Sergeant Robert A. Bell, Shivering in an Ancient Battle Jacket . . .

By Douglas Graves © 2008

Marines mustered from all over the Valley on Monday, Nov. 10 at Cedar Beach Park on Hamilton Street in Allentown. The late afternoon wind swirled fallen leaves and chilled the stones of Marine Corps memorial set like sentinels over the fallen. The oldest Marine present was Dom Marciano who had served as a 60-millimeter mortar man with the Sixth Marine Division on Okinawa in 1945.
It was the 18th annual memorial service held at the monument set in a glade between Hamilton Street and Muhlenberg Lake near the 24th Street traffic signal. As the Marines and friends of Marines crowded in and around the eight tall stones that form the perimeter of the memorial, retired Master Gunnery Sergeant Carl J. Schroeder Jr. led the group in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Most of the Marines wore elements of an old uniform or a Marine Corps League jacket and cap. Some wore baseball caps emblazoned with “Marines” or “Marine Corps.” Several were in business suits or blazers with lapel pins depicting medals earned long ago. Lance Corporal Jamie J. Williams of Allentown was wearing “biker” regalia with campaign ribbons. Regardless what they were wearing, the spirit of comradeship was evident.
Veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the first Gulf War and the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were all represented.
Sergeant Robert A. Bell, shivering in an ancient battle jacket and accompanied by his wife, Nora, rendered a crooked fingered salute for his flag and brought his arthritic hands together in noiseless applause as leaders stepped from the ranks to speak to the group. Bell, now in an assisted living home, had served his country from 1945 to 1951.
Retired Hospitalman First Class Richard Bentley of Macungie wore the forest-green Marine Corps uniform authorized for Navy Corpsmen assigned to the Fleet Marine Force as medical personnel. One man approached him and thanked all corpsmen for being there when Marines are in tough spots.
Allentown Assistant Police Chief and former Marine David M. Howells, Jr. attended with his father who is a former Allentown Police Chief and Marine. Major Jim Robbins attended and gave a short speech to his comrades. Robbins, an Allen High School teacher and reserve Marine officer, was a detachment commander in the Iraq war.
Lehigh Court of Common Pleas Judge and Marine colonel Jim Anthony attended as did former Marine corporal Bill Derricott, a retired Parkland School District teacher.
Whitehall High School student Connor Purcell and his brother Corey, as a drum and fife duo, provided timeless martial tunes for the simple affair. Sergeant Howard J. Cooper of Wescosville read the birthday message sent in 1921 to Marines in all “posts and stations” by the thirteenth commandant of the Marine Corps, General John A. Lejuene a World War I general and revered figure to Marines.
The Marines finished the service by singing the Marines’ Hymn that ends with the refrain, “If the Army and Navy ever look on Heaven’s scenes, they will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines.”
Following the annual Marine Corps memorial service many in the group met for a cake-cutting at the VFW hall on Hamilton Street. The “youngest and oldest Marine” present were invited to be the first served from the celebratory cake.
This year the honor went to Marciano, the WW II veteran, and to Sergeant Howard Cooper, the youngest, at 42.
The celebration of the U. S. Marine Corps’ 233rd birthday was a simple event but the emotion that all Marines feel for this day is best understood by realizing that on every November 10, Marines around the world from generals to privates gather together in groups large and small to celebrate the day 1775 when the Marine Corps was first organized in Philadelphia. These celebrations may include lavish banquets with grand military balls or maybe just three dirty-faced men in a far away fighting hole sharing a cold ration, but, without fail, the Marine Corps Birthday is celebrated.