Marine Corps News Room

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/B62CA77245670C048525708F00572610?opendocument

Submitted by: MCB Quantico
Story Identification #: 2005103115153
Story by Cpl. Sara Carter

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (Sept. 29, 2005) -- Marines are a proud bunch. A lot have Marine Corps stickers or motivational license plates on their vehicles. But how many Marines have a motorcycle customized or painted entirely with a Marine Corps theme?

Gunnery Sgt. James Marsh, an instructor at Officer Candidate School, has his Harley Davidson sporting that “moto” look.

“I feel highly motivated and proud that I’ve joined the most elite force in the world,” said Marsh. “When I ride my bike, everyone will know I am a Marine.”

Marsh bought a 1989 Harley Davidson Softail Custom in St. Louis five years ago. It was yellow with black tiger stripes.

“It was an ugly bike,” said Fred Stewart, a former Marine and one of the designers of Marsh’s bike. “It was in pretty bad shape.”

Marsh bought the old bike from a fellow leatherneck who couldn’t care for it anymore and was trying to find a good home and owner.

“I thought that I was the right one for the job,” said Marsh, “so I decided to buy it from him.”

Marsh was linked up with Stewart through another Marine and a bike shop.

Marsh contacted Stewart and Skip Nace, who works side-by-side with Stewart, and they agreed the bike was worth working on.

“I took my bike to have it serviced and had a couple of beers with Fred and Skip,” said Marsh. “I also took them some Marine Corps memorabilia.

“When I went back to pick (up the bike) so I could ride it, Fred came to me and told me he would love to do a Marine Corps theme with my bike,” Marsh explained. “He said him and the fellows would love doing it.”

After two days of persuading his wife Lisa, who was skeptical about letting Stewart and Nace do a Marine Corps-themed bike, she finally gave in.

Marsh and his family moved to Quantico in March and the bike remained in Missouri.

“I was very comfortable leaving my bike in Missouri,” explained Marsh. “But I am a Marine who loves to ride motorcycles and let the fresh air just hit my face. I was kind of down because I wasn’t able to ride.”

It took five hard weeks to get the bike into good shape. But, because Stewart and Nace had to wait for some of the parts and Marine memorabilia to continue with the bike, it took almost five months for the bike to be complete.

The shifter lever is made of brass and says “Marine Corps.” The gas tank is swathed by a painting of a Marine Corps saber, white cover and white gloves draped on the American flag.

Enlisted and officer swords cross on the front of the bike. And “grenades” on the back of the bike are functioning tail lights and turn signals.

“This is a one-of-a-kind bike,” said Stewart. “We won’t build the same bike twice.”

Once the bike was complete, Marsh expected to make the trip back to Missouri to pick it up, but Stewart and Nace had another idea in mind.

Stewart, Nace and their wives packed up the bike and drove it to Quantico to surprise Marsh with it.

When Marsh turned his bike over to the shop he knew the theme for his bike was going to be about the Marine Corps, but he had no idea what the bike actually looked like.

After repeated attempts to get Stewart and Nace to send him a picture or describe what the bike looked like, Marsh knew he would have to be patient and wait until the bike was done.
Once the bike arrived at Quantico, Marsh was in awe and knew that it was well worth the wait.

“It is awesome!” said Marsh with a huge smile.

Because there are so many unique characteristics to his bike, Marsh finds it difficult to pick out one feature as his favorite.

“If I had to choose, I would pick the tank because it is symbolic of the whole Marine Corps,” said Marsh. “It represents both officer and enlisted. That’s the reason there is no rank insignia anywhere on the bike.”

Marsh is grateful Stewart and Nace took so much time and effort to create such an indescribable bike for him.

“I think that these two gentlemen and the rest of their crew are awesome,” said Marsh. “They are former Marines and they love being about the Marines, talking to them about the old and new times. I am glad that I’ve met them and they will be my friends for life and also my brother in arms.”

Now when Marsh straps on his helmet and takes his “moto” bike for a ride, everyone he passes knows he is a proud Marine.