NOTE:
THIS WAS FORWARDED TO ME VIA THE CPOA SITE.

IT STANDS TO REMAIN A LESSON FOR US ALL.
There's a link attached below to contact this Superb Marine.
Thanks for the submission!

DEAR FRIENDS,

ALOHA FROM HAWAII........

     AS I HAVE TOLD YOU ALREADY, I AM A MARINE MASTER GUNNERY SERGEANT
(PAY GRADE E-9).   BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS FROM THE HEART.   NO GREATER
EXPERIENCE EVER HAPPENED TO ME THAN WHEN I WAS A GUNNERY SERGEANT AT
NAVAL SECURITY GROUP ACTIVITY, HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA (BACK BEFORE HURRICANE
ANDREW BLEW NSGA HOMESTEAD OUT OF SOUTH FLORIDA) BACK IN 1985.

    I HAD SPENT FROM 1983 TO 1985 AS A MEMBER OF THE CHIEF'S ASSOCIATION
AND PERSONALLY SPENT MANY HOURS BUILDING THE PCS PLAQUES AND RETIREMENT
PLAQUES FOR THE ASSOCIATION.   A LABOR OF LOVE TO SALUTE MY NAVY COMRADES
IN ARMS.

    LATER IN 1985, I WAS PRIVILEGED TO BE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTICIPATE IN AND BE INITIATED AS A NAVY CHIEF.   I HAD KNOWN ALL MY
MARINE CAREER THAT THE NAVY CHIEF WAS A NAVY CHIEF, WAS A NAVY CHIEF.
IT DIDN'T TAKE A NUCLEAR GYNECOLOGISTS TO FIGURE OUT WHO THE HELL WAS
RUNNING THE NAVY.   LIFE AT THIS NAVAL INSTALLATION CHANGED DRAMATICALLY
AFTER I WENT THROUGH THE CHIEF'S INITIATION.

     BELIEVE ME I WAS GIVEN NO QUARTER, I WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE CEREMONY
FROM BUILDING THE HAT BOX, LOG BOOK CHAINED TO MY BODY, TO INGESTING
GALLONS OF TRUTH SERUM.    I SWEAR, I DON'T THINK ANYONE THREW UP MORE
THAN I DID.

   MANY OF MY FELLOW MARINES CHASTISED ME FOR BEING SUBJECTED TO SUCH
TREATMENT.  BUT I KNEW FROM THE GET GO WHAT IT MEANT AND WHAT IT WAS ALL
ABOUT.   YOU HAVE TO ENDURE THE FULL MONTY TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE
TRADITIONS OF BEING A NAVY CHIEF.
 
   ALTHOUGH I WAS AN HONORARY NAVY CHIEF, I WAS TREATED AND EXPECTED TO
ACT ACCORDINGLY AS A NAVY CHIEF.   WHEN I ASKED FOR ANY CHIEF TO HELP ME
"BEYOND THE CALL", I WAS GIVEN EVERY CONSIDERATION, HELL THEY MADE IT
HAPPEN.    AND WHEN THEY ASKED ME TO HELP THEM "BEYOND THE CALL" I DAMN
SURE MADE IT HAPPEN FOR THEM.

      AT NO TIME IN MY MARINE CAREER HAVE I SEEN OR EXPERIENCED SUCH
CAMARADERIE EVEN IN THE MARINE CORPS.   I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN AWE AND
WILL STAND IN AWE OF THE NAVY CHIEFS.   I WILL FOREVER HOLD MY INITIATION
INTO THIS ELITE BROTHERHOOD OF NAVY CHIEFS AS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY
LIFE.  I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT HAVING THE QUALITIES OF A NAVY CHIEF IN MY
HEART HAS MADE ME A BETTER MARINE.
 

SEMPER FI'
"micky"
H. A. WEATHERLY
MGYSGT        USMC