Posted on 04/04/2012 3:47:06 PM PDT by Dundee
US marines paraded through Robertson Barracks in Darwin yesterday, marking the first time the elite sea-going soldiers have been stationed on Australian soil.
...200-member Fox Company of the US Marine Corps marched to drill commands of Captain Christopher Richardella, joining Australian troops at the barracks for an official reception.
...arrived Tuesday night, are the first contingent of 2500 who will eventually be deployed for training with the ADF...
"You are very welcome here," Defence Minister Stephen Smith said. "We wish you well in your training and endeavours, and we hope you enjoy very much the warmth and friendliness of Australians and the warmth and the friendliness of the people of Darwin."
A morning tea of scones and sausage rolls was shared with the 5th battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment in a symbolic breaking of bread, before the marines were relieved of official duties to recover from jet-lag.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson encouraged the people of Darwin to say "g'day" to the marines, whose presence would enrich the Top End's cultural fabric.
"If you see one of these marines in the street, walk up, shake their hands, say g'day . . . shout them an Australian beer and extend the hand of friendship," he said.
One marine, Lance Corporal John Wepryx, said he was pleased the company was on rotation in Australia after two tours of Afghanistan.
"This is a nice change of pace, it's nice to go somewhere a little less dangerous," he said.
"They have told us that everybody here likes us a lot, we have a long tradition with the alliance and so we are happy to be down here."
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.com.au ...
The first beer is on me.
Same rule applies to FReepers.
Dream tour! Semper fi, Marines!
Rats, too far away from me. OTOH Darwin is the thunderstorm capital of the world.
Australia and the US...two great nations,fast friends in war and peace.
There was a WW2 poster that showed an Aussie soldier and read, “This man is your friend, he fights for freedom.”
Thank you friends and I hope our Marines enjoy their time in your nation
.
There was a WW2 poster that showed an Aussie soldier and read, “This man is your friend, he fights for freedom.”
Thank you friends and I hope our Marines enjoy their time in your nation
.
I worked with a young USN Lt when I was in Fleet Command who thought he had the best posting in history. He and his wife lived in a luxury apartment on Sydney Harbour with a dozen bars and restaurants at his doorstep. He had a 10 minute walk to work where he had a view of Sydney Harbour from his own office.
I’ve never seen someone so happy for so long.
While in the Navy I traveled around the world many times. I saw every city and every port I ever wanted to see.
Hands down, the best liberty was Australia.
When I was in the Australian Navy I went to ports all through Asia and the only US port I hit was Guam (never got to do Pearl Harbour sadly).
Had more fun in Guam than every other port combined.
"Welcomed", because the Japanese threatened to invade their country, which was basically defenseless. That was the reason for the invasion of Guadalcanal. The airfield there would have let the Japs threaten if not cut, the supply lines to Australia from the US.
"Loved" because from 1940-1942, nearly every able-bodied Australian male between the ages of 18-45 was in the service, either in the CBI theater of in North Africa. The "sheilahs" hadn't seen men for a long time....the Marines loved both their training time there, as well as the R&R time..
This is the first time I’d ever heard or seen that statement. I’ve only just passed through Guam a half century ago. Guess there’s something there.
That's what I gathered from watching "The Pacific".
I had a Gunny when I was at Quantico in 1968..lifer...old school..this was his last tour before retiring..he'd served in the S. Pacific, Korea, and VN..and he loved to tell us stories about the Australian women...he said they were just man crazy...
I don't think that's right. It's my recollection that U.S. Marines were stationed in Australia during World War II. (And of course, there are Marine guards at the U.S. Embassy).
Some passed through Australia, but during the Second World War, US Marines serving in this region were based in New Zealand.
Further information on this - I had to check my books.
Australia was part of the South West Pacific Area under General MacArthur (with General Blamey commanding Allied Land Forces) and there were no Marines as part of this command except any serving on USN vessels (American components of Allied Land Forces were the US Sixth Army and US Eighth Army). New Zealand was part of the Pacific Ocean Area under Admiral Nimitz, who did have a lot of Marines under his command.
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