As a Marine, I regret passing this on...

[Lone Gunman]

...from the Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps, 1959

excerpted from:

THE UNITED STATES MARINES IN THE
WAR WITH SPAIN
By
Bernard C. Nalty

from page 10, paragraph 2:

Perhaps the proudest moment in the recruit's life came on the day he first
donned his blue uniform and strode triumphantly out the main
gate. Sometimes, however, he was due for a shock; for the
American people, unused to military uniforms, sometimes mistook
a Marine private for an officer of the Salvation Army.

 

[Guns Garrett]

Not long after VJ-Day, Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey was in New York, standing ouside the Waldorf Astoria in his full-dress uniform.  A martonly, obviuosly wealthy older woman exited the hotel and stood beside him on the sidewalk.  After a short interval, she turned to him and asked:  "Well, are you going to call a cab for me or not?"

He flagged one down.  Don't know if she tipped him.

[Malachi Thorne]

Good Evening, Gentlemen;

From a Civil War Veteran, quoted in Recruiter's Bulletin January 1918:

"There were many kinds of uniforms to be seen in Washington in those days, but the were so shabby in comparison to those worn by the Marines.  While out on liberty in the city, we were frequently taken for Brigadier Generals by volunteer soldiers and they would sometimes present arms to us.  We returned the salute ... as we considered they were saluting the uniform and not the man."

--quoted on page 48 of An Illustrated Hisorty of the United States Marine Corps, by Chester G. Hearn, Salamander Books Ltd, 8 Blenheim Court, Brewery Road, London N7 9NT; ISBN: 1 84065 396 3.

(During the Civil War, US Marine Corps dress uniforms included double-breasted coats with two rows of buttons for all ranks.  At this time, only Field Grade and General officers in the Army were entitled to wear double-breasted coats)

I have the honor to remain,

Your Obedient Servant,

Bvt Captain Malachi Thorne