8-21-19 ... STATUS OF BUILDING 58 AT THE WASHINGTON NAVY YARD My research assistant (wife) and me called the Washington Navy Yard Visitors Center and asked them about Building 58. The gentleman checked and told me that the building is still standing. The Navy has a great museum there and you might tell the powers to be that during the next reunion a bus to the museum would accomplish two things, seeing the museum and Building 58. The phone number for the Visitor's Center is 202-433-3787 or 0025 or 3017.

Submitted by Manuel "Manny" Pinto, Ceremonial Guard Company, Silent Drill Platoon, 1958-1961, Silver Spring, MD

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UPDATE of status of Building 58 at the Washington Navy Yard

BUILDING 58, WASHINGTON NAVY YARD (FORMERLY, THE NAVAL GUN FACTORY)

August 4-7, 2022, the 8th & I Reunion Association held its reunion which included a 8-5-22 visit to the Washington Navy Yard and Building 58. Good news! Our Building 58 is still there (see below pictures). It is currently a Judge Advocate General (JAG) office building and visitors were not permitted to enter it. Building 58 was a special barracks; it provided an abundance of wonderful memories!!!!!!


Building 58 Main Entrance, Washington Navy Yard, looking across Leutze Park - 8-5-2022


Building 58 Main Entrance, Washington Navy Yard, L to R - John T. and Mary Lou Reim, Gerry and Charlie Huha, 2022


Walkway near the main entrance to Building 58, Leutze Park in background, L to R - Gerry and Charlie Huha, John T. and Mary Lou Reim,2022


Washington Navy Yard, 8th and M Sts., gate, used by Marines stationed at Bldg 58. 8-5-2022

Submitted by John T. Reim, Ceremonial Guard Company, Silent Drill Platoon, 1958-1961, Franklinville, NJ

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1978 PHOTO OF BUILDING 58 AT THE NAVY YARD, WASHINGTON, DC



The above photo appeared in the October 2019 edition of Leatherneck, "Every Marine Has A Story To Tell," and was sent to me by 8th & I Marine Don Keelan, Ceremonial Guard Company, 1957-1960, Arlington, VT. In the Spring of 1975, the Ceremonial Guard Company vacated Building 58 and moved into its new quarters on I Street, across (south of) from "The Barracks." Later, in 1977, the USMC History Division - Museum, occupied Building 58 at the Navy Yard in DC and remained there until 2005 when it relocated to Quantico, VA. In 2006, the USMC History Division became an integral part of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Quantico, VA. Those Marines who lived in Building 58 have many, wonderful memories of that barracks! Right?

Submitted by John T. Reim, Ceremonial Guard Company, Silent Drill Platoon, 1958-1961, NJ State Police, Ret., Franklinville, NJ

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5-3-20 ... In 1983, 8th & I Marines who had been assigned to Building 58 at the Naval Gun Factory, held a 25-year reunion at that facility, http://8thandi.com/pullo.html . The below Building 58 sticker was distributed at that reunion (Merle Johnson just located some extra stickers while cleaning out a closet).



Submitted by Merle Johnson, Ceremonial Guard Company, Silent Drill Platoon, 1958-1961, Helena, AL

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7-7-21, If you had been quartered in Building 58, that question would not have been asked. That building housed the Ceremonial Guard Company, which was made-up of the Silent Drill Team, the National USMC Color Guard, the Body Bearers and three Ceremonial Guard Platoons (of which one would be at the U.S. NavyYard Administrative Annex, Camp #3, Catoctin Mountain Park, Thurmont, MD for one week. The other two platoons would remain in DC to do ceremonial details. These platoons rotated one week in the mountains and two weeks in DC. The duties of Silent Drill Team, Color Guard and Body Bearers are self explanatory.

The building was self-contained and included a mess hall, bowling ally, a small heath-and-comfort store, a club/bar, a barber shop, an admin section, an armory with complete 782 and riot-gear for the whole company, washer and dryers, a press shop and two telephone booths (which seemed to be busy most of the time!). You could live in Building 58 with absolutely NO contact with the outside world; except to perform ceremonial details and as duty may dictate. There was a camaraderie and brotherhood that is hard to understand for those who did NOT "live" in Building 58 . . . .

"Semper Fi!
Jim Hales
James H. Hales, Jr.
Captain, (0-3E), USMC (Ret.)
Marine Barracks 8th & I, CGC (Bldg. 58), 2nd Plt. (1965-'66)

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7-7-21, Thanks Jim Hales for standing up for Bldg 58 where I spent three years of my life and the club where I met my wife and we'll celebrate our 57th this year. 8th & I is where we performed. Building 58 is where we lived, ate, got haircuts, practiced our manual of arms in front of the big mirror and drank and watched TV on the big TV given to us by Halie Salasee for saving his life at Blair House. The Club was the place to be on Friday night after a parade as bus loads of ladies would come to dance and meet Marines. As I said, many Marines, like me, met their wives there. Building 58 was a very special barracks and those of us who lived there have many good memories. Ed "Mac" McCloskey, CGC Silent Drill Team, 62-65 Building 58 ________________________________________________________




IN MEMORIAM

LT. COL RICHARD LEE HATCH, 8TH & I MARINE, 1957-1960

KIA, VIETNAM, 1968 ....

KIA
VALOR
CGC

When I reported to Marine Barracks, Washington, DC, in early 1960, the Ceremonial Guard Company was commanded by then-Captain Richard L. Hatch. A Marine's Marine, the epitome in appearance of a member of the President's own, Captain Hatch stood over six feet tall, carried himself ramrod straight, and possessed movie-star good looks. The creases in his uniform trousers were sharp enough to cut you, and his leather, from shoes to chinstrap, was spit-shined to a mirror finish. (No such thing as patent leather gear in those days.) Captain Hatch set the example for all of us to emulate. But his appearance and his military bearing were not a façade. Richard Hatch was the real deal.

Rather than hold himself aloof, as some officers are wont to do, Captain Hatch treated us enlistees more as colleagues than subordinates. He commanded respect by being respectful-and his leadership was never in doubt. Everyone has his own stories to tell about him, but they all boil down to one basic truth:

The man was an icon.

Time passed, and Captain Hatch rotated out of Ceremonial Guard Company to his next assignment, as eventually did we all. Most of us later returned to civilian life, but some went on to become senior enlisted or officers. Many served in Vietnam. More time passed, and in 1987 a group of Marines from our company decided to convene a reunion in Washington. When I received my invitation, I learned that Lieutenant Colonel Hatch had been killed in Vietnam-and that part of our reunion costs would go toward bringing his widow and two adult daughters to Washington in order to receive our tributes to their fallen Marine.

The first evening of the reunion, a Friday, we attended the famed Marine Barracks Moonlight Parade, many for the first time as spectators rather than participants. Afterward, we gathered on the parade ground for a group photo with the reviewing officer, USMC Vietnam vet, currently Secretary of the Navy, and soon to be Senator from Virginia James Webb.

The following afternoon, we gathered near the Wall with a color guard from the Barracks for a memorial service led by one of our former members, now an ordained minister. After the closing prayer, a small contingent carried a wreath to the Wall, placed it beneath LtCol Hatch's name, and rendered a hand salute. That night we met for a banquet in the Chamber of Commerce building. Following the meal, various people took the podium to pay homage to our former commanding officer. Afterward, a small combo played dance music, and Mrs. Hatch honored many of the men by accepting their invitations to dance.

Excusing myself from my group, I walked to where one of his daughters was sitting to pay my respects privately. These were her words, which I shall never forget: “I was only three when my father was killed, and I don't remember much about him. I do remember the thrill when he'd pick me up and hold me over his head-he was so strong and so tall-and I remember the smell of his after-shave when he lowered me to rest my head on his shoulder. I never got to know him, really know him, until tonight, listening to the men who served with him.”

Then she drew my attention to her mother on the dance floor. “She loved him so much. Do you know, this is the first time I've seen her dance since Dad died? The first time I've heard her laugh? The first time I've even seen her smile since then? I can't tell you what your generosity in bringing us here has meant to us.”

Rest in peace, Richard Lee Hatch. And thank you.

Memories of the 50's

The 4th plt. being inspected by a foreign Admiral in gym at 8th&I. Lt.Stewart is the officer at far left. Next officer is Commandant Pate, then Capt. Richard Hatch, Fred Sheeder over the Admiral's left shoulder, WILLIAM BECKER, Madix, & MacMichael.

5-27-24, Submitted by 8th & I Marine Steve DeBock, Ceremonial Guard Company, 3rd Platoon, 1960-1962, Hershey, PA Note: On Memorial Day, five years ago, I posted this tribute on Facebook. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John et al,

Thank you for this piece about COL Hatch. He was my Company Commander at The Basic School, June-December 1964, BC 1-65.
Captain Hatch was a superb leader, and everything about him described in your article fit him to tee. One of my classmates was
TDY in Vietnam when Major Hatch was KIA in a helicopter crash. Bill said there was not a dry eye at the funeral service.
I really appreciate this article on Captain Hatch's earlier assignments. I had no idea he had been at 8th & Eye but can certainly understand it.

Semper Fi,
Hud



Richard Lee Hatch LTC USMC KIA 1-3-1968 Binh Dinh

Submitted by 8th & I Marine Captain Gene K. Huddleston, Ph.D, MCI Company, 1966-1968, Vietnam veteran, Maitland, FL

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Hello Hud (and others),

When I arrived at 8th & I in late-November 1958, I was assigned to the Ceremonial Guard Company and Captain Richard Lee Hatch was my company commander. Memories!!!!!!!

John Reim

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5-28-24, 8TH & I Marine Denny Harris' Memories Of Captain Richard Lee Hatch

8th & I Marine Steve DeBock's 5-27-24 comments were an absolutely beautiful and well written tribute to Captain Hatch. I arrived at 8th and I in February of 1957 and was assigned to the 4th Platoon of Ceremonial Guard Company. At that time the Company was commanded by a strict, rather grumpy Captain Lyons. After the Drill Season was over in 1957 most of our 4th Platoon guys were sent back to Lejeune and assignment to FMF units. I was assigned to Guard Company at 8th and I as the Company Clerk. Working with Lyons was not very pleasant but I thought it was a lot better than an FMF unit at Lejeune. Then in February 1958 Captain Richard Hatch replaced Captain Lyons and what a difference between the Captains! We were together all day every day until August 1958 and I was discharged. Captain treated everyone as an equal. Many times the two of us would sit in the Company office and just chat. He encouraged me to finish college and enter the Platoon Leaders Class which I did. When I entered the Marine PLC class Captain Hatch wrote a beautiful letter of recommendation for me. As a direct result of Captain Hatch I served 36 years in the military (active and reserves) and am now a retired Colonel!

John....please send my enclosed letter to all our guys. I owe LTC Richard Hatch so much and would like all guys to see what kind of a person he was. Do the same to his wife and children if you have their addresses. Many thanks.

Submitted by 8th & I Marine Denny Harris, Ph.D, Ceremonial Guard Company, 4th Platoon / Company Clerk, 1957-1958 / Col., U.S. Army Reserves (Ret.), Lexington, KY

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MEMORIES OF 8TH & I MARINE CAPTAIN RICHARD LEE HATCH, KIA, VIETNAM,1968, BY LAWRENCE C. "LARRY" VETTER, JR., USMC, 1964-1970

6-5-24 ... I'm sorry, just saw letter. Of course, you can use what I said about Major Hatch. I believe I told you before about one routine rule of the Corps upon which our Major gave advice, and I truly appreciated it in retrospect. That was once in the First Sergeant's office when we were at Pendleton preparing to go to Viet Nam in 1965. There were we platoon commanders in attendance when the senior 1st Lieutenant decided to sit on top the 1st Sgt.'s desk (the 1st Sgt was sitting in his chair behind the desk). As he sat on the desk he addressed the first Sgt. as "Top." I'll never forget what happened. The 1st sergeant said in an even but authoritative voice: "Lieutenant, do I look like a f--king toy you spin on the deck. You will address me as First Sergeant, and no one sits on my desk, Lieutenant. Not even the Colonel."

I stood there caught between two emotions: (1) embarrassment for the lieutenant who sheepishly stood up and off the desk; and, (2) a quiet but very big "Thank you, Major Hatch" under my breath, as he had told us to never call the First Sergeant "Top." That was an enlisted privilege. I remember the Major had also emphasized that when walking on the base to watch the cars driving past and when seeing on a car a base decal indicating an officer of higher rank than yourself to salute, and if you saw a woman behind the wheel, he said wives were to be saluted also.

Am I right about him not being assigned to the infantry in Viet Nam where he could command troops in combat? When I heard about him going down in the chopper, seems like he was in a position on a staff somewhere, and I thought that was terrible, and I felt a waste of his abilities and desires. While there were some officers assigned to positions they were not prepared for and in which they caused Marines to needlessly be killed or wounded, I thought the reverse for Major Hatch. To have worked under his command in combat would I thought have been a privilege.

Here is a picture of a statue honoring Lt.Col. Leftwich at TBS. He served there during our time in '64 and before - and then again a couple of years later. He was also killed in a chopper crash in Viet Nam. I read a little about him. His first tour in Viet Nam he was an advisor to the SVN Marines. On his second VN tour he was CO of 1st Recon. Seems like he made it a job of his to go out on every emergency extraction of a Recon team. It was on one of these extractions that his chopper was shot down and he was killed. Sounds like another officer cut from the best cloth.

Semper Fi, Marine

5-29-24 ... The Marine who always had his sea bag packed and ready to shove off to wherever his Corps wanted him. The Marine officer who taught me always to refer to a First Sergeant as First Sergeant. Never "Top," as that was an enlisted Marine's privilege to say of or to his 1st Sgt - not an officer's. The First Sergeant was "First Sergeant." The Commanding Officer who set an example to be emulated. I can't remember what exactly his unit was in Viet Nam, but I do remember thinking that it must have been frustrating for him because it did not (it seemed) to have given him the opportunity and privilege of leading Marines in combat.

But we were lucky to have had him. In 1970, I asked in my 6th year on active duty to be transferred to MCS to teach young second lieutenants. If they had done that, I would likely have stayed in. At Quantico I would have found a picture of the good Major and hung it my office to always remind me of who I was.

The article speaks of Building 58 at the Navy Yards. I spent time there in about 1990 - 1992 doing research for Never Without Heroes. I remember going from wherever I was to the Navy Yards jogging the streets with my ID and money in my jogging shoes. If I rode the bus, I was the lone Gringo. There was a story around about a young Marine of the female gender who had been raped as she walked just outside of 8th and I. So I jogged.

Thanks for the mail.

Submitted by Lawrence C. "Larry" Vetter, Jr., U.S. Marine Corps, 1964-1970, Vietnam veteran

NOTE: Larry is the author of Never Without Heroes: Marine Third Reconnaissance Battalion in Vietnam, 1965-70 and Blood on the Lotus. Vetter served with the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion in Vietnam for seven months in 1966. He wrote Never Without Heroes to tell the story of the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, during its time in Vietnam from 1965 until 1969 in an effort to reflect “the best of American heroism.”

Never Without Heroes

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6-16-24, 8TH & I MARINE LANCE FOSHEE'S MEMORIES OF CAPTAIN RICHARD LEE HATCH, CEREMONIAL GUARD COMPANY

In mid '58 I met Capt. Hatch the first time while still in boot camp and he made a lasting impression on me. One afternoon we were assembled and a long list of names were called out and were told to assemble behind the company and I was told to march them over to the parade field and drill them for a Captain waiting for us there. He introduced himself and said he was there to pick 21 men and told me to drill them for him . After he picked the 20th man he had me stop them and asked if I was eligible or just there to drill them. I said eligible and became the 21st man.

The next time I saw him was when we arrived at the barracks (8th & I). He and I had several personal conversations involving my disputes with the Marine Corps. He was probably one of few who knew the history between me and the Corps. We were never buddies but I definitely ?? believe that we had a mutual admiration and respect for one another. If asked to pick the one Marine who impressed me the most, it would positively be Captain Hatch. There's much more I'd like to say but I don't know if it would matter to anyone else as much as it does to me.

Had I ever had to go into combat I would have wanted it to be with Captain Hatch. R.I.P.

Submitted by 8th & I Marine Lance Foshee, Ceremonial Guard Company, 2nd Platoon / Silent Drill Platoon, 1958-1960, Greene County, TN NOTE: When Lance first arrived at 8th & I, each platoon in the Ceremonial Guard Company was a Silent Drill Platoon; early-1959, just one Silent Drill Platoon was established.