MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- Approximately 48 Marines and one Sailor from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment received Purple Hearts during a short ceremony at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, theater Oct. 19.
As Lt. Col. Norman L. Cooling, commanding officer, 3/3, stepped in front of each warrior, he carefully clipped the medal to their digital uniform. He then took a moment to talk to each one; his words just loud enough for the Marine in front of him to hear.
In the audience, family members of some of the Marines who didn’t return and fellow service members from the regiment watched the ceremony. Not a word could be heard throughout the crowd.
After each medal was given, read and the wounded warriors returned to their seats, a list of Marines who had already received their medal was read. Then Cooling began to speak; first to the families who were present.
“We honor the families of our Marines who didn’t return with us,” he said. “Nothing we receive here today compares to the sacrifice these families have made.”
Cooling continued to say to the families although they have lost their children, they have 960 Marines sitting behind them that will always be their sons.
With that, the speech then turned to the wounded Marines.
There are many different stories about how each one earned the medal, but according to Cooling each story is connected by valorous actions.
“Thank you for your contribution for the Marine Corps family and your country,” the commanding officer said to his wounded men.
Most of the Marines were modest about receiving the medal.
“It is hard to put into words,” said Cpl. Reginald Hodge, rifleman, India Company, 3/3, who was shot in his left arm
while cornering off a house in Iraq. “It reminds me of the many Marines who were unable to make it back. It is a lesson that I will have with me for the rest of my life.
“It has humbled me.”
The Purple Heart medal was established during the Revolutionary War by Gen. George Washington Aug. 7, 1782 in Newburgh, N. Y.
A special guest was present during the ceremony. Sgt. Robert O’Malley, Medal of Honor recipient for his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the communist {Viet Cong} forces at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Squad Leader in Company I, 3/3, 3rd Marine Division {Reinforced} near An Cu'ong 2, South Vietnam, Aug. 18, 1965.
O’Malley and his wife presented a picture signed by Marines who received the Medal of Honor during World War II. It is the 33rd print in a series of more than 1,000.
“We want to thank you so much for what you do every day for our country,” said O’ Malley’s wife and creator of the picture.
O’Malley continued after his wife, “If it wasn’t for you guys, I don’t know what our country would turn into.”
He then looked to the sea of Marines and belted a loud, “Ooh-rah!”
The Marines echoed back in unison, “Ooh-rah” to the Medal of Honor winner.
As the Marines began to clap and the ceremony was about to end, he said one last thing to his younger brothers, “Semper Fi,” which means always faithful. A fitting end to a touching ceremony.