A REAL GI Joe, why yes Virgina, there is a real GI Joe
In the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, on October 26, 1942, while a platoon Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, he held his line against advancing Japanese forces even after all of his comrades had been killed or wounded. After reinforcements arrived, Paige led a counterattack against the Japanese, which successfully repelled the enemy forces and held the American line. While on Guadalcanal he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the field on December 19, 1942. General Alexander Vandegrift presented Paige with the Medal of Honor in a special ceremony in Balcombe, Australia, on May 21, 1943 for his actions. Paige later served in the Korean War, retiring from active duty in 1959.
Even today, we have the new generation GI Joe
Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Hathcock
Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez
Gunnery Sgt. Robert Blanton, the platoon sergeant of 1st Platoon, Company A, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion,
Gunnery Sgt Michael Burghardt, known as “Iron Mike”
We know of or can all add our own “GI Joe” - you know, the been there, done that guy who has seen The Beast but still comes home to raise a family.
Screw Hollywood, you really want an “Action/adventure” story?
Take a Vet to dinner and then buy you both a beer.
/rant
I’m proud to say that my father and brother served in the Marine corp. Father’s brother was a DS.
A salute to the real deals out there: the men and women of our armed forces. They really put it all on the line.
Sgt. Maj. Bradley A. Kasal
I saw the picture of him being carried out of the “house of death” in Fallujah. His legs were all torn up, but he still has his pistol ready. There aren’t many people like that in the whole world and an awful lot of ‘em seem to be called “Marines.”