It all happened by pure luck. Two former Suicide Charley Marines finally meet up after over a year of conversations that came from them meeting on the SuicideCharley.Com website. The two Marines, Dean Smith and Patrick Huwiler (Active Duty) finally were able to shake hands and take pictures upon the arrival of the 31st Meu in Brisbane Australia early September, 09. Dean showed his gratitude to the Marines by inviting SSgt Huwiler to an exclusive dinner aboard the USS Essex.
The invite was a special invitation from the state dept for a special reception aboard the USS Essex, as guests of Rear Admiral Richard Landolt, amphibous force U.S. Seventh Fleet. Later that week Dean celebrated his 62nd birthday and the Marines made a special trip from the ship to attend as guests in Deans' home for an awesome barbeque. After the barbeque was finished, the Marines Shook hands andsaid their good byes and got onto a bus and headed back to ship. The ship pulled out of port the next morning and headed back to Okinawa, Japan. All in all it was a great time seeing Marines from two different parts of the world unite.
Please take some time and look at the pictures below:
Corporal Christian Barthelette
SuicideCharley 7/94 to 9/97
0331 Machine Gunner Weapons Platoon
I arrived in 29Palms after an abbreviated tour in Bangor, WA as an 8152 (security forces). I believe 1/7 had just returned from Okinawa and was on leave when I arrived. Just like any new guy, it took a little while to get adjusted, but I was accepted into the family like I had been there for 10 years.
Lance Cpl. Chance Phelps' story will be told in movie form next year. HBO Films is starting production this summer on "Taking Chance." It is based on a firsthand account of Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, the volunteer military escort officer who accompanied Phelps' body across America.
First off i want to say thank you for your continuing support for this site. I am asking everyone that belongs to this site, if possible to email me any updates or suggestions. I am currently working on some big changes for this site in the near future to include an online store to purchase all your favorite Suicide gear!. I am also looking for any and all pictures that may be included in our new photo albums.
Thanks,
Sgt H
Marine Lance Cpl. San Sim
Saturday, 15 November 2008 16:43
Marine Lance Cpl. San Sim 23,
of Santa Ana, Calif.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st
Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms,
Calif.; died Oct. 22 while supporting combat operations in Helmand
province, Afghanistan. Also killed was Cpl. Adrian Robles.
The USS Cleveland made Port here in Brisbane , Australia a couple of months ago,
and we decided to have a look while it was in town. we got a private
tour.(.there were no tours for the public) but because Iam a dual Citizen..
American having lived in Australia going on 20 years,I carried my US passport,
and Military ID, the Officer of the Deck allowed us special entry. I wore my
7th Marine tee shirt..while on board and met a couple members of Marine
Special Operations Battalion, Bravo Company, Team 5, and invited them to Dinner
while in Australia. the last night before the ship left the Port they hired a
Van and 7 members of the team drove to my place for a good ole Aussie
Barbi...it was well and truly one of the most memorable experiences that I never
forget...all the guys were so polite, and interesting to talk to ..we sat around
all night and talked about our time in the Corps...to my surprise,.....
st Meu in Brisbane Australia early September, 09. Dean showed his gratitude to the Marines by inviting SSgt Huwiler to an exclusive dinner aboard the USS Essex.
The invite was a special invitation from the state dept for a special reception aboard the USS Essex, as guests of Rear Admiral Richard Landolt, amphibous force U.S. Seventh Fleet. Later that week Dean celebrated his 62nd birthday and the Marines made a special trip from the ship to attend as guests in Deans' home for an awesome barbeque. After the barbeque was finished, the Marines Shook hands andsaid their good byes and got onto a bus and headed back to ship. The ship pulled out of port the next morning and headed back to Okinawa, Japan. All in all it was a great time seeing Marines from two different parts of the world unite.
Corporal Christian Barthelette
The USS Cleveland made Port here in Brisbane , Australia a couple of months ago,
and we decided to have a look while it was in town. we got a private
tour.(.there were no tours for the public) but because Iam a dual Citizen..
American having lived in Australia going on 20 years,I carried my US passport,
and Military ID, the Officer of the Deck allowed us special entry. I wore my
7th Marine tee shirt..while on board and met a couple members of Marine
Special Operations Battalion, Bravo Company, Team 5, and invited them to Dinner
while in Australia. the last night before the ship left the Port they hired a
Van and 7 members of the team drove to my place for a good ole Aussie
Barbi...it was well and truly one of the most memorable experiences that I never
forget...all the guys were so polite, and interesting to talk to ..we sat around
all night and talked about our time in the Corps...to my surprise,.....