Peachtree – About 23 years ago, 12 veterans of the U.S. Marines gathered together to form the Marine Corps League, Cherokee Detachment 1011 – or, as they say, 0311 Grunt.
The group, which is 23 strong today, met on Feb. 12 for a cookout to celebrate at the Veterans Building. Commandant George Bendzen, leader of the tightly knit group said, “Once a Marine, always a Marine,” with several other members nodding in agreement.
“We’re all real close friends,” he said, adding that they meet every Wednesday for a potluck. “Everybody brings something good but we all get excited when it’s Ray’s turn.”
Raymond Barrios (Ray) takes over, “My specialty is meat tacos and chorizo pan papas (chorizo with potatoes)” adding that his salsa is homemade.
Bendzen said becoming friends was easy for them.
“We understand each other, we’ve been out there,” he said.
Robert Lewis added, “Damn right. We’ve all been in combat so we can relate.”
Lewis revealed that sometimes he has regrets “that you lived and other Marines didn’t.” After serving in Vietnam in 1967-68, he said when he bd other soldiers got off the plane in Oakland, Calif., people were yelling at them, angry they had fought in that war.
“There are things you wish you did and things you wish you hadn’t,” Bendzen said.
The Marines say they all suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, and meeting together, understanding the trauma of combat and the chaos of war is healing.
“We help each through the PTSD,” Bendzen said.
Despite Bendzen joking that “our favorite activity is drinking,” the group has industriously served the veterans community for the last two-plus decades, including the annual Toys for Tots drive, building ramps for impaired veterans and providing food, shelter and clothing to veterans who are suffering or in need.
“We’re called all kinds of things – Jar Heads, Leather Necks, referring to the leather the marines wore around their necks when fighting pirates with swords,” Lewis said.
“The leather band would deflect the blow of their swords,” Bendzen added.
The men of 0311 Grunt seem most proud of the term Devil Dogs, which they were called at Battle of Belleau Wood in France during World War II. The French advised the Marines to retreat because they were heavily outnumbered by the Germans, but the Marines wouldn’t give up, causing the Germans to call them Devil Dogs.
“The German general allegedly said, ‘Hell opened up, and these screaming banshee dogs just kept coming,’ ” Lewis said proudly. The Marines lost nearly 2,000 men that day, but they won the battle and secured their lasting reputation as skilled, determined and fierce fighters.
Several men at the celebration agreed that the Marines is the finest branch of the military, with Bendzen saying, “Would I do it again? Damn right!”