We Didn’t Promise You a Rose Garden
October 21st, 2009 by Jack Orth | FLASHBACKS | | 0 Comments
The Gunny
Birthday Edition Polo
Old Salt Cap
Had a call recently from a long lost retired Sgt. Major, who lives in Beaufort, SC. He was having a mini-reunion with a half dozen Jarheads at Parris Island. I knew them all, and he said right off the bat, “The order of the day is for you to saddle up, lock and load, and head down here. Don’t give me any B.S. that you can’t leave Trigger behind … he can stay at my barracks here in Beaufort, just like you!”
Being free as a bird, Trigger and I packed the seabag and headed out of Hendersonville, NC at high port! Trigger loves to travel, and was in the “tank” like a flash. Half way down Rt. #26, our minds wandered, and I was told by a State Trooper that I was clocked at 86 mph when he pulled me over!
Ya know, we Marines always find that it pays to be one. My USMC decal on the back window led to the question, “Where are you going in such a hurry?” Told him I was on the way to P.I. for a reunion, and he said in a business-like manner, “Well, this is your lucky day .. Semper Fi!” Then told me to hold it at 80 mph, and I’d be fine. Yes, he was a Marine, and let the “old Gunny” move out almost on the double!
The get-together the first day was at The Officers Club at P.I., which is now a combination “O” Club and Staff NCO Club. I was wearing my Leatherneck Square USMC 234th Birthday Edition Polo and Old Salt Cap and, practically in unison, the Marines said,”Where’d ya get that shirt?!” I had a “flashback”!
It was back in 1951 at Camp Lejeune, and I told the other Jarheads this story ..
A young PFC in the 6th Marines was going out on liberty, and he was wearing a USMC tee shirt with the Marine green trousers. I chewed him out big time, and told him if he was going to wear civilian clothes wear them, not a combination of a tee shirt with Marine green issue trousers. Casual clothes on liberty is fine, but not with our Marine Corps issue clothing.
Well, come to find out, the young Marine went to the “slopchute” instead of his planned liberty, and proceeded to have one too many beers. Then, he decided to go into Jacksonville with other Marines to do some serious drinking! One thing led to another, and he ended up at the tattoo parlor. Came back to the base with a new look .. a tattoo that pictured a beautiful rose in full bloom inscribed at the top, “AS SWEET AS A ROSE” .. and underneath the rose, the name “JENNY”!
A month or so later, I commented to the young Jarhead, “Why didn’t you get a Marine Corps EGA on your forearm instead of that flower?!” His explanation went something like this .. “Well, when you told me to change my liberty uniform, I did, and went to the slopchute. I was going to a church supper in Jacksonville, but changed my mind, and eventually ended up at the tattoo shop. Had my girlfriend Jenny’s name put on the rose. Last week I received a “Dear John” letter from Jenny!
If I had gone to the church supper none of this would’ve happened .. so, when I look at “JENNY” on my arm for the rest of my life, I’ll think of you, Gunny!”
Well, I told the Marine he might want to go back to the tattoo parlor and have “JENNY” blocked out, and in its place put “We Didn’t Promise You a Rose Garden!” .. with an EGA under it! Also, told him I’d pay for it Hopefully, all these years later, he looks at that art work and laughs as he says, “The Gunny was an alright guy!”
Semper Fi ……. The Gunny
