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MarineParents.com joins organizations across the country to recognize September as Suicide Prevention Month.

We have been in touch with far too many veterans and veteran families affected by suicide – from suicide attempt survivors to families mourning the unbearable loss of their loved one to suicide.

Our Marine Parents Founder said it best: “One suicide is too many. One more suicide is too late.”

Take time today to learn the signs of suicide risk and help spread the word about mental health resources. The Veterans Crisis Line reminds us in their Suicide Prevention Month material that one small act can make a big difference. We can work together to save lives.

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Frank E. Petersen, the first African-American Marine Corps Aviator and first African-American to achieve the rank of general, died last Tuesday, August 25, at the age of 83 at his home in Stensenville, Maryland.

Petersen, originally from Kansas, took, and aced, the Navy's entrance exam in June of 1950, and entered the service as a Seaman apprentice. The following year, motivated by the recent Korean War combat death of Jesse Brown, the Navy's first African-American aviator, Petersen entered the Naval Aviation Cadet Program.

 

After completing his flight training, Petersen was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps.  He flew 64 combat missions in Korea in 1953 and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, among other decorations.

Fifteen years later, in 1968, Petersen served a tour of duty in Vietnam,  where he commanded a tactical air squadron and served in more than 250 missions. While in Vietnam, Petersen received the Purple Heart for wounds suffered when he ejected after his plane was struck by anti-aircraft fire over the demilitarized zone. In total, Petersen logged more than 4,000 hours in fighter and attack aircraft. 

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*Image info: Lieutenant General Frank E. Petersen Jr., the 1st African-American Marine Corps Aviator and the 1st African-American Marine Corps general, served during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. During his career, Petersen flew in more than 300 combat missions. (USMC photo)

Yesterday, September 3, marked the 91st birthday of William "Bill" Greason. 

Greason, who was born in 1924 and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, across the street from Martin Luther King, who was a childhood playmate. After graduating from high school in 1943, Greason entered the military during the height of World War II and was among the first African-American Marine recruits, the  Montford Point Marines.

In 1945, Greason served on Iwo Jima, in what became one of the bloodiest battles of the war. After surviving Iwo Jima, Greason served 13 months of occupational duty in Japan following their surrender to the Allied forces in September of 1945.

Upon his return to the United States, Greason began a new career as a professional baseball player, which lasted for more than a decade, from 1947-1959. During his time in baseball, Greason pitched in the Negro Leagues, the Mexican League, the Cuban Winter League (notably competing against Fidel Castro), and, after returning from serving in the Korean War in 1954, he became the first African-American pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball.

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*Image info: William "Bill" Greason pitching for the Birmingham Black Barons in 1951 (released).

  To learn more about Kristi Wiley, please click here...

 

Last week, a video of Marine Lance Corporal Jarrod Haschert, 22, who is based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, asking Ultimate Fighting Champion Ronda Rousey to accompany him to the Marine Corps Ball this November went viral. Earlier this week, Rousey said yes, on the conditions that he be find dates for her friends and acts like a gentleman. 

 

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*Image info: U.S. Marine Jarrod Haschert

So far, we've sent approximately 98,200. We have less than two months to reach our goal, so we need your help!

These cards and letters may not seem like much to those of us on the outside looking in, but the recovering warriors who receive them, as well as those who are involved in their respective recovery processes, such as family members, volunteers, and medical professionals, will attest to the impact these cards and letters can have.

"Thank you for all the support and letters. Whenever I started to have a bad day I would open up a few I hadn't read yet. I am able to walk short distances without a cane, my endurance and balance are the problems now... but things continue to improve at a very fast rate. Thank you to anyone who helped with this, it has brought my spirits up and continues to help me heal."

-- A Marine in 2007

"I want to thank you all for the cards, letters and prayers. They made a difference in my recovery time. They helped me to work twice as hard. I am walking with a prosthetic leg and doing great...Please let everyone know how grateful I am. Everyone has lifted my spirits up so high. Thank you."

-- A Marine in 2011

"It is with all the support of the Operation PAL™ contributors that Dylan has done so well and we are forever grateful. God Bless you all. You'll never know just how significantly you all have impacted our lives. We can never adequately thank you all."

-- A proud Marine Mother

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It has recently come to our attention that the mailing addresses listed on the MCRD San Diego website are incorrectly listed. 

Here are the correct street addresses for each company, followed by Midway Avenue. 

• A: 40004
• B: 39011
• C: 40002
• D: 40000
• E: 38001
• F: 36001
• G: 35051
• H: 37003
• I: 39003
• K: 38990
• L: 39000
• M: 39001

The zip code for all MCRD San Diego mailing addresses is  92140, followed by your recruit's four digit platoon number.

For more than 12 years we've been supporting poolee, recruit, and Marine parents and family members. Now we've added Official MarineParents.com Groups on Facebook for parents and family members of Marines, recruits, and poolees. We invite you to come on in and join us in a Place to Connect and Share with other Marine Parents and family members.