thedrifter
11-10-08, 08:28 AM
'I'm still a part of the Marine Corps'
November 8, 2008 - 7:11PM
MOLLY K. DEWITT
DAILY NEWS STAFF
The only island he ever invaded was Alcatraz.
Clyde Beaty, now 79, joined the Marine Corps in 1945 at the age of 16 and never looked back. He performed guard duty at Terminal Island, Calif., and was part of Guard Company at Treasure Island, Calif. In 1946, he assisted guards at Alcatraz Island Federal Penitentiary when two prisoners broke into the armory and attempted to escape.
After serving six years, seven months and 10 days as a Marine, Beaty medically retired because of the injuries he suffered when he was shot three times in the head in North Korea. He lost the vision in his right eye and was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury.
"I was fighting like mad to stay in the Corps. It was my career, it was my love," Beaty said.
On Friday, Beaty, who now resides in Durham, was driven to Jacksonville to witness the 233rd Marine Corps birthday celebration aboard Camp Lejeune, having not seen the color guard or Marines in formation for nearly 50 years.
"I'm still a part of the Marine Corps and I'm really intrigued by the idea that it's the greatest fighting force in the world - God, I'd hate to be in a worse one," he said. "I wanted to see the raggedy-ass Marines on parade and the band begin to P-L-A-Y."
Randy Reichler, retired affairs coordinator with Marine Corps Community Services aboard Camp Lejeune, received an e-mail from Beaty requesting a bus schedule because he wanted to visit Camp Lejeune to see Marines on parade, a tradition that used to take place on Fridays.
Instead, Reichler arranged to drive to Durham to pick up Beaty himself and escort him to Friday's birthday ceremony, where he was an honored guest. Beaty was given a room at staff quarters on Camp Lejeune for two nights and received a tour of the base.
"The least we could do was go get him," Reichler said. "We were honored that he came down here."
Beaty said the ceremony made him feel a real sense of "esprit de corps."
"I'm honored to be a part of it and I feel very honored that anyone would even think enough of me to bring me here for this," Beaty said.
For Reichler, actions speak louder than words.
"Once a Marine, always a Marine is just a saying until you actually do something about it - you actually show them," he said.
The experience reminded Beaty that he always will be part of something larger.
"You're not an ex-Marine, you're a former Marine," Beaty said. "I'm beginning to think you're always a Marine."
Beaty said he doesn't have many plans for the future, but he has made sure that if his family decides to give him a military funeral that the Marines involved will each receive "a good case of ice-cold beer."
Contact Jacksonville/Onslow government reporter Molly DeWitt at 910-219-8455 or mdewitt@freedomenc.com.
Ellie
November 8, 2008 - 7:11PM
MOLLY K. DEWITT
DAILY NEWS STAFF
The only island he ever invaded was Alcatraz.
Clyde Beaty, now 79, joined the Marine Corps in 1945 at the age of 16 and never looked back. He performed guard duty at Terminal Island, Calif., and was part of Guard Company at Treasure Island, Calif. In 1946, he assisted guards at Alcatraz Island Federal Penitentiary when two prisoners broke into the armory and attempted to escape.
After serving six years, seven months and 10 days as a Marine, Beaty medically retired because of the injuries he suffered when he was shot three times in the head in North Korea. He lost the vision in his right eye and was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury.
"I was fighting like mad to stay in the Corps. It was my career, it was my love," Beaty said.
On Friday, Beaty, who now resides in Durham, was driven to Jacksonville to witness the 233rd Marine Corps birthday celebration aboard Camp Lejeune, having not seen the color guard or Marines in formation for nearly 50 years.
"I'm still a part of the Marine Corps and I'm really intrigued by the idea that it's the greatest fighting force in the world - God, I'd hate to be in a worse one," he said. "I wanted to see the raggedy-ass Marines on parade and the band begin to P-L-A-Y."
Randy Reichler, retired affairs coordinator with Marine Corps Community Services aboard Camp Lejeune, received an e-mail from Beaty requesting a bus schedule because he wanted to visit Camp Lejeune to see Marines on parade, a tradition that used to take place on Fridays.
Instead, Reichler arranged to drive to Durham to pick up Beaty himself and escort him to Friday's birthday ceremony, where he was an honored guest. Beaty was given a room at staff quarters on Camp Lejeune for two nights and received a tour of the base.
"The least we could do was go get him," Reichler said. "We were honored that he came down here."
Beaty said the ceremony made him feel a real sense of "esprit de corps."
"I'm honored to be a part of it and I feel very honored that anyone would even think enough of me to bring me here for this," Beaty said.
For Reichler, actions speak louder than words.
"Once a Marine, always a Marine is just a saying until you actually do something about it - you actually show them," he said.
The experience reminded Beaty that he always will be part of something larger.
"You're not an ex-Marine, you're a former Marine," Beaty said. "I'm beginning to think you're always a Marine."
Beaty said he doesn't have many plans for the future, but he has made sure that if his family decides to give him a military funeral that the Marines involved will each receive "a good case of ice-cold beer."
Contact Jacksonville/Onslow government reporter Molly DeWitt at 910-219-8455 or mdewitt@freedomenc.com.
Ellie