The Christy Collection

Military Stories and Articles

Service Reflections of Col Christopher Steinhilber, U.S. Marine Corps (1987-2021)

Service Reflections of Col Christopher Steinhilber, U.S. Marine Corps (1987-2021)

Great question…I don’t think I can pinpoint any one person or a singular event that motivated me to enlist in the Marines in 1986. I was an average (okay, maybe a little below average) student in HS and decided I wanted to enlist in my Junior year as part of the Delayed Entry Program. The idea of four more years of academia at an institute of higher learning did not particularly appeal to me, despite the majority of my peers seeming excited to head off to college. Maybe it was because, like many youths, I questioned what I wanted to do with my life and what my true purpose was. I visited my local recruiter, Staff Sgt. Webster Bridges to find out more information. Unfortunately, in order to enlist at age 17, I needed the permission of my parents, who both wanted me to attend college. They made me a deal that I had to apply to at least one college before they would consider signing my enlistment documents. My mother has heard about a small military college in Vermont, Norwich University, and she insisted on driving me three hours there (one-way) for a visit. I was intrigued by the Corps of Cadets and its regimented lifestyle. However, I was still more interested in enlisting on active duty in the Corps than in pursuing a college education. I begrudgingly completed my Norwich application and short essays and continued to work with the local recruiting office on my enlistment. I was somehow accepted to Norwich, despite my somewhat lackluster HS academic performance. Truth be told, I was more interested in playing sports (lacrosse), street hockey, and other sports with my friends. In the end, I compromised with my parents, who agreed to sign my enlistment documents in the Marine Corps Reserves if I attended Norwich in the fall of 1987.

read more
Service Reflections of Capt Wilfred J. Clifford, U.S. Marine Corps (1953 – 1973)

Service Reflections of Capt Wilfred J. Clifford, U.S. Marine Corps (1953 – 1973)

My brother was a Marine; he served in WWII and was recalled to active duty during the Korean War. Three of my uncles also served during WWII, and all saw serious action. When I was about 13 or 14, I read a book about the Iwo Jima campaign, and while it brought tears to my eyes, I probably wasn’t crying, but anyway, I knew that I wanted to be around men like that.
Because of my family situation, with a single mother with three kids, I knew that I would serve at least 20 years to retirement even before I enlisted. I was a depression-era kid, and my future looked bleak. Somehow, I always desired to attend college, and if I didn’t serve the 20, I would have the Korean War GI Bill to help me. (Which it didn’t, as I have enumerated under the college questionnaire).

read more