CPL. Stanley Wunderlich
U.S. Marine Corps. Reserves
Electrical and Engineering
2nd Battalion – Company 2017
1966-1972
U.S. Marine Corps. Reserves
Electrical and Engineering
2nd Battalion – Company 2017
1966-1972
Stanley Wunderlich was born 1947 in Canarsie section of Brooklyn, NY. His father owned a large hardware store and served in WWII along with Stan’s two uncles at The Battle of the Bulge. His Uncle Joe, who served in the Navy on the Sea Wolf submarine based in Groton, CT., was a big influence in Stan’s decision to join the Marines.
Stan graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1965 where he played football alongside future hall of famer John Brockington. “I spent three years going in motion to block for him.” Stan attended Brooklyn College where he was a member of the swimming and bowling teams. During the summer Stan was a lifeguard at the El Caribe Country Club in Brooklyn.
The Vietnam War was ramping up and all young men were receiving their draft number. “If you were married or a teacher you got a deferment. Stan didn’t want to do that. He wasn’t thrilled with college and though he would enlist. He called his Uncle Joe for advice, and he told Stan to call Sergeant Bollack with the Marines Corps. “They’re kick-ass people. I think you’ll enjoy it.” The next day Stan met with Sergeant Bollock at the recruiting station on DeKalb Ave. in Brooklyn and enlisted. “As an 18-year-old puppy…you’re going to conquer the world. When you look back how naïve I was at 18.”
Stan head off to Parris Island and found himself at an advantage because of his athletic background. Stan was often the flag bearer setting the pace for the rest of the platoon. At Parris Island Stan was in a platoon of 86 Marines with 16 Jewish men. “It’s the first time I experience a little discrimination… as a little kid from Brooklyn the real world has some hurdles you have to get over.”
When it came time to choose his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) the Marines saw his background in electricity, reading blueprints and building. Stan was assigned to an electrical engineering unit. Stan said he would rather stay with the rest of the platoon and deploy overseas. The Marines said “we are not giving you a choice. You have the skillset to put nails in wood…”. After boot camp Stan was sent to Camp Geiger in North Carolina for 13 months and then to Camp Pendleton in San Diego to train to be a rifleman and advanced infantry training. “Every Marine is a rifleman.”
Including his time in the reserves, Stan served six years with the Marines and was discharged in1972. Now it was time to find a job. “I caught a number of really lucky breaks in the real world.” His first job interview was at Blythe Eastman Dillon, a well-regarded broker dealer in New York City. “I walked in and the guy says to me, ‘you’re a former Marine?’. I said yes. ‘You start on Monday. We’ll pay you $115 a week and you’ll be part the Legal and Compliance Department…and you’ll work for me’.” As it turned out, the interviewer was Captain John Cione who had been a payroll officer during his time in the Marines Corps.
After working for a while Stan went home and told his mother, “I think I caught a really good break. I’m working with this guy in the Legal and Compliance Department. My Mother said, ‘that’s fantastic because pretty soon we’re gonna need a new refrigerator.’ I told her it’s Legal and Compliance, not appliances.”
The company helped pay the tuition for Stan to earn his undergraduate at Brooklyn College and law degree at St John’s University in Queens, New York. In 1979 John Cione told Stan it was time for him to spread his wings and build his career. With some friends he formed Consulting for Strategic Growth, a global consulting firm focused on raising capital.
Stan continued to maintain his athleticism after he left the Marine Corp. In 1979 Stan saw an article in Sports Illustrated discussing a new sport called the Ironman Competition. The first Ironman was held in 1980. In 1981 Stan was a handler for John Howard who entered the Ironman Competition and took first place. As part of the team Stan got to know all of the top athletes in the competition and he was hooked on the sport. Stan began training for the Ironman and in 1983 he was the favorite to win the 35-40 age category. Stan did not disappoint, and he took first place. Stan ran again a few years later but did not do as well as he had hoped.
In 1985 Stan’s wife Paula, of 18 years died of cancer leaving Stan with their two children. Later that same year his father and good friend also died. In 1987 Stan remarried to a Meryl, very supportive woman who also had two children.
Stan has always challenged himself. He has run numerous marathons and ultra marathons including an ultra-marathon on Long Island covering 105 miles from Montauk Point to Plainview High School. Stan has also set records in the little-known sport of backwards running.
Through business connections Stan was introduced to Jeffrey Low and his son Jordan, a former member of the Golani Brigade, in the Israel Defense Forces. Jordan served for three years and deployed for tours in Lebanon and Gaza. After leaving the military Jordan and his father formed a business called First Breach in 2017. The company is a manufacturer of match-grade ammunition. This type of ammo is known for its high quality and technical specifications and designed to ensure repeatable precision. Stan has advised the company on corporate strategy and helped the company raise $25MM to build a new factory in Hagerstown, MD.
Stan has continued to challenge himself physically and spends time in the gym and running. “Being 77, I thought, wouldn’t it be something to go back 42 years later and try to run a triathlon. I went back and saw the best time for anyone over 70 is 13 hour and 14 minutes. That’s within reach to me without getting injured.” Stan is training to run the competition and hopes to set a new record.
Stan credits much of his success in life to the Marine Corps. “The cornerstone, the thing that was transformative in my life was being in the Marines.”
“Once you’re a Marine, you’re always a Marine.”
Thank you, Stan, for serving your country and setting an example of maintaining good physical fitness. No more running backwards!!
Stan graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1965 where he played football alongside future hall of famer John Brockington. “I spent three years going in motion to block for him.” Stan attended Brooklyn College where he was a member of the swimming and bowling teams. During the summer Stan was a lifeguard at the El Caribe Country Club in Brooklyn.
The Vietnam War was ramping up and all young men were receiving their draft number. “If you were married or a teacher you got a deferment. Stan didn’t want to do that. He wasn’t thrilled with college and though he would enlist. He called his Uncle Joe for advice, and he told Stan to call Sergeant Bollack with the Marines Corps. “They’re kick-ass people. I think you’ll enjoy it.” The next day Stan met with Sergeant Bollock at the recruiting station on DeKalb Ave. in Brooklyn and enlisted. “As an 18-year-old puppy…you’re going to conquer the world. When you look back how naïve I was at 18.”
Stan head off to Parris Island and found himself at an advantage because of his athletic background. Stan was often the flag bearer setting the pace for the rest of the platoon. At Parris Island Stan was in a platoon of 86 Marines with 16 Jewish men. “It’s the first time I experience a little discrimination… as a little kid from Brooklyn the real world has some hurdles you have to get over.”
When it came time to choose his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) the Marines saw his background in electricity, reading blueprints and building. Stan was assigned to an electrical engineering unit. Stan said he would rather stay with the rest of the platoon and deploy overseas. The Marines said “we are not giving you a choice. You have the skillset to put nails in wood…”. After boot camp Stan was sent to Camp Geiger in North Carolina for 13 months and then to Camp Pendleton in San Diego to train to be a rifleman and advanced infantry training. “Every Marine is a rifleman.”
Including his time in the reserves, Stan served six years with the Marines and was discharged in1972. Now it was time to find a job. “I caught a number of really lucky breaks in the real world.” His first job interview was at Blythe Eastman Dillon, a well-regarded broker dealer in New York City. “I walked in and the guy says to me, ‘you’re a former Marine?’. I said yes. ‘You start on Monday. We’ll pay you $115 a week and you’ll be part the Legal and Compliance Department…and you’ll work for me’.” As it turned out, the interviewer was Captain John Cione who had been a payroll officer during his time in the Marines Corps.
After working for a while Stan went home and told his mother, “I think I caught a really good break. I’m working with this guy in the Legal and Compliance Department. My Mother said, ‘that’s fantastic because pretty soon we’re gonna need a new refrigerator.’ I told her it’s Legal and Compliance, not appliances.”
The company helped pay the tuition for Stan to earn his undergraduate at Brooklyn College and law degree at St John’s University in Queens, New York. In 1979 John Cione told Stan it was time for him to spread his wings and build his career. With some friends he formed Consulting for Strategic Growth, a global consulting firm focused on raising capital.
Stan continued to maintain his athleticism after he left the Marine Corp. In 1979 Stan saw an article in Sports Illustrated discussing a new sport called the Ironman Competition. The first Ironman was held in 1980. In 1981 Stan was a handler for John Howard who entered the Ironman Competition and took first place. As part of the team Stan got to know all of the top athletes in the competition and he was hooked on the sport. Stan began training for the Ironman and in 1983 he was the favorite to win the 35-40 age category. Stan did not disappoint, and he took first place. Stan ran again a few years later but did not do as well as he had hoped.
In 1985 Stan’s wife Paula, of 18 years died of cancer leaving Stan with their two children. Later that same year his father and good friend also died. In 1987 Stan remarried to a Meryl, very supportive woman who also had two children.
Stan has always challenged himself. He has run numerous marathons and ultra marathons including an ultra-marathon on Long Island covering 105 miles from Montauk Point to Plainview High School. Stan has also set records in the little-known sport of backwards running.
Through business connections Stan was introduced to Jeffrey Low and his son Jordan, a former member of the Golani Brigade, in the Israel Defense Forces. Jordan served for three years and deployed for tours in Lebanon and Gaza. After leaving the military Jordan and his father formed a business called First Breach in 2017. The company is a manufacturer of match-grade ammunition. This type of ammo is known for its high quality and technical specifications and designed to ensure repeatable precision. Stan has advised the company on corporate strategy and helped the company raise $25MM to build a new factory in Hagerstown, MD.
Stan has continued to challenge himself physically and spends time in the gym and running. “Being 77, I thought, wouldn’t it be something to go back 42 years later and try to run a triathlon. I went back and saw the best time for anyone over 70 is 13 hour and 14 minutes. That’s within reach to me without getting injured.” Stan is training to run the competition and hopes to set a new record.
Stan credits much of his success in life to the Marine Corps. “The cornerstone, the thing that was transformative in my life was being in the Marines.”
“Once you’re a Marine, you’re always a Marine.”
Thank you, Stan, for serving your country and setting an example of maintaining good physical fitness. No more running backwards!!