The title probably suggests one of those old “B” films from old Hollywood. It was usually the second feature and ran while we scooted from our front row seats to get hot dogs, popcorn, and a Godzilla-sized Coke. You could hear giggles and lots of frantic searching for coins to pay for our goodies.
This is the 2020 version of that old relic which usually featured John Wayne, Claire Trevor, and Ward Bond/John Payne/John Carroll in the title roles.
Duke, of course, is the newest member of our furry family. He’s the one who’s injected new energy into the household even if today’s pictures suggest otherwise. Duke is always good for laughs as our court jester. He’s the very randy suitor of Princess Bonnie who’s very particular about her men. Bonnie, no doubt, was dreaming about some of the passionate lover affairs from her gilded past.
Bonnie, it turns out, is also a cover girl. She’s “Miss May” in the calendar on a kitchen wall. She’s the face that could launch a thousand ships. Bonnie has more internet followers than the tweeter-in-chief, much to his agitated dismay.
Then, there’s the Gyrene. The young Gyrene. Garry Armstrong in his USMC uniform – almost 61-years ago when Dwight Eisenhower was the Commander-In-Chief.
Armstrong, the Private E-1, who somehow enlisted right after high school graduation, from comfy, cozy Long Island to the heat, bugs, and D.I. hell of Parris Island, the USMC training base. Young Garry, inspired by John Wayne movies, envisioned a career as a Marine and then life as a movie star. Great expectations all the way!
Garry’s hearing disabilities, miraculously, were not uncovered until months and many exams in basic training. Leather-necked drill instructors were dismayed to learn of Garry’s hearing problems. They had him branded as a wise-ass Yankee “boot” who laughed in the face of their heavy-handed efforts to terrorize all the young Marines in that long-ago summer and autumn of ’59.
This came on the heels of a national scandal about alleged harsh treatment of fuzzy faced Marines in the swamps that surrounded Parris Island.
Garry’s departure, on medical grounds, from the Marines left many of those hard-nosed Sergeants melancholy, deprived of their favorite target to toughen the young Leathernecks. It was a story retold many times in years to come. Oo-rah!
Sixty-one years later, Bonnie and Duke are unmoved by Garry’s colorful recollection of his brief time in the United States Marine Corps. They are recharging their batteries for another marathon barkathon later today and tonight, a major barkathon to wreak havoc on the now old gyrene and his bride.
The furries show NO RESPECT for the old, mumbling and grumbling leatherneck.
Semper Fi!
Categories: Anecdote, Animals, dogs, Gallery, Garry Armstrong, Humor, Photography
Oh my! Thanks so much for sharing that glimpse into the past. I have such a photo on my own mantle, of my departed hubby in his Army dress, fuzz on his face too. He was 17 when he enlisted (too young apparently, but he lied about his age and to avoid the long arm of the law in Nevada, where he was on the verge of going to jail for traffic offenses). He went to Viet Nam and came home a very changed man from the boy who went into the service. Just like you I suspect. Leatherneck huh? Well Marilyn has/had her work cut out for her..but you two are so lovely together! Duke and Bonnie too. Although if Ms. Bonnie is of the same frame of mind as the departed Hunydog, Duke gets a sharp nip if he gets too familiar without her permission. Huny liked biting Toro when he got too frisky. Took the wind out of the sails.
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Melanie, wish I’d met your husband. Gyrenes are infamous for their long, tall tales. HOO-RAH!
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Garry was also 17. He needed his father’s permission to join up.
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Chuckle ….”the face that launched a thousand cookies” she could do it.
Leslie
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I think I was underestimating her capacity. She would eat until she exploded.
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They must taste good?…
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I can’t figure out why. They are — as far as I can tell — completely dry and absolutely tasteless.
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maybe it’s the crunch?
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I don’t understand it, but there must be something they like.
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The food producers have it all figured out…
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Leslie, never tried ’em. They look like hard tack served up in basic training long, long ago.
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I know what that is like Garry. My father was a Newfie….not too fond of it either…
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Bonnie has a thing for guys in uniforms, Leslie.
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A lot of girls do Garry …. 😉
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