Editorial Note:
THANK YOU for your patience while your editor wraps up a few years of academic sabbatical. Coming months (Fall 2020) will see our redevelopment to new and exciting content. Meanwhile, enjoy timeless stories of extraordinary Marines.
Semper fidelis,
Meriwether
Editor’s Favorites Gallery
Interviews & Special Assignments
Tom Nerney: Humble Marine Finishes Amazing NYPD Career
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters Tom Nerney: Humble Marine Finishes Amazing NYPD Career Fall 2002 NEW YORK, NY – First Grade Detective and former Marine Tom Nerney walks quietly into the Skylight...
The Eyes of Freedom – Lima Company Memorial
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters Special Assignment: The Eyes of Freedom — Lima Company Memorial Our exclusive interviews with Directors Mike Strahle and Sean Flaharty of the nonprofit organization...
Richard Zacks: The Pirate Coast – Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1804
INTERVIEW ARCHIVES CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters (Interview conducted via the Internet, June 2005) Zacks: Hi Meriwether (and Jeffery): Thanks for the interest… I’ll scroll down to the questions and try to...
Davis Family: Marine Mom Sharing Pride
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters MARINE MOM SHARING PRIDE March 2004 PHOTO: Glenn and Sally Davis in their son Matthew’s room. TEMPLETON, MA – This Marine’s mom is led by her heart. Sally Davis,...
Asad Khan: Introduction (First in a series)
LtCol Asad Khan January 2005 Marine LtCol Asad Khan is a simple man, but one willing to undertake complicated strategies to keep his Marines successful and alive. This is the first of a three-part series on the commander who led a magnificent series of battles in...
Gene Duncan: A Visit From the Heart
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters Winter 2002 NEW YORK – Sometimes an old Marine must make a journey of homage. And sometimes that Marine is fortunate enough to be accompanied by honoring leathernecks....
The Blood of Asad Khan (Second in a series)
LtCol Asad Khan January 2005 “Our most precious asset is our Marines.” Yes, it’s a platitude. Yes, no editor would want that quote to run. Unless a commander proved this was his personal philosophy by years of pre-war preparation. So, as LtCol Asad Khan made...
Michael Brinkley: Wounded Warrior Regiment: Providing Transition Assistance
INTERVIEWS ARCHIVES CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters August 2010 Holding the receiver against his cheek, Mike Brinkley leaned back in his ergonomic chair practically to laying. He pressed his other hand to his clenched lips...
Combat Marine Outdoors: HM1 Dwayne Friday, USN
Special Assignment: More Than A News Story – A Journalism Project MARCH 2012 Pinning down HM1 Dwayne Friday was easy. He welcomes all comers. He’s a peacemaker. Fears no question, seems to fear little at all. “Doc” is very calm and has a ready...
The Business of Asad Khan (Third in a series)
LtCol Asad Khan January 2005 LtCol. Asad Khan has a mind for business – the business of winning battles. The profit is the mission success and Marines surviving. The business strategy is great training and careful negotiations. “I would not ask them to do anything I...
John Otto: Supporting the Corps
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters LtCol. John M. Otto, US Army November 2002 DEVENS, MA – U.S. Army Lt. Col. John M. Otto may not have been commissioned in the Corps, but he certainly understands and...
The Gravity of LCpl Lance Graham & The Haditha Hospital Ambush
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters The Gravity of LCpl Lance Graham & The Haditha Hospital Ambush Corps Stories Special Assignment – Interview with Marines of Mobile Assault Platoon (MAP) 7,...
Dennis Rocheford: A Father in the Field
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters Cmdr. Dennis Rocheford: A Father in the Field August 2002 BLACKSTONE, MA – Armed with his faith and his Marine Corps training, Commander Dennis Rocheford (USNR), 53,...
Combat Marine Outdoors: Gist Kingman Ranch
Special Assignment: More Than A News Story – A Journalism Project Combat Marine Outdoors: Gist-Kinsman Ranch, George West, TX MARCH 2012 When a trophy deer hunting ranch donates hunts to CMO, they are essentially making a high five-digit donation. The...
Dave Andersen: Might of the Pen
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters Maj. Dave Andersen: Might of the Pen January 2006 It was bitter cold on a recent December day in midtown Manhattan and I?d come a long way to be there. Far from a...
Thomas Ryan: Award Overdue
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters SSgt. Thomas Ryan: One Independent Marine October 2002 DEVENS, MA – Staff Sergeant Tom Ryan is looking down the barrel of retirement – and his independence and...
Tom Moore: Marine and Celtic Ties Close to the Heart
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters Capt. Tom Moore, USMC (Ret): Marine and Celtic Ties Close to the Heart September 2002 KANSAS CITY, KS – No moss is growing on Capt. Thomas Moore. At 68, this...
Ellis Cozine: Warrior Creator Retires
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters 1st Sgt. D. Ellis Cozine: Warrior Creator Retires November 2002 TOPSHAM – The calm of southern Maine has provided a content prelude to the retirement of First Sergeant...
LtCol. Lemuel W. “Chip” Houston, USMC, Memorial Service
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters LtCol. Lemuel W. “Chip” Houston, USMC, Memorial Service Portions of the Richmond, VA memorial service for devoted retired USMC leader and VA Tech alumnus held on...
Jeff Schuller – Revisit
Interview REVISIT JUNE 2014 Engaging Storms JS wearing bracelet remembering one of his four fallen MAP 7 Marines, Michael Marzano. He changes them every Sunday. (Editor’s note: The content to the left in blue is the Silver Star award citation. The content to...
Combat Marine Outdoors: An Inspiring, Necessary Means to Healing
Special Assignment: More Than A News Story – A Journalism Project MARCH 2012 Combat Marine Outdoors[CMO] works like this: Go to one of the nation’s best VA hospitals. Get a severely wounded Marine. One who’s frustrated, annoyed, discouraged. Drive...
Jerome Lynes: Homeward Bound, Mission Accomplished
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters LtCol Jerome Lynes: Homeward Bound, Mission Accomplished August 2002 CAMP LEJEUNE, NC- Extraordinary calm fills the voice of LtCol. Jerome Lynes. As Commander of Battalion...
Rick Burrill: Riding to Serve
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters Rick Burrill, Sr.: RIDING TO SERVE PHOTO: A former Marine displays his pins and patches at a recent veteran’s memorial run. (August, 2003) BOSTON – Some journeys are...
Mary Kate Bailey: Devoted Marine Stands on Family Faith
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters Mary Kate Bailey: Devoted Marine Stands on Family Faith July 2005 QUANTICO – Former Marine Captain Mary Kate Bailey has built her life on a deep faith and...
Gene Duncan: The Birth of Clint McQuade
INTERVIEW ARCHIVES CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters THE BIRTH OF CLINT McQUADE by Gene Duncan, USMC (Ret.) Retired Marine Author Still Serving Through His Writing, Publishing and Speaking (Interview conducted via the...
Quantico National Cemetery Funeral of Maj. H. G. Duncan
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters Quantico National Cemetery Funeral of Maj. H. G. Duncan 28Mar2011...
Jennifer Schrantz: Hero at War – Heroine at Home
INTERVIEW ARCHIVES CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters Having just moments before been delivered of her first child, then Capt. Jennifer Rutledge Schrantz turned her groggy mind toward her husband. Their son Danny would soon be...
Tom Nerney: Nullus amicus melior, nullus hostis peior. (No greater friend, no worse enemy.)
FEATURE IN MEMORIAM AUGUST 2017 Thomas D. Nerney, USMC, NYPD 1939 – 2017 (Photo: Private First Class Thomas Nerney, working in the administration offices ofSt. Leonard’s High School, NYC, 1960.) Nullus amicus melior, nullus hostis peior. The epitaph of a...
Agostino von Hassell: War Horse Heaven
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters War Horse Heaven By Agostino von Hasselland T. J. Cahill December 2012 What sets War Horse Heaven (WHH) (Agostino von Hassell,T. J. Cahill) apart from other...
USMC 238th Birthday Celebration at Chesty’s Tomb
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters USMC 238th Birthday Celebration at Chesty’s Tomb, 9 Nov 2013 Bravo Co. FAST & MCL Det 1317 & 1173 celebrate USMC birthday at burial place of LtGen. Lewis B....
Arlington Funeral of LtCol. James Tully, USMC
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters LtCol Tully Funeral 11Jun10 Arlington National Cemetery funeral of Silver Star recipient LtCol. James Tully,...
Steven Barber: Until They Are Home
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters On All Sides “Until They Are Home” Capitol Hill Showing 10 November 2012 Editor’s Note: This is our third feature about the films of Steven Barber....
Harvey Keitel: Marine Corps Background Underscores Movie Career
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters Harvey Keitel: Marine Corps Background Underscores Movie Career Spring 2003 BOSTON – The voice on the line is calm, quiet, and that of SSgt. Kitsakos. “Want a...
USN Corpsman Brian Hill: One Spouse’s Story
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters 1:22 / 5:48 USN Corpsman Brian Hill: One Spouse’s Story How support from loved ones and organizations like the Marine Corps – Law Enforcement Foundation helped...
Combat Marine Outdoors: Cpl. Kenneth Kalish, USMC
Special Assignment: More Than A News Story – A Journalism Project MARCH 2012 The problem with spending time with Cpl. Kenny Kalish, USMC, 23, is that one must remind themselves he has lost his legs and left arm. His personality, intelligence, consideration of...
Lilian Gonzales: Served and Still Serving
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters Lilian Gonzales: Served and Still Serving October 2003 (October 2003 READER SUBMISSION BY Anne Nowlin, BS, BSN, RNz) ”A few good men,” were sought by the Marine Corps when I...
Gregg Lyon: Battling – Upward and Onward
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters LtCol Gregg Lyon: Battling – Upward and Onward November 2004 There was no way that young man on a dirt bike was my interview. I was there to talk to a senior Marine...
Phil Irizarry: Marine Won’t Drop His Pack (Combat Marine Outdoors)
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters June 2011 “There is so much freedom to do anything else.” Phil Irizarry said as he leaned forward in a quiet cantina not far from Marine Corps...
Alex Kitsakos: Community in the Heart of this NYPD Marine
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters SSgt. Alex Kitsakos: Community in the Heart of this NYPD MarineApril 2003 NEW YORK, NY – It was a balmy, breezy Saturday evening before St. Patrick’s day and SSgt....
Steven Barber: Return to Tarawa
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters Steven C. Barber: Part 2 Film DirectorHonors Hallowed Marine Ground June 2012 (L to R: Fern Burford (Barber’s mother), Steven Barber, Norm Hatch, Tim Shelton)...
Nick Kelly: Quiet Gallantry
June 2005 IRAQ, April 2004: “Ramadi, 30 miles west of the embattled city of Fallujah, has been a baptism by fire for many of the roughly 400 from two companies who are serving their first combat mission,” wrote embedded Philadelphia Inquirer...
Barney Cummings: Work and the Corps – Labors of Love
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters Barney Cummings: WORK AND THE CORPS: LABORS OF LOVE May 2002 ATHOL, MA – One World War II enlistment so influenced this Marine, that the rest of his life has included...
Harbor Site Foundation
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters Joe Kauper, Harbor Site Foundation (w Ed Arias, NYST-MCA)...
Michael Gring: Beloved Combat Corpsman and Leader
Interview Archives CorpsStories Exclusive Interviews with Extraordinary Marines and Supporters DEVENS, Ma – Chief Petty Officer Michael A. Gring rocks back in his office chair, reflecting on three decades serving the Navy and Marine Corps. He’s seen the...
From the Editor
Editorial: Star Arising – John Pappas
From the Editor Star Arising – John Pappas CorpsStories Summer 2004 Editorial When I was a child in Takoma Park, barely outside northwest D.C.’s city limits during the 60’s and 70’s, life was not idealistic. And it was certainly during those...
Editorial: Remembering the Silent Memoriams
FROM THE EDITOR Remembering the Silent Memoriams CorpsStories Christmas 2003 Editorial Very recently, in the early hours of snowstorm, a fine Marine was laid to rest. CorpsStories will not be reprinting a hometown news story. There won’t be one written to...
Editorial: So Long For Now – The Loss of My Marine: David J. Eden
From the Editor So Long For Now – The Loss of My Marine: David J. Eden (back row, second from left) CorpsStories 3rd Annual Editorial Memorial Day 2005 Sometimes a Marine comes along with the sole purpose of delivering...
Editorial: Son of Abraham – LtCol Asad Khan
From the Editor Son of Abraham – LtCol Asad Khan CorpsStories January 2005 Editorial Before talking to him, not dreaming he’d give me significant interview time, I perceived him as desperately wanting to hibernate with his wife and children – staying away...
Editorial: God, Marines, and the Media
FROM THE EDITOR God, Marines and the Media CorpsStories 1st Anniversary Editorial, Memorial Day 2003 The forming of CorpsStories.com was an act of frustration. I was angry at an editor. He had changed “Marine” to “soldier”, in what was for me a groundbreaking story,...
Editorial: God’s Gift to Marine Photojournalism: Todd Heisler, Rocky Mountain News
From the Editor God’s Gift to Marine Photojournalism: Todd Heisler, Rocky Mountain News BEST IN SHOW: Todd Heisler, Rocky Mountain News. When 2nd Lt. James Cathey’s body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane...
Editorial: Mentoring, Interrupted – LtCol John Monahan
From the Editor Mentoring, Interrupted – LtCol John Monahan CorpsStories Spring 2004 Editorial I have a fledgling publication that is completely dependant upon my receiving great mentoring. And when for instance, one of those mentors seemingly suddenly decides...