MARINES AND THE MORNING AFTER 9/11

MARINES AND THE MORNING AFTER 9/11

By Andy Weddington

Sunday, 12 September 2021

Every Marine a rifleman; trained, seared into heart. 

Friday evening I learned, from a retired Marine longtime pal who sent note, a bit of little known 9/11 Marine Corps history. 

On 12 September 2001 deputy legal counsel (in the Pentagon the day before and had harrowing ordeal) for the Commandant of the Marine Corps received a telephone call.

An elderly gentleman identified himself as Bob Barrow. He called to volunteer to help, to be a rifleman. 

He was 79. 

I learned his age yesterday from another retired Marine and longtime pal - who shares Bob Barrow's name; his son who goes by Rob (to avoid confusion).

Bob Barrow - for those who do not know - as son, a retired Marine.

He was a rifleman, an infantryman, in three wars (WWII, Korea, Vietnam); he lived and survived the horrors of combat with decorations reflecting extraordinary courage (some call heroism).

General Barrow retired after 41 years of honorable and faithful service including last four as 27th Commandant of the Marine Corps. 

On 12 September 2001 he still had fight running through heart, mind, body, and soul.

Bob Barrow had been retired 18 years to a small community. 

Yesterday, our small community put on big time ceremony honoring 9/11 victims, survivors, first responders, law enforcement, and the military. 

Too, the ceremony important to remind and educate the citizenry. "Never Forget" cannot be bumper sticker nonsense. For it is only possible to "Never Forget" if you always teach and remind and honor. 

The crowd huge - infant to toddler to teen to twenties to nineties and all colors and creeds. 

Patriotic attire head to toe. 

Flags monstrous to minuscule. 

Fellow citizens surrounded me. Close. A tiny minority masked; no one around me. 

A retired New York City police officer on duty that shocking day and now resident of our town spoke. 

So did the daughter (four on 9/11) of a retired New York City police officer - who worked tirelessly during the aftermath of the attack and later moved to our town - speak; her father died recently from disease caused by exposure during post attack work. 

Others eloquently and emotionally shared memories.

Looking about the compass, the eagle, globe, and anchor peppered hats and shirts. These elite people, all of them, I know to be trained rifleman. 

Observing and reflecting, an encounter Friday morning came to mind.

I parked in a space reserved for veterans in front of Harris-Teeter.

With grocery bag in my left hand (habit from uniform days) approaching my car an elderly gentleman wearing ball cap adorned with the Marine emblem walked up, "I saw your front plate (crimson with gold emblem) and waited to meet you."

We shook hands and struck up conversation as if we'd known each other decades ago.  

He enlisted in 1960 and served four years in intelligence. I cannot tell you the pride he beamed speaking of his service. He then pursued career in law enforcement retiring as a California Highway Patrolman before settling in North Carolina.

Our conversation remarkable. 

He said, "What I love about Marines is it matters not how old we are we speak the same language. We're a brotherhood. There's nothing like it."

"Yes, sir. It's is simple as that."

We parted with customary "Semper Fi" and he headed into the store.

I have thought about that older Marine since learning about the call Bob Barrow made 20 years ago today.

That gentleman at Harris-Teeter told me was 80. 

Had I known about the Bob Barrow call before meeting that Marine, I'd have asked, "Marine, what did you do the day after 9/11?"

I'm inclined to believe he, too, made a phone call volunteering to be a rifleman.

That is what Marines do; to last breath. 

Later today, for family duty, there's good chance I will meet another elderly Marine. 

If so, "Marine, what did you do the day after 9/11?"

I'll let you know what he says.

But my money is on, "Marine, I made a phone call - to volunteer as a rifleman."