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April 25th, 2008 by JackOrth | FLASHBACKS | | 0 Comments

The Gunny

 Gunnery Sergeant Aloysius Jubilation (a/k/a “AJ”) Squaredaway, USMC (Ret)

Later, in my three-year Marine Corps enlistment, 1953 in Korea, I found out who the true A.J. Squaredaway was! It was Gunnery Sgt. William Parks, and he was our “Gunny” in How Co./3rd Battalion, 7th Marines.

Oh, what a Marine he was, and is to this day.  A great leader of men … fearless, and at the same time,   in his own way, took care of his troops like a shepherd watching over the flock.  He set the example for every Marine in our company, and was responsible for many of us living through the war, myself included.  Gunny Parks, a World War II, decorated Marine, became a Sgt. Major, and retired in 1981.  But, he will always be “Gunny Parks” to all Marines from H/3/7!

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