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Sgt Grit Marine Forums » Sgt Grit's Marine Forum » Open Marine Forum » Prayers For A Tough Old Marine

Prayers For A Tough Old Marine

Last post 11-05-2006 8:39 AM by links. 7 replies.

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10-19-2006 1:48 PM

BamaMarine7276
Joined on 02-15-2004
Echola, Alabama USA
Posts 5,760

Prayers For A Tough Old Marine

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I got this from Bro John Wear. Please keep the SgtMaj in your prayers.
Semper Fidelis,
Chris

All Hands:

I got back from 10 days in Ireland last Sunday night. We had a super trip and the sun was shining every day. I waited until now to fire up the All Hands, to see how a very good friend was doing. He was in sick bay when I left and I was hoping to see him greatly improved and off the sick, lame, and lazy list when I got back from Ireland. I did not want to post this All Hands.

In 1971, a Marine Corporal from Gettysburg, Billy Wilson, walked into a bunker just off Hill 55 in Vietnam, and got both his legs blown off, above his knees. He was blinded in one eye and lost some fingers. After a year at Philadelphia Naval Hospital, Cpl Wilson came back to Gettysburg and went to work at the Hillside, a small pub south of Gettysburg.

In the spring of 1989, I was having a couple of beers and swapping lies with Cpl Wilson, at the Hillside, when he said it would be really neat to have a set of Marine Corps "Blues" to be buried in. He said he was not ready to be buried yet, but it still would be neat to have this uniform. I thought if ever a Marine had earned a set of Blues, it was Billy Wilson.

On 10 June, 1989, the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen Al Gray, came to Gettysburg and pinned the Bronze Star with Combat "V" and a Purple Heart on Billy Wilson's Blues. In planning this operation, I needed a guy to keep the media away from the General and the Corporal, as this was to be a "Marine Corps" day, not just some media event. The guy I found to do this was a leather tough, straight shootin', hard as nails, squared away, Marine Corps Sergeant Major, SgtMaj Russ Rockwell.

The Sergeant Major fought in Korea and did 3 tours in Vietnam. He wears the Bronze Star with Combat "V", the Purple Heart, and a chest full of medals. And he and I are very good friends.

Since Billy Wilson's Blues, the Sergeant Major and I have done Marine Corps Steaks & Beers (MCS&B) for countless thousands of Marines. He has done countless Professional Military Education (PME's) on all the rifles carried by Marines, from the flintlock of the Continental Marines up to the M-14 used in Vietnam. We have done hundreds of "Have Steaks Will Travel" to Marine Corps units as far away as Parris Island, SC. SgtMaj Rockwell has guided, counseled, and helped Marines all his life. Now he needs some big time help.

In July, the Sergeant Major broke his right arm while lifting an empty GI can. It was determined that this was a pathological fracture, which means that a tumor in his arm wore away the bone and made it break. This was the first sign of a problem for a guy that is too tough to hurt.

I was able to get in to visit him yesterday afternoon, and his wife, Mary, asks that All Hands pray for a miracle, because that is the only thing that will keep him alive. Cancer is all through his bones, and he is not even able to keep his eyes open.

Mary says they do not want any cards or any e-mails, just prayers for a miracle.

SgtMaj Rockwell and I have made many friends, together, since Billy Wilson's Blues, and I do not know of any other way to let you all know about this.

Pray for our friend.

Semper Fi,

Seamus

http://www.gunghosauce.com

Later that night, while I was thinking about the day's somber events, Cpl. Richard A. Mason, an infantryman with Headquarters Platoon, who, in the short time I was with the company became a good friend, told me, "You're still here, don't forget that. Tell your kids, your grandkids, what Sgt. Peralta did for you and the other Marines today."
Quote from a story written by combat correspondent LCpl Travis J. Kaemmerer who,unfortunately,died in a car crash in Virginia after returning from Iraq.

10-19-2006 2:39 PM In reply to

Ajax_Girl
Joined on 07-01-2003
Columbia, Maryland USA
Posts 4,812

Re: Prayers For A Tough Old Marine

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Prayers for the Sgt Maj.

"Said preacher maybe you didn`t see me throw an extra twenty in the plate, there`s one for everything I did last night and one to get me through today"

10-19-2006 3:08 PM In reply to

DDCLARK
Joined on 08-29-2006
CA
Posts 675

Re: Prayers For A Tough Old Marine

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OF COURSE PRAYERS Flag

USMC 74/78

FATHER LCPL AMANDA CLARK

11-04-2006 2:35 PM In reply to

BamaMarine7276
Joined on 02-15-2004
Echola, Alabama USA
Posts 5,760

Re: Prayers For A Tough Old Marine

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I recieved this email today.

Rest In Peace SgtMaj Rockwell.
Semper Fidelis,
Chris

I am passing on the words of Cpl Garrahy.

Rest in peace Sgt Major…

All Hands:

My best friend died this morning. He died peacefully, in his sleep, and he does not hurt anymore.

The Sergeant Major and I have made so many friends, together, since Billy Wilson's Blues, in 1989, that this is the only way I can think of to let you all know of his death. I know I will speak to all of you soon, but for now, let the All Hands be the medium.

Yesterday, Bill Molitor, the Commanding Officer of the Col Wesley Fox Young Marine Detachment, asked me for a quick description of the Sergeant Major for an article in the National Young Marine magazine. This is what I wrote, yesterday.

Sergeant Major Rockwell was panther quick and leather tough. He is like the "country boy can survive" in the song. He could shoot better that anyone I ever knew. He is a God fearing man who kept his religion to himself, unless you wanted to talk about God. He would jump to help anyone who needed any kind of help, and he was able to do most things. He loves kids and this is easy to see when kids are around him. He does not laugh much, and he does not cry much, but when he does either, you have no doubt as to the reason. He has an eighth grade education, but he fought in Korea and did three tours in Vietnam. He went to the University of the United States Marine Corps. He is truly an educated man by the school of hard knocks. The Marine Corps does not easily make a man Sergeant Major, and he made it in 20 years in the Corps. He is politically adept and well versed in the machinations of our government, and is never hesitant to express his views of any political topic. Like most hunters, he has a true love for all animals, and his feelings for his dogs were true and sincere. He is respectful of higher authority, but has never held back any questions about decisions made by higher authority. The Sergeant Major is my best friend.

I need to add this today. The Sergeant Major's love for his family and his many friends was never readily apparent, because he was never very open in his thoughts and feelings about such things, but all who knew him had no doubts about this love.

Seamus

I also sent this to the Sergeant Major's wife Mary, yesterday. The following is what Mary wrote back to me, yesterday.

SEAMUS: WELL PUT. HE WAS ALL THAT AND MORE. HE NOT ONLY COULD OUTSHOOT BUT OUTCOOK ANYONE. HE MADE THE BEST POTATO SALAD AND VENISON VEGETABLE SOUP EVER. HE ALSO MADE HIS OWN SAUSAGE AND VENISON JERKY. THERE WASN'T A MACHINE THAT HE COULDN'T FIX OR A MOTOR HE COULDN'T REPAIR. HE KEPT THE BEST GARDEN ON THE MOUNTAIN AND WAS HAPPIEST WORKING IN IT BECAUSE HE SAID HE WAS CLOSE TO GOD THERE. HE HAS GIVEN ADVICE AND COUNSEL TO A MULTITUDE OF MARINES RESULTING IN THEIR ACHIEVEMENT OF HIGHER RANKS. HE HAD THE MEMORY OF AN ELEPHANT AND EVERYTHING HE DID WAS DONE IN EXCELLENCE. HE WAS SELECTED OUT OF THE ENTIRE MARINE CORPS TO FILL A BILLET AT CAMP DAVID WHICH IS QUITE AN HONOR IN ITSELF. RUSTY WAS TRULY THE BEST OF THE BEST OF THE MARINE CORPS.

So now this good man is up there with Col Truman Crawford, SgtMaj Denis McNamara, L/Cpl Chance Phelps, L/Cpl Steve Szwydek, and all the Marines who have gone before us, making sure the Streets are well guarded.

The Sergeant Major is easy now, but we will miss him.

Semper Fi, My Friend,