Sergeant Major Robert Earl Cleary passes
Mick sends us the sad news that Sergeant Major Robert Earl Cleary, the tenth Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps has passed at the age of 86;
Sergeant Major Cleary served his country and the Corps with extraordinary pride and accomplishment for 36 years. He was trained in Demolition, was assigned to multiple Rifle Companies, served with the Military Police, was a Drill Instructor and was assigned to numerous Aviation Units. He served four combat tours to include one in Korea and three in Vietnam. He was and is the absolute epitome of a Marine. As a result, he was selected and served as the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, the highest enlisted position, for his final four years in the uniform.
His awards include the Silver Star, two Purple Hearts, three Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” and a gold star in lieu of a second award, Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm, and Combat Aircrew Wings with three stars.
A memorial mass will be held on February 20 at 1:00 PM at St John the Apostle Catholic Church, 1968 Sandbridge Road, Virginia Beach. Cremated remains will be interred at the church and a reception will follow in the Church Commons…In lieu of flowers the Cleary family requests that your donations be made to St John the Apostle for School and Outreach or the Virginia Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.’
Category: We Remember
Purple Heart, CAR, Navy Com with “V” device, Air Medal, Silver Star, Combat Aircrew Wings. This guy was a BAMF.
Fair winds and following seas, Marine.
May he rest in the arms of the Lord!!
…copy that assessment..rest in peace, Marine..
Please note the complete absence of compensatorily large motor cycle, mirror sun glasses, gay leather vests with patches and other forms of indickators
Also note that expression that could peel the paint off a Patton tank. Definitely the real deal and an NCO not to be trifled with.
That glare would send Snowflakes immediately to the nearest Safe Pod to cuddle an emotional support hamster
It didn’t give me the happies, either. He’s coming. I’m crossing the street.
A classic “I hate you, stay OFF the grass!” stare that any Senior NCO would be jealous of.
Oorah!!
I saw his steely glare and damned near jumped to attention!
RIP Sergeant Major.
Thank you.
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Gunnery Sergeant Robert Earl Cleary (MCSN: 1223540), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Third Platoon Commander with Company G, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 25 June 1966, during Operation JAY, Gunnery Sergeant Cleary and his platoon came into heavy contact with a well-entrenched Viet Cong Battalion located in a tree line near the village of Ap My Phu. Upon making contact with the enemy, he launched his platoon into the assault and with complete disregard for his own safety, moved among his men shouting instructions and words of encouragement. At one point in the assault, he spotted four automatic weapons and one sixty millimeter mortar that were delivering a deadly hail of fire into his advancing platoon. Immediately he moved along the tree line and through the vicious hostile fire to direct one of his squads in destroying the Viet Cong emplacements. Although wounded, he refused to be evacuated in order to maintain the impetus of his platoon’s assault. By his daring actions and loyal devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Gunnery Sergeant Cleary upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: June 25, 1966
Awesome.
Fair winds, sir!
He enlisted when he was 19 and retired after 36 years of military service. He then enjoyed 20 years of retirement. We don’t want to lose him or his kind, but it’s nice to know that he had a long and valuable life and was able to relax for some years.
30 years of retirement. Retired at age 55. He was 86 at the time of his passing
A life well led
Doh. Math was never my strong suit.
Hey, no worries. I had to count it out on my fingers a couple times just to make sure I didn’t fuck it up myself.
Rest in Peace, Sergeant Major. Well done.
Even at 86, he could kick the crap out of a kneeling NFL snowflake.
RIP
Enjoy Valhalla, Sergeant Major. You’ve more than earned it.
Rest in Peace.
Rip Sgt major
Rest in peace Sir.
Chesty Approves.
Thank God for men like these protecting our Nation.
RIP Marine
Indeed. Chesty would definitely approve, they’re like two peas in a pod.
Another outstanding American goes to his reward.
See you in a while, Brother.
I’m sure Chesty himself welcomed him into Valhalla with some mead in the skull of one of his slain enemies.
There is a seat at the head of a table in Valhalla and a cup of ale await.
I pity the poor fool that walked on his grass…
Had a drill instructor named SGT Cleary. Thought for a moment this was him. I was mistaken (I’m not THAT old). But the look like twins.
Rest Well, Marine.
That is a Get your hands out of your pockets, square away that cover, field strip that cigarette butt and get off my grass Marine type of stare!
I had the misfortune of being on the receiving end of that glare as a young Marine as he and the Commandant passed by in their vehicle. To this day, the only thing I can think I did, or not do, was snap my salute quick enough as they passed by.