In Memoriam
"Once a Marine Always a Marine" A eulogy to Our Fallen Comrades. **
Two hundred and thirty years ago on November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia passed a resolution stating that "two Battalions of Marines be raised" for service as landing forces with the fleet. This resolution established the Continental Marines and marks the birth date of the United States Marine Corps. Serving on land and sea, these first Marines distinguished themselves in a number of important operations.
Who are these Men and Women we call Marines?
She is a police officer on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.
He is the POW who went away one person and came back another - or didn't come back at ALL.
She is the Paris Island Drill Instructor who has never seen combat - but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no account rednecks and city people into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.
He is the carrier pilot landing on a rolling, pitching, heaving flight deck during a rain squall in the pitch black night of the Tonkin Gulf.
They are the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the oceans deep.
They are Marines who have fought battles in places most people have never heard of: Tripoli, Montezuma, Meuse-Argonne, Belleau Woods, Corregidor, Turk Island, Midway, Saipan, Iwo Jima, In- chon, Khan Shan, Hill 55, Somali, Beirut Lebanon, Iran, Afghanistan and countless others.
But the most outstanding custom in the Marine Corps is simply "being a Marine" and all that it implies. Call it morale, call it esprit de corps, call it what you will-it is that pride which sets a United States Marine apart from the other armed services. It is not taught in manuals, yet it is the most impressive lesson a recruit learns in boot camp. It is not tangible, yet it has won fights against material odds. Perhaps Senator Paul H. Douglas has best defined it"Those of us who have had the privilege of serving in the Marine Corps value our experience as among the most precious of our lives. The fellowship of shared hardships and dangers in worthy cause creates a close bond of comradeship. It is the basic reason for the cohesiveness of Marines and for the pride we have in our corps and our loyalty to each other". These fallen Marines were proud of thier Corps and believed it to be second to none. They were loyal to their comrades and to the Marine Corps, adhering always to the motto Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful).
"Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve.
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes,
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines."
**Compiled by R. E. "Pat" Ruckstuhl, Sgt USMC 1966-1972. Copied and adapted from the Sgt. Grit website. http://www.grunt.com/corps/scuttlebutt/marine-corps-stories/eulogy-for-a-fallen-marine/
Harvey "Mack" Abbott
Gainesville, Georgia
Harvey "Mack" Abbott, age 91, passed away Thursday, June 19, 2014, at Summer's Landing. Mack was born in Birmingham, Ala., on October 16, 1922. The only child of Matthew and Alice Abbott, Mack lived in several states as he grew up during the Great Depression. He decided to join the Marines at the age of 17. After boot camp at Parris Island and additional training, he was moved to the 3rd Defense Battalion and was shipped to Pearl Harbor. The morning of December 7, 1941, changed his world and forced him to become a hardened Marine at the age of 19. Over the next few years, he was shipped to Midway, Guadalcanal, Saipan and Tinian, and was the security detail for the Enola Gay used for the Hiroshima atomic bomb. After the war he moved to Houston, Texas, and met Janie Nell Reagan, the love of his life. They got married and started a family with their son Carl, their daughter Pam and another son Paul. A natural salesman, Mack spent over 40 years in various sales and sales management positions until his retirement at age 70. In his later years, Mack went on to write "The First and Last Shots Fired in World War II," a book about his experiences in the war, and played a large role with the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. He was instrumental in establishing and maintaining the Pearl Harbor Survivor Memorial at the Marietta National Cemetery, and is recognized as a veteran in the Circle of Honor at the Freedom Garden at the Northeast Georgia History Center. He was an active member of Gainesville First UMC and enjoyed boating, fishing, playing the guitar and recorder, and occasionally impersonating Elvis Presley. Mack was preceded in death by Janie, his beloved wife of 54 years, and is survived by their children, Carl (Karen) Abbott, Pam (Wayne) Mock, and Paul (Sherry) Abbott. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Brandi (Charles) Bradshaw, Kimberly (Phil) Tyree, Russ (Beth) Abbott, Shelley (Spencer) Randolph, Mallory (Rory) Kiefer, Nathan Abbott; and great-grandchildren, Christian and Josh Bradshaw, Jonah, Cody and Madelyn Abbott, Janie and Jack Tyree, and Reagan Randolph. He will be remembered by his family as "Pop" or "Pop Pop," a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Barry Alvin Barrett
Hiawasse, Georgia
Mr. Barry Alvin Barrett, age 62, passed away Wednesday, July 20, 2011, at Union General Hospital in Blairsville. Mr. Barrett was born in Atlanta on Aug. 10, 1948. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and was a three-time Purple Heart recipient. He retired from Oil Dri of America. He was preceded in death by his father, Roy William Barrett. He is survived by his wife, Doris "Jane" Barrett, Hiawassee; mother, Ella Ree McMahan Barrett, Wiliston, Fla.; daughters, Angela Ratley, Hiawassee; Betty McDuffie, Clarkesville; and Dora Long of Blue Ridge; grandsons, D.J. McDuffie, Michael McDuffie, Adam McDuffie and Damion Long; brothers and sisters-in-law, Brent A. and Chris Barrett, of Dahlonega; Bruce A. and Gail Barrett, Gainesville; brother, Brian A. Barrett, of Gainesville; sister and brother-in-law, Betty A. and Phillip Kirtland of Rome, Ga.; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Francis "Frank" E. Cornell
Anthony Vincent Madda
October 4, 2015
Anthony Vincent Madda, 74, of Cumming, GA, passed away on October 4, 2015. Anthony was a member of St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church and is also a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He served two tours in Vietnam and was awarded multiple purple hearts while serving our country.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Lucille Madda.
Anthony is survived by his wife, Susan Marette Madda, of Cumming, GA; daughter, Lisa (Mike) Leslie, of Berlin, PA; son, Don (Susie) Madda, of Cumming, GA; brothers, Don (Kathy) Madda, Phillip Madda, Jack (Patti) Madda; sister, Mary (Martin) Epstein, all of Cleveland, OH; five grandchildren and many other loving relatives and friends.
A funeral mass will be held Friday, October 9th, 2:00 p.m. at St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church, Cumming, GA. Rev. Fr. Jason Brooks will officiate. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Ingram Funeral Home.
Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, Cumming, Georgia is in charge of arrangements.
Stan L. Linder
June 14, 2016
Stan L. Linder, age 81 of Dacula, GA. passed away on June 14, 2016. Crowell Brothers Funeral Home and Crematory, 201 Morningside Drive/PO Box 2434 Buford, GA 30518. 770-945-9999. Please sign the online guest book at www.crowellbrothers.com.