The Foxhole! Alvin's USMC Page

"Neither the United States Marine Corps nor any other component of the
Department of Defense has approved, endorsed or authorized this activity."

Animated Bulldog by Maj M.G. Coleman, USMC

WELCOME. Have a seat while I make some C-RAT coffee. The smoking lamp is lit!

Welcome to The Foxhole!

Maintained by SSgt Alvin Rivera, USMC (Ret)
Graduated February 1977 from Platoon 2017, MCRD Parris Island, SC

"That two Battalions of Marines be raised consisting of one Colonel, two Lieutenant Colonels, two Majors & Officers as usual in other regiments, that they consist of an equal number of privates with other battalions; that particular care be taken that no person be appointed to office or enlisted into said Battalions, but such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve to advantage by sea."
(Resolution of the Continental Congress, 10 November 1775)

United States Marines.. we have been called grunts, jarheads, gyrenes, devil dogs, leathernecks and many more less flattering epithets. But no matter what we are called, the undeniable fact is that there are no finer fighters, or human beings, on the planet. Marines form a bond between them that remains unbroken forever. A long forgotten source once said, "Marines do the brave and heroic things they do out of love for one another. There is no other discernible reason" I challenge anyone to prove that wrong!

When I retired on 30 November 1996, my wife gave me a hat with "USMC Retired" stitched on the front that I wear often. Since then, I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who come up to me and introduce themselves as former or retired Marines. One rather elderly gentlemen managed a hearty "OHHH-RAHHH!". This, to me, is what the "Marine Corps Brotherhood" is all about! For 20 years I served it and I loved it. And now....I miss it.

As a theme for this page, I have decided to dispense with the more common USMC information (i.e. General Orders, Code of Conduct, USMC Hymn, etc) and concentrate on little known Marine Corps history. For instance, of the 34 officers who have served as past Commandants of the Marine Corps, how many were court-martialed?

If there have been 34 Commandants, why does "CMC Row" at HQMC and any poster that shows their pictures only have 33 photos?

What are the names of the six flag raisers and what circumstances of fate placed them on Mount Suribachi?

The answers can be found here and this is the type of information I intend to publish - little known USMC history. A lot of time and effort has gone into my research but you know what?... I LOVE IT!!

This page is meant to honor every United States Marine - past, present and future. To all who bear the title of United States Marine, I say, Semper Fi ! and OOH RAH!