Marine Corps Stories: The Beauty of the Marines

While the PFC’s swept after another day of instruction and execution, there was time enough for some light banter and business talk as well at the Yuma Marine Corps Air Station (YMCAS) in Arizona.

“I played football, got a paycheck. I played basketball, got another paycheck. I boxed, got another paycheck,” Gunnery Sergeant Jason Stuart imparted to his junior Marines. He stood at about 5”9’ and had some flakes of gray in his dark Caesar styled regulation haircut. He had cedar features and a prominent nose with nostrils that flared out when he got excited.

Corporal Adonis Lexington walked with a quick gait at 6’0” but now he hovered before his superior’s desk. He possessed walnut colored skin and a high top fade that had been styled to keep him official. He asked Stuart, “How’d you get a chance to play all of those sports with deployment cycles, extra training, and courses for NCOs, Gunny?”

Stuart’s eyes turned to saucers. “I simply scheduled myself to train for each activity and set aside enough time to study and understand my role as a Sergeant of Marines back then.”

Corporal Kate Volker boasted a face that had high cheekbones, cinnamon brown skin and hazel eyes. Her ample bosom and peach shaped posterior could not contend with the cammies that she wore with her fellow Devil Dogs. “Did you want to carry on with your teams after you had finished a season or match?”

Gunny looked at Kate as if she were his own daughter. “You know, I just viewed the number of dollars that would be rolling in on top of the BAH I was receiving with my wife at the time. After our divorce, I took stock of where the guys on those teams had gone. Some of them went right back to combat, some of them retired as sergeants. Not me. I wanted to stay in long enough to wear French cuffs with my Blue Dress Chucks,” Stuart said. He smiled like he had just swallowed a mixture of cola and cognac. “Really, though, I wanted to be the best person out on that field, court, and squared ring.”

“Did you win any championships while you were involved in all of these sports?” Kate asked.

“We won in football and my record in boxing is 14-1-1. I’m still pissed about that draw. In basketball we made it to the finals but were eliminated. I still got that deposit into my account though,” he laughed a great laugh. It commanded you to join in on his sonorous chuckle.

“What injuries did you have, Gunny?” Lexington asked.

“Injuries? Where do I start. I pulled my hamstring on the football field. Damn near smashed my pinky on the basketball court. And received three concussions while boxing. And this all around the time that my other buddies were on their way to fight real battles. So, in all, I can’t complain about my minor bruises and contusions and shots to the head. Because I know guys who didn’t come home.”

Kate and Lexington remained silent for a beat. Then Stuart injected some levity.

“But that shouldn’t deter you from pursuing your own goals within our beloved Corps. There are far too many opportunities to demonstrate your skills. Hell, I didn’t think I would be accepted on the basketball team. But they put me as a point guard anyway. That’s what I mean. You can have moments where you think the worst is going to happen but then it all turns out well. That’s the beauty of the Marines.”

Lexington looked down at his watch. “A few more questions, Gunny?”

“Yes but,” he saw a PFC with his phone in hand. “I know that you don’t want me to secure that mobile device Haddington,” Gunny Stuart said with his deep voice.

PFC Chad Haddington looked up and placed his phone in his pocket with the quickness. “No, Gunny. Pardon me,” he said.

“Get that window cleaner and start on those portholes.”

“Aye, Gunny,” Haddington said.

“Now, back to this business about the Corps. I remember one night before a fight I was sick. A flu. I was puking my guts up. And then, when it was all out, I just had this moment of clarity where all was well. I didn’t feel weak or anything. I went into that ring and TKO’d that joker,” he said laughing. “So, don’t get discouraged or dismayed about your upcoming reenlistment options. There are so many avenues to apply yourself and not to mention make a few dollars on top of your basic pay at that. I’ll put at least $800,000 on the board before I’m finished.”

Lexington and Kate looked at each other. Lexington asked her, “You want a hashmark on your jacket sleeve?”

“Now, I do,” Kate said.

Gunny Stuart laughed and searched for his cigars to go out to the smoke pit while the PFC’s made the shop sparkle.