Posted on Sep 8, 2015
Retired Marine's uniform: Is this stolen valor or is there another reason?
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I came across this article and related picture and just about lost my mind. For the life of me I can't think why a retired Marine would go so far outside the box regarding uniform standards (e.g. blood stripe in white trousers, mini-medals in dress blues, etc.). What do you think?
ABILENE, Texas (May 24, 2015) - For Marine Gunnery Sgt. Richard Dobbins, Memorial Day has a great meaning. But it's not one that's unique to him.
The Vietnam War veteran said he lost friends on the battlefield. They were together through good times and bad times, he said.
But more good than bad, he quickly added.
"(Memorial Day) means missing my friends in the service," he said. "I lost a couple buddies in Vietnam. It makes me think of when I was stationed in Spain. We went to Japan, saw Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We were taken to Tokyo."
Dobbins spent Sunday morning dressed in his service uniform, surrounded by Boy Scouts, fellow veterans and interested onlookers at Elmdale Baptist Church. They, along with worshippers, paid tribute to fallen soldiers, former prisoners of war and other combat veterans.
http://www.reporternews.com/news/local-news/memorial-day-service-honors-those-who-served-and-those-who-still-serve_39209276
ABILENE, Texas (May 24, 2015) - For Marine Gunnery Sgt. Richard Dobbins, Memorial Day has a great meaning. But it's not one that's unique to him.
The Vietnam War veteran said he lost friends on the battlefield. They were together through good times and bad times, he said.
But more good than bad, he quickly added.
"(Memorial Day) means missing my friends in the service," he said. "I lost a couple buddies in Vietnam. It makes me think of when I was stationed in Spain. We went to Japan, saw Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We were taken to Tokyo."
Dobbins spent Sunday morning dressed in his service uniform, surrounded by Boy Scouts, fellow veterans and interested onlookers at Elmdale Baptist Church. They, along with worshippers, paid tribute to fallen soldiers, former prisoners of war and other combat veterans.
http://www.reporternews.com/news/local-news/memorial-day-service-honors-those-who-served-and-those-who-still-serve_39209276
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 80
You wouldn't spend almost 24 years on the corps and retire as a gunny, fuckin fake besides the fact that the trousers are a dead give away
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Several years ago I attended a Wounded Warriors' Marine Corps Birthday Ball where the guest speaker was Sgt. Dakota Meyer (MOH). In his remarks he mentioned that Marines LOOK at each other when we're in uniform to make sure each and every one of us is "squared away" with everything in its proper place. Coincidentally, when I went out to the "smoking area" in the hotel garage, I noticed a sergeant who had put the collar devices on his dress blues with "anchors outboard" and I took him off to one side, advised him of the discrepancy, and helped him make the switch.
If a Marine sees another Marine whose wearing of the uniform isn't right, he lets him know, not to shame him but to let him know he's out of regs and needs to make a correction. I would have taken this "old Gunny" to one side and let him know that he was not wearing a correct uniform. Would I have asked him a few questions to see if he had actually served in our beloved Corps? You betcha!
If a Marine sees another Marine whose wearing of the uniform isn't right, he lets him know, not to shame him but to let him know he's out of regs and needs to make a correction. I would have taken this "old Gunny" to one side and let him know that he was not wearing a correct uniform. Would I have asked him a few questions to see if he had actually served in our beloved Corps? You betcha!
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The blood stripe wasn't worn on white trousers. If he didn't have the blood stripe on you wouldn't know the difference. However, with the blood stripe it does stand out in a negative way.
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GySgt John O'Donnell
I would agree with you that if not for him having to gone the "extra mile" by sewing "blood stripes' on the white trousers it would have went unnoticed. But that my point, when should we be suspect of a situation, and when should we over look it?
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I hope this Boy Scout doesn't fall for the oldest trick in the book!...... The old "pull my finger, son" trick.
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I don't see how a Marine was stationed in Spain, unless he was at the Embassy. But why would an Embassy guard in Spain be sent to Japan? Perhaps he forgot to mention serving an Okinawa tour. He's not much older than I am, so I'm doubtful about the dementia angle. But who knows?
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It could be that he was in a military honor guard with his VFW, we have many older vets that want nothing than to show after all these years they still looking e the country they served, and sometimes that means wearing as close to possible a proper uniform as you can get or remember. He is holding a flag sitting on the side of the road telling me there is a very good chance that he just marched in a small town parade. Can't stand the fakes but find out the facts first before you call him out
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GySgt John O'Donnell
From what I could tell, it's a dog. Just another example of the "WTF" of the guy's thought process, or lack there of.
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the Blue-White Dress uniforms do not feature the "blood stripe. I can not believe a real Marine Gunnery Sergeant would dress like this.
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This picture is on the newspaper site. Appears to be wearing dark trousers here! or is it the lighting? In another pic, that is more of a upper part, it shows that he is wearing a fourragere, must have served with 5th or 6th Marines.
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