8. Gunnery Sergeant Raymond Morales Lied About His Age to Join the Marines
In 1943, Stephen Raymond Morales, then all 16 years old, wanted to become a US Marine. So he lied about his age, and convinced a USMC recruiter to sign him up. After training, he was sent to the Pacific Theater, where he took part in numerous operations. Morales was discharged after the end of WWII, but his Marine days were not over: he reenlisted in 1947, and ended up in Korea when the war began there three years later.
Morales served with the 1st Marine Division in the Korean War, where he earned the Purple Heart for wounds suffered on September 26th, 1950. He recovered from his wounds in time to become one of the “Chosin Few” – those who fought in the icy hell of the Chosin Reservoir. Morales stayed in the Marines after Korea, and was still in the USMC when the Vietnam War came along. He saw combat with his beloved Corps in that conflict, including during the Siege of Khe Sanh. Morales retired from the Marines as a Master Gunnery Sergeant, then worked for the General Services Administration for another 20 years. He passed away in 2002, at age 75.
