STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of Sgt Frank Vanacore , U.S. Marine Corps (1958-1964)

I had a cousin who is a Marine. He was on Embassy duty somewhere in Germany or Austria, I believe. I was a senior in high school at the time and didn’t know the time that he was a Mustang. I still don’t know all the details.

When I decided college wasn’t for me, I decided to join the service. I picked the Marine Corps because of my cousin. I asked him for some advice on boot camp. I still remember his words, “Keep your ears open and your mouth shut.” Great advice, and it worked. I do know that he retired as a Major and still lives in Orange County, California.

After boot camp and ITR, I was assigned to F-1-7 at Camp Las Pulgas. I wanted to go overseas or out of state so badly that at morning formation, I would raise my hand for any duty station that came available, even Adak, Alaska. After a while, nothing came up except certain MOSs within Camp Pendleton.

A billet with Division MP came open, and I asked for that and got it. By then, I had been a PFC. Of course, I was the new kid on the block, and it was a tough couple of weeks. I am not sure how long I was even there. I can remember that we had an inspection coming up, and I needed my laundry done. The inside washers and dryers were a madhouse because everyone else was in the same predicament. Unfortunately, I did not have the liberty that night.

So I thought I would take a chance and go to Oceanside and do my laundry and not get caught. Wrong! On the way back, coming through the gates, the MP came aboard and randomly checked for liberty cards. Or at least you had to show something. I didn’t, and was escorted off the bus. I was taken back to the barracks and, the following day, had a meeting with the Captain. I knew I was wrong and told him so.

He said that, in light of the situation, being an MP, I was going to be transferred. He asked me where I would like to go. I told him that I wanted to go overseas. He said there was a Battalion that was going on training in a couple of weeks for deployment to Okinawa. I said YES, Sir. I was placed on restriction for a week. During that week, I painted all the lines on the basketball court by hand. Then, we went on to B-1-7 for lock-on training. I will never forget that, Captain.

My fondest memories come from my 13-month tour in Okinawa. We left the USA as B-1-7 and became B-1-9 when we got to Okinawa. We came on the Ship USS General Mitchell; we were stationed at Camp Sukiran the whole tour. Exercises were in Korea and Japan.

Then, on December 4, 1960, we boarded the USS Paul Revere for a three-month floating Battalion. We headed for Subic Bay, PI. Upon arriving, we did the usual daily routine and nightly liberty. I was doing MP duty with Naval personnel at night, such as walking the beat in downtown Olongapo. We were told we could have all-night liberty on New Year’s Eve, December 1960. It was Cinderella Liberty mostly. Everyone had made great plans.

I remember being in a restaurant with my buddy, eating and making plans for the rest of the evening. At about 11:00 p.m., a jeep was driving through town, announcing that all hands were to report back to their ships. We just sat there like we didn’t hear anything. About 45 minutes later, a naval officer who was sitting at a table nearby got up and came over to us and said, “Well, I think it’s time for us to go.”

We all went back in a Jeepney together. I got on board and asked what had happened. Nobody knew. Not sure what time it was when we went topside, but that ship was screaming out of the harbor. We were in the South China Sea for ten days. SEATO was debating a show of force in Laos. I never saw so much new equipment on my tour.

Not a day in my life goes by without my time in service being part of it. It was my first experience of leaving the US for foreign shores, leaving family and friends to see the world, and being in the ocean for days on end with nothing but water around me. The uncertainty of what will happen each day, knowing that your fellow Marines are there for you.

Of course, my Sharpshooters badge rates high on my list of medals. Mainly because I was able to stay at that level for 4 years, but never could quite make Expert. My pistol Expert medal rates as my best achievement, though. To fire a .45 and shoot expert for me was way beyond my expectations.

Drill instructors had the most positive impact on me of all others. They gave and instilled in me the discipline to make it for my four years and, if need be, beyond. To this day, I have a regime of self-discipline. And they did all this in a fair and non-abusive manner. I don’t consider being yelled at or made to do pushups as abusive. It toughens the mind and body to get ready for combat. To react instantly, to save one’s or someone else’s life. Personally, I believe drill instructors are the lifeline of the Marine Corps

After being discharged from active duty, I moved to Wichita, KS, and went to work for Boeing Airplane Co. I got married to my current wife, Mary, and had a son. The job with Boeing did not last more than six or seven months because of government contracts.

So we returned to California, and I worked for Libby, McNeill, and Libby Can Manufacturing Company for 19 1/2 years, until they went out of business. Soon after that, and after doing odd jobs for a while, I went to work for my son. He is a private investigator and wanted me to help him in his new venture. Well, 23 years later, I retired. It was the most rewarding job ever.

I am a member of American Legion Post 362, VFW, MCA, & TWS.

Serving in the military has taught me discipline, promptness, and self-esteem.

My advice to those who have recently joined the Marine Corps is to develop the best working skills they can for the assignments given to them. When off duty, they should spend more time studying for future promotions to advance their careers

TWS has helped me connect with Marines from my past duty stations. I have connected with fellow Marines whom I have not seen for 55 years. We can chat about old times and experiences. It keeps the mind active, and it creates a lot of chuckles.