Posted on Dec 17, 2014
The elusive Marine Gunner. Do you have a favorite?
70.4K
426
177
87
87
0
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
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
I have so many I could put up here. but let's go with Gib Bolton. When I was running Machine Gun house at 1st Marine Division Schools we have this amazing warrior and friend come speak at our graduations. When you've got a Silver Star citation from Vietnam in 68 that reads "...then with exceptional composure called for a six 105mm variable timed fuse mission on his own position" well, sir...you can drink out of my canteen anytime. One of the other stories he'd tell aboit that night was Cpl. Willet Amendola, his assigned 60mm Mortarman. During the night battle, the VC tried to rush the mortar position, take out Amendola and steal the Mortar. Amendola said to hell with that, fought the VC hand to hand got the tube back, and then by the light of the battle you could see him caving skulls in using the mortar tube as a bat. Gunner Bolton said THAT image rallied the boys to fight on. Gib would come back from Vietnam and go be a Drill Instructor before eventually being picked up for Gunner. If I remember correctly he was the Last Gunner on active duty before that program was stood down for a short while in the Mid 90s and then stood back up circa 97. Anyhow...if you want to read more http://www.ohioheroes.org/inductees/2000/bolton.htm
(1)
(0)
CWO3 (Join to see)
He told us about the mortar story at an 81 shoot during Plt Sgt Crse in 88. We rotated between the gun line, worked FDC, and spotted all day. Had to lay in the 9 tubes parallel first. Then at night we burned the huge pile of ammo boxes and tubes before heading back. That was Gunner's Time to share some Combat Leadership. He rarely talked about Nam at all unless asked. On the mortar incident he said you haven't been in close combat until you're swinging a mortar tube. He was a total inspiration and hard as nails. Very calm and professional.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
Our XO was a Lt. Who was a Mustang in 1968 and was a reserve commission. When he got a permanent rank as Gunner, he was celebrated and super happy. There were very few Marine Mustang In the Vietnam era.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
My dad, Gunner Boise, retired in 1984 at Ft Sill. He was and is my role model. He’s still alive and kicking ass in Jacksonville, Fl
(1)
(0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
CWO 5 Gunner Greenwell USMCR one of the hard charging devil dogs Kilo Company 3/24 Semper Fi !
Also Sergeant Major Bradley Coppes (machine gunner) India Company 3/24 another hard charging devil dog Hoorah!
Also Sergeant Major Bradley Coppes (machine gunner) India Company 3/24 another hard charging devil dog Hoorah!
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google