STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of GYSGT Edward Androlones, U.S. Marine Corps (1954-1974)

As a young seventeen-year-old school dropout, I knew my future was questionable at that time. I was hardworking at various jobs to help support my family. I was the oldest of eight boys. My stepfather was a hardworking Italian immigrant who encouraged me to quit school to help support the family. My girlfriend Amy and I were very much in love. With limited education and no labor skills to speak of, I had only one choice to turn my life around and be able to marry my childhood sweetheart.

That choice was The US Marine Corps. That was the most difficult but gratifying decision I have ever made. Upon completing boot camp at Parris Island, SC, my new life as a married Marine was challenging. The Marine Corps gave us a wonderful life. And allowed us to serve our country as a family. My beautiful Wife Amy served the full twenty years with me, as did my two beautiful Daughters, Donna and Judy. The Marine Corps afforded me the opportunity to complete my High School GED, for a hometown diploma, and two years of college. What better influence could I have had than to serve with the greatest Armed Force this world has ever known. God bless our Corps and all the Men and Women who serve.

After boot camp graduation, I was stationed at Quantico, Virginia. I had the basic 0300 MOS. I was assigned Mess Duty for the next thirty days. While working as a “Messman,” I watched how the Food Service Personnel worked together. They worked as a unit and exhibited a strong sense of pride in everything they did. I was very impressed with them and requested that I train on the job as a “Cook Striker.” The team took me under their wing and taught me the basics. I will be forever grateful to Lt. John Kollway, Sgt. Bill Dewert, Cpls. Lou Toranto, and Bill Beanick. Sgt. Gordon Cameron, and Msgt. Bill Weymouth. It’s been a very rewarding career path.

As the 3RD Shore Party Battalion Mess Mgt Chief, I served in a support role during my tour in RVN from November 1966 to November 1967. I landed in Danang, RVN, in November 1966 and was assigned to the 3RD Mar. Div. I looked around real hard and thought, “this isn’t going to be so bad after all.” Conditions on the ground seemed normal, with the exception of rocket attacks aimed at the airfield. We were a good distance away. Then as I remember, in February 1967, we received orders to move north. The 1ST Mar. Div. was moving into our position from Chu Lai. The 3RD Shore Party Bn. moved into a wasteland called Gia Lei. This was in-between Phu Bai and 3RD Mar. Div. Hqtrs. Absolutely nothing there but burial tomb mounds all around.

Upon our arrival, we pitched GP tents for our housing and Mess hall. Shortly after our arrival, the Sea Bee Bn.(God bless them)came to our aid and started building “hardbacks” to get us off the ground. Though we were in a support position, all troops had to maintain perimeter security twenty-four hours a day. All Staff NCOs, of which I was one, regardless of MOS, had to take out ambush patrols every night on a rotational system.

We also had to take our turn to ride convoys to resupply our troops in the field with food and ammunition. At times, the roads were mined, and the supply route was an unpleasant experience, to say the least. Our “Grunt Brothers” had it much tougher. We (Shore Party) were very proud to be able to contribute our support of needed supplies to these very brave young Marines.

My tour of duty with the 2nd Guard Company, Kenitra, Morocco, holds my fondest memories. After an eighteen-month tour, I had just returned from the 3rd Marine Division in December 1959. Received my orders for my next assignment at MCRD, San Diego. I was detailed to Casual company for about ten days, pending approval for concurrent travel for my wife Amy and two daughters. We sailed out of the Brooklyn Navy yard, January 1960, arrived in Port Lyautey, Morocco, two weeks later. Upon arrival, I was fitted for dress blues. When the Corps gives you dress blues, you have to know there will be ceremonies to participate in.

Our fondest memories at this duty station because we had no television, day or night. Our Armed Forces radio station went off the air at 1800 until 0600 the next day. So what we had was close friendships with both Navy and Marine families. We had frequent parties, cookouts, and family tours of the Moroccan countryside and culture. We would play records and dance the night away, doing the “Twist.” It was really great family fun. We were one big family for two and a half years. We carried out our mission during the day and partied at night.

My least favorite duty station was NATTC, Millington, TN. Discipline was not up to Maine Corps standards. It was difficult for a young NCO to change attitudes.

I was on an inspection tour of my forward Mess Hall at Dong Ha, RVN., and was training my new Sergeant Stepp to take over as my Company Mess Sgt. I wanted to spend at least a week with him at Dong Ha, as we received frequent artillery, and rocket fire, from across the DMZ. Sgt. Stepp was replacing my last Mess Sgt., who had to be evacuated because of “battle Fatigue.” I distinctly remember it was a Sunday morning when the first artillery shell hit. We all dove for cover. Every hour, on the hour for five hours, the NVA aimed in their shells on us. I thought for sure this was a helluva test for Sgt. Stepp. He stood up well and did a commendable service to our troops, as their Mess Sgt. His picture is posted here.

One memory in particular that stands out, from one of my trips to Dong Ha. I was standing alongside a GP tent, leaning on one of the anchor ropes, talking to a Major, when I heard the horrible sound of an artillery shell and watched it hit the ground, some distance from us. It made the ground look like burning charcoal. We both hit the deck. I looked up and saw one of our Marines on the ground in his shower gear: no flack jacket or helmet. I jumped up, and ran to him, and tried to cover him as best I could. I stayed with him until we got the “all clear.” He was very appreciative. I went back over to talk with the Major, and he “chewed me a new one.” He told me that I should have jumped into a sandbag pit instead of exposing myself that way. I tried to explain that I acted before I even thought of the danger I put myself in. Regardless, I was proud of my “one moment of glory.”

Not too many awards were handed out to support personnel. My Battalion Commander called me up to his office and told me that if I extended my tour with 3RD Shore Party Bn., he would award me the Navy Commendation Medal. I explained that I was very proud of our mission and what we had accomplished since moving up to Gia Lei.

My time was up, and that my wife wouldn’t understand why I would extend my tour for a medal. I served under three Battalion Commanders during my tour in the RVN. Not enough time to really get recognition for a job well done. However, I was awarded a “Meritorious Mast.”. I am very proud that my unit was awarded the “Combat Action Ribbon” for our service supporting our brave troops.

I was never awarded a personal medal, but the medals, and ribbons awarded for service with distinguished units, I have always worn with much pride. Knowing I was a member of the recognized unit gave me a feeling of pride and accomplishment. My last marksmanship qualification with the rifle (M-14) and the .45 caliber pistol was able to shoot expertly with both weapons.

As a member of the 1st. Bn., 2nd Marines, March 2. Div., I was privileged to work for S/Sgt. H.H. Compton. (Retired as an M/Sgt.) He was a gentle, decisive, and squared away Marine. In garrison, or in the field, S/Sgt. Compton was able to get the very best results from all of his men when most of the time, we worked fourteen hours a day. It was his type of leadership that impressed me. His good-natured Virginian upbringing allowed him to make us feel like he was one of us junior Marines. He was always there with us and for us, regardless of prevailing conditions.

Sgt. Compton treated all of us with respect, regardless of rank. I would go so far as to say he was a Father figure to all of us. He was just one damned fine Marine and one that I will always remember as a mentor and a fine example to follow. He will always be my hero figure. S/Sgt. Herbert H. Compton passed away on October 1, 1986. Profiled in my deceased Brothers.

In 1961, I was air evacuated from Morocco to the US Air Force Hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany. I had a ruptured disk that needed removal. After my operation, I woke up in a room with four fellow patients, that happened to all be Staff NCOs., Army, and Air Force. I thought this was very unusual because the Marine Corps would not put a Sgt.(E-4) in a private room with Staff NCOs.

After a few days of getting acquainted and the usual joking around, my curiosity kicked in. I asked the Army Sgt. Major, why was I put in the room with Staff NCOs? He asked me what I meant? I explained to him about USMC policy and didn’t understand why they would put me in a room with senior NCOs. At that point, he asked me what my rank was, and I told him I was a “Buck Sergeant.” He said, “An E-4”? I said, “yes.” With that, the room was filled with laughter. He said to me, “Look at your name tag, at the foot of your bunk.” It read, Androlones, E. M Sgt. USMC. My middle initial identified me as Michael. This great bunch of guys told me to keep quiet and not say anything. They allowed me to stay in the room with them until my discharge from the hospital.

When I retired from the US Marine Corps in June 1974, I had difficulty adjusting to a new way of life. Boring. I sat around the house, day after day, not knowing what I wanted to do. I applied for and took the Federal exam for Federal Food Inspection. Now I had to wait.

In the meantime, I applied for local employment in the Jacksonville, N.C. area. Was interviewed, and accepted with Burger King, as an Assistant and night Manager. After a year, I was offered my own unit as a Manager in Greenville, N.C. At this time, My Wife Amy wanted to go back home to Massachusetts, “To watch the rest of the family grow.” I told my Zone Supervisor that he would have to convince Amy that I had a bright future with the company, and it would behoove us to stay. He wined and dined us at a big fancy restaurant in Wilmington. He couldn’t convince her, nor could I. I even tried to bribe her with a brand new Oldsmobile 98, fully packed and didn’t work.

I relocated to Massachusetts, and l started courses at the Bunker Hill Community College. After a few months, we bought an established Coffee and Sandwich Shop. We leased the property for two years. We built the business from almost nothing to a very thriving business. We were making a very good living. Then I was notified to report to the Federal Area Supervisor for the Meat and Poultry Division for an interview. I traveled to Storrs, CT., and was accepted and sworn in that same day. Amy and I continued with our business. I was going to school two nights a week, and after classes, I would go back to the Coffee shop and help Amy restock for the next day and clean up.

When I started with my Federal Inspection job, we hired more people. I couldn’t buy my meats from plants anymore due to a conflict of interest. So it became overwhelming. We decided to sell our business, and I would devote all my time to my Federal Job. We sold to the good folks that worked for us.

As a Federal Food Inspector, I conducted anti and postmortem inspections on all red meat species sold to the consumers. Conducted Personnel and plant premises Inspection. I checked product formulations for wholesomeness and non-adulteration. It was a cat and mouse game with Plant Owners. If they could improve their profit by adding more fat and or water to the product, some, not all, would do it. We would ensure “The penalty would fit the crime” when we caught them. We would stop production until the problem was resolved. That, in itself, was costly to them. I had to hit them in the pocket to get their full attention and compliance. I proudly served the Consumer Public for twenty-two years.

After the losses of both my first wife Amy and second wife Carol, God smiled on me once more and blessed me with my current wife, Mary Louise. “Marylou” has restored my faith in God and humanity. She is a remarkable woman. A loving and devoted wife. She will be my last love. The enclosed picture is of my beautiful, green-eyed wife, Marylou. My “Darlink.” I retired in 2000 and moved to sunny Florida. (God’s waiting room). I am enjoying retirement. We go on cruises, travel to Arizona for two months out of the year, and just enjoy life to the fullest. But, I still and always will miss being a US Marine.

I have been a member of the Marine Corps Association for more years than I care to remember, and I am also a Member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Marine Corps League. The MCA has afforded me very good Life Insurance, the purchase of excellent USMC merchandise, and of course, my monthly issues of Leatherneck and Marine Corps Gazette.

The DAV has been instrumental in my Service-Connected Disability claim. My Fraternal association is the USMC Food Service Assn. I still enjoy the camaraderie of old friends with whom I was associated, Officers, and Enlisted. I attended a Food Service reunion at Quantico, Virginia, in July 2009, and lots of old memories were relived at that function.

Last but not least, I am a proud member of “Together We Served.” TWS has allowed me to record my Military profile for my family members long after I’m called home. To find old friends, and to make new ones. What a great medium.

As a young man and the oldest son of eight boys, I always worked to help with my family expenses. I shined shoes, sold newspapers, worked on the old Ice, coal, and oil delivery trucks. Worked delivering groceries, and finally, worked in the textile industry before I enlisted in the Marine Corps. My education was very limited, and I had no direction or beneficial skills to be of benefit to me in the future.

I thought that if I could serve three years in the Marines, that would give me a good start. Once I enlisted, completed boot camp, and then got married as a seventeen-year-old, I found my niche serving in the USMC. My twenty years in the Corps afforded me a High School diploma and a couple of College courses. It gave me tenacity, discipline, confidence and taught me leadership qualities that I needed and utilized in the civilian world. I have been very successful in life, and I wouldn’t be enjoying the fruits of my labor, and I would be remiss if I didn’t believe, I owe it all to my beautiful wife Amy, who served with me and supported me throughout my career in the US Marine Corps.

The best advice I ever got as a very young Marine was, “Keep your mouth shut, and do your job.” Those two bits will get you recognized and promoted.

Live your Military experience to the fullest. Under the circumstances, enjoy your time, be it a few years or twenty years. Remember this, and take it from “The Old Gunny,” you are living your memories right now. You will reminisce with some old buddies about the good old days back in the Corps many years from now. Your time in the Corps at this time will be your legacy to pass on to your loved ones in the future. Always do the right thing for Country and Corps.

Until I was introduced to TWS, I was unhappy with the other Military websites I observed and considered joining.

Upon joining TWS and surfing all around the site, I was amazed at all the available things to us. Just set up my basic profile for my family and friends to see and learn things about me they didn’t know. Finding and renewing old friendships meant so much to me. I have been out of the Marine Corps for more years than I care to remember, yet belonging to TWS, I still feel united with our Corps. I still look for old friends and communicate with those I found on TWS. This site will only get better as time goes on – one “Big” Semper Fi to The Staff of TWS.