Rexx Vernon Shelton, 80, of Salisbury, passed away on Sunday, December 10, 2023 at his home along with his faithful companion “Shane Dog”. He was born on May 29, 1943 in Canton to the late Hugh Shelton and Eddie Wright Shelton. Rexx was a peace time Marine, but as he liked to point out, if there was no peace time Marines there would be no War Time Marines. On the day he turned 17, Rexx had his mother go down to the Marine recruiter in West Asheville and sign the papers that allowed him to enlist, or join up as they put it back then, before he turned 18. He had just failed the 10th grade in high school and saw no future in repeating it again.

Like all other East Coast Marines, he arrived at Paris Island in the earl morning being awakened to the sound of hollering D.I’s, got out of the bus and put his feet in the Yellow Foot Prints with the other 35 boots on the bus in July of 1960. The shouting D.I’s were scaring the shit out of the other boots, but not Rexx, for their screaming, hollering, and cursing was mild stuff as to what he had endured from his father all of his childhood.

Rexx’s MOS out of Boor was 0311 and carried a M1 through AIT, but as soon as he was attached to D Company 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment he was promoted to PHC and assigned a BAR and an assistant BAR man. During his time with the 6th Marine he went to the island of Vega off of Puerto Rico on several training trips. This was the era of many Terrorist airplane hijackings and each time one was taken his Company had to mount up and go aboard a ship.

The two most memorable of his deployments, although they did not call them that back then. The first was sailing around Cat Island on the USS Boxer, an LPH, during the Cuban Blockade. The second was on the USS Grant County, LST, about a thousand yards off shore of the Bay of Pigs watching the Cuban insurgents getting their asses kicked by Castro’s forces. The whole 6th Fleet was there, all the number and designations had been painted over and the Marines were asked to turn their shirts inside out as not to show their names or that they were Marines. As he understood it, the plan had been for the insurgents were to hold out for 72 hours and declare a free Cuba. American would then support their independence in the U.N., but the powers that be renegaded and the Fleet sailed away leaving the insurgents to their fate.

After Rexx’s two inputs with the 6th Marines his MOS was changed to 5831 and he was transferred to the Castle, a Navy prison at Portsmouth, NH. Being a prison guard was a duty he did not much care for, and when an early discharge was offered he took it.

Rexx became a member of the Marine Corps League in Jackson, TN, back in the 1980’s and has been active duty with them ever since. He held a number of offices including Adjutant in Jackson, Commandant in Rockwell, and Sergeant of Arms and Historian in his current Determent, 1096, Salisbury.

Rexx is survived by his children, Sarah Chien (Chris), Keith Shelton (Jen), and Skyler Shelton. He recently discovered and connected with an adopted daughter, Heidi Williams. He is also survived by his two siblings, Elizabeth Taylor and Clyde Shelton, as well as nephews and nieces and grandchildren.

A Military Graveside Service will be held on Friday January 5th, at 10:00 AM at the Salisbury National Cemetery (501 Statesville Blvd., Salisbury, NC). Military Honors will be provided by the United States Marine Corps and the Rowan County Veterans Honor Guard.

Carolina Cremation of Salisbury and Charlotte is assisting the Shelton family. Online condolences may be made at www.carolinacremation.com.