John “J.B.” Ferrato
U.S. Marines - Machine Gunner
1st Marine Division – MAG 24 Air Group
June ’69 – June ‘72
U.S. Marines - Machine Gunner
1st Marine Division – MAG 24 Air Group
June ’69 – June ‘72
John was born December 25th, 1948, in the Bronx, NY. John had a very large extended family, and he remembers his childhood fondly. “I had a good, loving family”. At the age of eight John and his family moved to Spring Valley, NY. John, his older sister, and a younger brother all graduated from Spring Valley High School. John played defensive tackle on the football team and threw the shot put on the track team. He graduated in 1969 and attended Rockland Community College for two years where he studied liberal arts while he thought about what he wanted to do in life.
At the end of his second year, he was drafted. “It was the first lottery I ever won. Number 85.” John’s father had served in the Navy and his uncle had served in the Army. John wanted to “do something special” so he enlisted in the Marines.
John went to Whitehall St. in Manhattan to be processed and he headed to Parris Island for boot camp. “I thought I was headed to France but ended up in South Carolina.” I asked John if it was a hard adjustment to having a drill instructor yelling at him constantly. “I had an Italian father. No problem.”
John thought boot camp was very tough and very strict, but also thought it was some the best training he ever received in his life. He attributes his time in the Boy Scouts to helping him adjust to the Marine Corp. His Platoon was 274 and he thought his drill instructors were “good, fair guys.” After 10 weeks he went to advanced training at Camp Geiger in North Carolina. Initially John thought he would be headed for Vietnam but while he was at home on leave, he received notice to return to Camp Geiger. John spent the next six months as the pay officer handling payroll. John was next assigned to MAG 24 at the Marine Corps. Air Station in Kaneohe, Hawaii on the island of Oahu. John was assigned to guard duty and spent the next 18 months on Oahu. John enjoyed his time on Oahu and when his tour of duty concluded John was honorably discharged.
He returned to Spring Valley and completed his Associates Degree at Rockland Community College. He headed to Miami for a friend’s wedding and liked it so much he stayed for three years. He took jobs in construction and learned the masonry trade and how to install flooring. He was married in October of 1975 and had two children.
After three years in Miami, John returned to New York to work with his father for three years in the flooring business. Flooring installation is very demanding on the knees and John decided he would move into sales. John started his own flooring business which he is still running today. He really enjoys the sales business and travels up and down the east coast to bid on jobs.
I asked John what he took with him from his time in the Marine Corp. He said discipline and organization. John enjoyed his time in the Marine Corps and made good friends, some who he continues to stay in touch with.
John is very proud of his son and daughter and grandson who are close by. “I have a great life.”
He attributes being the man he is today to his Marine Corps. training. “I still believe I’m a Marine even though I’m 74 years old”. “If you want to prove yourself, join the Marines.”
John, thank you for your service and continuing the motto, “once a Marine, always a Marine.”
At the end of his second year, he was drafted. “It was the first lottery I ever won. Number 85.” John’s father had served in the Navy and his uncle had served in the Army. John wanted to “do something special” so he enlisted in the Marines.
John went to Whitehall St. in Manhattan to be processed and he headed to Parris Island for boot camp. “I thought I was headed to France but ended up in South Carolina.” I asked John if it was a hard adjustment to having a drill instructor yelling at him constantly. “I had an Italian father. No problem.”
John thought boot camp was very tough and very strict, but also thought it was some the best training he ever received in his life. He attributes his time in the Boy Scouts to helping him adjust to the Marine Corp. His Platoon was 274 and he thought his drill instructors were “good, fair guys.” After 10 weeks he went to advanced training at Camp Geiger in North Carolina. Initially John thought he would be headed for Vietnam but while he was at home on leave, he received notice to return to Camp Geiger. John spent the next six months as the pay officer handling payroll. John was next assigned to MAG 24 at the Marine Corps. Air Station in Kaneohe, Hawaii on the island of Oahu. John was assigned to guard duty and spent the next 18 months on Oahu. John enjoyed his time on Oahu and when his tour of duty concluded John was honorably discharged.
He returned to Spring Valley and completed his Associates Degree at Rockland Community College. He headed to Miami for a friend’s wedding and liked it so much he stayed for three years. He took jobs in construction and learned the masonry trade and how to install flooring. He was married in October of 1975 and had two children.
After three years in Miami, John returned to New York to work with his father for three years in the flooring business. Flooring installation is very demanding on the knees and John decided he would move into sales. John started his own flooring business which he is still running today. He really enjoys the sales business and travels up and down the east coast to bid on jobs.
I asked John what he took with him from his time in the Marine Corp. He said discipline and organization. John enjoyed his time in the Marine Corps and made good friends, some who he continues to stay in touch with.
John is very proud of his son and daughter and grandson who are close by. “I have a great life.”
He attributes being the man he is today to his Marine Corps. training. “I still believe I’m a Marine even though I’m 74 years old”. “If you want to prove yourself, join the Marines.”
John, thank you for your service and continuing the motto, “once a Marine, always a Marine.”