Once A Marine Always A Marine
by U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jacob Pruitt August 17, 2019
His weathered hands, aged by war and time, brushed across the
fuselage of an aircraft. Like a gust of wind, old memories washed
over him.
Stepping out from the hangar, the 99-year-old
Marine took a firm grasp of his grandson’s hand as a Marine from
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 164, 3rd Marine Aircraft
Wing, escorted them onto Camp Pendleton's flightline.

May 31, 2019 - Retired U.S.
Marine Corps Maj. Richard Cropley celebrates his 99th
birthday with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 164,
Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, at
Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, CA. Cropley served
his country for more than 20 years as a fighter/bomber pilot
during World War II and flew multiple combat missions over
the Pacific. Cropley’s birthday wish was to spend time with
his Marine Corps aviation family and to see an MV-22B Osprey
up close. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Charles Plouffe)
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Nearly a century of experience, coupled with more than 20 years
of military service, visibly weighed on his frame. Here was a man
who had danced with death above the skies and oceans of the world
and lived to tell the tale.
Now, on the day of his birth,
Dick Cropley, a retired dive bomber, wanted nothing more than to
breathe in the air with the Marines who faithfully carried on the
legacy he helped shape.
On May 31, 2019, his wish was
granted.
"I can't believe the Marine Corps would do something
like this for me," said Cropley while fighting back tears. "You get
out or retire, and it just feels like the world forgot about you. I
can't express how much this means to me."
Cropley started
flying in 1942 and spent more than 20 years in the Marines. The
retired Marine Corps Major operated a dive bomber during World War
II and conducted operations across the globe in support of his
Marine Corps family.
"The planes I flew could fit inside
here," said Cropley as he motioned toward one of the massive engines
of an MV-22B Osprey.
It was a far cry from the small, single
engine airplanes he had trained on and fought in during World War
II.
The years seemed to fall from his shoulders as he peered
across the flight line. Hundreds of aircraft, aviation equipment and
sensors welcomed him to the air strip with a rare and peaceful
silence. He was home.
It was an emotional welcome for a
Marine. Especially in a service that is typically seen as
unflinching, hard, calm and calculated war fighters. It was a
different and loving feeling on this day. The men watching Cropley
soaked it all in and could only smile as they helped fulfill this
Marine’s birthday wish.

May 31, 2019 - Retired U.S.
Marine Corps Maj. Richard Cropley stands in front of
MV-22B Osprey as he celebrates his 99th birthday with Marine
Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 164, Marine Aircraft Group
39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, at Marine Corps Air Station
Camp Pendleton, CA. The inset image is Richard Cropley in
his pilot gear during World War II. (Image created by
USA Patriotism! from U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Charles Plouffe
and courtesy photo from Richard Cropley)
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“Aircraft change, aviation changes,” said Capt. Ross Studwell,
the flight equipment and ordnance officer in charge at VMM 164. "But
Marines never change. Cropley is a fine example of the commitment
the Marine Corps is famous for.”
An endearing and welcoming
attitude formed out of pure respect was extended to Cropley, who was
invited as an honored guest to a change of command ceremony and a
guided tour of VMM-164's hanger for an inside and personal look at
modern day Marine Corps aircraft.
What he didn’t expect was
the surprise birthday celebration planned by the Marines. The “Knightriders”
presented the former pilot with a cake, celebrating his 99th
birthday, honoring his more than 20 years of service.
Semper
Fidelis is a Latin phrase that means "Always Faithful.” The motto
has been a guiding principle and the foundation on which every
Marine is made. Marines have always and will always stay true to
that foundation and show it through their actions.
"This is
a true honor for VMM-164, but it’s just keeping with the
fundamentals of Marine Corps tradition," said Lt. Col. Joseph
DiMambro, the squadron’s commanding officer. "We always remember our
brothers and sisters and take pride in caring for our own. Keeping
the standards of brotherhood set by Marines like Maj. Cropley means
a lot to us and to the Marine Corps.”
 May 31, 2019 - Retired
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Richard Cropley greets Marines Marine
Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 164, Marine Aircraft Group
39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, as he celebrates his 99th
birthday at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, CA. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Charles Plouffe)
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The Marines of VMM-164 were honored to celebrate Maj Cropley's
birthday with him and many of them were enamored with his Flight
Logbooks and WWII keepsakes from places like Guadalcanal and
Bougainville.
Cropley’s voice broke as he held back tears.
His words echoed in the small room as he thanked the Marines and
expressed his pride in sharing the title United States Marine – a
title few earn.
His parting words were brief, but carried
the weight of hundreds of years of tradition. "Semper Fidelis."
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