All we seek are a Few Good Men!
This old Marine adage met success many years ago, as proven at a September 25th, 2007 ceremony at Waikiki’s Fort DeRussy. There, Lieutenant General John F. Goodman, the Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific oversaw the promotion of another Good Man, Lance Corporal Gomer Pyle to full Corporal. The ceremony took place forty-three years to the date Gomer enlisted in the Corps. |
| After pinning on Gomer's new stripes, Lt General Goodman presents a Marine Corps sword to Gomer, or more correctly, Gomer's Alter Ego, Jim Nabors. It should be noted, the Marine Corps is the only service that authorizes noncommissioned officers to carry a sword. |
For those lacking knowledge
of 1960’s Americana pop culture: Gomer Pyle, USMC, was a TV comedy show that followed the mishaps and blunders of a likeable and sincere, but, slow witted and naive, country boy who enlists in the US Marine Corps. Normally, Gomer's good-natured earnestness won out over adversity. The TV sitcom started on September 25th, 1964 and was a spinoff of another TV sitcom, the Andy Griffith Show. It ran for five seasons, during which time, Gomer was promoted only once to Private First Class. In a similar ceremony in Hawaii in 2001, Gomer was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. The immense popularity of Gomer Pyle in the 1960's, was attested to by the fact that several of his trademark expressions became stock teenage slang phrases. “Well, Gollleee!”, “Shazam!” and “Surprise. Surprise. Surprise.” |
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Promotion Ceremony Program |
During the presentation, Lt General Goodman highlighted how Mr. Nabors humanized the Marine Corps and
how his Gomer Pyle exemplified the many qualities the Marines hold dearly: sincerity, integrity and fairness.
Mr. Nabors spoke of several fond memories he had thanks to the popular TV role he had created. In saying
Aloha to the US Marine Corps Band, he gave the popular Marine salutation, “Semper Fi”.*
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While Aunt Bee didn't make it from Mayberry,
Jim's sister, Ruth and, his assistant, Charisse did come.
While Ruth resides in Hawaii,
her rich Southern drawl leaves
no doubt she
was born and raised just down
the road apiece from Mayberry. |
Jim Nabors has many accomplishments, in addition to his masterful work as Gomer Pyle.
Jim is recognized as a versatile actor, with stage and theater skills. He is also
an accomplished singer with a rich baritone voice. He has recorded 28 albums.
Several of which have gone gold or platinum. Mr. Nabors has been, for many years, an active member of the Honolulu community who is known for his business acumen and his philanthropic work. |
* The popular Marine Corps greeting, "Semper Fi" is an abreviation of "Semper Fidelis",
(Always Faithful) the Latin Motto of the US Marines. We
Keatings, who are former active Marines (Once a Marine, Always a Marine!)
are eager to point out, for several hundred years, the Keating Klan of Ireland
has also had the same "Semper Fidelis". We hold the belief, the US Marines adopted
the motto from the Keating Klan in recognition of the heroics and bravery of certain
US Marines named Keating, who distinguished themselves for bravery and gallentry
during the Ameircan Revolution. In the 1960's, the Chinese People's Liberation Army had Lei Feng and the US Marines had Gomer Pyle. By comparison, Gomer Pyle wins hands down. |