MARINE BARRACKS
BULLETIN BOARD
Dedicated to Marine Security Guard Detachments Everywhere in the World.
BULLETIN BOARD
Dedicated to Marine Security Guard Detachments Everywhere in the World.
Sergeant Angel Moreno sipping a cold beer in Chulai, South Vietnam 1967.A FEW GOOD WORDS FROM THE CREATOR OF THE MARINE BARRACKS BULLETIN BOARD
My name is Angel Moreno. I am a proud 1960, graduate of Platoon 339 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. I am a veteran of the Cuban Missile Crisis (October 1962), the Vietnam War (Chulai 1966-1967 and Quang Tri 1968-1969), and the Cold War. My favorite duty station was the Marine Barracks in Rota, Spain (1963-1965). After ten years of active military service (1960-1970), and two years on the Temporary Retired List (1970 to 1972), I received my third and final Honorable Discharge from the Unitd States Marine Corps, and left the Marines with the rank of Staff Sergeant.
I created this website to help past and present Marines find their Marine Corps buddies. As the creator and operator of this website, I wear many hats. I am the Administrator, Web Site Designer, Editor, Resident Writer, Complaint Clerk, and Gopher. However, I assure you that my mutliple titles have not swelled my head with the power of my self-appointed positions. I am not suffering from a serious case of the Vanity Bug. This is my real life situation. I do all the work in this unit and I pay all the bills with nary a complaint or hope that someone will come to my rescue. I gave birth to this website and I will tend to its needs until I transfer to my Final-Duty-Station-in-the-Sky.
I assigned the silly appellations to my name as a humorous attention grabbing device to let you know that I operate on a shoestring budget, and that my small budget forces me to assume multiple duties. I cannot afford to hire a professional editor to correct my written work or a tech-savvy website designer to create my Internet masterpieces. I don't have a flock of flunkies to order around, or a bunch of gophers to run errands. So please give this old Devil Dog a break. Do not flood my mailbox with wisecrack emails about the pompous appellations to my name. Superfluous embellishments aside, I really am a good person and a likable old man (if I do say so myself).
Besides publishing this website, I dedicate part of my day to writing my autobiography. My book is a work-in-progress. If you want to read the story of my life, you must read my book when it comes out. My book will be a good read (pardon the unabashed plug).
Everyone needs a reason for getting up in the morning. Otherwise, without a purpose in life, we waste our days sitting on our easy chairs watching the boob tube and counting the ticking of the clock as we wait for our lights to go out forever. This is not the way to live a life. Life is short. Why waste time waiting for the Grim Reaper to come fetch us. We must live a purpose driven life.
Working on this website gives me a tremendous rush. Writing my autobiography brings me much satisfaction. Writing words that motivate my readers exhilarates me. And regardless of the debilitating disabilities that have plagued my life for many years, I remain young in spirit and in mind, and hopeful that tomorrow will be a better day. I retire each night knowing that I accomplished something positive and constructive with my life, feeling eager to getting up in the morning to work on the projects that unite family and friends through this website, and looking forward to spending many tomorrows with my loved ones. This is my good reason for getting up in the morning.
Sometimes we need a few good laughs to alleviate our ailments and illuminate our day. This is why I add a bit of humor to my written work. I am retired, not retarded. I am disabled, not sense-of-humor challenged. A few good jokes still crack me up. I can still laugh at myself when I blunder. And when I mess up, I am the first to admit my mistakes. Some of my lines are meant to uplift my readers, so please don't blow your stack if my so-called funny lines bomb. So please cut me some slack. I aspire to be a writer, not a comedian.
As a young man, I proudly volunteered to fight for freedom, democracy, and the good old USA. As a senior citizen, I gladly volunteer to help our venerable veterans and valorous men and women of the Marine Corps search for their long lost buddies. I may no longer be in top physical shape, but I can still generate the enthusiasm and muster the stamina to supervise this special assignment. And when I receive a message from my readers saying they found their long lost buddies or family members through this web site, it makes this old Leatherneck one happy old salt.
After serving ten years in the Marines, I know what our troops experience each day. The hours are long, the job can be arduous, and sometimes the risks run high. However, regardless of the hardships and dangers that our troops face, they accomplish their mission. Many brave men and women shed their blood, lose limbs, and some make the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. Their selfless sacrifice and courageous contribution merit respect and a deeply felt thank you for a job well done.
I am proud to bear the title of United States Marine. And I know that veterans and active duty Marines feel the same pride. When Uncle Sam sounded the call to arms, we proudly volunteered to serve our nation. When we were ordered to fight for the USA, we saluted and asked our leaders to point the way. We did not chicken out. We did not leave our country. We did not shirk our duty to our nation. We did not jump into a deep hole and remained there until it was safe to come out. We did not hide in caves until the bullets stopped flying and the bombs stopped dropping. We did not rely on politically connected and rich daddies to keep us from harms way. We did not invent phony excuses to evade the draft. We did not ask for college deferments to avoid military service. We answered the call to arms and walked the walk for America. And we are not ashamed to express our loyalty to our beloved nation. We carry our military service to our country as a Badge of Honor because we earned this spiritual accolade with our blood, sweat and tears, and no one can deprive us of this distinguished decoration. And we shall carry this pride in our hearts and minds until we receive our orders to report to our Final Duty Station in the Sky.
If you have family members and friends who serve in the Armed Forces of the United States, write to them and tell them that you love and care for them. Tell them that you pray every day for their safe return to their homes and loved ones. Tell them that you salute them for risking their lives fighting for freedom and democracy throughout the world. Tell them that you honor them for their military service, and thank them for their courageous sacrifice for our homeland. If you do not own a computer or typewriter, the US Snail Mail will deliver your handwritten letters to your loved ones. Now get your six in gear and write those loving letters to your beloved family members and friends in the military today! Your morale boosters will make their day.
Much hard work goes into maintaining this website. However, this website can only be as successful as you, our readers, make it. We can make this website a huge success if we work as a team. Tell everyone you know to check out this wonderful website. I am only a few clicks away from your position. I am open for business 24/7. Write to me. I will respond to your emails.
Do you have a few good ideas for improving this Marine-themed website? I am always working to improve this web site. Send me your good ideas, positive suggestions, constructive comments, encouraging compliments, logical questions, or reasonable complaints concerning this web site. I appreciate your contributions.
Millions of people worldwide view this website. Many of our readers are family members and minors. So please know that I will not tolerate rude behavior, foul language, and conduct unbecoming a good human being. If your words bash, they go in the trash. If your words do not fit, do not submit. If your words hurt and insult, do not email this Old Salt.
Thank you for visiting this website. I wish you success in your effort to find your Marine Corps buddies. I look forward to receiving your messages and emails.
Let me know when you find your friends. Your success stories make my day.
Semper Fidelis,
Angel Moreno,
Staff Sergeant, United States Marine Corps (Retired).
Staff Sergeant, United States Marine Corps (Retired).
