MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- In 1963 Vernon G. Linnabary Jr. joined the U.S. Marine Corps.
Little did he realize 46 years later on Aug. 14 he and his son Chief Warrant Officer 4 Daniel L. Linnabary would witness his grandson Pfc. Daniel L. Linnabary II cross the same parade deck he and his son crossed at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Calif., ensuring the legacy continues.
“He (Vernon Linnabary) just can’t believe it,” said Daniel Linnabary. “He didn’t realize then what type of legacy he was going to create.” Vernon Linnabary’s family truly lives and breathes Marine Corps.
His brother, retired Master Sgt. Dale J. Linnabary, served 1971-1991.
Daniel Linnabary’s cousin Cpl. Vernon G. Linnabary III joined in 2005, his nephew Lance Cpl. Gary D. Brewer in 2008 and now his son in 2009.
All of them except Vernon G. Linnabary III have crossed the grinder at MCRD San Diego.
For those keeping score, that is six Linnabarys in the Marine Corps over the course of the last 46 years with three of them following a direct family line and one Linnabary always in the Corps for the same length of time.
For Daniel Linnabary, watching his son cross caused a myriad of seemingly conflicting emotions. “More than just pride and, to be quite honest with you, a little jealousy, because he’s just starting his Marine Corps career,” said Daniel Linnabary. “I would trade places with him in a minute just to relive this whole experience again.”
In a way Daniel Linnabary’s decision to join seemed to be fate.
“I remember my dad being in the Marine Corps,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to be a Marine since I was 4 years old.”
Daniel Linnabary didn’t necessarily see his father much because the times were different, but he had one clear memory from when his sister was born.
“My dad had this plastic model of the flag raising at Iwo Jima and the figures were pretty big,” he said. “I remember sitting there playing with that, thinking this is what I’m going to be when I grow up.”
Ironically, Daniel Linnabary II seemed fated like his father to follow his family’s footsteps. Daniel Linnabary has been in the Marine Corps for 27 years, meaning his son has travelled much of the journey his father has.
“He had aspirations and he still does of being a Marine officer. He just lacks the self-discipline at 19 years old to complete the college requirements,” said Daniel Linnabary. “He wants to be a Marine. It’s all he’s ever talked about, it’s all he’s ever known.”
That desire just to be a Marine is mirrored in his grandfather and father Daniel Linnabary’s father said he joined the Marine Corps because there was no other service he would have thought about joining, said Daniel Linnabary.
Daniel Linnabary originally was contracted to be an auto-diesel mechanic but he opted to ship early taking away his choice.
“I decided to ship two months early, and back then when you shipped early you signed an open contract.”
Now that Daniel Linnabary II has graduated, the possibilities are unfolding right in front of him. “He’s already told me, ‘Dad I wanna be a sergeant major,’” said Daniel Linnabary.
For the time being, Daniel Linnabary II will have to navigate Marine Combat Training before he presses onto his military occupational specialty school to become a tank crewman.
Daniel Linnabary said his son scored well enough to do pretty much any job in the Marine Corps, but his desire was elsewhere.
“He called me about a week later and said, ‘Dad I really want to be a tanker. I’ve talked to some guys that were tankers,’ ” said Daniel Linnabary. “It’s sexy,” added Linnabary. “I didn’t want to be a cook but I am.”
Again the apple does not fall far from the tree when Daniel Linnabary broke down his exact sentiments about being a Marine.
“The bottom-line is the uniform is sexy, the structure is great, and the job and the pay is great,” he said.
After seeing his son graduate, Daniel Linnabary had some advice for Marines everywhere. “I think that every Marine at some point in their career needs to go back to where they were born, either Parris Island or San Diego and just witness a recruit graduation,” he said.