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A Unique Bond
by Marnie Mowles
Cpl. Tony Fialkowski enlisted in the
Marine Corps while he was living at
home with his parents. He enlisted
because of the Bay of Pigs Invasion
in Cuba. He picked the same branch
of service as his brother, because
he saw what the Marine Corps did
for his brother and he said, "It was
the best branch."
He did Boot Camp at Parris Island,
South Carolina. He said it was ultra
disciplined and highly regimented.
They broke him down and built
him up just like the rest of the
recruits.
Cpl. Tony remembers his instructors very well. Their names were S/Sgt Matris, Sgt.Huffman and Cpl. Weldon.
Tony learned real quick he had to
follow directions to the letter, if he
wanted to make it through. He
recalled having to eat a cigar that
his cousin sent when she had a
baby girl.
Cpl. Tony went on to serve two
tours in Viet nam. When he
arrived his unit was choppered
in from the USS IWO Jima, and
the USS Valley Forge. Tony
described his training, “I was
originally an MOS 3531, motor
transport driver, but because I
fired high expert on qualification
day on Parris Island I was selected
to be a scout/sniper for the 3rd Batt.7th Marine. Reg.,1st Mar. Div. I was honored to be selected. I attended scout/sniper training in Da-nang South Viet-nam.
When he went home on leave he found out that he was going back for a second tour. Tony said, “In today’s Corps, my MOS would be an 8541. The MOS, or the "job," was considered critical at that time. That's why my enlistment of 3 years was involuntarily extended. The 1st tour was in Qui-Nohn Province and the 2nd tour was in Chu-Lai.”
“The weapon issued to a scout/sniper back in 1964 was a bolt-action 30 caliber model # 70 Winchester match-grade rifle with an 8x gas filled Unertl scope; sidearm protection was the reliable 45 caliber M-1911 a1 semi-automatic pistol.”
When asked about the good times, he remembered traveling to Hawaii, Hong Kong, Kowloon, Taiway, Phillipines, Mt. Fuji Japan, Toyko, Okinawa and Thailand. He said the beach parties
and pork and bean fights were particularly
humorous and a good way to relieve stress.
During the bad times he carried a
St Christopher Medal that he would
kiss for luck.
Accoding to Tony, his buddies
in the Marine Corps were great
and the officers were green,
only used to teaching in classrooms.
He told how being in the Marine
Corps had been the best years of
his life, but that time does not heal
all wounds or memories. His advice, “The shadows lurking in your memory will lurk there forever. It's 42 years now and I still carry the spirits with me. So just cope, roll and achieve.”
He was awarded 13 medal/ribbon citations through his Company Commander.
Cpl. Tony Fialkowski ‘s service ended at Quantico , Va, but he still has contact and close friendships with some of his service friends even after 44 years.
After service he took courses for Electrical Engineering, and became an Electrician .His service experiences taught him maturity, but at the cost of alcoholism and PTSD
“I mourn all my USMC comrades either KIA/MIA or WIA , and honor all, particularly my fellow combatants from Lima 3/7 who are going thru the same trials as I am today with PTSD, and some even more ill from agent orange. We had a very close and unique bond.”
These days he says, “ I LIVE for my grandchildren; so sweet and innocent, not yet blemished by life. Nothing can beat the smile and giggle of a grandchild. They're sincere and react spontaneously. It's not like an obligatory reaction out of politeness or proper manners. Just a child being a child.”
Tony also holds a Lifetime Membership in the elite USMC Scout/Sniper Association (CL) Combat/Life.
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Tony Fialkowski with 2 of his grandchildren
