Honorary Title of Marine

[TracGunny]

There is some discussion about “Honorary” Marine titles being bequeathed upon people, some who were never Marines. Here is the scoop (Marine Corps Order) straight from the Horses (HQMC) Mouth:

MCO 5060.19B 18 Jul 03
…
The Honorary Marine title is designed to reinforce the special bond between the American people and the Corps by recognizing individuals in the civilian community who have made extraordinary contributions to the Marine Corps. This Order establishes revised eligibility requirements and nominating procedures for award of the title Honorary Marine, and complies with the provisions and policies established by the references.
…
) An individual may be designated an Honorary Marine only under certain circumstances. Qualifying criteria includes:

(a) A terminally ill child that has some unique or qualifying link to the military or the Marine Corps.

(b) An individual who has given extraordinary service or support to the Marine Corps, and for whom any lesser form of recognition would be insufficient.

(c) Deceased individuals whose actions or contributions on behalf of the Marine Corps would have merited consideration before their death.

(2) Honorary Marine nominations should be made on an exceptional basis and should not be used just to show appreciation, as a group award, or in recognition of official or contracted duties.
….

To view MCO 5060.19B (pdf) in its entirety, go to http://www.usmc.mil/directiv.nsf/82001916d226893285256d12004936dd/9553c8f6d63b78ab85256a41005fc5f3?OpenDocument

I’m still looking for a list of names of the people who have been bestowed with the honorary title Marine and the circumstances. Any help out there? - TG

[greybeard]

A few are mentioned here & there.
http://www.navytimes.com/story.php?f=0-292925-2482249.php

Captain faces charges of wearing unauthorized medals, insignia

By Bryant Jordan
Times staff writer


A Navy medical service corps captain and Episcopal priest who was made an Honorary Marine will be arraigned at an Article 32 hearing Wednesday on a charge of wearing unauthorized medals and insignia, including the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.
Capt. Roger D. Edwards will be arraigned at Quantico, Va., on one count of violating Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, according to Marine Capt. Tanya Murnock, a base spokeswoman.

In the one charge, however, Edwards will be accused of wearing the Silver Star — the nation’s third-highest award for valor — the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, the parachutist’s qualification badge and the Special Forces Medical Corps insignia, among other decorations and badges, Murnock said.

Article 134 is a general provision that covers a wide range of crimes, including wearing unauthorized insignia, medals and badges.

Edwards, 54, was the executive assistant to Rear Adm. Robert D. Hufstader Jr., the Corps’ top medical officer, when officials began looking into his personal decorations. He had been scheduled to retire Aug. 31 and was on terminal leave when officials put those plans on hold.

He was charged in September with unauthorized wear of personal decorations, pending the Article 32 hearing to decide whether he would go to a court-martial. The hearing originally was slated for Tuesday but was rescheduled for Wednesday.

Murnock said Edwards has been returned to duty while the process goes forward.

Edwards was one of four people made Honorary Marines in an Oct. 31, 2002, ceremony presided over by then-Commandant Gen. James Jones.

..............................

http://www.ncdot.org/news/dailyclips/2002-11-22a.html
Q. There was an article in the Winston-Salem Journal about Charlie Two Shoes, the man from Chapel Hill who was recently made an honorary Marine. The article said that only 18 other people have received this award. Who else is an honorary Marine? - P.M.

A. A spokesman for the Marine Corps did not have a complete list, but he did give us the names of a few good men who have been named honorary Marines: Jim Nabors, the actor who portrayed Marine Gomer Pyle on television; Christopher Heard, a Texas A&M student who was killed in the bonfire collapse in 2000; Corey DePooter, one of the students killed at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999; and several children with terminal illnesses. (Heard and DePooter received the award posthumously.)

The honorary Marine title is serious business to the Marines, the spokesman said, and is not used as a token gesture.

another one:
http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/Garden/1077/tjmarine.html

http://militarymomone.tripod.com/projectquotmemorialhonorquotforourfallenmilitary91 12001on/id11.html


http://www.dc*************/marines/hendersonhall/archives/apr10/hh_c41098.html

http://www.wish.org/home/news/news_ftr_TylerWillis_102099.htm

http://ww2.pstripes.osd.mil/01/oct01/ed102001h.html

http://www.wish.org/home/wishes_have_christopherb.htm

There seems to be a lot of them, and General Jones' name seems to come up a lot regarding the term "honorary Marine". There is a thread on Gunny G's Old Salt forum somewhere.

Hope this helped ya out TracGunny.

[TracGunny]

Thanks greybeard, the links help and I will post a list of "Honorary Marines" when I find all I can...

[kentmitchell]

Merrill Nelson, 8, is an honorary Marine.
She and a friend wandered into a recruiting office while her mother was shopping.
Merrill told the recruiter her Papaw was a Marine. Like all other males who see cute little blonde Merrill and that big smile, he melted and gave her a certificate and a pin.

Papaw (Kent Mitchell, Cpl., 56-60)
Semper Fi

[fade2black]

Originally posted by kentmitchell
Merrill Nelson, 8, is an honorary Marine.
She and a friend wandered into a recruiting office while her mother was shopping.
Merrill told the recruiter her Papaw was a Marine. Like all other males who see cute little blonde Merrill and that big smile, he melted and gave her a certificate and a pin.

Papaw (Kent Mitchell, Cpl., 56-60)
Semper Fi

I don't think that follows the policies in the MCO. :D

[TracGunny]

I ain't gonna argue with an eight-year-old Angel, OR her Papaw!!! ;)