18 November
MILINET: 2nd Resps (3) "Taps for Mathew C. McKeon"
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History and perspective change many things, while time has a tendency to forgive and even forget.
I entered the Marine Corps a few months after April 1956 and arrived at Parris Island when the incident at Ribbon Creek was still fresh in the headlines. I had just turned 17.
I remember seeing McKeon being escorted, in handcuffs, by two MP's and our DI bringing it to our attention by saying he had "...violated the code of Marines...." I did not understand what he meant by that. I wrote a letter to my brother, a USMC captain at the time, teaching the 60mm Mortar at The Basic School in Quantico. I asked him what he knew and what it meant. He replied that he knew McKeon from Korea, and knew him to be a fine Marine with an outstanding combat record. He went on to say that the unfortunate incident at Ribbon Creek will not tarnish the reputation of the Corps, and that he supported the statements made at McKeon's court-martial by LtGen Lewis B. Puller in mitigation of the incident.
Two different perspectives of a Marine and a tragedy that had great impact on our Marine Corps.
I remember for the remainder of my time and training at Parris Island, it seemed that everywhere we looked there was an officer, usually a Field Grade officer, watching and noting every aspect of our training and process to becoming Marines. Everyone was under close scrutiny. I was not sure why, but things were changing even as our Parris Island "adventure" was ongoing.
I don't know what Parris Island was like before "my time" or before Ribbon Creek. I know, however, that we were not "abused" during my training, but did "enjoy" some of the more unorthodox methods of instilling discipline. None of us were the worst for it but took pride in the fact that we graduated from what we considered a "rigorous" experience that tested us, and our reward for passing the test was most worthy-- we were Marines!
In hindsight, I do believe that Ribbon Creek marked a line of demarcation from training practices that may have become a bit arcane, to a more rigorous, structured and evolving program that has proven to be critical in preserving the ethos of Marines that we espouse today. Marines since then, in Vietnam, Beirut, Desert Storm and today in Iraq, have all acquitted themselves with distinction in the finest of Marine Corps traditions and continue to earn the respect of other military forces and the world as an elite, courageous, and disciplined fighting force.
Those of us who hold the title "Marine" and do so with pride, still speak of "Old Corps" versus "New Breed." We poke at each other in bravado gesticulation, pontificating on which era was the most arduous-- like bantering for position of who is the "Best of the Best." Beneath it all I do believe that we love and respect each other as Marines; and that will always hold true because we share the common bond of having endured a great personal trial and earned the respect and title of Marine.
Mathew C. McKeon has passed away. He was a principal character in a vital chapter in the annals of our history. He served well, at least as well as he knew how. In spite of the tragic training accident that had a life-long impact on McKeon and the Marine Corps, I believe our Corps is better and stronger for it. I salute him and bid him farewell. Semper Fi, Marine!
And let us not forget those six recruits from Platoon 71 who perished that fateful day, 8 April 1956. They, too, have served and are worthy of the title, Marine.
Mitchell P. Paradis
MGySgt USMC (Ret)
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Anthony, In April 1956 when I heard the news of the drowning of six recruits at Parris Island I was a Corporal on an APA somewhere in the Pacific Ocean heading for Japan. We heard the news over the loud-speakers. Later we heard that Drill Instructor Staff Sergeant McKeon was being court-martialed. When the book came out later called "Ribbon Creek: The Marine Corps on Trial" I bought the book. There were many at the time that believe McKeon was a good Marine who made a horrible mistake when he took his platoon on a night disciplinary march in the tidal swamps near the rifle range at PI. There was an unusually high tide that night. Major General Chesty Puller testified for the defense stating that Marines did not get enough night-training. None-the-less, McKeon was found guilty and busted to Private. I believe that he made it back to Sergeant before being discharged for a medical problem. I also understand he was remorseful and felt guilty for the rest of his life.
There were a lot of reforms that resulted from the Ribbon Creek incident that prevail to this day. After that Drill Instructors had to be NCO's. Before that a DI could be a PFC and I had two of them. There was closer supervision of recruits by Officers. I didn't see an Officer until my third week. Also, it was about that time that DI's started wearing Campaign Hats.
Semper Fi.
Major Bob Farmer USMC (retired)
--------------------------------------ANOTHER RESPONSE---------
November 15, 2003
Tribute to a fallen Marine
by John Stevens
On a hardscrabble hill overlooking the rural
neighborhood where he was born, Matthew McKeon
was buried today. More than a hundred of his
friends and family huddled together in the face
of the late autumn winds as an admixture of
Catholic blessings and Marine Corps salutes paid
final tribute to the flawed but noble spirit
whose lifeless embodiment was laid to its final
rest.
Forty-seven years ago, this same man was reviled
by all too many people as a heartless butcher, a
sadist whose momentous error of judgment caused
six Marine recruits to drown in the black waters
of Ribbon Creek. His life thereafter was in many
ways an effort to seek redemption for the act
that he could never undo. At his court-martial he
testified that had he been asked to walk to the
gallows he would have done so. A devout man, he
prayed every day of his life thereafter for the
souls of his lost recruits and for forgiveness.
But there was so much more to this man than was
revealed by the publicity surrounding the events
from which he derived such notoriety. Until that
time he had an unblemished military record,
serving in World War II aboard the carrier
“Essex” and as a machine gunner on the frigid
battlefields at the Chosin Reservoir. He was a
battle-tested Marine who had faithfully and
honorably served his country in the face of
peril.
Matt McKeon was a gregarious man without hint of
guile or pretense. Tears flowed down his cheeks
as he recounted to me the events of Ribbon Creek
forty years earlier. He was faithful to his wife,
Betty, loyal to his friends, and loving to his
extended family. He never sought to escape
responsibility or to cast the burden on others
for the deaths at Parris Island. Say what one
will, he was a man of character.
Matt McKeon died at his home, quite appropriately
on Veterans Day, his family at his side. May he
rest in peace enjoying now the redemption never
attainable in his lifetime. If there is a place
beyond, may he forever be joined in serenity with
the six young men who preceded him there.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/message?forumid=220604&messageid=1069115614
Note:
Former Marine John Stevens is the author of,
"Court-martial At Parris island: The Ribbon Creek Incident"
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