Memories of SgtMaj. R. R. Ebert

If you would allow me the time to relate my experiences with this great Marine.....I enlisted in Sept 1956 at age 17... Was sent to MCRD San Diego, and upon graduation went to Camp Pendleton, San Onofre for ITR...While there was sent for cold weather training at MCCWTC Pickle Meadows, From there boarded ship in late March, arriving mid April 1957 in Okinawa....My MOS was 0811 Heavy Artillery, but for some reason for a couple months a few of us were in Headquarters Battalion and guess who my Sgt. Major Was ?....Right...Big Red Ebert but no one dared call him that to his face....Here I was a boot right out boot camp and green as my utilities....The first time he and I came face to face I heard the words in my head saying..." I will never survive this "....But I did and to this very day 55 years later I credit Sgt. Maj. Ebert with turned a 17 year kid into a Marine....Under his command he could make you or break you, it was your choice...He was as hard core Marine as any man I ever ran across, and could scare you to death at times ...Every morning for reveille he would step out of his Quonset hut and blow reveille with his own personal bugle, and you'd better listen..... Then he'd call us out for morning calisthenics with100 push ups before even starting the routine....Every Monday night he would lead us through the Okinawa countryside for a 20 mile march....He was probably 20 years older than most of us guys were but he never fell from the lead position...He walked with a bad limp and rumor was he'd been wounded on Guadalcanal , but we never knew for sure....I do recall one Monday night after the march he came into the head I was showering in...He never had much to say and wasn't much for idle conversation...And we didn't push our luck around him....But this night when he dropped his towel I noticed the biggest ugly purple scar I had ever seen....Knowing better but couldn't resist I said..." Gunny what happened to your leg " and without even looking up he said.." Caught some shrapnel " and I didn't press the issue...I felt lucky getting away with the question.....He also helped fund and support an orphanage there on Okinawa, I'll never forget every pay day he would be at the door as you came out with his hand out for his donation for his kids......And I don't remember one time any one turning him down....ha ha.... And he was also a copartner in a bar with some Mamasan. There in BC......Like I say to me a 17 year old kid he was the epitome of what a Marine should be, and if a man can have a hero he was mine....

I searched for a long time trying to locate him to tell him just what effect his influence had on my life and to say thank you, But before I could reach him he had passed away....From research I've done he passed away in July of 2002 at the age of 84 in the Clear Water Fl. Area...He originally came from the Wilkes Barre Pa area and was as Irish as they come. They said he would fight at drop of a hat, but blush in the presents of a woman....Would drink with the troops on Saturday night, but kick the Catholic boys butts getting them up for mass.... This info came from a Marine who was also searching for the same reason.... He said he got through to him and was able to talk to him for about 20 minutes until the gunny said he had to go....he was on his way to see his mother in the hospital or nursing home, which she passed away at 92....

There are other stories about the gunny on Sgt. Grits newsletter from other Marines ...Just type in stories about Big Red Ebert and it will take you there....I was glad to get the new info about him in HMM 364 Purple Foxes....It sounds like he was still the same Marine I remember.....

If you ever have info or photos on him I'd appreciate hearing from your unit....This was a great Marine and no telling how many young boys grew into Marines because of him.......I know it's kinda corny but if there was a Marine Honor Guard at the gates of Heaven, they surely met him there to welcome him in.....

SEMPER FI to one and all in the HMM364 Purple Foxes and Marines every where......

Howard W. Kennedy...
USMC ..I956- 1962....
K-4-12th Marines 3RD Marine Div.....Okinawa