Col Dowdy USMC (1st Marine Regiment)

Re Col. J.D. Dowdy USMC via "Sully" Dick Gaines
Apr 15, 2003 05:50 PDT
Mike Tank forwarded this to me, and it is very much "on topic." Semper
Fidelis, Sully

This was posted on the 1/1 Marine Group.
SF,
Mike

Thank you for all your love and support, YOU ARE THE FINEST REGIMENT WE
KNOW! Take care of yourselves, your families and Marines and sailors. We
will always be with you in spirit! Thank you for this time together. The
Marines Corps will always be our family... Much love and respect !

Semper Fidelis,
Priscilla

Dear Cilla,
Please ask for thoughts from the folks and then forward as needed.

"Greetings to the families and friends of the First Regiment of American
Marines, It is with great sadness that I send this final message to you.
As all of you are aware, and the national media has made so public, I am
no longer a member of the Regiment. Rest assured, no one, except me is
responsible for the reassignment. Priscilla and I will remain loyal to
the Marine Corps and to our Division and its very capable leaders,
despite the attempts by many of the media to find some sort of story. It
does not exist, therefore, we will continue to serve in any capacity
required.

Colonel John Toolan and his beautiful wife Helen, will now join your
storied ranks. Priscilla and I have known them for years and consider
them dear friends. You will soon love them as we do.

Your Marines and Sailors have served honorably and brave. They conducted
themselves with great nobility and perfect virtue, accomplishing all
tasks assigned. I am proud to have been associated with them. My deepest
regret is that their name might be sullied in some way by me. However,
there are more challenges and more opportunities to add to their already
long list of accomplishments and this will fade into the distant memory.

Each and every one of you have served our Republic and for this the
nation owes you its gratitude. These times are difficult, but necessary,
so please remain strong and resolute. An oppressed people are feeling
the warm rays of liberty, many, for the first time in their lives. The
sacrifices and the labors are not without reward, you might not see
them, but they are there. When the long shadows of the evening fall on
your lives, each of you will be able to reflect on this time and garner
satisfaction from the sure knowledge that you made a difference in this
world.

Priscilla and I have been blessed beyond measure by our close
association with each one of you. We continue to believe that for one
short period of time we have been in the company of the best people we
will ever know. May God continue to bless each and every one of you.

Semper Fidelis,
J.D. Dowdy Colonel,
USMC

Keep Warm, Semper Fidelis, tientsin (Sully)
Do you like tales about the armed services and particularly Viet Nam?
See my web site at http://www.sullyusmc.com

R.W. "Dick" Gaines
GySgt USMC (Ret.)
1952-72
Gunny G's Old Salt Marines Tavern
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/dickg/gunny.html