I don’t know how the other service do it but in the Marine Corps, when you first get commissioned, you typically remember your first salute. New officers carry a silver dollar, generally from the year they were commissioned. The first enlisted Marine who happens to salute them gets the silver dollar.

I was starting the warrant officer basic school at Quantico, Virginia. There was an appointment ceremony and my family was there. My grandfather was present…he had served in the Navy during WWII and was no stranger to Marines. He was dropping them on islands such as Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Grandpa had developed macular degeneration and could only see out of the very corner of his eyes. When we were dismissed, he asked his wife, my grandmother, “Ann, which way is he going?!? Get me to the exit you think he’s going to!” Not knowing why, but sensing his urgency, she quickly ushered him to the door from which I’d likely appear outdoors - the only place Marines would have a cover on and would salute.

When I walked out the door from the FBI Academy theatre, there he was. Right there in the middle of the sidewalk. Not a souls was going to get in his way. He threw on his “LST-840” cap and stood straight and saluted me as proud as he could be. I nearly cried because I knew EXACTLY what he was doing.

He earned that 2007 silver dollar.

He died in 2010 and I’m probably one of the few to have received that coin back from their first salute. She’s in a coin case. Super proud of it

Thanks for reading, folks. Just needed to tell that story.

Awesome!

He was proud of you.

Congratulations

… great story… I sure enjoyed it

… thank y’all for your service


… my cousin was a Marine .. fought in the Middle East and loved it so much he did private security work over there after he was out

… came back home and got into an outlaw biker gang

… now he’s up high in a nonprofit for vets with ptsd

Good stuff!!!

Thank You for that great story!!!

That's a great story! Thank you for sharing.

Great story John.

Doesn't get much better than that

Awesome, thanks for your service and your fathers service.

That's awesome John!

Way cool, thanks for sharing this.

That's great I bet your grandpa was as proud as a peacock when you came out that door

Great story, John.

Great story John. Thank you both for your service my friend.

Very cool story. I hope that Virginia treated you well while you were here.

Thank you for your service!

Wow.

That's just too cool.

Thanks for sharing that

I would bet there are very few, if any, that have been able to experience something that special

Great memory right there

Cool

Great story John!

Great story.

Thank both of you for your service.

very cool story, John!

make sure your kids know and remember that one!

Warrant Officers were always the coolest. We all wanted to be one! Always shrouded in mystery anytime they would appear. Great story

That's what makes America Great...stories like that.

Thanks for sharing.

Sure is dusty in here...

May he RIP.

Great story! Thanks for sharing. And thanks for you and your families service.

Cool time - Congratulations.

Great story, John thanks for sharing with us. Semper Fi!

Very cool, great story, never went in the service, heard nothing but bad about peacetime army so went to gunschool in '77 instead. Still that story kinda gets ya

He sure was, Hippie. He never missed an event or promotion in my 25 years. He was a solid family man.
Strutting like a turkey!
Rodney, I always appreciate you, my friend.
I had a great time there. Fishing and hunting paradise!
I can’t imagine there are many stories like it. Anyone has one, feel free to share here!

Good idea, Marlin. Probably need to write it up and keep it with that coin.
I do t know if I was the coolest but I never had a problem getting troops to follow me, even if it was dangerous. Lol.
Nessy, it still amazes me that people think this country is bad. I don’t know how many countries to which I’ve been but even the first world places are garbage compared to the USA.
Semper Fi, buddy!
MT, come on over for a visit!

Great memory Thank You

Loved the story. Sure pulls on the ole heart strings. Thanks for posting it.

Came close to tearing up just reading it. Great story.

Cool story John!

That's a fantastic story, USMC. Thanks for your service and thanks for sharing it!

That one made my eyes water. I had that kind of relationship with my grandfather.

Cool story, should be on the wall in your home. Thank you for your service!

wws

Awesome, Thanks. Thanks for your service!

Yeah, I miss the old sailor. He was blue till the day he died. I was one of the last people he spoke to while lucid. Asked me a bunch of questions about the Marine Corps and how I was doing then he said he had to go because his shipmates were waiting on him. They were about to shove off. Incredible man he was.

Great story, thanks for posting and thanks for your service.

Fantastic story John ! If I may I'd like to suggest that you get a notebook and write down stories like this one so that your kids and grandkids get to hear them first hand and add pictures when possible to keep your family history alive and well .

Thank you for sharing with us and you're service my friend !

Thanks for sharing, and thank you for your service !!