Archived Thread

NFT: Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Virginia

Eric from BBI : Admin : 5/30/2015 12:10 am

I went there on a middle school field trip with my son today and I highly recommend it to those who have not been.

The various exhibits are impressive - Defending the New Republic, Global Expeditionary Force, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, etc. But what was equally amazing was old Marine Corps veterans who serve as volunteers.

In the WWII exhibit, the students were guided by an 88-year old veteran who at the age of 18 landed on the beaches of Iwo Jima. He weighed 155 pounds at the time and carried an 83-pound flame thrower into battle. Of the 32 men in his platoon, he was the only one who survived the assault on the island.

I was proud of the students who walked up to this man and hugged him for his service. Very emotional.

If you are near DC or in northern Virginia, I strongly recommend you go. I also recommend you talk to the volunteers who work there.

madhatter9382 : 5/30/2015 12:52 am : link

Thats pretty amazing that he was the only one who survived, especially considering that the enemy soldiers usually tried to pick off the flame throwers first.

I need to make my way down there someday soon.

Great museum...

John in No Cal : 5/30/2015 7:15 am : link

And great story about the veteran and the kids.

Thanks for this

Moondawg : 5/30/2015 9:17 am : link

and a beautiful story.

Its a

jtfuoco : 5/30/2015 9:48 am : link

awesome museum I have been a few times I love how the room temps change with the different environments

Here

Eric from BBI : Admin : 5/30/2015 9:50 am : link

is the guy who I was talking about, Frank Matthews, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division
Landing at Iwo Jima - ( New Window )

Proud of the students is right

SwirlingEddie : 5/30/2015 11:11 am : link

Every once in a while they do something that makes us think the world just may be OK in their hands.