The Patriot Files Forums  

Go Back   The Patriot Files Forums > Branch Posts > Marines

Post New Thread  Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12-15-2002, 03:11 PM
thedrifter thedrifter is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,601
Distinctions
VOM 
Cool Iron Mike: iron-willed to Corps

By Sgt. Cindy Fisher

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - At first glance, the man in camouflage utilities looks like any other grizzled sergeant major who has served in the Marine Corps for decades. The perfect figure of a Marine, he stands with his shoulders thrown back, ready to take on the world.

Upon closer inspection, subtle discrepancies mar the assumption that Sgt. Maj. Mike D. Mervosh is still on active duty. His cammies are pressed with creases in all the right places, but the nametape reads "Iron Mike," a nickname he earned for service in the Corps. His boots shine, even though they are relics from the Korean War era. His hair is cut in the regulation "high and tight," but it is sprinkled with more salt than pepper.

His face is the final clue that sets him apart from Marines clustered around him. It's a wrinkled, weathered road map of past battles fought. A life spent upholding the highest traditions of the Corps has worn deep creases into that face.

"Iron Mike" began his lifelong trek in the Corps in September 1942 -- well before today's new enlistees were even born.

Though he left active service in 1977, Iron Mike is still invited to speak as the guest of honor at Marine Corps events. After all, he served in every enlisted rank from private to sergeant major during combat with infantry units. He held the rank of sergeant major for 19 and one half years, and when he retired, he was the most senior enlisted man in all the armed forces.

It is no surprise why the staff noncommissioned officers of 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division invited him to be the guest of honor at their recent field mess night -- he served with five different Marine divisions. He was a member of 4th Marine Division, which formed in Camp Pendleton Aug. 16, 1943, and disbanded Nov. 28, 1945.

Some of the battles he participated in -- Marshall Islands and Iwo Jima to name a couple- are now entrenched in Marine Corps history and tradition.

He was awarded the Bronze Star and a second Navy Commendation Medal for "heroic" actions while serving with 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, in Korea. After two tours in Vietnam with 1st Marine Division, he received a third Navy Commendation Medal and his third Purple Heart.

When Iron Mike arrived at the regiment's field mess night, SNCOs gathered around to meet a "living legend."

Some merely wanted to touch him and shake his hand. Others wanted tangible evidence of the meeting, getting their friends to take photographs while they posed with Iron Mike.

Iron Mike had time for everybody. The Marine Corps motto, "Semper Fidelis," might as well be tattooed across his chest, for in his heart he has never stopped serving the Corps. During his speech, he said he envied the Marines still in uniform, and that he was grateful for the opportunity to be a Marine again and be among his fellow Marines.

His voice rang with pride and devotion as he talked about the Corps' past -- and its future.

He recounted the battle of Iwo Jima as the toughest and most demanding assignment of his lifetime. "Iwo Jima is recorded as the bloodiest battle in the history of the Marine Corps. There were so many unselfish and unrelenting acts of bravery, courage and heroism that occurred routinely on a daily basis that it was taken for granted, and most of it was unaccounted for. Which brought forth that inspiring message that would live on forever by Admiral Nimitz, 'That among those that fought at Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.'"

"Our Marine Corps has a proud and glorious history. We also have the finest and proudest traditions at which we share those sea stories and our camaraderie and esprit de corps by having our mess nights, our many Marine reunions and ... our Marine Corps birthday," he said.

"Our fine and proud traditions must not solely be preserved in libraries or books or museums, but by faithful participation on the part of all Marines. If our traditions were to ever die, we would only have ourselves to blame."

He reminded his audience that, "we joined the Corps not for a fat paycheck r perks ... but because we wanted to serve our country and fight its battles."

He charged them with the obligation to maintain the honor, valor, fidelity, devotion to duty, dedication and reputation of the Marine Corps that has remained unchallenged and highly respected throughout the world.

"If it were easy, everybody would do it, and Marines wouldn't be needed," he said.

"Being a Marine is not a job, it's a way of life."

"It is the duty of all Marines of all ranks to strive to be full-time Marines -- the leaders, the warriors, the professionals -- by being strong, tough and decisive, and by maintaining, participating, observing and preserving our fine and proud traditions, or we will just become another branch of the service and obsolete."

Throughout the Corps' history, there have been those who have tried to have the Corps disbanded, Mervosh said.

"We have certainly had our share of critics who say the United States Army can perform any function or mission the Marine Corps can, that there is no need for a second Army with the title of 'Marines.'

Iron Mike puts things into perspective without sugarcoating, said Gunnery Sgt. Thomas F. Parks, the vice-president of the regiment's field mess night. "His words were coming straight from the heart."

Indeed, Iron Mike summed up his hopes with this graphic image.

"Whenever there is a dirty job to do and the going gets really tough, meaning when the defecation hits the ventilation, the cry will always be heard, 'land the Marines!'"



Sempers,

Roger
__________________
IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY HUSBAND
SSgt. Roger A.
One Proud Marine
1961-1977
68/69
Once A Marine............Always A Marine.............

http://www.geocities.com/thedrifter001/
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Back to the iron,... SEATJERKER General Posts 3 11-13-2006 07:46 PM
'Iron Horse' returns to old stomping ground thedrifter Marines 0 03-27-2004 05:01 AM
In Iraq, Velvet Gloves or Iron Fist? thedrifter Marines 0 01-25-2004 06:59 AM
U.S.'s 'Iron Hammer' code name 1st used by Nazis thedrifter Marines 0 11-19-2003 05:34 AM
"Iron Mike" thedrifter Marines 0 11-09-2003 10:57 AM

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:14 PM.


Powered by vBulletin, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.