Unsung Heroes of Morgan County AL: Marine Private First Class Gerald Bruce Lane

Marine Private First Class Gerald Bruce Lane

born December 25, 1948
died March 5, 1969 (aged 20) Quảng Trị, Vietnam
buried Basham Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery
Hartselle, Morgan County, Alabama, USA
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parents Harold and Betty Jane Braswell Lane

Boot Camp - Parris Island

MOS - 0311: RIFLEMAN

Unit - I Company, 3rd Battlion, 4th MARINES, 3rd Marine Division, III MAF

Start Tour: 0/22/1968
Incident Date: 03/05/1969
Casualty Date: 03/05/1969
Operation Scotland II
Operation Purple Martin
Tet Offensive Countercampaign

1. This is my rifle.

There are many like it, but this one is mine.

2. My rifle is my best friend.

It is my life.

I must master it as I must master my life.

3. My rifle, without me, is useless.

Without my rifle, I am useless.

I must fire my rifle true.

I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me.

I must shoot him before he shoots me.

I will.

4. My rifle and myself know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire,

the noise of our burst,

nor the smoke we make.

We know that it is the hits that count.

We will hit.

5. My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life.

Thus, I will learn it as a brother.

I will learn its weaknesses, its strength,

its parts, its accessories,

its sights and its barrel.

I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage

as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage.

I will keep my rifle clean and ready.

We will become part of each other.

We will.

6. Before God, I swear this creed.

My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country.

We are the masters of our enemy.

We are the saviors of my life.

7. So be it,

until victory is America's and there is no enemy,

but peace!!

Marine Private First Class

Thundering Third Battalion

3rd Battalion, 4th Marines (3/4) is an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Nicknamed "Thundering Third". The most recent leader Lt. Col. B. Middleton's radio callsign is "Darkside". They are based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, and consist of approximately 1,000 Marines. The unit currently falls under the command of the 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, but — along with its two sister battalions — is hosted by the 3rd Marine Division, at Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan, when training in jungle warfare. The 3rd falls under the 4th Marine Regiment at such times.