From the Chaplain's Desk

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October 2004 - Download PDF

An incident at the Branson Curtiss Marine Reunion reminded me once again just how proud I am do bear the title of Curtiss Marine! At the Andy Williams show, we all were asked to stand and be identified for the audience for what we had done aboard the USS Curtiss, AV-4. It was a proud moment for all of us. In addition, to find out later that there was a Veterans Discount at all of the shows there was frosting on the cake.

It made me think back at our first Reunion in San Diego. After the graduation ceremony and lunch, we toured the museum at MCRD. We were very disappointed that there was no record or display of us Atomic Marines anywhere. The museum director had never heard of us. Fortunately, Capt. Branaman was there to explain to the director that since our duties aboard the Curtiss was under cover of Top Secret, for much of our tour aboard her we simply did not exist. It was at that time that we learned that the USS Curtiss was often a "Ghost Ship", dropping out of sight and off the record as she sailed off on another Operation.

Capt. Brannaman also reminded us that we had all been personally interviewed for duty aboard the Curtiss, then given an extensive background check by the FBI before receiving our Top Secret Q Clearances as required before we were assigned to duty aboard the Flag Ship of the Atomic Energy Commission. As graduates of Sea School, we were already unique, but as Curtiss Marines we were prestigious. We might have looked back as simply having done our duty as Marines, but we have learned that we stood in the line of fire during the Cold War and defended our nation at a very perilous time in our nation's history. And a great many of us were gravely wounded by this newly developed weapon. And our real Band of Curtiss Brothers are not as numerous as we once were. However, in this Band of Curtiss Brothers, neither our spouses nor we can ever be alone. We Are Curtiss Marines!

Semper Fi
You're Appointed Chaplain, Joseph M. Stallings, USMC

October 2004

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October 2005 - Download PDF

Knowing how very important our Curtiss Marine Reunions have been for me, several Christmass's ago, my eldest son gave me a coffee mug that has remained my favorite. It's in the Marine Corps' red and gold with the Marine Corps emblem on the one side. But it is the reverse side that I can read whenever I drink from this cup that is so important. It is a quote from former President Ronald Reagan:

"Some people spend an
entire lifetime
wondering if they made
A difference.
The MARINES don't
have that problem.

I can't help always thinking that this is especially true of us, The Curtiss Atomic Marines. At each Reunion we each receive certificates of accommodation and appreciation from Congressmen, Naval and Marine Officers and from The U.S Department of Energy, Nevada Operations Office among others. And with the receipt of each we all stand a bit straighter and taller! We're Marines and we're Curtiss Marines. And our families acknowledge that and love us a bit more for that.

Which leads me to a little aside. "Once a Marine, always a Marine" is so obviously true. But is also seem that "One a Franciscan, always a Franciscan" is equally true. Everyone knows that I was a Franciscan for seven years before I enlisted in the Marine Corps, a member of the First Order of Friars Minor. Since moving to Manteca, I have rejoined the Franciscans as a member of the Third Order Secular. I have now made my Profession and can sign my name followed with "SFO", for Secular Franciscan Order. You will note the following:

Semper Fi
Joe Stallings, SFO

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