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The 8th & I Reunion Association
An organization of Marines
who served at
Marine Barracks
8th & I Streets, S.E.,
Washington D.C.
"What The Barracks Is All About"
In 1990, Leatherneck Magazine ran an in-depth story spread over several monthly
issues on the "Oldest
Post in the Corps'" It explains the Mission of the Barracks, its various ceremonial
functions, as well as the various roles filled by the Marines who are stationed there.
Of interest is the fact
that the CO of the Barracks at that time, was Col. Peter Pace, USMC, who had earlier
served at the Barracks as a ceremonial officer, and who would later serve as a
four-star General in the capacity as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
For Leatherneck's first installment,
click here.
For Leatherneck's second installment,
click here.
For Leatherneck's third installment,
click here.
For Leatherneck's final installment,
click here.
"The Latest News From the Barracks!"
Chesty XII is retiring this month! His retirement is featured in a July 11, 2008 article in
US News & World Report entitled "Semper Fido." The article is complete with a handsome photo in his dress blue
and white uniform. To see the article, click here.
"Welcome!"
Welcome to our new web site! We
appreciate your visit to our site and we hope you enjoy it!
The site contains scores of photos and documents which
reflect our service at the "Oldest Post of the Corps,"
(established by President Thomas Jefferson in 1801), which is
known throughout the Marine Corps as "8th & I" (the streets in
Southeast Washington, DC where it is located).
To give you some flavor of service at 8th & I, we suggest
that before surfing the site, you hover your cursor over
the following "thumbnail sketches" of some of the duties there:
"Linking Past, Present and Future!"
On May 2, 2008, the United States Marine Corps War Memorial Flag Detail
("Iwo Flags"), participated in a flag presentation at the Barracks. The flag, presented
to Barracks CO, Col. W. Blake Crowe, had flown over the Iwo War Memorial in Arlington,
VA, and was then taken to Iwo Jima, where it was raised over Mount Suribachi through
the efforts of the Young Marines Program, and its Executive Director, Lt. Col. Michael
Kessler (USMC, Ret.).
Col. Crowe with Iwo Flag's President and
CEO, James Donovan, assisted by founding director, Col. Michael McGowan (USMC, Ret.).
2 May 2008, Major William "Mustang" Lee, 1962-1965, presented an IWO FLAG to 1st Sgt.
Marcel Lett of "A" Company. He presented this flag, with remarks to the troops in
formation, on behalf of the 1963 Drill Team and the CGC troops under his command
during 1964 and 1965.
Pictured are: (l - r) Col. John Donovan, Col. Michael McGowan,
Major William Lee, Col. W. Blake Crowe (Barracks CO), 1st Sgt. Marcel Lett
(A Company), Jim Donovan, and Robert Manchester, Esq.
The Iwo Flag Detail, in cooperation with the Marine Barracks, Henderson Hall and the
National Park Service, ensures that a serviceable American flag is always seen flying
over the Iwo Jima Memorial, one of the most treasured icons for Marines and those who
have served — and are serving — with them.
In his remarks during the ceremony, Robert Manchester III said the following:
"The present officers and directors of Iwo Flags all served at 8th & I as officers and
enlisted-We have all been where you are and are better for it.
We offer this Iwo flag as a means of providing what we hope will serve as a powerful
link between the Barracks past, the Barracks present and the Barracks future.
To view the press release for the event, click here.
To view the Iwo Flag Detail's Certificate of Appreciation to the 8th & I Reunion Association,
click here.
"50th Anniversary of the Evening Parade! - A Smashing Success !"
The Silent Drill Team performs at an Evening Parade
The Evening Parade held at the Barracks on July 6 was performed to celebrate the
50th Anniversary of the first
Evening Parade, which was performed on July 5, 1957! On a beautiful
low-humidity evening, more than 180 8th & I Reunion
Association members and their guests attended not only the parade, but also had
dinner together on the previous evening at the Marriott Gun Factory Hotel,
where they were joined by Col. Roy J. Batterton, Jr., XO of the Barracks and
CO of troops for the first Evening Parade. Click here to see photos of
our members who attended this significant event.
Of interest to all who have served at the Barracks is a
PowerPoint presentation which focuses on the first Evening Parade and life at the
Barracks in the mid-1950's. To view this program, turn up your sound and
click here. If you would like to
save this presentation on your own computer, right-click on the "click here" line,
and on the drop-down menu select "save target as . . " and then designate the
folder in which you would like to save it.
For a three-part, in-depth history of the Evening Parade, click here.
Barracks Poetry!
At Christmas time we published the beautiful poem entitled Merry
Christmas, My Friend read on NPR's 2004 Christmas Eve
Broadcast by its author, James M. Schmidt, Esq., who served at 8th & I as a
Scout-Sniper Instructor while a Corporal.
We now present several poems by our "Barracks Poet," Sergeant Tom Lee (deceased, July 28, 2008), who served as a Body
Bearer from 1964-67. To read a particular poem, click on its title below:
The Boys From 8th & I.
An Evening Parade in Blue and White Dress.
He Served With Pride: "The Lion of Fallujah".
The Making of a Marine.
The Crucible.
My Home of Granite.
Traditions.
Don Maurer ('67-68) composed a poem dedicated to Tom Lee which Don read at Tom's funeral
on July 30, 2008, entitled The Last Detail which can be viewed
here.
Yet another poem entitled 8th & I has arrived anonymously. Although we do
not know who the author is, the poem captures the spirit of the Barracks. It can be
read by clicking here.
Barracks Officer Awarded the Silver Star!
Pictured above is Capt. Joshua Glover being awarded the Silver Star for
his heroism in Iraq. The presentation was made by the Commandant, General
Michael Hagee. At the time of the award, Capt. Glover was serving as
Executive Officer of H & S Company. He later served as Commander of the Silent
Drill Platoon.
A New Feature!
Duty at "Shangri-La" - Camp David has been the subject of many items and
photos sent in by our members. Because of this, we have
decided to devote a separate section of this web site to that most unusual
duty assignment. It can be viewed at Camp David Section.
Ceremonies at the Barracks
"8th & I" (Marine Barracks, Washington, DC) is known for its public ceremonies, which are
primarily parades held at the Barracks and at the Iwo Jima Marine War Memorial at Arlington,
VA. Private ceremonies are held for interments at Arlington National Cemetery. The
parades, which last approximately 90 minutes, are the best shows in Washington, featuring the US Marine Band
click here for film clip, the Marine Drum and Bugle
Corps at an Evening Paradeclick here for film clip as well
as a Sunset Parade at the Marine War Memorial
click here for film clip, and the US Marine Silent
Drill Platoon click here for film clip 1 and
click here for film clip 2.
Don Maurer just found the earliest known video of the Silent Drill Team!
It was taken in 1968, and the first part is in front of Buildng #58 at the Navy Yard
in Washington, D.C., while preparing for a ceremony in San Antonio, TX. There is no sound due to a disconnected mike on the video camera.
The second segment was for the funeral of Robert F. Kennedy, first the assembly
and dress right dress. The scene follows with busses in front of the Union Station,
Washington, D.C. As we march off to be stationed inside the train station. To view
the video clip, click here.
If you are interested
in attending an Evening Parade at the Barracks, you may call 202-433-6060 or obtain
a reservation on-line, by clicking here.
The Barracks as seen from the air (Google Earth).
What a Role Reversal!
Bud Hansen and his wife Linda, attended the recent 231st Marine Corps Birthday Ball
at the Marine Barracks, 8th & I. In 1942, Bud was the youngest Marine aboard (and received the
first piece of cake), and in 2006, he was the oldest Marine present at age 84 (and cut the cake).
One of his
favorite pictures (taken at the Ball)
includes (l to r) Col. Terry M. Lockard, CO of the Barracks, Bud, and Lt. Col. Richard
O. "Rip" Miles, Jr., Barracks XO.
Rick Given, a CGC Drill Team member from 1960-63 was featured in the May, 2006
issue of the Marine Corps League's Department of West Virginia State Convention Magazine.
To see the interesting "before and after" coverage of Rick, click
here.
A Secret Service Agent (an old Marine) visited the Barracks for the Evening
Parade on September 8, 2006. To view his stirring account of the evening, especially the
unexpected appearance of Marines who had been wounded in Iraq,
click here.
"Slide and Glide - Volume I, 2005"
"Slide and glide" was the order of the day in "The Old Corps."
It refers to the manner in which ceremonial troops
executed the first step of a marching movement, and was
designed to prevent their heads from sinking which normally occurs
in making a full step from a standstill. This would be very
visible to spectators, as the bobbing of heads would be accented by their
white covers on their barracks hats. As its name indicates, it
was executed by sliding the left foot on the ground for a 15" step,
which would allow us to "glide" into the march. It was
quite audible when it was executed on a hard surface due to the
heavy metal cleats on our "ceremonial shoes." The term
"slide" also applied to our manual of arms: instead of "popping"
our rifles into our shoulders (boot camp style), we slid them
(so as to "glide" them) into place smoothly and silently.
Our reference here to "Slide and Glide - Volume I, 2005" is a
collection of stories by former Barracks Marines covering more
than 50 years. The book was offered in digital form
for our recent reunion at the price of $10.00, all proceeds from
which goes to pay expenses of the Association, since no dues
are charged.
The link below is to the paper. We make two requests: (1)
That readers who did not pay the $10.00 consider doing
so my sending their remittance payable to the 8th & I Reunion Association
to Steve Holton, 3160 Green Meadows
Dr., Indian Head, Md. 20640. If you want a "hard copy" in print,
please forward $15.00 to cover mail and handling chaarges.
(2) All former Barracks Marines having interesting and/or
funny stories from their Barracks days, please submit them to the
editor, Steve DeBock, 36 Jacobs Creek Dr, Hershey, PA 17033,
E-Mail to
smdebock@comcast.net, so as to be included in the next edition.
To view "Slide and Glide - Volume I, 2005"
click here.
A Tribute to former Barracks Marines KIA in Iraq and Vietnam
Many Barracks Marines have served in combat, and unfortunately, some
have been been killed in action. We have dedicated a special
page to their memory, which can be accessed by
clicking here.
The web site incorporates many new changes, such as a separate section
for the Ceremonial Company, which contains scores of items of
interest, which can be accessed through its navigation line above.
We also have a new Active Bulletin Board for posting of messages,
which can be accessed through its navigation line above. To view
pre-February 1, 2005 messages, click here.
As an introduction to the aura of Marine Barracks, Washington, DC,
you may view the article entitled "If Walls Could Speak" which
appeared in "Pass in Review," the Barracks magazine, in August, 1987 by
clicking here.
The 8th& I
Reunion Association is a social organization consisting of former United States
Marines, officers and enlisted, who were stationed at the Marine Barracks, 8th&
I Streets, S.E., Washington, DC and the Women Marine Detachment at Henderson Hall,
Arlington, VA whose dedication, professionalism and enthusiasm, contributed so
much to our mission. Please support them by visiting the Women Marines
Association.
The Marine Barracks 8th&
I Reunion Association is not endorsed by the United States Marine Corps. It is
not or considered to be a 501c(3) Non-profit, Educational Organization
at this time. Contributions are voluntary and are not tax deductible.
We justify our existence as
only being a social group whose purpose is to reestablish and promote
comradeship through periodic reunions and we ask for donations on a strictly
voluntary basis. Time has allowed us to lose touch with our fellow
Marines – thusly – the 8th& I Reunion Association was organized to reunite these friendships. Please visit often as we plan to add more
features of interest.
Your response to this site
has been fantastic and we're trying to contact everyone who has responded. It
is so important that we hear from all past members in order that we can
preserve the legacy for those who follow. For those days we all had in the sun...we
were the CORPS!
This site was originally created
Chet Russo ,
a VietVet and former member of Ceremonial Guard Company.
Read our By-Laws by clicking here.
(Legal stuff)
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by BT Productions
