Retirement: CC Major Norm Hatch, in his job as top Photo civil servant in DoD Public Affairs, presents farewell gift to 1stLt Bob McEwen, Oct. 31, 1967
Born Sept 21, 1929, Cleveland, Ohio.
Married Mary-Carter Faust, Psychiatric Social Worker, USNH, Great Lakes, Ill, Jan 6, 1956 (I was not a patient). She died Dec. 12, 2008.
Enlisted: age 17, Sept. 24, 1946, retired Nov. 1, 1967.
While standing on the parade ground at Camp Lejeune upon graduation from Boot training I heard my fellow boots called to the Infantry and artillery units of the 2ndMarDiv. Three of us stood there as we were assigned to the HqBn. I thought “they know I worked in a restaurant; Or that I took typing in High School! Then my name was called out for Reconnaissance Company! I not only didn’t know what that was; I couldn’t even spell it! It seems they knew I was a competitive swimmer in YMCA activities. Recon was great! My platoon Sgt. was PltSgt Harry Manion, SgtMaj of the 1st MarDiv in Vietnam and former WWII Scout Sniper.
After maneuvers in Culebra and Vieques and Amphib. Recon training at Little Creek, three of us decided that Lejeune was not where we wanted to be. We extended for a year our two-year enlistments to transfer to China. We moved to 1/1, 1stMarDiv, Tientsin, in April, 1947. The division was drawing down and on Sept. 1, 1947, the 200 of us remaining boarded LSTs and headed for 19 months with the 1stProvMarBrig on Guam. Then they found out I could type and made me an 0141 handling HqBn personnel records.
Press conference, Seattle, WA, 1965: CMC Gen. Wallace M. Greene, Jr; SgtMaj of the Marine Corps McHugh and GySgt. McEwen, MARTD, Seattle. Maj. Bob "Mo" Morrissey turned over the visiting delegation's media & speech appearances to me and never interfered. It worked.
Not having seen snow for a few years, I chose to let the Corps send me from Pendleton to Great Lakes for discharge, although I knew I would reenlist. That probably saved my life as I was at Quantico working with OCs when Korean war began. The brigade was reborn and from BG Craig on down, my former mates headed for Pusan and Chosin. Several buddies and I, having less than a year to go on our enlistments, reupped for six (got $360 bonus, less income tax) to qualify for overseas assignment. After that, we learned that no one leaves duty involving officer training except for State Department contract. Months later I was ordered to DC to become an in embassy guard, Tel Aviv. As a young, single Sgt., I was not happy, at first. In later years, I thanked God.
Bob & Mary-Carter on the Great Wall, 2005, one of about 30 trips to foreign climes. This photo was used in St. Petersburg Times w/50th anniversary piece.
Back in the US, I met a young lady who lived in Chicago. Nothing serious at that time, but the Corps was asking for volunteers to attend JO school at Great Lakes. Romance didn’t develop (she wanted me out of the Corps), but my life was changed for the better. Despite being “busted” a couple of times for minor matters, was promoted quickly to SSgt. & up to MSgt by 1966, having served (one of four first Marines assigned) at Fleet Home Town News Center for five & a half years (Navy kept extending me), 1stMAW, Iwakuni, Oppama, Futenma; El Toro (Press Chief, Flight Jacket Editor, NCOIC. Was ordered to senior NCO Leadership School there in 1962 disappoined E-8s & 9s by earning the honor graduate sword (they referred to me as “office pinky” at the start).
Red Square. Our last trip together. We returned home Oct. 15 after two weeks on water between St.Petersburg and Moscow. She died Dec. 12, 2008. Bob continues to travel, having spent most of May 2009 in Egypt & Israel and Australia/New Zealand in Dec/Jan,2010 and then a 35-day cruise from Hong Kong to Athens in Apr/May 2010, visiting Thailand, Vietnam,India, Singapore, Maylasia, Oman, Jordan and back to Egypt through the Suez to Greece. Spent a week in Rome Sept.’11 Off to Bangkok Oct. 22 2011 and home from Saigon after touring Thailand, Cambodia, Laos. God willing, will fly to Barcelona in May 2012, tour N.Spain and Pyernees, home from Madrid.
Last two assignments were MARTD, Seattle, where I was one of the SNCOs selected for temporary 2ndLt. in 1966. Orders to Vietnam were changed to DoD Public Affairs as I got a call from Maj. Bob Morrissey in the CMC office telling me that I would fill a major’s billet…without the rank. He and General Greene had been in Seattle for about a week for the 1965 “Armed Forces Spectacular” for which I handled all publicity for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Boeing and the City. A great twilight cruise so far as employment was concerned. Of course, the Vietnam freeze on retirement kept me in for another 18 months and I decided that Seattle’s financial status in 1967 cancelled working there.
After being in the Pentagon for 18 months, I was tired of playing handball and working for civilians. Newspaper Enterprise Association recruited me for promotion and advertising in Cleveland, my home town, and I accepted. When I was Asst. Editor of our high school paper, we printed it at NEA. Home again. A few years later I was asked to be one of six salesmen who covered the U.S. Called on Editors & Publishers in seven midwest states, done good, and was transferred to take over Southeastern territory in 1973. Retired as Sales VP in April 1986. Elected to Town Council in Florida hometown of Indian Shores, a beach/tourist enclave between St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach on the Gulf Coast. Elected mayor 1990-2000; Commissioner of Pinellas Suncoast Fire District 2000-2008. On condominium board for more than 25 years.
Joined the CCs about 1966, became president in 1971 and had the gavel for two more terms, 1997-1998 and 1998-1999; Was honored to receive the Dixon award in 1996 after hosting the annual conference in Clearwater 1995.
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