Ozark Marine
US Veteran
Memorial day. 00:09 hrs
The older I get, the harder this day keeps getting.
The older I get, the harder this day keeps getting.
RIP Capt Bill Winter USMC
- Thread starter Muley Gil
- Start date
SEMPER FI CAPT.
and each and ever one who gave their lives.
and each and ever one who gave their lives.
Ozark Marine
US Veteran
This is the highest caliber of a man. This is why we can live free without fear.
God Bless you Captain, and all the men and women who have died in service to our Country.
God Bless you Captain, and all the men and women who have died in service to our Country.
Muley Gill,
You stirred my memory with your Memorial post. Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/8 was the unit that was hit by the bombers on October 23, 1983.
On October 18 my unit, BLT 2/8 set sail for the Mediterranean to replace BLT 1/8. On 0ctober 20 we were rerouted. I was on the the LPH Guam. It was evident that we were changing direction because of the wide turn the ship was making. We had no idea where we were going at that point.
The barracks was bombed on October 23. We got word of the bombing before the ship went silent, meaning it stopped radio transmissions, and only received messages. On October 25 we landed on the island of Grenada to participate in the invasion and evacuation of Americans. We never got to Beirut, as that mission was scrapped after the bombing.
So 1983 is very memorable to me. I knew some Marines in the the 1st battalion. They were among the 220 Marines who died in the barracks bombing. I have often thought about how fate plays a role in that if we had been ordered to replace 1/8 a couple weeks sooner, I would have been in that barracks. Some of us are just lucky.
Six years later on September 9, 1989 I retired with 30 years done, but 1983 will forever be imprinted on my mind.
You stirred my memory with your Memorial post. Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/8 was the unit that was hit by the bombers on October 23, 1983.
On October 18 my unit, BLT 2/8 set sail for the Mediterranean to replace BLT 1/8. On 0ctober 20 we were rerouted. I was on the the LPH Guam. It was evident that we were changing direction because of the wide turn the ship was making. We had no idea where we were going at that point.
The barracks was bombed on October 23. We got word of the bombing before the ship went silent, meaning it stopped radio transmissions, and only received messages. On October 25 we landed on the island of Grenada to participate in the invasion and evacuation of Americans. We never got to Beirut, as that mission was scrapped after the bombing.
So 1983 is very memorable to me. I knew some Marines in the the 1st battalion. They were among the 220 Marines who died in the barracks bombing. I have often thought about how fate plays a role in that if we had been ordered to replace 1/8 a couple weeks sooner, I would have been in that barracks. Some of us are just lucky.
Six years later on September 9, 1989 I retired with 30 years done, but 1983 will forever be imprinted on my mind.
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OP
Another Memorial Day is almost here. Once again,
I ask our members here to honor my late friend, Captain Bill Winter USMC, killed in Beirut in 1983.
I ask our members here to honor my late friend, Captain Bill Winter USMC, killed in Beirut in 1983.
Semper Fi, Bill Winter, SIR.
Him and all the rest of the men and women who gave life itself to the call of duty.
The how, the when, the reason, is has little meaning in the shadow of their passing. The hero who charged the machine gun, to the guy who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. No more time, dreams, love, family, ALL for their country.
Him and all the rest of the men and women who gave life itself to the call of duty.
The how, the when, the reason, is has little meaning in the shadow of their passing. The hero who charged the machine gun, to the guy who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. No more time, dreams, love, family, ALL for their country.
Ole Joe Clark
Absent Comrade
Thank you Gil for bumping this to the top again. Because of men like him I can sit at this desk and count my blessings, and there are many.
God bless the memories of all the men and women who gave it all for each one of us.
Leon
God bless the memories of all the men and women who gave it all for each one of us.
Leon
Ozark Marine
US Veteran
Let's all remember & honor Capt Winter and the over 1,264,000 war dead this Memorial Day.
Also the maimed and crippled veterans living among us, who bear a heavy burden that we could never carry.
If not for them we would not be free.
God Bless them all.
May God continue to Bless the United States of America.
Also the maimed and crippled veterans living among us, who bear a heavy burden that we could never carry.
If not for them we would not be free.
God Bless them all.
May God continue to Bless the United States of America.
I surely couldn't say it better than that.
Thanks for expressing beautifully what many of us struggle for the right words to say.
Best Regards, Les
Poignant tribute to your friend. Capt. Winter is remembered and prayers for his family. Ozark Marine said it well.
OP
As Memorial Day 2019 approaches, I ask the members of this forum to once again honor my friend and fellow Marine, Capt Bill Winter USMC, who killed in the Beirut bombing, 23 October 1983.
I have been blessed in that while many members of my family have served in the military over last 200 plus years, all came home. I respectfully ask for prayers for Capt Winter's family. May he and his service to our great country never be forgotten.
I have been blessed in that while many members of my family have served in the military over last 200 plus years, all came home. I respectfully ask for prayers for Capt Winter's family. May he and his service to our great country never be forgotten.
Semper Fi SIR
S&WsRsweet
Member
Growing up close to Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point and being from a family of Navy and Marines I learned most of everything I know from my dad and granddads buddies and wanted to be a US Marine in the worst way as those guys were my heroes plus I saw the girls in school just go crazy when a Marine recruiter would show up in that blue uniform and blue does look good on me .I could just see myself decked out with a chest full of medals .Alas an auto accident and severe injuries killed that dream but not my respect for all the people who serve in every branch of our military.Marines are truly the few and the proud and especially Marines like Captain Winters .A salute to him and all the men and women do and have served I thank y’all for my freedom and I guarantee the streets of heaven are well guarded thanks to men like Captain Winters .
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
I'm sorry for the loss of your friend.
Reposted the photos from the earlier post, hosted on a different site, since Photobucket splashed their banner across the earlier ones.
I notice from his headstone that Major Winter's birthday is on Memorial Day this year.
“Blow, golden trumpets, mournfully,
For all the golden youth that’s fled;
For all the shattered dreams that lie,
Where God has laid the quiet dead,
Beneath an alien sky.”
Nora Hopper
Reposted the photos from the earlier post, hosted on a different site, since Photobucket splashed their banner across the earlier ones.
I notice from his headstone that Major Winter's birthday is on Memorial Day this year.
“Blow, golden trumpets, mournfully,
For all the golden youth that’s fled;
For all the shattered dreams that lie,
Where God has laid the quiet dead,
Beneath an alien sky.”
Nora Hopper
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Remember all those who gave something for this country this weekend.
All gave some
Some gave all
We as Americans OWE these people (those who serve) a debt we can never truly repay.
Sickens me sometimes to see some of the goings on currently taking place in America when you think about what these people fought and some died for.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
All gave some
Some gave all
We as Americans OWE these people (those who serve) a debt we can never truly repay.
Sickens me sometimes to see some of the goings on currently taking place in America when you think about what these people fought and some died for.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Old TexMex
Member
I remember.
Danny Gauna E CO, 2ND BN, 5TH MARINES
1948 - 1969
My friend from Corpus Christi.
He died so others might live.
Danny Gauna E CO, 2ND BN, 5TH MARINES
1948 - 1969
My friend from Corpus Christi.
He died so others might live.
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RIP Capt. Winter. We will not forget!
I was at the West Virginia National Cemetary today, putting flags on family members and friends graves. A beautiful place of honor.
Best Regards, Les
I was at the West Virginia National Cemetary today, putting flags on family members and friends graves. A beautiful place of honor.
Best Regards, Les
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OP
Back to the top.
OP
Back to the top, for an outstanding Marine and in honor of all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedoms.
usmc2427765
US Veteran
Rest in peace, Major Winter. Good Marines never die, they just recycle through Tuns Tavern every 100 years or so.
