Destiny

Do you believe in destiny? or maybe providence, or how about fate, and of course
free will. So let me ask you, did you ever have a little voice in the back of your
head telling you that you had something to do, or something more to do, but that
little voice didn't tell you what it was you had to do. Well this is the true story of
a man that had a voice in his head and what happened because he followed that
voice. Then you can be the judge on if it was destiny or not. I also believe in free
will, that doesn't tell you whether your choice is good or bad, just that you have a
choice, to do it or not to do it. And of course, the outcome is always in doubt.

RAYMOND M. CLAUSEN, JR was his name, but if you met him he'd tell you to
call him Mike, my name is Mike, just call me Mike he would say. Mikes tour in
Vietnam had ended and he was back home, but he put in a request for another tour
in Vietnam. His mother ask him why do you want to go back, why. Mike said I have
something I got to do, I don't know what but theirs something I still have to do.

So I guess the little voice in his head was telling him where, but not what, and so Mike
went back to Vietnam for another tour. On January 31, 1970 Mike and that little voice
met head on. This is where the little voice, fate and destiny and free will converged.
Participating in a helicopter rescue mission to extract elements of a platoon which had
inadvertently entered a minefield while attacking enemy positions. Mike skillfully helped
the pilot to a landing in an area cleared by one of several mine explosions. And now we
have come to the free will of this story, because at this point Mike had to make a decision
and Mike's decision was to jump out of the helicopter and run into the minefield under
heaver fire and help carry out the wounded as other Marines would follow in his foot
steps out of the minefield to the waiting helicopter. He did this six times till all Marines   
were safely aboard, then he had the pilot lift off  Mike saved eighteen Marines that day.

And for the action Mike took on that day, he would receive the Medal of Honor. And so
the question remains, was it destiny, or fate, or providence? Well you could drive yourself
crazy trying to figure out all the what ifs. What if Mike hadn't gone back to Vietnam what
if. It seems that no one leaves the battlefield unscathed, all leave a piece of themselves
there, and in turn, a piece of there, comes here. Mike Clausen passed away in 2004,
and that one action, on that one day, would define Mike for the rest of his life, as hero.
Most every Marine who ever met Mike, liked Mike, for he was the living example of,
no man left behind.  




 

Again They Serve

This is the story of Marines who are serving again as an Honor Detail at one of our
National Cemeteries. Semper Fi #1 is a all Marine unit of Marines not on active
duty, but serve again to make sure that every veteran, know matter what branch of
service he or she served in have a funeral with full honors. Over the years this unit
has grown, it now has three full honor details to conduct funerals. The first video is
from 6 years ago, the one after is about a year old. If this interest you and you want
to know more about Semper Fi #1 go to their website at.
http://www.tiptopwebsite.com/websites/index2.php?username=genochs&page=17

We are Marines, and this is what we do!

 

My longest Day

So its once again that time of the year when two anniversary's are at hand. Nov.27,1959 the day I entered the Marine Corps, Nov. 26, 1963 the
day I left the Marine Corps. I have vivid memory's of both days but Nov.27
seems to be one of the longest days in my life, and still implanted deep in my memory. Just how I got to this day is a long story, and to be told on another day. But today I would raise my right hand and take the Oath with a
bunch of guys I didn't no. It started early that morning saying good by to my parents, a friend would drive me from N.J. to N.Y.C at White Hall St.
where I would head off to Paris Island. Thing went along pretty well at White Hall until we took the oath, then I at least notice a change in the Marines that were there, Before we took the oath they were friendly,
after, not so much, we were now boots and they treated us as such, a
glimpse of what was about happen? We then loaded on a bus in front and headed back to N.J. to Newark Airport for the flight to S.C. When we got to S.C. another bus for the last leg to P.I. It
was all ready dark as the bus drove into the S.C. night, and getting later. On board all the guys
were having a good old time, laughing and joking around. If any of them had any apprehensions
they were not showing it, I on the other hand had this dreadful feeling in the pit of my stomach
called fear of the unknown. As I sat their in my window seat looking out into the dark night of
the S.C. country side, very few lights of houses or stores or street lights as we drove down what
seemed to be long dark back roads. As I stared out the window I saw my own reflection staring
back at me, and it seemed more apprehensive then I was.

And then we were at the main gate, and everything got quiet. In 59 you did not no much about boot camp, there was no Internet to ask other Marines what it would be like or videos like YouTube to give you a glimpse
of what to expect. the only ones that had a small idea where those that had close friends or relatives that told them about it, but I and others did not. And to say it was shock and awe, was just about right. So here we are at the front gate and a M.P. gets on, asked the driver if he new where receiving was the driver told him no, so the M.P. stays on to direct him.
I was sitting right side window seat toward the front and heard the driver tell the M.P. how happy these guys were, and I remember the M.P. saying well that's about to change, another clue? Now in my mind of that day I
see the M.P. still at the gate calling up receiving and telling them the bus is on its way in and the receiving DIs telling each other ITS SHOW TIME..
In 59 receiving was in a different place but looks a lot like it does today, and their were no yellow foot prints. As we were pulling up to receiving and even before the bus came to a stop and right on cue five DIs emerge, from
receiving and four of them are carrying cut off pool cues and you can almost hear everyone on the bus saying under there breath oh shit what did I get myself into. So two DIs go two one side of the side walk and two on the other and the one without the pool cue gets on the bus.

 OK, EVERYONE SIT UP AND KEEP YOUR MOUTHS SHUT, DO NOT SPECK UNLESS YOUR SPOKEN TO, IF YOUR SPOKEN TO YOU WILL ANSWER YES SIR OR NO SIR, DO YOU UNDERSTAND, EVERYBODY SAYS YES SIR, IF ANYBODY AS GUM IN THERE MOUTHS GET IT OUT NOW, WHEN I TELL YOU TWO GET OFF THE BUS FORM A LINE FROM THE BOTTOM STEP ONE BEHIND THE OTHER, DO YOU UNDERSTAND, EVERYBODY SAYS YES SIR, OK THEN GET OFF MY BUS,
GET OFF MY BUS, HURRY UP, MOVE IT.

We no sooner hit the pavement when the other four DIs were all over us, screaming in your face, and saying all those great DI saying we all now know so well, Up and down the line, like their dogs and we are the red meat, their is about 45 of us and no one is getting spared, sometimes there double and tripling on one guy. And your praying they don't come back to you. and in my mind I thought we might
all get beaten to death with those pool cues, then I thought to myself, they really can't do that, can they?
So now in to receiving for hair cuts and showers and more screaming, I don't remember what else. Next thing I remember is
we are in a room sitting at school desks with papers turnover on each desk, one of the DIs that has a cut off cue is saying when I tell you to turn over the papers you will fill out this and this, and all of a sudden a loud crash and everybody jumps. A kid in the front row had turned his papers over before he was told, The DI hit the desk so hard with that pool cue he was carrying I thought he must have broke it in half screaming at the kid, did I tell you to turn the papers over.
Next thing I remember is that were in the receiving barracks up stairs and getting ready for bed, then its everybody get in rack, get out of rack, get in rack, get out of rack, about 10 times before lights out. We are all dead tired, about 2 1/2 hours later lights are on trash cans and lids are rolling down the barracks, were out of the racks and getting ready for chow, after chow we will meet our DIs. And I'm thinking to myself this is not going to be another fun day.

So started my three months on the Island. Just how I managed to stay
is beyond me. It was the first thing I was able to complete in my life up to then, and why I think I owe the Marine Corps all, and the Corps owes me nothing, except my loyalty.

                                L/CPL Bruce Knipp 1959 to 1963

237th Marine Birthday

NOV.10, 1775 HAPPY 237 BIRTHDAY MARINES

 

THE MEMORIAL

I wrote this some years ago, we are now at the 30th year, and we still
remember October 23, 1983. For they came in peace.                                 



                                  THE MEMORIAL

Three wreaths now stand as a silent witness to Ceremonies that took
place here two days ago. Their many pedals softly falling to the
pavement, as the breeze slowly moves them across the ground to
destinations unknown. Two days ago this place was filled with memories
of the past, and grief for those two hundred and forty one men lost,
who's names appear on this wall of stone, for the vows been made to
never forget, October 23, 1983 when they perished in a far off land.
A sentry in bronze stands guard between the break in the wall a place
where flowers and other items show up every now and then, just to prove
they have not been forgotten, the Marines of 1/8 Beirut Lebanon, for
THEY CAME IN PEACE.

Bruce Knipp

This it a video I made at Memorial Park in Jacksonville, N.C which includes
Beirut Memorial, A beam from 9/11 and the Vietnam Glass Wall. My camera
work is a little jumpy do to a sticky tripod, so my apologies in advance. But if
you get down here, this is a place you should visit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExEn4Ew8wmc 

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

                        WE WILL NEVER FORGET

Their presence is still there you know, they have been seen by a select few,
thousands of souls of the innocent, spirits of the lost.
They watch over the field of destruction, from roof tops of broken buildings
on the perimeter, to twisted steel beams in the debris field.
They have seen the tears, felt the pain of loved ones and friends they left behind.
They have seen heroes, from the first day to the present, from the
rescue to the recovery. There are those that have been there from the first day,
they're still there, they will not quit, 12 hour shifts, 24 hours a
day, everyday. Lungs filled with concrete dust, smoke and ash, and yes, even
the ash from incinerated human beings. Many have coughs, and many cough up
blood, but they will not quit, till all the bodies or body parts that can be
recovered, are recovered. To help bring closure to the families of the lost.
They themselves may become victims, a life shortened, but they will not quit.
                                                
This is now hollowed ground, their will always be a presence here. It's been
said, that from the opposite shore in the hours just after dawns first light,
before the suns rays reach the ground, the towers appear. Filling the void
now present, lights blazing in all the windows, and the top floors lit by the
suns first rays, forming a halo of white light. minutes later it slowy
dissipates to it's present form of emptiness. One can hear the sound of air
rushing in to fill the void.

We will never forget where we were when we heard the news. We will never
forget the tears and the anger, we will never forget the heroes from New York
to the Penagon, to a field in Pennsylvania. We will never forget the American
people in there finest hour. We will never forget. OK America, lets roll.



                                          Bruce Knipp

Tribute to the fallen

Tribute to military dog handlers and their dogs. NEVER FORGET