Posted on Dec 17, 2014
The elusive Marine Gunner. Do you have a favorite?
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In my (extremely biased) opinion, no military Rank or Occupational Specialty commands the same aura as the Marine Gunner. With that being said they seem to be a secretive bunch, and stories about them are almost impossible to find.
I want to hear your from anyone who has a favorite Gunner from history. My own two favorite are Gunner Henry L. Hulbert, the first to ever don the busting bomb of the Marine Gunner, a Medal of Honor recipient and WWI casualty who hailed from the same area in England as me, and Gunner Alexander P. Ruskewitch, a WWII and Vietnam veteran who began his Marine Corps career as I did, as a Parachute Rigger.
I want to hear your from anyone who has a favorite Gunner from history. My own two favorite are Gunner Henry L. Hulbert, the first to ever don the busting bomb of the Marine Gunner, a Medal of Honor recipient and WWI casualty who hailed from the same area in England as me, and Gunner Alexander P. Ruskewitch, a WWII and Vietnam veteran who began his Marine Corps career as I did, as a Parachute Rigger.
Posted in these groups: 
Gunner
0306: Infantry Weapons Officer
Gunner 0306: Infantry Weapons Officer
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 98
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Hello, im a civilian but my favorite marine gunner is a guy named Joseph P. Poe mainly cause i'm his son.
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PO1 Owen McCormick
Joseph Poe your dad happen to be one of the best damn Gunners I have have served with. Learned a lot from him. Great man, better friend.
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Dan Geltmacher (2/3 from 1996-2000) cursed at me more, hounded my every step as a Bn Training Officer and Company XO, and taught me more than any other Marine during my formative years as a Lieutenant. As a true measure of those to whom we aspire to emulate, in those days I would've gladly chewed off a limb rather than disappoint him. (Of course, had I acted upon that, I fear that I would've left the battalion without any arms or legs...)
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PFC Tom Tracy Clapsaddle
Buddy of mine was in 2/6 on Lejeune. I was in CSSD 21 on Cherry Point same time
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GySgt (Join to see)
Dan Geltmacher is a solid man. Learned quite a bit from him while enjoying the view at the K-bay range.
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So don't hold me to historical accuracy here.
The Marine Gunner as a rank , not just every warrant officer they call "Gunner," has come and gone and returned over history.
I can't remember his name, but I worked for the last Marine Gunner in the Corps in the early 80s before they resurrected the rank in either the late 80s/90s. I was in 2/6 at the time. He was a veteran with a gazillion years under his belt when he retired. EVERYONE respected him. All I know is that we thought of him in the same manner as Chesty, Smedley Butler, and the other illustrious Marines from our history.
The Marine Gunner as a rank , not just every warrant officer they call "Gunner," has come and gone and returned over history.
I can't remember his name, but I worked for the last Marine Gunner in the Corps in the early 80s before they resurrected the rank in either the late 80s/90s. I was in 2/6 at the time. He was a veteran with a gazillion years under his belt when he retired. EVERYONE respected him. All I know is that we thought of him in the same manner as Chesty, Smedley Butler, and the other illustrious Marines from our history.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
MSgt George Cater - Hank was a real hoot. He made life fun while we were there. Didn't get real spun up over little stuff and enjoyed a good laugh. I knew he'd been a hat but didn't know when. One of the other Gunners said he thought he's down around P-Cola now. All those guys were rock-solid and I learned a lot from the ones in 4th Platoon. After our Mess Night him and a few others got the WM WOs to donate their skivvies. Some of us ran interference near the Hawkins Room Bar quarterdeck while they hoisted them from flagpole in front of O'Bannon Hall. The Colors Detail delivered them to the CO of TBS the next morning. The CO was a Navy Cross recipient and had lost a lung in Nam to a .51 cal MG. We heard he got a laugh out of it. That was Hank to the core.
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Sgt Charles Ford
The rank of Gunner went to warrant Officers who commanded Gun Mount crews on Capital ships like battleships or cruisers
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Didn't a Marine Corps "Gunner" also, or in addition, wear a small bar/insignia of rank? Not unlike a warrant officer?
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Gunner Bolton but that might just be because I actually was able to hear his story from the gunner himself at mct
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Thomas J Story, 1935-1965. Married a New Zealand lady. My mother was her 1st American Friend. Nickname Bubba Story, from Macon Georgia. Both he and my dad MSgt WC Coker, became friends in WWII. Built houses next to each other in Beaufort, right behind Beaufort High School. Both of them could knock the balls off of a housefly at 100 yes with a Garand
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Only met one Gunner! He was our company commander for my staging battalion on the way to VN. Tough man!
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I wish I could actually remember his name but I was on a DFT last year in Fort Stewart Georgia and our legit brand new gunner was probably one of the coolest guys youve ever met. Keep in mind it was a big deal at the time for us in general because it was the first time Combat Engineer Batalluon actually rated having a gunner. But he was the most laid back guys you've ever met, until he rifled off weapons questions... god forbid you get one wrong. Since I've gotten back from deployment I've yet to find him, I don't even know if he's still at the battalion.
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