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Post by obiwan27 on Apr 21, 2012 22:05:47 GMT 12
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kiwirotorwrench
Warrant Officer
"Silent gratitude never did anyone any good"
Posts: 37
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Post by kiwirotorwrench on Apr 22, 2012 12:55:08 GMT 12
Pity they couldn't stick around for another fortnight and participate in this. marinenz.com/
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Post by ErrolC on Apr 22, 2012 13:21:18 GMT 12
Pity they couldn't stick around for another fortnight and participate in this. marinenz.com/ Are there Marines at the Embassy full-time?
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Post by phil82 on Apr 22, 2012 13:31:30 GMT 12
Pity they couldn't stick around for another fortnight and participate in this. marinenz.com/ Are there Marines at the Embassy full-time? Yes. All US embassies overseas have a Marine contingent. If I recall correctly they are drawn from a specific group of Marines and are posted for two years at a time, and they get a medal for being in Wellington, which puts a new spin on Courtney Place after dark!
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Post by corsair67 on Apr 22, 2012 13:57:35 GMT 12
But New Zealand is in a benign environment - don't the US Government know that? ?
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Apr 22, 2012 14:42:43 GMT 12
But New Zealand is in a benign environment - don't the US Government know that? ? Try walking down Murphy Street in Wellington and aiming a camera at the gate (where the Marines are) and take a photograph and watch the reaction. I did about five years ago and one of them crossed the road to ask me what I was doing. I informed him that I was standing on a public footpath taking photographs. A few minutes later while walking further down the street where it had become Mulgrave Street, a car slowly cruised past me with the occupants (big burly chaps dressed in suits) studying me as they passed. The Diplomatic Protection Squad, I presume....I guess someone got upset with having a camera aimed in their direction!
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Post by phil82 on Apr 22, 2012 16:09:56 GMT 12
I wouldn't attach too much weight to the medal: all US service people finish their basic training with at least one row of ribbons! They love their bling!
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Post by chinapilot on Apr 23, 2012 21:47:17 GMT 12
Taking photographs of any Embassy gates in any country will get a lot of attention. Don't need to be a Rhodes Scholar to figure that one out.
It's a pity that the interesting original post has descended into the usual slagging...
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Post by ErrolC on Apr 24, 2012 21:24:58 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 24, 2012 22:17:13 GMT 12
Interesting blog post, thanks for bringing that to our attention Errol.
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Post by sparrow on Apr 25, 2012 6:50:22 GMT 12
I bet seeing them bought a smile to a few old dears faces.
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Post by deanthemarine on Apr 27, 2012 12:36:12 GMT 12
I wouldn't attach too much weight to the medal: all US service people finish their basic training with at least one row of ribbons! They love their bling! Hey deanthemarine checking in and I think I get a medal for doing that have to check with HQ. More bling- I love it. You have a great day now.
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Post by deanthemarine on Apr 27, 2012 12:44:30 GMT 12
Pity they couldn't stick around for another fortnight and participate in this. marinenz.com/ In the Marine Corps we refer to them as the "advance party". Usually send them in before we attack Seriously though, Thank you for honoring us and having us as guests in your country. Sorry we couldn't stay longer but wars always get in the way of socializing
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Post by phil82 on Apr 27, 2012 16:12:44 GMT 12
I wouldn't attach too much weight to the medal: all US service people finish their basic training with at least one row of ribbons! They love their bling! Hey deanthemarine checking in and I think I get a medal for doing that have to check with HQ. More bling- I love it. You have a great day now. You have mistaken an observation for a criticism: it isn't, merely an observation of fact that the US looks at medal and badge awards somewhat differently! So do tell what badges /medals/awards you have on completion of basic!
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Post by deanthemarine on Apr 28, 2012 4:49:25 GMT 12
Hey deanthemarine checking in and I think I get a medal for doing that have to check with HQ. More bling- I love it. You have a great day now. You have mistaken an observation for a criticism: it isn't, merely an observation of fact that the US looks at medal and badge awards somewhat differently! So do tell what badges /medals/awards you have on completion of basic! Hey Phil82 I did not take it as a criticism just made me smile that's why I added the smileys and tried to joke with you in return. If you join the Marine Corps during a time of war you rate the National Defence service medal when you graduate from boot camp. This is only regular Marines. Marine reservists would not rate it. if you join during peacetime this medal is not awarded. The only other badge you get upon graduating boot camp is your rifle badge which is determined by how well you shot on the rifle range qualification course. As Marines pride themselves on every Marine being a rifleman this is a cherished badge. God forbid you fail to qualify with the rifle. Down the road you may have to also qualify with the pistol depending on your assignment or job. Hope that helps.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 28, 2012 9:03:19 GMT 12
Welcome to the forum Dean.
Here in the RNZAF we all have/had to qualify on the rifle range too. So I guess the RNZAF can also baost that every Airman/WAAF is a rifleman/riflewoman?
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Post by deanthemarine on Apr 28, 2012 12:30:47 GMT 12
Welcome to the forum Dean. Here in the RNZAF we all have/had to qualify on the rifle range too. So I guess the RNZAF can also baost that every Airman/WAAF is a rifleman/riflewoman? Thank you Dave. Nice to be here. Was directed to this thread by a friend of mine who served in the RNZAF and comes to our U.S. Marine Birthday bash every year. Do you have to qualify with the weapon each year as Marines do?
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Post by phil82 on Apr 28, 2012 14:11:21 GMT 12
Ahh...annual qualification time! There was a 25 Yard range up behind Shelly Bay, and every year we "suits" from Wellington had to be checked out with the [then] Browning 9mm. You had to take a stance, feet apart, then bend the knees and get off two quick shots. So the order comes, I bend my knees, quick aim, and two shots, accompanied at the same time by a tearing sound as the back seam in my suit trousers split.. I had to borrow a long coat for the trip home!
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Post by phil82 on Apr 28, 2012 14:22:40 GMT 12
Dean, you may not be aware, but the 2nd US Marine Division was based just out of Wellington during WW2. before leaving for Tarawa. For many years after some of them came back, annually for a reunion, right up to the late 70s early 80s. I recall one ANZAC Day when they marched in the ANZAC Day parade and received huge applause from the crowd. Rightly so!
There is a plaque commemorating their being here on the Wellington Waterfront.The Marines gradually departed New Zealand to engage the invaders in places like Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and Bougainville. Thousands of those Marines never made it home to America. Their temporary and important presence here continues to be commemorated in New Zealand through the efforts of the Kapiti U.S. Marines Trust, Old St. Paul’s, and the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. A plaque left on the sea wall along Wellington’s Aotea Quay by the U.S. Second Marine Division Association nicely sums up the Corps’ great affection for New Zealand: “If You Need A Friend You Have One.”
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Post by obiwan27 on Apr 28, 2012 16:57:26 GMT 12
That would be this plaque:
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