| VFW Connections |
 Although Louis can’t recall exactly when he joined the VFW, he estimates it was probably in the mid-60s in Okinawa. The post in Japan was a wonderful social club for him to enjoy while he was overseas. Louis has been a member of Post 1503 since before our current building was constructed, back during the "hole in the wall” days. Louis helped construct the Post 1503 horseshoe pits by the pavilion and also volunteered with serving Friday night wings in the canteen for many years. He also cooked and grilled at many VFW holiday parties and celebrations. |
Louis was born in Philadelphia, PA in February of 1933. His parents divorced when he was still young and his mother moved them to Norfolk, VA. She ran an ice cream shop for many years, later remarrying and working at a grocery store. His grandmother was the primary caretaker for Louis and his brother. Louis describes himself as a "bad kid” and enjoyed fighting, both in boxing matches and otherwise. He became a prizefighter as a teen and had success in the ring. Unfortunately, his fighting ways also meant that Louis found himself in the Philadelphia County prison at the age of 15. They stretched his age a bit—telling the government he was 17—so he would be eligible to sign up for military service.
Although he was a couple years younger than his court paperwork suggested, Louis joined the Marine Corps to distance him from his troubled life back home. He went to Parris Island for nine weeks of boot camp, which Louis describes as "hell.” Afterward, he married his high school sweetheart, Ann, at the age of 16.
He hoped to attend "C” school in Norfolk, but because he "wasn’t 6 feet tall” he wasn’t accepted. Instead, he went to VMF 233, a Marine fixed-wing attack squadron, to be trained for about a year. From there, he went to the Marine air station at Cherry Point—a very isolated location during that time—to work on airplanes. He volunteered for training in California at the amtrac school for nine months. (The "amtracs” were amphibious tractors used for both troop transport and warfare missions.) Louis was educated in maintaining these tank vehicles, especially the engines.
In April of 1950, Louis and Ann celebrated the birth of their first daughter. However, that September, Louis was sent overseas early in the Korean War. He went with the 1st Armored Amphibious Battalion to Japan before landing in Wolmido, an island in South Korea. During this first year-long deployment in the Korean War, Louis ensured the tracks on the amphibious vehicles were in good working order to ensure smooth troop movement.
After his contract ended in Korea, Louis was stationed in Camp Lejeune with his wife, where they welcomed another daughter. However, this reunion was short-lived, and he had to head back to Korea for another year in 1953. He was a Staff Sergeant during this time and worked to keep the Ontos tank destroyers running. With the conclusion of the Korean War, Louis was stationed at Quantico for four years. He worked in the development and testing center for one-man submarines. Louis returned to Camp Lejeune for 19 months, but ended up being travelling for various missions for about a year of that time.
From there, Louis applied for Drill Instructor school and held a DI position at Parris Island for three years, a job he thoroughly enjoyed. After this duty station, he traveled to Okinawa where he served as a maintenance chief for the amtracs.
In 1963, Louis was sent to Vietnam for the first of three deployments there. He served an advisor for the troops in the field for eight months. (This was prior to the arrival of the Marine Corps, as they would come to Vietnam later in the war.) Louis returned to Okinawa before travelling to Albany, Georgia, where he worked at a depot repair facility. His family was able to join him there and they welcomed a third daughter during this two-year stay. Although he had already achieved the rank of a Master Sergeant by this time, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1965.
By this time, the Vietnam War was at a critical juncture, and Louis returned in 1967, just prior to the Tet Offensive. He served as a maintenance chief. After returning, Louis spent about a year in Quantico and then headed back to Okinawa before a third tour in Vietnam. This time, he served as Company Commander for approximately 300 men and was responsible for keeping them all safe.
He was stationed back at Quantico in 1974 as the CO of the training support company. It was also during this time his fourth daughter was born and the family moved to the home where Louis currently lives. Louis worked at the Marine Corps Headquarters in Alexandria. In 1978, Louis retired as a Major after 32 years of service and five wartime deployments.
After his retirement, Louis went to work in atomic research at Quantico. The Electronic Data Systems (EDS) company was later purchased by former presidential candidate, Ross Perot. The two worked together for 15 years and even travelled internationally for the business. Louis retired to become a full-time caretaker for her wife when she fell ill. Ann passed away in 2008.
Although Louis wasn’t looking for another relationship, love ended up finding him at Post 1503. He met Pamela when he was 76. Pam’s sister was a bartender at the VFW and introduced them one evening. They started talking and have found themselves together ever since. They dated for several years before marrying in a lovely backyard wedding in September of 2017.
- During his mother’s time working in an ice cream shop, Louis loved to stop by to enjoy his favorite flavor: chocolate. He still enjoys some chocolate ice cream every night!
- Louis was not a fan of his training at MCAS Cherry Point, due to how far away it was from everything. Going into town required a long bus ride, which meant it was difficult for him to relax away from the air station.
- The journey from California to Korea took Louis’s company 75 hours to complete before they landed at Wolmido.
- It was bitterly cold during the winter of 1950. The Marines only had their field jacket with a liner to keep themselves warm. Louis suffered some frostbite during this trip and his feet are still impacted by the cold today.
- Although Louis served honorably throughout his time as a Marine, he calls his time at the Marine Corps Headquarters his worst job in the military, due to a troublesome commanding officer. Thirteen of his fellow officers also put in notifications to retire during this time! (The stubborn commanding officer ended up being relieved of his duty by the Commandant.)
- Louis says Ross Perot was a "good dude” and a "smart man.”
- Early in Louis’s relationship with Pam, she made him a cake for his birthday. He was incredibly touched by the gesture and credits this as being a moment when he knew he wanted their love to last.
