CLASSIC MILITARY WARNINGS
"Aim towards the Enemy."
Instruction printed on U.S. Army Rocket Launcher
"When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend." U.S.M.C. Training Bulletin
"Cluster bombing from B-52s is very, very accurate. The bombs are guaranteed to always hit the ground." U.S.A.F. literature
"If the enemy is in range, so are you."
Infantrymans Journal
"A slipping trigger gear could let your M203 grenade launcher fire when you least expect it. That would make you quite unpopular in what's left of your unit." - Armys Magazine of Preventive Maintenance.
Morrett Commended by Commandant
Submitted by Howard Frost
Dress blues were uniform of the day and the San Bernardino CA. Elks Lodge the setting when SMDA Master Sergeant Wesley Morrett USMC (Ret) received a Certificate of Commendation forwarded from Marine Corps Commandant General M.W. Hagee.
The Commendation presentation on April 4, 2004 highlighted the 7th Annual Birthday celebration of Semper Fi # I, an organization founded by Morrett.
Semper Fi #1 is a group of veteran Marines who conduct funeral services for fellow Marines at Riverside, CA. National Cemetery. Traditional unifonns, of course, consist of dress blues.
During its first seven years the group perfonned 866 services, while contribut ing 12,369 volunteer hours.
The Memorial Honor Detail was Morrett's idea after he attended a Marine funeral service at Riverside National for which there was no military honor guard. Disturbed at the lack of deserved recogni tion for a fellow Marine, he inserted an ad in an area newspaper, calling for "a few good Marines." He received 14 responses and created a nucleus of seven older Marines to establish Semper Fi # I.
The original cadre of seven Marines and a high school student volunteer bugler (in an ROTC Marine uniform) had grown by April 4, 2004 to 46 members, including two buglers and two bagpipers.
An ll-1/2 minute video will be avail able nationwide to recruit volunteer mem bers for similar units at the 121 National Cemeteries across the country. That will coincide with a Congressional bill (HR 247) when it eventually goes into effect to honor all veterans.
Morrett's contributions honoring deceased veterans were highlighted October II, 200 I, when Semper Fi # I was recognized by the House of Representatives.
MSGT Wes Morrett retired November 30, 1970, after compiling 20 1/2 years of active duty stretching from his first enlistment in June, 1942. Part of original enlistment was spent in the Second Marine Division, during which he combat on Guadalcanal and Tarawa member of E-2-1 O.
Later in WW II he spent considerable time in Oak Knoll (CA) and Bethesda I) Naval Hospitals with severe malaria attacks before returning to duty at Great Lakes Marine Barracks and Mare Island Marine Barracks. He left the Corps at the of 1945 but, after a career with more and Ohio Railroad, returned in
1953.
By the time Morrett finished his second hitch (plus re-ups) he had served in two more Marine Divisions (I st and 3rd), among numerous other assignments.