https://marinecorpscompasspoints.substack.com/p/compass-points-rest-in-peace
Papa Bear has departed. Gen Gray was as transformative a leader for the Marine Corps as John Lejeune had been 65 years earlier.
I attended the summer commissioning ceremony at G. Rollie White in May 1988. The commissioning officer was Gen Gray (wearing summer dress whites before he canceled that uniform!). Tim Maxwell was the first to receive his commission because he was the Distinguished Naval Graduate from the Class of 1988.
Gen Gray handed Tim his commission and as he was shaking his hand, he swung with a fist and punched Tim HARD in the shoulder with a left hook. The audience gasped because it was a real punch that would have knocked most men off balance, but not Tim. He maintained his bearing , executed a left-face, and marched off the stage as the crowd whooped.
None of us knew that Al Gray's signature greeting for "his Marines" was a solid punch in the shoulder. Being punched in the shoulder by Gen Gray is a bucket-list point of pride for Marines of that era. After the last Marine received her commissioning punch, the first Navy Ensign crossed the stage and did a right face as he prepared to receive a punch. Instead, General Gray gave a very soft open handed pat on the shoulder and the crowd went wild shouting OOORAH! It was the most memorable commissioning ceremony I ever attended, including my own.
Semper Fidelis
Papa Bear has departed. Gen Gray was as transformative a leader for the Marine Corps as John Lejeune had been 65 years earlier.
I attended the summer commissioning ceremony at G. Rollie White in May 1988. The commissioning officer was Gen Gray (wearing summer dress whites before he canceled that uniform!). Tim Maxwell was the first to receive his commission because he was the Distinguished Naval Graduate from the Class of 1988.
Gen Gray handed Tim his commission and as he was shaking his hand, he swung with a fist and punched Tim HARD in the shoulder with a left hook. The audience gasped because it was a real punch that would have knocked most men off balance, but not Tim. He maintained his bearing , executed a left-face, and marched off the stage as the crowd whooped.
None of us knew that Al Gray's signature greeting for "his Marines" was a solid punch in the shoulder. Being punched in the shoulder by Gen Gray is a bucket-list point of pride for Marines of that era. After the last Marine received her commissioning punch, the first Navy Ensign crossed the stage and did a right face as he prepared to receive a punch. Instead, General Gray gave a very soft open handed pat on the shoulder and the crowd went wild shouting OOORAH! It was the most memorable commissioning ceremony I ever attended, including my own.
Semper Fidelis
