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Korean War Veterans Gather To Salute Fallen Commander One Last Time
(January 28, 2010) |
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| | ARLINGTON, Va. (1/22/2010) — It's been almost 55 years since the Marines of
Company D, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, left the Korean peninsula after
cold days and long nights of combat. In the years since, those same Marines have
gotten together, holding reunions off and on. |
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| Soldiers of the Caisson Platoon with the Old Guard guide the coffin bearing the remains of retired Col. Alvin Mackin at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Jan. 15, 2010. Mackin was remembered during this full-honors funeral by some of the Marines he served with in the Korean War in Company D, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. |
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Meeting this time for a more solemn occasion, three Marines of “Dog Company”
came together at Arlington National Cemetery Jan. 15 to pay their final respects
to their company commander, retired Col. Alvin Mackin.
Mackin passed away Sept. 24, a week after his 88th birthday.
The Cleveland native enlisted in the Marine Corps Dec. 8, 1941, the day after
the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. After completing boot camp at Marine Corps
Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Mackin was selected for an officer program.
In World War II, he served as a navigator in a B-25 Mitchell, and later served
as an infantry officer in the Korean War as well as a regimental commander
during the Vietnam War, before retiring in 1972. His awards included the Silver
Star and the Bronze Star with a combat distinguishing device for valor.
His service in Korea, which has been claimed as the “Forgotten War,” was what
the Marines in attendance remembered of him.
“He was a breath of fresh air,” said Fred Frankville, a former corporal who
served under Mackin. “That's what he was.”
Mackin made sure the first day he came to Dog Company that he shook the hand of
every Marine under his command, said Frankville. In a time where Marines didn't
know many people outside of their fire teams, this made a big impression.
Frankville was so impressed that he had no issue later serving as Mackin's
driver, something he said he was honored to do. |
Col. Carlyle Shelton, serving as the representative of the office of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, presents a folded American flag to Jacqueline Mackin-Hartman, the daughter of retired Col. Alvin Mackin, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Jan. 15, 2010. Mackin served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, and was awarded of the Silver Star and the Bronze Star medals with Combat V for valorous acts in combat. |
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This level of contact continued long after Mackin moved on from the Marine
Corps. In 1980, he got in touch with some of the Marines he served with in
Korea, suggesting that they meet up at a veteran reunion the following year.
Nine Marines from Dog Company attended the meeting, and a tradition was started.
Mackin became one of the founding members of the Dog Seven Association, an
organization dedicated to finding the rest of the Marines who served in the
unit.
This was the same leadership the Marines remembered him for in Korea. Mackin had
a habit of personally going out and checking the route of a patrol before
sending his Marines, said Charles Curley, who served as a sergeant with Mackin.
“Some people are leaders but don't know how to lead,” said Curley “He knew how
to lead.”
Mackin cared for everyone in the unit. As Gonzalo Garza, a former platoon
sergeant under Mackin explained, “We did more for him because of his
leadership.”
Jacqueline Mackin-Hartman, the oldest daughter of Mackin, said she was amazed at
the pride the Marines had in serving with her father. It is a feeling that she
shares.
“My pride in my father continues to grow as the realization of his impact on
others was so strong,” said |
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Mackin-Hartman. “Like them, my father lived his
life like a Marine, and now I am beginning to
better understand what that means.” |
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Mackin led the way once more, as the three Marines and the families in
attendance followed the procession to the grave site. After the ceremony, the
Marines paused, savoring their last reunion with Col. Al Mackin, who lays
forever interned at Arlington National Cemetery, and in their memories. | |
Article and photos by USMC LCpl. Benjamin Harris
Headquarters Marine Corps
Copyright 2010
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
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