What's your dog’s favorite toy and/or go-to treat?

He has no teeth, but he loves eating Caesar dog food after I mush it up.

What is your dog's most unique quality?

Brutus got my attention one day when he was 1 year old. I was walking through a parking garage where I lived when I heard a funny, frantic barking sound, which made me turn towards it. When I turned, there he was on the roof of a car, jumping up & down trying to get my attention. I walked towards him & when I was a foot away, he jumped into my arms. A bad person owned him, and I tried for years to get him, but finally, when it mattered most, he was able to run into my arms.

Why should your dog be America’s Favorite?

He suffered so much in life before he came to me, such as physical abuse and being given narcotics, yet his resilience and loving personality helped him to survive and still be a loving companion. He was starving and only 4 lbs when I was finally able to rescue him. He was scared, ill & shaking, but ran into my arms because he knew he was finally going to be safe. He has been with me now for almost 4 years.

Reunion Events for Your Enjoyment

Continental Breakfast every morning

Full bar with snacks nightly, with volunteer bartenders from Nashville to serve your libations 

29  April, Wednesday night, Welcome Reception at the Rampant Lion Irish Pub. The Hospitality Room at the main 26-bedroom lodge will open after reception

30 April, Thursday, late afternoon, Ladies Party hosted by Madonna Terry & Louise Witcher in the 18-Bedroom Lodge

30 April, Thursday, late afternoon, Marines Whiskey Tasting at the main 26 Bedroom Lodge 

30 April, Thursday Night BBQ at the main 26 Bedroom Lodge by Delauder’s BBQ

1 May, Friday Night Pizza & Karaoke Party at the main 26 Bedroom Lodge

1 May, Saturday, Kentucky Derby Happy Hour with live showing of the Kentucky Derby while enjoying Mint Juleps in the18-Bedroom Lodge

1 May, Saturday Reunion Dinner catered by Veteran Marine and award-winning Chef Ray of Fruitful Vintage in the main 26 Bedroom Lodge. Check out Chef Ray’s biography

1 May, Saturday Night Fundraising Auction. If you have something to donate, contact Connie Gause.

We will have drawings every night with great prizes, as well as Welcome Bags and Going Away Gifts

VMFA-333 Marines have both the 26-room, 18-room, and 4-room lodges at Big Bear Cove in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, are reserved.

Remember, our accommodations are not hotel rooms, but private lodges

Therefore, there will not be staff or other guests in our lodges

Formed at Cherry Point on 1 August 1943 as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 333 (VMSB-333), “Trip Trey” began their career flying SBD Dauntless dive-bombers from Midway on anti-shipping patrols.

Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless Dive Bomber of VMSB-333 over Wake Island.

 

The F-4X Super Phantom was a proposed high-speed reconnaissance and interceptor variant of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, developed in collaboration between the United States and Israel during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The project aimed to significantly enhance the performance of the aging F-4 by incorporating cutting-edge technology, particularly for reconnaissance and high-speed interception roles.

Key Features and Development

1. Origin & Purpose

   • The Israeli Air Force (IAF) sought a high-performance reconnaissance aircraft to replace or complement their existing fleet.
   • The project was pursued in cooperation with McDonnell Douglas and aimed at producing a significantly faster and more capable Phantom variant.

By: Mauro Iasparri

Gunny Yarborough... Here's another story. Gunny Yarborough. Seems the last two stories I have shared revolve around cars. LOL... Well, Here's another one. My TR6 is making a noise. I talk with Gunny Yarborough about it. When I first bought the car Gunny liked it and we talked about it. If memory serves me, he had a Datsun 240Z or a 260Z at his house he was working on.

Back to the noise. Gunny gets in and drives a little bit and nods his head and has a smile on his face and says I know what it is. Upon further inspection he confirms it is the Universal joint. He tells me go buy the part and come by my house and WE can fix it. So, we agree to meet at his house on the next day. I bought the new part and arrive at his house. He says pull up over there and jack up the car. He has a dirt driveway. I had one of those scissor jacks so I had to get a block of 2x6 or something like that to put the jack on so it didn't sink too far into the dirt...LOL. About three blocks of wood later the car was finally in the air...He gets down on the ground tells me, "You see that right there, That's the drive shaft and the universal joint is right there you have to take off them there bolts and take the drive shaft out". 

By: Chaplain Tony Woconish

Another Top Corvo story: About 1979-80’ Top asked me to transport and guard the Security Avionics Box for the next deployment. “Sure Top, no problem, I said.” Then I asked for a pistol. He said “No, it’s not TOP-SECRET MATERIAL.” He then reaches over for the NATOPS Manual on his desk. (Top knew the manual better than a Sunday School Teacher knows the Bible) Goes directly to that subject and shows me…” you only get a night stick.” Then proceeds to hand me a night stick and says, “beat them off with a night stick, and if you get overrun, burn the material.” as he flips me a package of green military matches…” Thanks Top.” SEMPER FI

PS: I still have the night stick and matches to this day.

By: Conway Kangas

Remember friends on security details would pull off engine intake covers of F4s and sleep.

Remember one friend on mess duty got the rest of the day off for dunking his head in slop bucket. They used to live the garbage cans to pig farmers that drive up to the mess hall.

Remember the Marine Corps Birthday and commander of base giving out glasses of champagne and someone asked what if someone does not drink and he said they will drink to the Marine Corps.

During IG inspections the little shack at end of runway held items we couldn't have. Tools and such.

By: Conway Kangas

We were in Yuma Az and decided to get drunk as usual.

Went from barracks to NCO club. No shirts and white shoes polish for tennis shoes but us four done up like Adams and the ants. Someone wrote something on my back.

Next thing we're at the club and it's closed but things got said between us and others. Next thing I know I am in my room and hear a commotion in the hall and the other three are getting arrested and of course I went out and joined the arrest party and they put us in the car and did a semicircle as the police or MP shack was on the other side of the road. Slapping us with charges.