About Gene D. Simes
OFFE President/Founder and National Chairman
Place and Date of Birth: New York, NY – 05/13/45
Raised: St. Augustine, Fl
Place & Date Enlistment: Fulton, NY - 03/29/63
Branch of service: U.S. Marine Corps
Highest Rate/Rank: E6/Staff
Sergeant Duty Stations:
· Naples, Italy
· Quantico, Va
· Okinawa, Japan
· Yokohama, Japan
· Vietnam
Date of Discharge: 10/16/69
Type of Discharge: Honorable
VA Rating: 100% Totally and Permanently Disabled
Military Awards and Medals:
· Purple Heart - (02/20/66)
· Vietnam Service Medal - w/1 Bronze Star - (2 military campaigns in-country, RSVN)
· Republic Of Vietnam Campaign Medal - w/1960 device
· National Defense Medal
· Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation - Gallantry Cross Medal Color, w/Palm
· Republic Of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation - Civil Actions Medal, First Class Color, w/Palm
Military Training:
Land mine Warfare training
Gorilla Warfare Training
Hand-to-Hand Combat training
Military Police
After Discharge Schooling:
· Fourth Degree Black Belt – Taekwondo
Languages
Italian
Spanish
Portuguese
A Day in the Life of Gene D. Simes...
The adventures of Gene and Norm!
Vietnam - Chue Lye, 1965
NOTE: Remember, these two Marines are lying underneath a truck that is called a 6-pi, trying to get some rest after completing a major convoy that started from an area around a place called Am-Track. While you are reading this, also remember these two Marines have accomplished many combat patrols together and—you got it—hit every bar that they could hit in Okinawa and Japan!
Can’t remember the correct month and date: Year: 1965. Time: About 10:30 pm, and it was hotter than hell! (Gene, asking) Hey Norm? Got a cigarette? (Norm answered), "You woke me up for a fucking smoke!" " Hey Norm, (Gene, asking once again) how about a light? (Norm, answered Gene) What the FUCK! Want me to smoke it for you, too? Now, did Gene go to sleep? Fuck no! But did he wake? Norm up one more time? OH YEAH! And this is what he said to Norm. Norm!! "Did you hear that with a low voice?" (Norm answered) what the fuck are you talking about now?" (Gene) listen, Norm, (all of a sudden, Norm said) Holy Shit, those are incoming MORTARS!!! (Both Norm and Gene rolled from underneath the 6 pi, which they were sleeping on, and ran for cover! Now you are wondering what Gene and Norm did after they ran for Cover? OH YEAH! They grab their weapons and have a smoke, and you know what? Norm didn't even complain...
A Note from Gene...
“When a combat disabled veteran falls on hard times, loses their job, their house, facing bankruptcy, experiencing failing health, emotionally unstable and going through a divorce, the feelings of hopelessness and helplessness can be overwhelming. When facing such hardships in life the one thing a combat disabled veteran should be able to count on are their military benefits – which in many cases they earned on the battlefield with their blood, sweat, and tears. It is at these low points in life when these disability benefits are needed the most, and when they can help the greatest. To allow anyone the ability to arbitrarily or ambiguously take these benefits from them is cruel and unjust. I honestly believe Congress wrote the 5301 law with all of this in mind".
-- Gene D. Simes