Battle Rattle — Marine Corps Times Blog

Priceless Craigslist apartment posting for Camp Lejeune barracks is a must read

By Gina Harkins on July 29, 2014 Battle Rattle, Camp Lejeune

Marines who are preparing for a permanent change of station to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, might be trolling Craigslist for housing. Well, this listing might have everything you’re looking for — or perhaps everything you’re hoping to escape. On July 20, a Craigslist user posted a one-bedroom rental that would be available in two weeks. The “lovely” 225 square foot space is located in a “gated community with 24-hour private security,” the advertisement states. Rent is $1,000 per month, and can be conveniently paid “on the 1st or split between the 1st and 15th with automatic withdrawal.” There are…

The Rock visits Pendleton

By Joshua Stewart on July 25, 2014 Battle Rattle, Camp Pendleton, Pop culture

With his new movie “Hercules” coming out today, Dwayne Johnson, better known as the Rock, has been on a media blitz. One of his stops was at Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he met a few Marines and snapped a couple of selfies with fans. Marine Corps public affairs officers said that thousands of people showed up to see the actor/ professional wrestler/ football player, and some showed up as early as 3 a.m. Here’s what the scene looked like.

Viral video shows Marines confronting apparent military faker

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By Gina Harkins on July 23, 2014 Awards

A video showing two Marines confronting a man dressed as an Army sergeant major is making the rounds on Facebook. The video, posted on Sunday from Florida, shows two Marines on funeral detail questioning a man claiming to be a battalion sergeant major, military policeman and special operator. The two catch up with him in a parking lot and begin asking him questions about his uniform — including why he’s wearing medals and ribbons at the same time. [HTML1] The Marines ask the man who his commanding officer is, and he replies, “Lt. Col. Smith.” They also ask him for…

Public speaker apologizes to Marines for wearing DI uniform

By Gina Harkins on July 17, 2014 Battle Rattle

A man who runs public speaking seminars faced severe backlash on social media from Marines and veterans groups after he dressed up as a drill instructor during one of his recent engagements. Marines took to Facebook and Twitter to launch a social media campaign to stop Marc Accetta, the founder of a company that provides seminars and training programs, from donning official Marine Corps uniform items during his engagements. [HTML4] The photo, which showed Accetta dressed as a first sergeant with the classic DI smokey cover, appears to have been removed from Facebook. And just hours later, Accetta issued a…

Recruit: Should I tell my DIs it’s my birthday?

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By Gina Harkins on July 10, 2014 Battle Rattle

A Marine recruit — or soon to be recruit — took to the Internet to ask for some advice about whether drill instructors care if your birthday falls during boot camp. Here’s the question that was posted to Yahoo! Answers on Wednesday: “What if I tell the drill instructors it’s my birthday? What if the platoon was lined up and I stepped out of line to announce to everyone it’s my 19th birthday. What’ll happen?” One Army veteran responded that it would go down as one of the “Worst Birthdays Ever.” Another user who goes by the name Goose said, “Please do…

Video: Marine held in Mexico gets day in court

By Hope Hodge Seck on July 9, 2014 Battle Rattle

As Marine veteran Andrew Tahmooressi appeared in a Mexican courthouse in Tijuana today for an evidentiary hearing, a host of lawmakers and a movie star are voicing their support for him. Tahmooressi says he missed his exit at the San Ysidro border crossing March 31, entering Mexico with three firearms and dozens of rounds of ammunition in his truck before being arrested by Mexican authorities. His court proceedings were delayed by a series of legal hiccups: he has fired his attorney twice before hiring lawyer Fernando Benitez to represent him. While the results of the hearing, which began at 11:30a.m.…

“Outpouring of love” after 12-year-old Honorary Marine dies of brain cancer

By Hope Hodge Seck on July 7, 2014 Battle Rattle, History and heritage, Honorary Marines

Last year, 12-year-old Ethan Arbelo earned his Eagle, Globe, and Anchor when he was made an Honorary Marine, joining a group of fewer than 100 who have received that title. Last week, Ethan’s family said he had earned his angel’s wings. Diagnosed with Anaplastic Astrocytoma Grade III, an aggressive brain cancer, in Feb. 2012, Ethan embarked on a mission to make the most of the time he had. His mom, Maria Maldonado Arbelo, herself a Marine veteran, created “Ethan’s Bucket List,” a tally of her son’s dream adventures. With donor support raised in online fundraisers and through various charitable organizations, Ethan…

Lieutenant colonel uses Marines’ “Frozen” video to open the dialogue on sexual assault

By Gina Harkins on July 3, 2014 Battle Rattle

[HTML1] A Marine Reserve officer is taking some heat for an opinion piece he wrote analyzing the reaction to a viral video in which Marines filmed themselves belting out the lyrics to the girl-power anthem, “Let It Go.” In a piece for The Daily Beast titled “Why these Marines love ‘Frozen’ and why it matters,” Aaron B. O’Connell — a lieutenant colonel in the Reserve and history professor at the U.S. Naval Academy — said the public’s reaction to the video is flawed. Those who were calling it “adorable” missed the point, he wrote. Instead, he says the Marines’ performance is…

Retiring Marine master sergeant surprised with $70,000 home makeover

By Gina Harkins on June 27, 2014 Battle Rattle

[HTML1] Marine Master Sgt. Jacinto Bernardo and his family bought a fixer-upper in California before deploying to Okinawa, Japan. But when he returned from his deployment, the fixing-up part was complete — a surprise orchestrated by an old boot camp buddy. Bernardo and his wife returned to Suisun City, California, on Tuesday — their final homecoming as the master sergeant completed his 21-year career in the Corps, according to ABC7. Before leaving for Japan, Bernardo asked his friend, Jeremy Epperson, to look after his new place, according to ABC7. But Epperson decided the retiring master sergeant rated a better house after more than two decades in…

Watch: MOH recipient Kyle Carpenter classes up the Letterman show

By Hope Hodge Seck on June 27, 2014 Battle Rattle

Retired Marine Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, who received the Medal of Honor at the White House last week, entered the home stretch of a week on the road with an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman in New York last night. [HTML1] Carpenter, who showed up sharp in his dress blues with his medal at his collar, revealed to Letterman that he had driven home from class to receive the call from President Barack Obama congratulating him on his award. Then, he had gone back to class. “I’m sorry I’m late, professor, I just got a call from the…