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Once a Marine, Always a Marine

Our Senora Scott continues her series of stories from the Permian Basin Honor Flight. The flight takes veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the memorials and museums built in their honor. This story features a Vietnam veteran who is for many, a familiar face.

SAN ANGELO, TX — Peace officer, Vietnam veteran, Marine. All words to describe Terry Lowe, a man who has served others all his life.

"So, my whole life I've never not carried a gun in my job. I guess in one form or the other I've worked for the government all my life,” Lowe said.

Terry joined the Marines in June of 1967 at the age of 18.

"I was in the 5th Marines in Vietnam. We were in several major operations, Hue City probably being the most famous,” Lowe said.

Terry lost several friends and fellow marines during that time. In his unit alone, there were 67 men killed in action. Like many others, when he came back from Vietnam, he brought an internal battle with him.

"When I came back from Vietnam, early '69, January of '69, I was pretty messed up but I didn't know it. Nor did anybody else that was coming home realize we had the issues we had. Thankfully, most of us were able to outlive them. Even though some of us still have demons, and dreams. Life goes on and you know you're not the only one,” Lowe said.

He was able to find work...

"I got a job caulking windows for a house painter, for I think, if I remember right, 2 dollars an hour,” Lowe said.

But after struggling to hold down a string of jobs, he went back to his brothers.

"It came to the point where I was just a little bit above homeless so I went back to the Marine Corps and said 'take me back,' and two days later I was at camp Pendleton again and I haven't slowed down since,” Lowe said.

When he reenlisted, he was in Marine Recon. After spending a total of 9 years with the marines, terry began a career in law enforcement, that's still ongoing. On the Permian Basin Honor Flight, it's no surprise that this was one of his favorite stops.

"Here we are at the National Marine Corps Museum and as far as I'm concerned is the Holy Grail,” Lowe said.

He says it's nice to honor his brothers and see new ones.

"The Marine Corps is unique because a Marine is a Marine is a Marine. It doesn't matter if you're 100 years old or 20 years old, you're brothers. So, I can go strike up a conversation with a 20 year old marine and it's like we've known each other all our lives,” Lowe said.

It's all part of a healing process that he and other veterans face.

"Everybody's thanking us for our service. I couldn't ask for more. I've teared up a couple of times, especially the kids. It makes you realize there are some good kids out there today and maybe we're not in as much trouble as we think we are,” Lowe said.

Currently Terry Lowe is a Lt. Investigator with the Tom Green County Sheriff's Office and I sure am proud to know him. – Senora Scott.

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