Marine Corps first sergeant at SC’s Parris Island led $1.5 million razor theft, feds say

PostandCourier.com ^ | 10/23/2018 | Andrew Knapp

[OldMissileer]

“Hey First Sargent, how’d you afford the Porshe ?”

I used to travel to Kirtland AFB (Sandia National Lab is located there) at least once per month. One day I was in the Base Exchange parking lot when a TSgt (E-6) drove up in a new AMG Hammer and parked next to me.

I have always wonder how an E-6 was able to own such an expensive car. Maybe from a wealthy family?

[Preachin']

I use the dollar shave club razors. Well worth the price. You just buy the handle and they send you blades every month. I suggest people buy the executive series of products.

[Albion Wilde]

Disgrace to the uniform.

[03A3]

Typical REMF. Looking at his awards, he managed to be a REMF worldwide. Probably never heard a shot fired other than the rifle range.

Least he can shoot.

[Albion Wilde]

The Harry's razors will last me two full weeks. I change them out every other Sunday.

But do you flip the blade over in the alternate week?

[ssaftler]

How are the Harry’s razors? Are they comparable in quality to say Gillettes?

As far as I can tell, yes. I also get about 2 weeks per blade on Harry's, and they stay pretty sharp throughout. I also have found that I can get the blades at local Target, so I get them as I need them. Factory direct shipping was strange, got one order real early, another one just as the 2 weeks was finishing on my last blade.

Hopefully, they've solved the problem, but with on demand retailers, it's not my worry.

[Campion]

Right there with you. I get a lot more than 3-4 shaves out of a blade, though. And a cake of soap lasts 8 months or so.

[Crolis]

I switched to using a double-edged safety razor. $10 for 100 blades is fantastic. I don’t miss paying for Gillette cartridges at all and I get a far better shave.

[Gamecock]

Multiblade razor cause all sorts of problems like ingrown hairs and abrasions.

All of that has gone away since I switched.

[Mr.Unique]

I always loved freezing my ass off on the flight line waiting on an issue parka, while they sat INSIDE the warehouse wearing parkas.

[Gamecock]

There is.

It took me a couple of weeks to learn how to do it, now I am pretty much on cruise control. There are a lot of great instructional videos on YouTube, If you are thinking abut this.

The biggest trick is to let the weight of the razor apply the pressure that is on your face. To much pressure and you get a razor burn. I started off by cocking my head to the left and right and gently dragging the razor across my face.

There is also a huge variance in the sharpness of blades. Feather blades are legendary for being the sharpest, but some people can’t tolerate those. Right now I am working though a sample pack and really liking some blades from Pakistan called Treet. Getting a nice shave.

The other thing that is odd is after using canned shaving cream forever is that the cream/soap that I use doesn’t develop into a “rich lather” like the canned stuff. Turns out the canned stuff is full of air, so it looks fluffy. The creams and soaps actually work better because you use a brush to apply it. The brush helps your facial hair to stand up.

[OldGoatCPO]

As a 31 year veteran the first thing I look at is his rack. Vets know what I mean. We read peoples careers by their ribbons. Two Navy Coms and at least two Navy Achievement medals but the rest of the rack is really weak for a First Sergeant. The NUC and MUC are unit awards not individual awards, he has his USMC Good Conduct medal multiple awards (Jokingly called the Escape and Evasion medal, really appropriate in this case) National Defense ribbon (only one award) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, I believe the next is a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary medal no stars means one deployment early in the war. The rest are service ribbons i.e overseas service and sea service again there is a noticeable lack of bronze stars (Not the medal, little bronze stars that denote additional awards of the same type) For instance my sea service and overseas deployment ribbons each have three bronze stars denoting four awards of the same ribbon) They are no big deal just means I spent a lot of my youth overseas. He appears to have a Meritorious Volunteer Service medal this is for volunteering not for a dangerous mission, but for things like a soccer coach, youth programs, soup kitchens. It is used to help with promotion, I know people who stopped volunteering as soon as they got the award. The last award is a Marine Corps recruiters service ribbon. NOTICEABLY missing for a First Sergeant in wartime is a Combat Action Ribbon and no specific Afghan or Iraq deployment awards. This guy was definitely a POG, as was I, no insult intended. His expeditionary medals are early war on terror and could have come from a MEU deployment vice a tour at Al Assad or Camp Leatherneck. I have a niece who was honorably discharged as a UMSC Corporal with a bigger (ribbon) rack then his. Very telling. From there the multiple shooting awards for expert rifle and pistol are impressive and relevant for promotion in the Corps but not relevant as to his integrity as a Marine. After that I have to say, he looks a bit chunky for a Marine, but that may just be the pose. This 1stSgt by his rack is not very impressive, recruiting duty seems to be where he excelled. Just from looking at his rack, I would think this 1stSgt took advantage of faster wartime promotions, he is politically correct and probably made his career as a recruiter not a leader. All in all not very impressive for the Corps being at war. For the record I spent nearly half of my career as an Active duty and Reserve Marine, I earned my EGA at MCRD San Diego in 1975. I switched to the Navy Reserve when the Corps began to heavily draw down its Reserves under Clinton. I was recalled to Active duty in 2000 and was retained and retired from active duty in 2009. I do have “broken time” which explains how an old Vietnam Era vet like me was able to serve until 2009.

[submarinerswife]

I wonder if it was worth pissing away 21 years of service? He will lose everything over this.

[Notthereyet]

Hi, OldGoatCPO-

First thing my beloved does when he sees anyone on screen or in a picture is to check out the ribbons.

He laughed a lot at the old shows we used to watch.

Said there’s a reason most Services don’t want to be tied to a lot of military-style shows. LOL

[OldGoatCPO]

That is very true especially the low budget films. Funny story I actually was in a low budget film that had a military scene. I was in it and my scene lasted five whole minutes before I died. I helped obtain old uniforms at Army Navy Stores around Camp Pendleton The story was supposed to take place in 1985, but the director was an old Army guy so he cheaply bought all the old Marine Corps khaki uniforms he could find. I tried to tell him nobody wears khaki since around 1979 and nobody wore khakis in the field. But they were cheap since obviously nobody wanted them. For the ribbons, these supposed Army guys had a lot of Marine Corps fruit salad on their chests. The characters playing mercenaries purchased their own outfits, they actually looked more like US Military then my character. It was all fun though..

[OldGoatCPO]

Over the last five to ten years I have seen and read about more senior enlisted and officer in the Corps who do $hit like this and end up busted two ranks and retired or brig time and lose everything. Sex and greed and an attitude that they are untouchable exists among many senior USMC folks. One good officer misused funds, did not steal them like this guy. The Colonel spent one type of money on items for his command that required the purchase to go through channels which would have taken too much time. It was not an authorized purchase, but because he was the Colonel and he owned those funds he did it anyway. He was very senior and marked for a star until forcibly retired. Nice guy, but he did not listen to juniors who told him no. I have been there and dealt with it myself. There is an arrogance I did not see in the average Navy Commander or Captain. Some senior Navy Officers are like that but I have gone out drinking with Admirals and Captains as a Chief and they were pretty regular guys and ladies. However, the Navy has had more then a few black eyes lately.