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    Raleigh Marines surprise 100 year old Marine at birthday party

    Raleigh Marines surprise 100 year old Marine at birthday party

    Photo By 94th Airlift Wing | Marines from Recruiting Station Raleigh attended Platoon Sgt. Joseph Goble’s 100th...... read more read more

    NEWTON, NC, UNITED STATES

    09.13.2014

    Story by Cpl. Kyle Welshans 

    4th Marine Corps District

    Patiently they remained in hiding. Silently and carefully, the Marines took their positions behind the unsuspecting target. They waited for the order.

    “Surprise!”

    The birthday party was for Joseph Goble, a platoon Sergeant during World War II who served at Guadalcanal in 1942. The Marines came from Recruiting Station Raleigh and participated in the surprise for the 100-year-old World War II veteran in Newton, North Carolina, Sept. 13.

    “I joined the Marine Corps because I had a friend already serving, and I loved the uniform and how he presented himself,” said Goble. “The draft was coming up, and I didn’t want to join the Army so I jumped ahead and joined the Marines. It was one of the best decisions I made.”

    In 1942, Goble was put on a ship to the Pacific.

    “We made a stop, but as soon as we unloaded the ship, we got word that we were going to Japan,” said Goble. “So we took two days to re-load everything back onto the ship and we were on our way.”

    While on Guadalcanal, Goble was injured during a fight with the Japanese and transported to California. After months of treatment he was sent to Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.

    During his 16 months in the hospital, Goble was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star. He was awarded the Silver Start for exposing himself during enemy fire and directing fire back toward the enemy position. Even while severely injured, he risked his life by dragging another wounded comrade to safety.

    “It was great to see and talk to such a great Marine,” said Gunnery Sgt. Eric Pittman, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of Recruiting Sub Station Hickory, in Hickory, North Carolina. “The Marines and I were hiding, waiting for the party to start and when it did we brought the cake out and surprised him. He was surprised to see us.”

    For Goble, living in a retirement home has been the furthest thing from his combat days. Since it can be hard to regularly see friends, family and fellow Marines, the birthday party became that much more thrilling for the veteran.

    “I was surprised,” said Goble. “I was just sitting there and then everyone was telling me to turn around and when I did I saw all the Marines. They brought a big cake for us and talked with me and my family for a while.”

    Kay Birkeli, Goble’s daughter, helped set up the surprise party by calling a friend who works in the Marine Corps. The Marines were eager to participate in such an event.

    “When he turned around and saw who it was, he had tears in his eyes,” said Birkeli. “He was very honored to have the Marines there with him. He couldn’t be any happier and just kept talking about it throughout the rest of the day.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.13.2014
    Date Posted: 10.02.2014 14:07
    Story ID: 144075
    Location: NEWTON, NC, US
    Hometown: NEWTON, NC, US

    Web Views: 236
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN