NOTES FROM MY DESK
I received this email from Eddie Arechiga and thought I would pass it on. "Shifty" "Just got off the phone with George DeSha. We had a super one-hour talk and it was a tonic! My hats off to you and guys like you who take the time and make the effort to create and maintain a system like the A17 Association. It's a vehicle that offers us old Marines not only current information but reaches across the barriers of time and geographical distances to bring us together. Without the wherewithal of you people, I would never have reestablished ties with old friends and comrades like Lt. Charles Woodward, our Skipper Carl Ullrich, George Blair, Doug Barnes, Bob Hanley and George DeSha. Please know the deep appreciation I have for all you have done, same goes for Charles McKellar and Jim Skinner, they are major players in the arena that serves us so well. It's obvious to me that you guys have retained all the character traits that made you such exemplary leaders in the Corps. Thanks. DeSha was just as I remembered him. I last saw him on the night of 13June 1952. 1st Platoon A17 went out to grab a prisoner. Lt. Woodward led a four-man team that included George DeSha, Paul Alward and MSgt Warren V. Brown. The rest of us set up checkpoints to help them get in and get out. I led the 3rd Squad and we had checkpoint #2. I manned the sound power in a bunker. Our snatch team got up to within 3 feet of a gook. DeSha was at point |
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and was about to attack the gook; Mr. Woodward was directly behind DeSha. Unfortunately, the gooks were on to our guys. The gook threw a concussion grenade and another opened up with a burp gun. DeSha caught 3 slugs on his flak vest but the fourth went through his arm. Another slug knocked the helmet off Mr. Woodward's head. They returned fire as they pulled back. DeSha came into my bunker holding his wounded arm. "Jesus that burns!" he said. That night was the last time I saw or heard from George DeSha until my phone rang just about an hour ago. George and I were incredibly happy to make contact and we were as close as if we had been transported back 50 years in an instant. We caught up on a lot; we talked about family, careers, children and old memories. It was wonderful to hear him, he sounded fit and as sharp as ever. I always had great respect for George and considered him among the very best of Squad Leaders. I hope I led my squad at least half as well as he led his. George and I share a deep admiration and respect for our old Skipper, Mr. Ullrich and our Plt. Leader, Mr. J. Donahue. We felt the same about one of the fightingest Lieutenants we had, Mr. C. Woodward. We agreed that we were among the most fortunate of Marines to have served under guys like that. You must forgive me for rambling on, I can't help it. After my conversation with DeSha I feel like the Eddie Arechiga of 1952! I feel I could actually take out a patrol tonight! Maybe I'd better stop taking phone calls from old comrades! |
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One last observation. I've spoken or exchanged emails recently with DeSha, Alfeo, Blair, Mr. Woodward and Mr. Ullrich. In each and every case, without exception, they all expressed a yearning to suit up and be part of the military venture about to be unleashed at Saddam Hussein. It reinforces the old adage, "Once and Marine, Always a Marine!"
Thanks again Shifty for having made possible my recent trip down memory lane. Gratefully, Eddie Arechiga" From: EDMAC36@aol.com To: CaptShifty Subject: Re: Fw: MARINES "Our country right or wrong is still our country and we are lucky that our young Marines still care more than ever for God, country and Corps. I was in Jacksonville over the past two weeks and it seems almost deserted, as units are deployed one by one to wherever they're needed. I saw many young families separated by these deployments but not once during my stay did I hear a complaint or disagreement with the policies of our President. Visited w/SgtMaj Skinner and other former Marines and I also visited w/ the family of a young 1st Sgt's family, he was deployed the Friday before I arrived, this is a family w/4 young children and there wasn't one complaint, his wife told me simply that her husband Jack had a job to do, it was that simple, I also talked w/several Reservist and the same thing no complaints, when you see this kind of Patriotism you have to feel proud and confident about our country. I often tell people that our reunion in MB was a true lesson in Patriotism; I saw that the night of |
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Semper Fi |