was often referred to as a human anatomy chart ( as was Sandow...). Hockaday was built much like Mead, no kidding. He was solid bone
and muscle. Not one centimeter of fat anywhere. (We all know about his
famous running, which he had us doing right with him). He had not huge but
highly defined, hard, shapely muscles everywhere. His abs were like ridges of
stones. His chest carved around the pecs as if he took a knife to them. He
truly was built. We just stared, making comments back and forth to each other.
We stood in awe of him from that point forward. Everything--and then some--
he demanded of us, he did himself. He lead by example. And he was quite
famous as well to defend his troops. He was once reported to take some
Marines down into Mexico to help some of his boys?? If a trooper had a real
challenge and you went to The Man, he would be there for you.
So, with a sincere sense of Semper Fi and without sounding corny, if he were
alive and needed help, in whatever way, I would be there for him. He was also
called 'ol blood n' guts. And I would put my guts on the line for him, just like
he did for so many Marines.
