Marine

It's always helpful to explore every avenue when when you have a problem as sometime you can notice a possible help or solution, I have had that experience. I am a U.S. Marine; served in Korea and received several injuries. It has been over 50 years since I fully recovered; with the only health problem of High Blood Pressure. One day in the spring of 2011, about an hour after rising, I felt like I could be having a heart attack. My wife, being at work, prompted me to call 911. I was showing an av Heart block and was hauled off, in the meat wagon, to the hospital. There's a lot more to this story if anyone is interested in hearing all the details. I did receive a Medtronic PM-I live in Minneapolis where they are located.

Marine

8 Comments

Tell then...

by donr - 2014-02-25 07:02:53

...RIGHT HERE. If people don't want to read the tales, they can skip over them.

I see that you are a member of the 1936 cohort of babies, as am I. Nice to meet you.

If you are a Korean combat vet, you are like my first platoon Sgt, Orvie Snorkle, who ran away from home at 15 to fight in Korea. He was big for his age & was "Successful" in getting there. Also successful in getting back in one piece to keep me out of trouble.

Don

We want to hear.....

by Grateful Heart - 2014-02-25 10:02:18

the rest of the story. (Sorry Paul Harvey).

And thank you for your service (both of you).

Grateful Heart

I salute you

by Duke999 - 2014-02-26 02:02:00

Thank you Marine for your service. My dad was a military man himself and so I understand how much sacrifice you have given to this great country (USA) of ours. Like others, I'm also interested to hear whatever stories you have.
With utmost respect, I wish you well.

BTW, I also want to thank Donr as well for your many years of service. I meant to private message you quite a few times to thank you, but I kept forgetting. Sorry.
You not only have served our country well, but you also have helped so many of us with your comments and suggestions. I wish you continued good health.

Duke

Tell more

by IAN MC - 2014-02-26 02:02:35

Hi Marine I love a good story, every one of us with a PM has a tale to tell !

I am British and live in the UK but was interested in your last message because a few years ago I stayed in the Camp Pendleton marine base for a week. San Diego is great ! I was lucky enough to be invited to the change-of command ceremony when a friend of mine , General Ed Hanlon took over the command of the camp ( I met him when he did a spell in the UK and ran the London Marathon with his wife )

.. small world eh ( and I've got a Medtronic PM ) !

Welcome to the club

Ian

Marine - You are the MAN!!!!

by donr - 2014-02-26 07:02:58

Orvie Snorkle is not his real name, I always called him that because he was just like the real Orvie from the Beetle Bailey Comic strip. His name was Wells.

If you've ever read Beetle Bailey, you'll appreciate what my platoon was like - I'd swear that Beetle was inspired by 1/D/52 Air defense Arty! We had EVERY character in that strip - no Joke.

I lived in Awe - & rightfully so - of Orvie. He saved my Butt many times & made sure I knew it.

For those of you not old enough to know about it, Korea was the first war ever shown to the peaceful world back home in near real-time. I am the exact same age w/i months of Marine. While I was comfortable here in the US, age 15, watching it on the nightly news w/ John Cameron Swayze, about 24 hours after the events, Marine was LIVING those same events in some of the coldest, most miserable conditions Americans (and Brits, Oziers, Kiwis, Turks, Greeks & a whole bunch of others) have ever fought in. Let's not leave out the Koreans & Chinese & a few Russians. They suffered & died just like we did. The weather is truly an equal opportunity element.

My generation of career Soldiers (Marines, et al) were taught & mentored by Marine's Generation. They were awesome men who have never been accorded their due in our society (US) I have no idea what it was like for their Brit, et al, compatriots, But I'd like to go public w/ my thanks for their service in a time of great peril for our Republic. I once worked for one of Marine's superior officers while I was in Viet Nam - Raymond Davis. Marine will immediately recognize the name. But Davis was not the only one - there were many others & all of them were men I was glad to stand beside in a time of peril.

Donr

Marine

by Marine - 2014-02-26 08:02:04

To all those who have taken the time to comment on my Post; I appreciate your interest and will remain active on this sight and will put my two cents on board from time to time. Don, if your Sgt. friend is still around, let him know, I was a wild and crazy kid and joined the Marines at the ripe old age of (14). I joined in June 7, 1951. Boot camped in San Diego, advance in Pendleton-which is in Oceanside-(2) weeks Cold weather training and then off to Korea.

Stories told here........

by jeanlancour - 2014-02-26 12:02:21

and I'm waiting to here it, please. We much appericate ou service people, you make our country stronger, while serving and at home. Yhank you ALL! Jean

Marine

by Marine - 2014-02-27 07:02:36

I'm not sure if I should continue my posting under add Comment or as a new post! If anyone is aware of the correct or best method-Please advise.
The (2) weeks spent in Cold weather training were to me the most mind boggling experience one could experience. The whole purpose was to replicate life in Combat in Korea. We were constantly harassed during the day and awakened multiple times during the night and had to move out to new arranged areas. We were given once a week (7) C ration cans of pork and beans to eat whenever possible. A real experience, to start off my vision of what was yet to come. After my (2) weeks of cold weather training in the Sierra Nevada mountains we were gathered together and briefed on preparing to leave for Korea. We were told no one was permitted to proceed to Korea who was under the age of (19) and anyone under (19) was to raise their hand. Needless to say, I did not raise my hand and prepared to leave for Korea the very next day.

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I am just grateful to God that I lived long enough to have my ICD put in. So many people are not as lucky as us; even though we sometimes don't feel lucky.