Semper Fi, Leatherneck/Jarhead

Been well over a year since I've posted here.
Sgt Grit's still there. I'll post some.

Sgt Grit Newsletter
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28 AUG 2008
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My story, on the flight to Nam in Dec 67 were three of us from the same boot platoon who went to the same battalion of 7th Marines.

We each were assigned to A, B &, C Companies. We saw each other maybe twice during out tour. A few interesting stories could be told some sick funny and others more to it's who we are. Getting to my point. We each got orders to rotate back home on Christmas Eve. Too late to check out and get to air base transit area. Dec 24 my hill got mortared Not sure of other two. Dec 25 all checked out no weapon and on duce and ½ on my way to transit at DaNang. Checking in who would be there but these two boot buddies. Hugs and back slaps later We are assigned a hooch to sleep in along with twenty or so new replacements. We three stayed in our own corner radio on , C-rat coffee and talk. We talked some with newbees. After dinner and getting dark, siren went off, Sergeant runs in yelling get to bunkers . Newbies follow him, he comes back you guys are setting a bad example for newbies. Come on get to bunker .No! we replied, they are not even close they are hitting other end of base. He pleads again and reluctantly we go to bunker. As we finally go the all clear sounds .my buddy says see they were making last attempt to get us. Missed us last night too. Some ask what we mean .Go to sleep. Dec 26 we are on C130 to Kadena AF B Okinawa the most beautiful air port I have ever seen. Dec 27 0400 hrs we leave for El Toro on LULLABY flight. Arrive Dec 27 2200 hrs

Here comes good part. We were prepared for being cursed, called baby killers and garbage thrown at us. We three arrived at LAX 0200 wait for flights home no flight until 0700. We look for out of way place to sleep and a darkened concourse looked good. I said I would take first watch and wake one of you in two hours. Back in Nam mentality.

This old man, a custodian of African heritage comes over having never met us before. He said this terminal will open about 0400 and wake you. We told him out departure times. He showed us a not used area and said we all three could sleep, because this was his area and no one would bother us there. He would watch over us. 0600 he comes and gently wakes us, your flights will be soon I have hot coffee and doughnuts for you. He started to clean the floor and walk away.

We all thanked him as he walked away waving his hand to us and said something about his son.

We got to our planes and home.

Tears come to me every time I tell this.

Semper Fi
Al Granados
Suicide Charley 1/7
Dec 67-Dec 68 RVN

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Long Enough
Dear Grit
After reading a few stories about Pilots and how things work. Especially after reading that the system doesn't work in the "off" position. And signing off the MAF....A799.
I remember one time, when the pilot wrote up a gripe that "the pilot's relief tube was too short. Well needless to say it was signed off A799. Long enough for me. Even the CO had a chuckle when he read it. I won't mention the boot Captain to save him the embarrassment.
He might be a General by now?

Gary F Lewis
GySgt. USMC
VMAQ-2

11th Motors
Sgt. Grit
11th Motor Transport Bn., Da-Nang. I found these photos in one of my albums over the weekend. Hope they bring back some fond memories

Semper Fi - til I die
Mike Quinn Sgt. USMC 69-73

Buttons 12 Inches Thick
Sgt. Grit,
I went through MCRD San Diego in the late summer and early fall of 1957. Platoon 279. My assignment was at E Battery, 2nd Bn, 11th Regiment. My MOS assignment was 2511 (Wire Chief) or some such thing. That was on my DD-214 upon discharge although I never worked that job after going to school for it. Actually I was given an 0846 MOS (Artillery Scout Sgt, i.e., forward observer) for all the time after boot camp. Most of the time I was attached to a company in 2nd Bn, 5th Regiment as artillery support. Usually Fox Company. Now for my unusual type story that seems to show up regularly on this news letter.

It was sometime in 1960 and General David M. Shoup, the twenty-second Commandant of the Marine Corps, decided he had to see a live fire exercise. This event took place at Camp Pendleton just East of what was called "Cone Hill" in those days. There were 4 of us artillery types attached to F,2,5. A fresh out of OCS 2nd Lt, a couple of PFC or Private types and me, a LCpl. The infantry set up a base of fire and started firing at the "objective" real-estate, the maneuvering element maneuvered. The infantry CO, a Captain, wanted his artillery support close, so we stuck close to him. A jet flew over and dropped a 500 lb. bomb, an Ontos, with its six 106mm recoilless rifles, did its thing, some 81mm mortars dropped their stuff and I peppered the objective with a bunch of HE and a few WPs. The ceasefire flare went up, the maneuvering element proceeded to approach the object. The 81s did not see the ceasefire flare. They kept firing. The mortar rounds fell all over the place among the now "hug the ground" element. I was in a creek bed laying flat on my chest with buttons that felt like they were 12 inches thick. The 81s finally got the word and stopped firing. Everybody stood up and not one Marine was hit by the 81 stuff. Until this day, I don't believe you can kill anything with an 81mm mortar. Everyone went back to an assembly point for debriefing.

Our four man forward observer team got together and the Lt. had lost his helmet dodging 81mm stuff. He got us all to one side and said, "OK men, I want you to spread out and get me a helmet if you have to get the Commandant's" I looked for a while in the impact area and could not find a helmet anywhere. The Commandant still had his, so that was out. The company CO had placed his helmet in the right seat of his jeep and put on his soft cover and went to visit with the Commandant. I picked up the Captain's helmet and presented it to my Lt. He saw the Captains bars and said, "I can't take that." I took the helmet in my left hand and the Captain bars in my right hand, pulled them off and threw them in the bushes. I said, "Now you can sir." He did. The Captain threw an absolute fit when he found it gone. About 2 weeks later I lost my LCpl stripes and had to wear Cpl stripes. The Lt. had put my name in the promotion machine. I would like to apologize to you Captain if you read this and remember the event. But you have to admit that I was only following a direct order from your fellow officer.

Cpl. F. Dave Odom....1685348
Abilene, TX

PS Anybody ever get sent somewhere to get a 292 battery? By the way, my younger son was in the Marines and went to PI. He was scheduled to go to Iraq in Sept of 2005, but some illegal alien crossed the median and ran into him head on June 1, 2005. He was declared dead at the scene, but being a Marine he did not stop fighting for his life. The medical bill was just a few bucks short of 2 million. Had great insurance and co-pay was only a few bucks short of $1000. He is just fine now and is a professional grade drummer. By the way, he beat me every way possible in boot camp.

VMF-VMA-311 WW2 to Present
2008 Reunion 10-14 SEPTEMBER 2008 The Inn at Chester Springs near PHILADELPHIA, PA.

Visit the website for more details.

Contact Jim Galchick 1290 E. 12th St. Salem, OH 44460
(330)337-9383 jgalchick @ neo . rr . com or Fred Townsley at Oldsargfred @ gmail . com

"Old Salts"?
Don Ehrgott 1385418

AV8b
I am currently deployed to Iraq. We have a jet painted with 1st Mar Div on it, it looks real cool. I noticed the 1st Mar Div on your home page.
Thanks for your Support

GySgt Eddie Puente
VMA-311 Ordnance Division SNCOIC
Al Asad, Iraq
Al Anbar Province
Semper Fi

The Next 24 Years
Dear Sgt Grit;

This has not been a good week for me. While reading Leatherneck, I saw the name of a SNCO/Officer I served with in the 60's. Then while reading Semper Fi, two more friends were listed as having left us to assume their posts on high. All were career Marines. So far this year that makes four that I know of and I wonder who has passed that were not reported to Leatherneck or on the retired list. I'm 71 and I don't know how much longer I have before I joint the ranks with my friends. I've heard we were heroes, but for some reason I don't feel heroic. I'm sure my friends from the Corps feel the same way. We were just doing our job because we love our country, our flag and our Marine Corps and the adventure and pride of being a United States Marine. I miss those guys, and even though I haven't seen or talked to them for years. I know when we meet again, we'll pick up where we left off just as if things had never changed.

A couple of weeks I related an incident from the coffee shop where the barista said serving in the Marine Corps wasn't a job, it was a calling. There is more truth to that than most of us realize. I don't remember when I became interested in the Marine Corps. I think I was around 9 years old and my brother had just joined the Marine Corps. I began to read about the Marine Corps and by the time I was 17 and joined the Corps, on my birthday, I could have taught history and traditions to the recruits in boot camp.

The next 24 years were filled with excitement, pride, fear, boredom and friendships. Sometimes for whatever reason, I alternatively loved, hated, respected and grew tired of my assignment, my leaders, my station. I was never disillusioned nor did I ever hate the Marine Corps. I stand tall when I hear the Hymn, chills run up my spine and I can't help but get choked up. I think about the Corps and the men that made it what it is today. I feel pride when I read about the Marines of today. I think about what they must feel being away from home and their loved ones doing those things that Marines do. No matter the time, place or mission, I know the Marine Corps will prevail and all will be right in our beloved Corps.

Goodnight Chesty wherever you are.

Semper Fi
Jerry R. Hattox
GySgt USMC
1954-Rip.

Re: Major General John Kelly And A Fallen Warrior
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Seamus,
On the way back from Iraq right after Baghdad fell and I'd returned from Tikrit the Division was supposed to return home immediately. As the assistant division commander I returned to Pendleton (via Bethesda) in Late May. Little did I know I would return to Iraq immediately and be there until November. In any event, I got a hotel room in Bethesda and all I had with me were my utilities that I'd worn nonstop since I'd deployed to Kuwait the January before we invaded (March 20th). I bought a can of Lysol spray, hung my utilities in the hotel room closet and used the entire can letting it soak in during the night. Even then it was best if I stood down wind of the ladies. I went to the hospital to see the 1st Marine Division boys the next day and met Mr. Nixon, his wife and daughter. They'd just buried Pat in Arlington.

His son was wounded and in spite of that he was helping more seriously wounded Marines into an Amtrac along the so called Nasiriyah "gauntlet." The gauntlet was an arrow straight 2.5 mile road that ran from the Euphrates River just outside the city and the same piece of road that the Army 157th (Jessica Lynch's outfit) was hit. I remember when I dashed along that piece of unsecured road in my HMMWV driven by my driver Cpl Dave Hardin, from Dallas, TX, in the early morning (0500?) of 25 or 26 23 March I saw the still burning and totally destroyed hulk of the Amtrac in which Pat Nixon died a few hours before. I didn't know what happened to it at the time as the fight in Nasiriyah was not the 1st Division's, but I did cross myself and said a prayer for those who must have died in that vehicle. Only when I ran into the Nixon's in the Naval Hospital did I know the rest of the story. Mr. Nixon gave me a picture of his son taken when he was home on pre-deployment leave. He was a mortar man and by all reports knew how to work a tube. The Nixon's had magnetic backings put on the picture and gave them to friends as keepsakes. I was touched to get one. There was a little anomaly shadow or something above Pat's head that looked like a little dark bird or bat. The Nixon's joked that Pat was a little bit of a devil at times, and it came out in the picture. Jesus Christ it was sad Seamus. When my own two boys were in Iraq I used to wonder all the time if I could be as brave as the Nixons if one of mine went down. The next day, it was a Sunday, I went to Mass in uniform (still ripe) at the Ft Myer Chapel then walked down to see Pat's grave in Arlington before I flew home to see my family in Pendleton. No stone yet, just a simple marker over the still turned up earth. I think there were less than ten graves from Iraq at the time - now there are row upon row.

When I returned to Iraq in June the division now "owned" Nasiriyah and the first thing I did was to ensure the hulk was removed. Our dozen or so heroes were long gone and buried in America's good earth, but I didn't want the Trac just sitting there.

Anyway, Seamus, wonderful people who lost almost all they had in their son Pat. His picture is still on my refrigerator at home along with my own kids.

Semper Fi,
Kelly

Jarhead
Sgt Grit;

Just wanted to share a photo of my devil dog. His name is 'Jarhead', and he's earned the name. He's currently an E-3, but that's after spending at least 6 months as a boot and being busted at least three times. He comes by his moniker and behavior honestly - he's in a proud Marine Corps family: My father was a Marine before WWII (Pvt Harold Somers), my brother retired after 23 years (MSgt Mike Williams), I did my 4 years, my son served his 4 (LCpl Peter Williams - part with the first outbreak of hostilities in Iraq with the 2/10), and my daughter was a Corpsman (HM3 Mallory Williams). We bleed crimson and gold. Love your newsletter and eagerly await every issue. Let's see some other "Devil-Pets" and/or mascots - would also like to see some Marine Corps motorcycles.

"Thanks" to my Brother and Sisters who went through all the sh*t I didn't have to. Special remembrance to those who paid the ultimate price.

As the old toast kinda' goes (and I always use whenever two or more Marines are gathered); To those Marines that are here with us, to those Marines who could not be with us, and to those Marines who are no longer amongst us. Semper Fi!"

Semper Fi!

-Sgt. Ken Williams
Jan 1975- Jan 1979
Savage, MN

Motor-T
Motor Pool, you call, we'll haul and if we can't truck it f##k it.

Motor Pool, we've got 2X's, 4X's and 6X's and those big Mother's that bend in the middle go choo..choo..choo..choo..

And when we became a short timer in Country, we would tell the FNG that we had more time in the air jumping out of the truck than they had in the Corps.

Great reading and gear, thanks Grit.

Cpl of Marines
Hamilton, Doc
Viet Nam '66-'67


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Sgt Grit,

This is in response to your request for Motor-T stories and phrases...

"Better On Rubber Wheels, Than Rubber Heels!"

While serving as an ammunition/explosives driver, I was attached to an infantry company (Fox 2/8) for deployment to the Mediterranean. It was great duty if for nothing else because when we landed for exercises we took the LCAC's in, instead of those ever so slow landing crafts that the USS Saipan used. (The Saipan was quickly renamed the "Bedpan" after our first field op, during the work-up exercises for pre-deployment.) I think that we may have been an afterthought in the planning process, because the ship didn't have any berthing for us, we weren't on the pre-deployment exercises when most of those details got worked out. Because of this, a kind sailor found us an unused recreation room, and helped us convert it into berthing. It wasn't until four months later, during a ship-wide inspection of the Marine quarters, that we were "discovered". Our ranking officer was a second lieutenant and up to that point had been more than happy to help us disappear, but I'm pretty sure that he walked out of the CO's cabin with less of a backside than he went in with. The first four months we were living on easy street, but the last two months of deployment we were put on every detail and assignment that they could throw at us. Still, I wouldn't have traded those first four months of doing nothing more than sitting in the cab of my truck, overlooking the ocean, than another week on the Saipan playing games to keep us occupied. Looking back, I think that if we had just stayed inside of the door labeled, "Recreation Room" we would have been able to keep completely off the radar for the rest of the deployment. None of our detachment ever complained about our extra work that last two months, which goes to show that Marines may look for an easier way of doing things, but when given an assignment they may not enjoy, they put their heads down, don't complain, and get the work done.

Semper Fi!
Former Sergeant of Marines,
C. Leese
2nd MarDiv


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Sgt. Grit,
Semper Fi Devil Dogs. I was a 3533 at MCAS El Toro 90-92, MWSS 373. MK48-14,15,16,18 - Logistic vehicle Systems. It was always a treat being in southern California just after Desert Shield/ Desert Storm and all the young ladies loved Marines. As you drove by, they were more than willing to show their appreciation.
I remember a sister unit at MCAS Tustin, called themselves "Rolling Thunder" with their logo as an elephant on steroids. We would send the FNG's for lubrication fluid for the frozinator relief valve, or for them to locate - then drain said relief valve and replace the frozinator fluid. The Gunny in maintenance has the fluid in the gear locker. Once the Gunny got done with said FNG, he would be scraping 5th wheel plates until his cammies were waterproof for life.

Love the news letter, makes my week every Thursday morning.

Fulps M.D.
Lance Corporal of Marines
MWSS 373 - El Toro
Platoon 1056-D - MCRD Parris Island
Motor T for life.


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Sgt. Grit: I was a First Lieutenant and platoon leader with Truck Co., 1st FSR/FLC, Camp Books near Hill 262 to the West and Namo Bridge to the north near the base of the Hai Van Pass, RVN. We proudly called ourselves the "Mother Truckers". On each convoy, we typically had five to six "guntrucks" as we called them which were sandbagged 5 ton trucks with ring mounts and 50 cal. machine guns above the cab. I had the privilege of leading some fine Marines on convoys in 1969-70 as far south as Chu Lai and as far north as Dong Ha. Mostly, however, we hauled our usual 30 to 40 five ton trucks carrying 60 and 81 MM, 105 rounds, 106 canisters, and 155 and 8 inch rounds plus 50 cal. and M-16 ammo (and volatile JP-4 fuel tankers for choppers) to the 7th Marines at L.Z. Baldy and L.Z. Ross, occasionally to the 5th Marines at An Hoa, and even made some trips to your pos on Hill 55. And, one of the stories, Sgt. Grit, you may recall. As we were unloading artillery and mortar rounds, there was a Philippino band playing on a flat bed trailer at Hill 55 one day (late ’69), but there were some VC bad guys in some bunkers opposite of and facing Hill 55. Someone called in some F-4s, and as the band leader started singing the Beatles’ "It’s going to be a hard days night. (with a Philippino accent), and as if on cue, two Phantoms rolled in hot and in succession dropped some 250 pounders on the VC position. I looked at a staff sergeant sitting beside me, and I asked him if he was going to write home about what we just saw and heard? In a Salty wry voice, he said, "Lieutenant, we may be in "The Twilight Zone", but I ain’t Rod Serling."

Another time, a young Marine had hitched a ride with us out of Da Nang where he had been at the Naval hospital recovering from wounds on Freedom Hill. As we were heading down Hwy 1, I asked him where he got hit, and he pointed to nearby hills and said out there in Operation "Oklahoma Hills". Riding in the back of a 5 ton, I asked where he was from and he said, "Bartlesville, Oklahoma". For a stranger, that may sound like a unique coincidence in terms of the name of the Op and where he was from, but I nearly fell out of the truck because I also grew up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma - population: 35,000. I graduated in 1964, and he was a few years younger, so I didn’t know him growing up. But, the irony was that we had both traveled 10,000 miles from a town where we were raised, and met for the first time in the Nam, but only after operation Oklahoma Hills. We had a good laugh, and then got serious and went back to the war.

One of the most poignant stories I can relate was one night sitting in a small rain-soaked tent on L.Z. Ross with another lieutenant and a Marine corporal from Canada. It was during the monsoon around Christmas 1969. We were muddy and wet and cold, using ammo pallets for a "floor", as another Marine came in and handed a letter to the young Corporal. The letter stated that he had just become an American citizen. He tried not to show his eyes watering up, so we just sort of quietly congratulated him and patted him on the shoulder. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life. That Marine earned his citizenship like few others, and it made us all proud.

As to the Mother Truckers, our convoys were quite literally a rolling ammo dump on wheels, and the JP-4 tankers were unbelievably explosive. Truck Company lost a Marine three days before he was due to rotate home when a mine blew up and exploded his fuel tanker. God rest his soul. Even though we had some M-48 tanks in front on the most dangerous stretches, mines were a constant along that 9 mile stretch of water boo tracks that someone in a flight of fancy decided to call a "road" - leading out the back gate of L.Z. Baldy headed west to L.Z. Ross on that small saddle at the base of the Que Sons. I would be remiss, however, if I did not express my eternal gratitude to our Marine brothers in the grunts and some hot Cobra and Huey gunships who blew Charlie out of some ambush sites before they could hit us.

Snipers and mortars were mostly a nuisance while we were rolling, but on one occasion NVA/VC dropped three 82 mortars among civilians as they targeted our convoy entering the ville on the southside of the Ba Ren River bridge on Hwy 1. There was a CAP unit in the ville, and my corpsman and I and the CAP Marines tried to patch them up, but it was a terrible mess with blood and gore all over the place. I will never forget a papasan laying near me waiting for care, not crying or moaning, just propped up slightly-holding his intestines in his hands. The worst that day was a small toddler about the age of my son (now a Marine Lt. Col.). The boy had his leg blown off and died from loss of blood and shock. In July 1970, the NVA/VC came back, and because there were ARVN families there, on orders from Communist cadre in the unit, they murdered over 100 civilians, and wounded about 150 more. When I returned in 2000, I tried to get people to talk to me about it, but with the Communist cadre in the ville (as they are now in every other ville), no one would talk. They remember the "Re-education Camps" after the war. I also tried to get onto Baldy and that road to Ross when I returned in 2000, but a Communist commander ran us off because it is now a base. The Vietnamese people may love Americans now on a personal level, but the Communists are still firmly in control. Catholic and Buddhist leaders have been routinely imprisoned in solitary for years, and anyone asking for freedom or democracy is imprisoned. Not that Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden, et al., and the anti-war Left cared about Vietnamese Communist Re-education Camps any more than they thought about the Khmer Rouge slaughtering its population. Sound familiar today?

From an old Mother Trucker to all my Marine brothers and their families,

Semper Fi.


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Hey Sarge,
I really enjoy your newsletter ! I was in Motor T from 1980 to 1984 and served at Camp Lejeune and on two Med cruises including 7 months in Beirut Lebanon from August 82 to March of 83. I remember some of our phrases for us and our equipment:

Gamma Goat
Deuce and a half
Water Buffalo
Mule
Night Riders
Mechanics were referred to as "Wrenches" or "Gearheads"
T.T (referred to ten ton vehicles or tractor trailers)
APC (Armed Personnel Carrier)

Semper Fi.
Ken Lange


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I have a couple sayings from our old platoon (support platoon, "C" company, 6th ESB out of Arizona)...we even made some t-shirts...
-You know how we roll!
-Support till it hurts
-Come and roll with the big dogs
-Finest courier service in the world! We take the fight to you! As for stories, I guess one of the funniest comes courtesy of our own Captain America (whose real name has been omitted, but all the boys know who). While in waiting for the word to pass through the berm at BPW at the kickoff of OIF1, H.E. was doing some work with the tractors and kicked up a couple of rocks which pinged off another truck. Well, our fearless Captain runs out of his tent with his 9mm pistol waving in the air screaming "We're taking fire! Follow me, Marines!" Everyone there couldn't help but laugh. The poor H.E. drivers didn't know what to think when they saw this crazy Captain charging at them with his weapon drawn. Needless to say, no one was hurt in the process.

Cpl Joel "Coondog" Cooney
USMCR


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Two good Motor T stories from a Supply Guy:

While stationed at Camp Pendleton in 83-84, I pulled up into the 22 Area barracks parking lot driving my '73 Chevelle that had started to make a constant "hiss". After briefly looking under the vehicle, I realized that it wasn't a hose, but rather it was coming from the back of the engine. My two roommates where both Motor T, and they informed me it was most likely a freeze plug. That weekend, we all pitched in and dropped the cross member, driveline, tranny, torque converter and replaced both freeze plugs - one of which had corroded through. We then put it all back together. 6 hours and $1.50 in parts later it was all done - right in the barracks parking lot...

Better story:

While stationed at then 4th LAAMBN Fresno CA in 84-86, we received the new 5 Ton vehicles. As a supply guy, we drove about once a month to Barstow CA to make a parts run. On one trip during our return from Barstow, we crested the mountain pass and began to hear a loud banging from under the vehicle which shook the whole truck. After pulling over to the side of the road, we realized that the bolts on the "knuckle" that was attached to the frame had all sheared off! The rear drive line was actually two sections, both of which joined at this knuckle. The whole thing had been left to flop around like a broken elbow. Long story short, we used the tire winch to lower the drive line after disconnecting it from the tranny and rear differential and tossed it into the back of the truck. We then repaired a blown air line (the windshield wipers and front differential locking switch are both air activated) and then proceeded to drive back to base in "front wheel drive", albeit at a slightly slower pace. Good way to earn points with the Motor T folks who didn't have to drive a wrecker down to pick up our truck...

The only Motor T phrases that I remember is 1. "If you can't Truck it, F#$k it!".
2. "You either drive with the best, or walk with the rest".

Semper Fi,
R/S Gy Somerville sends
81-01, 3043


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now on to motor-t I own plank as it were to motor-t school on the west coast in Pendleton we lived in a Quonset hut and our gunny was short one time on the hydrostatic key, a boot came to me and asked me for the key, now I had another brother in the field and I was a wrench, so after the boot asked me I sent him to the gunny, and the gunny gave me look and you could see a smile, but when your short on your retirement and a old dog it was hard too get a smile form him, so he sent the boot to the caption who was pregnant and ready too pop, she of course took a bit to figure out what he wanted and told the gunny too get the boot a KEY for the hydrostatic lock and a bit hot under the collar or should I say skirt, and the gunny set the boot too me, and said get the boot a KEY so I spent the hour and had too actually make a KEY for hydrostatic lock and put it on a 3/4 cable and put it around his neck and go see the gunny, the caption and my bro out in the field and there should be a KEY still at the school, now we used too run the boots around for awhile on that one but you could say that we pulled that one a little bit too long,

Semper Fi
T D ALDRICH


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While stationed in Iwakuni, our Motor Pool had a Cpl who answered the phone one time with the statement of, "Motor Pool, we got Jeeps, gamagoats, deuce and a halfs and them BIG Mothers that bend in the middle, can I help you?" They also had a sign out front that said " The Grunts may be the pride of the Corps, but without us the Pride Don't Ride!"

Dennis Thomas
Sgt 73-79
WES-17, MWSG-17
Iwakuni, Japan


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"If you can't find it, grind it!" referring to shifting a deuce. bustin nuts and knuckles

Sgt Grit,
I just got out of the Marine Corps after serving with the AT Tow Unit in Broken Arrow, OKLA
I went to Fallujah, Iraq with 1st BN 24th MAR I was a 3521 Diesel Mechanic
Thanks for the newsletter
Once A Marine Always A Marine!
John Arnold


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Sgt Grit , One saying I remember is "We have 2 X's , 4 X's & 6X's & then we have those great big mothers that bend in the middle & go "phish" "phuh" when you step on the brakes.

Semper - Fi Marine,
Ron Gray L/Cpl "60-64" (Truck Co. Camp Pendleton)


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Sgt.Grit;Summer of 1967 1st Motor Transport Bn. was Moving Elements of The 1st.Marine Regiment, and Division N.to Quang Tri.I was getting bored with the pace of this huge Convoy, This "Rough Rider'' was long, The lead Trucks were going Through Phu Bai,and the'' tail" had not yet left Danang .After getting to the top of Hai Vanh Pass we had to set in for the nite. Nothing Happened that nite, but this gave the ''Gooks'' Plenty of time to set their Road Mines. As we finally got rollin the next morning, we were again delayed, it was a pontoon bridge Engineers had put across this stream, We would have to wait as it was "Granny Gear'' Crossing. I had switched Places with my 'Gunner' He was now driving. As the truck directly in front would get across, they would Haul A-- to catch the last truck, As we got back on the highway I Turned in time to see the Deuce in a half behind us disappear in the dust. Out of this dust flew its motor wheels and front fenders flying over my Head, I was thinking Wow! when I was yanked by my ''stackin swivel'' off the ''Gun''As I rolled to my feet, there was 20 year ''Lifer" Sgt. firing the 50 into the ground at these Peoples feet, He then leaped off the gun and yelling ''Cease Fire'' pulled his 45 and Ran across the ditch, He knocked a teenaged kid to the Ground,2 flashlight batteries he had used to detonate the mine fell out of his hands, This all happened in 5-10 seconds. We who were on the truck, our mouths hanging open, looked at each other, How DID HE KNOW? That night Sgt. Schefield got us all together, and said ''We were lucky that wasn't a ambush'' We would be Dead! Whenever you are passing through a "ville" watch the people, keep moving your eyes don't stare at some "Scivy House Girly" Thats why she's there for to distract you. Thanks Sgt. Schefield wherever you are! I went back to driving!

Ray Earley


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1962 I was at Camp LeJeune, a PFC and new to motor-t with 8th MTBN. My first solo assignment I was given a jeep and directed to pick up a Marine Recon officer who was to be transported to the field to review his troops making a jump. Upon my arrival the officer rained down all kind of "real Marines Recon" stuff and proceeded to inform me that I had better pay attention to his commands and react immediately and with-out question. We began our journey to the destination with him giving directions the whole way. I had no idea where we were but as I was driving along the highway I noticed to the right there was a steep embankment that went down about fifty feet or so and leveled off into a huge field and overhead the planes were dropping paratroops. All of a sudden the officer started yelling "turn here Marine" I figured he meant the road coming up, but then, he did say "act immediately and without question" So over the embankment I went, how that jeep stayed on four wheels is beyond me but it must have been a h&ll of a sight for the troops standing down below. We pulled up to the cattle-cars and the officer jumped out and ran around the jeep yelling and cursing. I could see some troops behind the cattle-cars laughing and standing in front of the jeep was, I believe a 1st/Sgt. He was standing very rigid, but he had a look on his face of suppressed laughter and little tears in his eyes. By now I was out of the jeep standing at attention, I didn't think I had done anything wrong. The officer asked me if I was crazy, I looked at him and said "no Sir, I was only following your orders. You said act immediately without question, you commanded "turn here" this Marine turned, will there be any further orders Sir? He said a few other choice things and told me to take that ***** jeep and get the ****** out of here. Riding back, alone, I was beginning to get worried, maybe I screwed up royally. But I honestly felt that I was as much a Marine as him or his troops. I have a different job, was a boot and all that, but I'm a Marine too. When I got back to the motor pool my Sgt. walked up and asked if I had a good run. I said yes Sgt., he looked at me smiled and said "good job Marine" and walked away laughing.

Russell Murphy


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3531 (sloperator as it was known from time to time) I remember back (not far back) in 2004 I was stationed with HQBN motor t on camp courtney Okinawa (although you had to walk off base to get to it) during typhoon season our cwo would make us take all of the tarps off the hummers 5 tons and 7 tons and then park them in a wagon wheel with trailers around the main building when the Typhoon Condition reaches TC-2, well one day we went from TC-4 to TC-1C in about fifteen minutes, and there was no time to take off all of the tarps. luckily none were lost, but the next day we had fun with the FNG's (I was just merit. promoted to LCPL at the time) I had 2 or 3 newbies with me, and I would tell them make sure the canvas isn't ripped on the sides, and ill check it from the inside, and id hop in and push off about 4 or 5 gallons of water off the tarp onto the poor newbies! but it was all in fun and it even happened to me a few times! boy I sure do moss those days... CPL trigila


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Two, both involving MSGT 'Hook' Bender and the commercial pool at 29 Palms. (can't recall if we've done these before or not....your call)

As the OIC of the EAP at MCAGCTC, 29 Palms, I put a lot of miles on commercial four-wheel drive vehicles from the commercial vehicle motor pool, drove all of them myself (a tad unusual, considering my rank, but it worked.....). Since the vehicles belonged to 'everybody', the usual tender loving care rendered as operator preventive maintenance, was done by 'everybody' s cousin, 'nobody'. MSGT 'Hook' Bender was the MT Chief, and I learned a lot from him........happened to be at the motor pool one afternoon, having a cup of 30-weight, non-detergent coffee about the time vehicles started rolling back in at the end of the day. As each sedan, van, jeep, etc. would stop at the gate, Hook would ask to see the drivers' trip ticket.....these had three sections on the bottom for the operator to fill out. 'pre- operation', 'during operation' and 'after operation'......an official document, and a way for the dispatcher to identify vehicles that might need to visit the repair shop. One of the critical parts of the 'pre-operation' section was verifying the engine oil level. That block, of course, was always checked as completed. Hook would ask the driver if that was so, and then would reach back inside the dispatch shack and bring out his cardboard box full of engine dipsticks, each with a tag bearing the number of the vehicle from which it came......Hook would then enquire of the driver if he had used a rather personal part of his anatomy to probe the oil pan, since he (MSGT Bender) had amassed his dipstick collection the night before. For a while there, if you were in search of a cooling desert breeze in the early morning, all you had to do was visit the C-pool, as the hoods flying open kept the air moving........

The Commercial Pool at the Stumps had quite a number of 4X4 vehicles, all painted green with white tops, and included in the mix were International Harvester Scouts. Some of these had a V-8 engine, others had a 'slant' four-cylinder. The dispatchers usually saved a V-8 for my daily perambulations around the various training areas (from memory, the stumps is something like 430,000 square miles in area). On the day in question, I got my trip ticket, did a quick pre-op check (including checking the oil), and lit out. The performance of the Scout that day just wasn't up to what I had come to expect (with a speed limit of 35MPH off-road, no less!), so when I turned the vehicle in that evening, there was a note on the trip ticket to the effect that this POS needed to be pulled into the shop and tuned up (or shot), as it was about the sickest V-8 Scout I had ever had the misfortune to be cursed with...... The next morning, I received a phone call from MSGT Bender at the motor pool, requesting my presence at my convenience, as he had something to show me that would be of professional interest to a fitshister (some reference to a greasy hands type there.....). When I got there, he took me into the shop, where sat the vehicle I had the day before..........he said "We found the problem, Major."...flipped open the hood, and said "See......somebody's done stole half yer engine!"...........in my defense, the dipstick on the V-8, and the slant-4 were both on the same side of the vehicle.........


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Dear Sgt. Grit;

Here's a Motor Transport recall from when I was a Refueler attached to a motor pool with MABS-13 in Hawaii back in 1958. We were sitting around the dispatch shack drinking coffee and shooting the breeze on a Saturday when the phone rang. A Corporal answered the phone, "MABS-13 Motor Transport. We got 2- bys, 4-bys, 6-bys, and those big motherf**kers that bend in the middle and go chush-chush; if we can't truck it, f**k it." The caller asked, "Who's this?" The Corporal responded, "Who's this?" The caller said, "This is Colonel Jantzen; who's this?" The Corporal replied, "Colonel Jantzen?" The Colonel said, "Yes. Who is this?" The Corporal responded, "You don't know who this is? Bye Colonel Jantzen!" The Corporal hung up and we all left the dispatch shack.

Blessings,

R. Eugene Hill Corporal of Marines

Third Tour
Sgt. Grit,
My son recently returned home from his third tour in Iraq. Two years left to retirement. I am so proud of him. I just wanted to share my most recent tattoo that is a tribute to all the ones that gave all. Also, thanks for the news letter - I really look forward to it.

Sgt. Briglin / 69-71 (3-4) Semper Fi

Only Two Brownings
RE: Mention by an older brother; circa WWII of the Browning 1919A1
Mmmmmmmmm I am pretty sure he meant the Browning 1919A4 or possibly the A6.

These were the only two Brownings manufactured for WWII. The 1919 A4 was a pit or parapet mounted 'sit behind' and the A6 had a long barrel, hence a higher cyclic rate ( 650 vs 450 ) and an attached shoulder stock for use in the prone position ( My fav ) . The only 1919A1 that comes to mind was the bolt action Springfield rifle that was replaced by the Garand M1 rifle, .30 caliber that I went through ITR with after being in the first full series in San Diego MCRD with M-14's. ( 317, Feb, 62 )

My best regards to anyone that survived 'The Big One' whether or not I think they got the model number wrong...

Kent Yates
1989310
2-62 to 3-68

Tarawa
I am attaching a picture which is a piece of history. Most Marines (me included) do not know that the Navy Seabee Frogmen hit the beach before we made our landing. This is a picture of my cousins (also a Marine) father-n-law (Navy) who was on the beach at Tarawa (Gilbert Islands) before we landed. This was the beginning of what the Navy calls the Seals.

Cpl. of Marines 81-85
David Wells
Marine Barracks 8th & I

What I am
I am the legendary U.S. Marine. I am 19 years old, like many have said, too young to by a drink, to young to be a man, and to old to be just a boy. Yet old enough to fight, bleed, and die for my country, my god, and my family. Old enough to be sent to foreign shores and shed my blood for others I wont know. To carry a weapon and fend every day, for my life... and your freedom.

I have a "High and Tight" haircut, so I'm often called a Jarhead. I am just a number on a wall, in the computer, and just another body in the field. I chose this sacrifice of being away from my family at home, friends and other loved ones. I chose to bear these long cold nights with nothing but pictures, letters from home and the not so often phone call. The pain of not knowing what happens until its already been taken care of or is well into the situation. The pain of feeling useless, helpless, knowing there's nothing I can do to help, as if my hands were tied. A million things that could go wrong at any moment, and knowing this really does hurt. As if my heart were wrapped in barbed wire, and each beat tears deeper and painfully kills me a little bit each time. But I chose this for a reason....

I am independent, I get up every morning and do more before 0800hrs than most will do all week. I find amusement in the smallest, simplest of things. I talk with my fellow Marines, my brothers and sisters of my new "extended" family. We together cushion the sharp blows of reality. Mostly the bad news. And together we celebrate the good news. We care for one another, we will share our food rations and MREs when hunger strikes, our water with thirst. Our clothes and body heat when cold attacks, and our ammo for when the enemy does. Always thinking " I am my brothers keeper" and having the mind set that I will gladly give my life just so he can go home and see his. Fully knowing that every Marine to my left and right are thinking the same thing.

Our strategy is one against ten, but our tactics are ten against one. We train, eat, sleep, pt, learn, and live together as a family. So you see that I am away from home but I have made new family and friends. Whose blood is shed with mine. Although we are still "wet behind the ears" we can effectively engage and neutralize any threat that presents its self.

There are times when we sit alone, away from the pack and relax, or at least try too. We think about many things, home, family, friends, even "Suzie" back home. Here at base, stateside, the atmosphere allows us to learn. We sit on libo at the end of the day and things, I realize my pain from hurting and missing home. I get the chance to realize for what and why I've made the decisions I've made.

Something so simple as a bird running around on the top of a picnic table, looking around. Peacefully I can reflect how my little sister playing at home in the pool. Going horse back riding, and just seeing here so happy. Not only her but hundreds, their joy makes my pain go away. My body goes numb and my intentions remain clear I know my goals and what I've set my sights on.

I like many others realize this. It's never been about us. Never. That's why we chose to be Americas 911. The Elite. That is why I chose to be that " F**king Jarhead!" Hundreds of thousands before us roamed down this path of life, off the beaten trail that the other 98% of America lives on. And millions more after our generation is long gone. WE ARE THE MARINE CORPS.

We will always be around to claim your fears, Your insecurities, your doubts and troubles, We will always be there for you when you need us and even when you don't...

PFC Schottmiller, Thomas A
CLR-37 3rdMLG LS Co.

Well I Finally
Since the day I joined the Corps all I could think about was that NCO sword. Well I finally got mine in January of '08 and in August of '08 I decided to have the "United States Marines" text forever etched into my leg...
Oorah! SemperFi!

CPL GLASS
USMC 7051

Ballet
One of the most interesting guys I met was a former Marine in California. We took scuba diving lessons together and had an outstanding friendship. Prior to joining the Marines, he was a Ballet Dancer. He had majored in theater and dance in college. After arriving at PI,his fellow recruits really razzed him about being a Ballet Dancer. But when it came to physical fitness, he was way ahead of them! He was still a victim of abuse, however. He complained to the DI and the CO and he told them that he would like to take those "red necks" to the gym and have them try ballet exercises. The DI and the CO agreed. None of those "red necks" could hack it! He went on to be an outstanding recruit and later got accepted for OCS and earned his commission as a 2d Lt. He was discharged as a Captain and then he opened up a Ballet studio and taught Ballet "Marine Corps style" :-)! How's that for you? P.S. I'm a former Doggie"! I have a high respect for the Marines, though!

Wayne F. Frese

Scrounging Parts
I'm not sure if this is the type of motor T story you were looking for, but it's one I tell often. I was in Transport Co, 7th MT Bn. in the early 80's. This was the end of the Carter era and equipment had to be scrounged- Items such as crank handles for the landing gear of the trailers. We were having an inspection and some resourceful Marines from my platoon scrounged items from other platoons to make a complete tractor-trailer. One of the "victims" of the scrounging was Sgt. Cappola. When he discovered this, he burst through the ranks yelling, "Has anyone seen my CRANK?" One devil dog suggested he show it, much to the delight of everyone!

I'm also attaching the patch of a little known Marine team. We were active in the 80's

Cpl. Keith Grisham, 3534 82-86

Forethought
A marine corps aircraft in flight, if something is (1) RED,
(2) YELLOW, OR
(3) DUSTY,
never touch it without a lot of forethought.

A marine aircraft can land anywhere...........Once.

MSgt Benjo Spotts U.S.M.C. Retired

Up To The Task
Sgt. Grit:

Once a Marine, Always a Marine.

Here is a picture of ret. S/Sgt Mike Portella, 303040, taken July 2008. Mike became a Drill Instructor in 1946, after serving on Guadalcanal, in 1941. Mike was a member of the WWII DI’s, until it disbanded several years ago. Mike’s old DI uniform is on display at the DI school on Parris Island, which didn’t even exist when Mike was a DI. Mike wants’ all Marines everywhere to know our young Marines are as good, and up to the task as Marines have always been His message is we can all be proud of the DI’s and officers training these young men and woman. And that we should not forget the job being done by our Marine recruiters, who do such a great job finding young men and woman who will carry on the great tradition of our Marine Corps Honor and Values, and great fighting spirit I was honored to tour the base, with this WWII Marine.

Cpl. T. E. Hetland USMC 1661545, Plt. 23 1957

Her One Request
Dear Sgt. Grit,

My Mother, Cpl. Virginia Ruth Nowack (Wiltfang) was a Lady Marine stationed at Henderson Hall in Washington, DC during WWII. I would occasionally travel on business to Washington, DC and would always bring my Mother along. During our last trip in 2006, her one request was that we drive by all of her favorite USMC places. She was brimming with pride as we drove around the base so she could show me where she used to work and she loved being escorted to her seat by a young Marine as we waited to see the awesome Friday night parade. She told the young Marine that she was a WWII veteran and he gave her an "8th and I" coin.

I never had a problem finding something to give my Mother for a gift. I'd just look at the Sgt. Grit catalog and order something!

My Mother lost her 13 year battle with cancer and two strokes on March 31,2008 at the age of 89. I had prepared a special memorabilia table at the visitation with many of her favorite Marine Corps (Sgt. Grit) items from our home along with other things that she loved. She was buried with her favorite Sgt. Grit earrings and necklace! It was always her wish to have a military funeral because she saw so many while stationed at Henderson Hall, across from Arlington cemetery. The local detachment of the Marine Corps League in Kankakee, IL (in which she was a charter member) came through for us. She had a flagged draped coffin guarded by 2 Marine Corps League members during visitation and had Marine Corps League pall bearers. I decided that I wanted her funeral service to be in our beautiful old church sanctuary. The organist decided that it would be an appropriate final tribute to play a rousing version of "The Marine's Hymn" on our massive pipe organ as her casket was carried out of the church. Full military rites were accorded at her final resting place, complete with young Marines in their full dress uniforms saluting as the casket passed into the mausoleum and performing the rifle salute, taps and the folding of the flag. The weather was beautiful and it was exactly the type of funeral that my Mother would have loved. She always loved her Marine Corps and lived by "Once a Marine, Always a Marine!"
Semper Fi!

Jewel Ann Wiltfang
Kankakee, IL

I Was Amazed
Back in June of this year I was rushed to the hospital after blacking out while watching TV. I spent the rest of the week in intensive care Friday morning June 13th I was given a single stage pace maker, It was also my 44th wedding anniversary, And I was released the next day. When I got home I decided to stop putting off my plans to see the Marine Museum in Quantico Va. So on August 1st. my wife and I. And One of our PT Cruiser clubs "RT 66" Was having a car show just down the road from the Base. So we killed two birds at one shot. I was amazed, Not so much with the Museum but with the young Marine's there. There were at least two companies of Marines getting awards, I was so glad and proud to be there with them. I took a lot of pictures that day. I couldn't get over how young and sharp looking they are. When I got home I had to get my old platoon 318 book out from PI. I went in Feb. 1964.Those were the best four years of my life. I was in the 3rd Bn. 8th Marines, It sure did bring back some good memories. Keep the peace Marines.

Jim Lowell

Maggie's Drawers
1940s: said to be in reference to a song entitled Those Old Red Flannel Drawers That Maggie Wore.

The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.

1/9
Sgt Grit
Over a year ago you put me on to the 1/9 Website, and I just went to my first Reunion. The best bunch of Marines I could have ever met. I just want to say thank you, and to let any Marines out there that are from the 1ST Battalion 9TH Marines 3RD Marine Division, that may not know there is a Website for them it is there and we are looking for you Marines. I am the NW Regional Membership, so if there are any of you out there, you can contact me at fourfinger49 @ hotmail. com. If I don't have an answer for you I will find one.

By the way thank you for a the Marine Gear you have and the 1/9 gear also.

Leonard (Len) Simmons
Delta Co. 1/9 3rd Platoon 67 Nov 68 pr 68
Semper FI.

I Was Summoned
Sgt. Grit,
I was a Navy Corpsman with 4th Amtracks, Jax, Fla. 81 - 84. We were doing our 17 day ACDUTRA in "29 Palms". Myself and 5 Marines went to Vegas for our R&R. On the way back to base, one of the Marines jumped out of the car in Palm Springs. The Sgt. & I stayed behind while the other Marines Hightailed it back before Curfew @ 2200. By the time we arrived with our Marine in tow we were two hrs. late. My Sgt. told me to keep my mouth shut when we arrived at the gate. Top Weil lit into both of us with a vengeance. He stated we were A-Wall and would be delt with him in the AM. Now you know a Corpsman can't keep his mouth shut! And I was no exception! I stated that he had impressed upon us never to leave a Marine behind. "We are only as strong as the weakest link." My Top called me out of the darkness and asked, "Who in the H&ll is speaking when I'm speaking?" As I emerged he said, "Oh my God, it's the Doc!" Top told my Sgt. he was dismissed. I think I got the worst chewing out of my entire life. He reamed me out unmercifully for at least 5 min. Top got in my face and told me he NEVER wanted to here my opinion in front of the men again. He then stated quietly, "Doc, I would have done the same thing." So, I thought I had a free ride in the AM. Ha, Ha! During formation I was summoned, "Doc, front and center." Top told the men I was to be dropped for one-thousand push-ups because I wanted to do things my way. Every time a Marine passed me they would apologize and drop me. I loved the USMC then and still do. I recently retired with the Navy and have great memories with a great bunch of guys.

Semper Fi,
Doc Smith

Favorite Marine
Sgt Grit: Rarely do I e-mail anyone to complain but this is pretty lame. My favorite Marine? How can you limit the list? Where's Ira Hayes, Mike Strank, Leonard Sousley, Rene Gagnon, Harlan Block and the hundreds of thousands of us who came before and after?

My favorite Marine is my son, Sgt. Mike Ruttenber, E Co., 4th Recon, formerly of 2nd Recon with tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. And if I were to name another it would be my Dad, Pfc. Howard Ruttenber, who went through Parris Island at the age of 37 in January of 1942 because his country had been attacked by the Japanese.

I think your "favorite Marine" idea is at best ill-conceived. At worst, just plain "cheesy".

D.M. Ruttenber
Sgt. USMC
2253882

Warrior Fund
This organization is headed by retired Major Bill Donohue, USMC, and is dedicated to supporting service personnel who are on trial for alleged criminal acts during the course of combat.

I met Major Donohue several years ago when I first started supporting this organization. They are 501 (c) 3 qualified, which means that donations are tax deductible, and over 90% of money raised goes to the cost of defending the service member.

Check out their website, and pass the word to others who are willing to help.

Love, D

Social Security for Vets
Please share this with anyone who's had active duty service prior to January 2002 and planning for retirement. In a nutshell it boils down to this: You qualify for a higher social security payment because of your military service, for active duty any time from 1940 through 2001 (the program was done away with in January 2002). Up to $1200 per year of earnings credit credited at time of application - which can make a substantial difference in social security monthly payments upon your retirement. You must bring your DD-214 to the Social Security Office - and you must ask for this benefit to receive it!

Soc Sec website

This is something to put in your files for when you apply for Social Security down the road. It is NOT just for retirees, BUT anyone who has served on active duty prior to January 2002.

FYI - this benefit is not automatic, you must ask for it!

John Wear

Joke
A Soldier, a Sailor, an Airman, and a Marine got into an argument about which service was "THE BEST". The arguing became so intense the four servicemen failed to see the oncoming truck. They were struck, and killed instantly. Soon, the servicemen found themselves at the Pearly Gates, where they met St Peter. They decided only he could be the ultimate source of truth and honesty. So, the four asked him: "St.Peter, which branch of the United States Armed Forces is THE BEST"? After a few minutes, he replied that he could not answer their question, and that he would have to kick the question up to GOD for an answer the next time that he saw him... Meanwhile, thank you for your services on earth, and... Welcome to HEAVEN.

Some time later, the four servicemen see St Peter, and remind him of the question that they had asked him earlier.

Suddenly, a sparkling white dove lands on St. Peter's shoulder. There is a note, glistening with gold dust, in the dove's beak. "This must be the answer from the BOSS. Let's see what it says?"
He opens the note.... trumpets blare... harps play crescendos... and St Peter reads aloud to the servicemen:

MEMORANDUM;

From: The desk of THE ALMIGHTY.
To: Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines.
Subject: Which military service is "THE BEST".

Gentlemen, all branches of the United States Armed Forces are honorable, and noble. Each serves America well, and with distinction. Being servicemen in the United States Military represents a special calling warranting special respect, tribute, and dedication. Be Proud of That.

Sincerely,

GOD.....(USMC - Ret.)

Sgt Denny Krause

Special Room
I went through MCRD San Diego with platoon 1027 in 1954. One day I happened to get picked to clean up a "special room". I remember that it was in the basement of a building adjacent to the "grinder". I was told that it belonged to a retired Marine that had spent many years in the Corps and had no place to go when he was discharged so the Corps gave him this room for life.

This guy, if he even existed, had more Corps stuff in his room than I have ever seen in my entire life. He would put a recruiting office to shame. Everything in that room, except the NCO Saber, was crimson and gold.

I have asked several ex-Marines if they ever heard of this mysterious person and none had. Does anyone out there know if this story is the "straight scoop" or just "scuttlebutt"?

Sincerely,

Sid C. Gerling
1406162
Sgt of Marines

USMC Song
Sgt. Grit,
I read your email every week, and find it interesting to hear about all the Marines that pass through. I thought this "USMC Song" might be interesting to your readers. I joined the 1st MarDiv at Camp Pendleton in June55, just after they returned from Korea, and this song was very popular at the time. It’s sung to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic’, and goes like this:

My eyes have seen the Devil on the Shores of Tripoli, and he wore the Globe & Anchor, just the same as you and me. He also had had a Guide Book and a Hash mark on his sleeve and a bottle in his hand. Glory Glory what a h&llava way to die, Glory Glory what a h&llava way to die, Glory Glory what a h&llava way to die, as a Ragged A$$ Marine!

I too remember Camp Matthews. When we went to the shooting range, we marched over hill & dale from MCRD, SDiego (Platoon 108 from Milwaukee, Wisc) to Camp Matthews. This was in Feb/Mar55, and slept 4 Marines to a tent with an Oil Burning stove in the middle, but, no Oil to burn. It was so cold; we slept with our towels wrapped around our head, and our socks on our hands. We used to DUCK Walk with our Sea Bags up Mount Agony in the mud, and after it was over, our DI’s ran us to a hole in the fence, and dared us to leave at night (no one did). Those that didn’t qualify at the range went through some humbling experiences (we had 5 in our platoon). They had to put all their utilities on backwards (skives too), shoes on wrong feet, and skip holding hands running around the Platoon singing "I’m a Sh$tbird, I’m a Sh$tbird".

I went from the rank of Sergeant, got promoted to Sergeant again (this is when the ranks were restructured) it was a frustrating time.

Semper Fi, and God Bless all who are in Harms way!
Bob Winecki, Sgt/E-5, USMC
55-56 1st MarDiv Cp Pendleton, 56-58 MCRD SDiego, 58-61 HQMC,
Henderson Hall

CAC/CAP Marines
Enjoy the news letter, lots of great reading for sure about Marines, Old Marines and others. Have to say that without Motor T, engineers, supply folks and such, the system would not work and I am proud of those Marines for sure. Now! I am going to ask you if you know what it is like to walk out of a Marine Compound with only 10 or 12 Marines, thru the barb wire enroute to an ambush site. You only have maybe, and that's just maybe two Marines behind you with 2 or 3 Viet's(PF'S) behind you and that means the compound only has 8 or so Marines to man the radio's, stand watch in the corner bunkers and be ready to come to you in case the Chit hits the fan. It is normally so dark you can't see your hand in front of your face, but from memory, you know how many steps to take slowly, very slowly to the trail turnoff to get where you need to go for the ambush site. The location is in I Corp, near Phu Bai which is only X number of miles from the DMZ. Would you be nervous, scared, of course just as we were for the day recons and night ambushes occurred every day, 7 days a week. We are CAC Marines who lived in Viet. villages 7 days a week for the entire tour of Nam. The name was later changed to CAP Marines and I have no idea why. These men walked into the dark constantly to stop the enemy from attacking the villages or the main bases such as the Phu Bai airstrip and base camp. Just ask men like JS SHYLO, William Lafrance, Mg Majesky or Mike Vallee what it was like to nearly be on your own out in the brush with the only thing connecting you with the world was a PRC 10 radio and a prayer. The contact rate with the enemy was very high, and the number of KIA or WIA Marines was very high for CaC Marines, but we did the job the best that we could. Some of us survived, many others did not, but that is war. Why am I saying all of this? Easy, without Motor T, engineer's, supply folks and such, we could not have done the job that we did. The time frame for all this that I have talked about is 1966 to 1968. After I was shot on night ambush in Feb. 68, I have no personal knowledge of what occurred, but no doubt from 1968 to 1973 or so, Marines did their job, doing what was needed and protecting each other as we always did and will always do, even now in the Sands of the middle east!

Jim "TEX" Lyles Tiger Alpha 2, Nam 67-68.

What Does OFF Spell
Hey Don, Semper Fi Bro.
Just finished reading the latest newsletter and as usual, it was AWESOME! Thanks for all you are doing for us all. Read Hank Merritt's letter regarding NOISE LIKE LITTLE MAN and it brought back many happy memories. Like Hank I was an Airwinger. As we all know, our Corps has a big habit of using abbreviations and acronyms to label switches and knobs on any military vehicle and aircraft. I'll follow Hank with a few similar anecdotes.

Following some aircraft flights, the Seat Shop I was assigned to at MCAS Beaufort was called on the squawk box that there were some Yellow Sheet Gripes. When I got to the Flight Line Shack, I read "OXYGEN DOES NOT WORK IN THE OFF POSITION." As in Hank's case it was a newbie 1stLt. I checked the system and found it to work ok so I signed it off, COULD NOT DUPLICATE GRIPE, ALL OK." Three more times this happened, the same aircraft, same Lt. Finally I rechecked it and again found it OK. I wrote, System ok , could not duplicate gripe. Refer to flight equipment to check for short between headset."

Well to say the least, I got called into the Maintenance Chief's Office and the Gunny chewed out my but

05 Jul 2007
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Sgt Grit Newsletter
I recently signed up to play golf for a local community fundraiser. As I arrived at the clubhouse, I listened to all the rules and hole assignments, then stepped up to sign in. when the starter asked me my name, I told him 'Don Grisez'. He looked me in the eye, stood up and reached across the table to shake my hand. He proceeded to pull $65.00 (the entry fee) out of his wallet and handed it to me saying that my son Cpl. Sean Grisez had called that morning from Afghanistan to pay for my golf and to wish me a happy Father's Day. Needless to say, there wasn't a dry eye in the crowd.
As I'm sure all you Marine dads know, words can not express how proud I am of my children and how much Sean's act of love meant to me.
Semper Fi,
Don Grisez Cpl of the Marines '74-'78 and proud dad of Cpl Sean Grisez and LCpl Brandon Grisez

Chaplain's Corner
The Alphabet Men of C Co. First Tank Battalion (Part 1)
By Bob Boardman

Fate is the same for the man who holds back, the same if he fights hard. We are all held in a single honor, the brave with the weaklings. A man dies still if he has done nothing, as one who has done much. - Homer in The Iliad, 800 BC

At Camp Elliott in San Diego after Boot Camp in early 1943, we were "volunteered" alphabetically, A, B, C & D, for Marine Corps tank training at Jaques Farm. The Alphabet Men, of whom I was one, were Alvarez, Atkinson, Backovich, Bahde, Barwick, Brenkert, Christensen-and many others too numerous to list. Even today, almost 60 years later, I continue to ponder the mysterious fate of being thrown together with some of America's finest, only because of the alphabet.

After Jaques' Farm, fate placed us in the 17th Replacement Battalion and we loaded aboard the USS Rochambeau in San Diego together with the 18th Replacement Bn. We made a 28-day zig-zag "luxury cruise" to Melbourne, Australia. There were 4000 to 5000 troops aboard. Down Under we were carefully planted among the depleted ranks of the First Marine Division after the key battle of Guadalcanal.

We were not Marine philosophers, just green, untested-in-combat troops, but our fate continued to carry us together alphabetically, inexorably to close with a no-quarter enemy. What is fate?....Read More

He Looked Up To Me
In 1961 I was on a cruise to Vieques Puerto Rico and I and four others were selected to be aggressors for the landing. We had only minimal food and supplies and were told to live off the land. There were alot of fruit trees and little kids were everywhere selling everything including cold beer. We slept on the ground and one of us was Pvt Pellegrini from NYC. He was paranoid with the tarantulas that were everywhere. Every night before we went to sleep he would clear all the Kuni grass away and fill all the holes in the ground with rocks. One morning all of us were awake except Pellegrini. I stood over him pointing my rifle loaded with blanks at his chest. One of the other guys gently shook him a wake and said "Pellegrini, don't move there is a tarantula on your chest but Lynch is going to kill it" He looked up at me with bug eyes and knocked me over getting up. I think he would have killed me except that we went through Parris Island together.
Sgt JKLynch 1938818

Memory Lane
Reading your weekly newsletter always revives long lost memories. My best friend, John was part of a career Navy family, whose father was a Commander. In typical military tradition, all of John's friends were treated like adopted sons.

About a year after my discharge, I got a call from my adopted- mom. She asked if I'd take Peggy; who attended an all girls- school, to her senior prom. While family traits were ruggedly handsome, they didn't suit the girls. Most of them were big boned, or over-weight. If you've seen Shrek, you'll know what I mean. But, Peggy had an inner beauty and a heart of gold; for a kid sister.

In my Dress Blues and being 22 years old, I guess that I cut a dashing figure of a man, among giddy teenagers. Peggy's Mom had bought a corsage and was surprised that I did, too. Peggy looked absolutely radiant and as we danced every number, I made sure that I only had eyes for her. When we got home and for many years after, Mom treated me as if I had been awarded the Congressional Medal...I guess that I was a hero to her and to Peggy, too.

The Riot
One Saturday night, as an MP at Kaneohe MCAS, a call was received that there was "a riot" at the E Club. MP vehicles of that era were stick shift, 1950's vintage, Chevrolet pickups, with a giant gumball on the roof.

It was (an unauthorized) common practice to make "emergency stops" by putting the truck into neutral; shutting off the engine and applying the emergency brake...A way-cool technique to an impressionable teenager.

As we arrived at the Club, I used this technique to stop the truck; in order to quickly exit the vehicle. Unfortunately, the guy who was riding shotgun, jumped out too soon. If you've ever seen a rubber ball, attached to a paddle by a rubber band, that's what the passenger door did to his body as his feet hit the ground.

Our squad entered the club on the run, but our yells for order were ignored, amid the pandemonium. One of the guys (from Cripple Creek, Colorado) jumped up onto the bar. When he banged down the butt of his Remington, 12 gauge, riot gun (which had a hammer) it blew a large hole in the ceiling. There was immediate and absolute silence as everyone; including me, lunged face down on the floor.

This incident was a double edged sword. It was policy to have an empty chamber in MP weapons, so a reprimand was made. But, congratulations were given for creative thinking, in using an effective method that achieved instantaneous order.

I truly enjoy reading the input from other Marines. If only for a few moments, my mind becomes young again.

Semper Fi !

J.J. Haight
USMC, 60-64

Hawked My Overcoat
Sgt. Grit.
I read Sgt. Kramer clothing note, and I was issued Khakis, tropicals, green Ike jacket, green wool shirts, wool overcoat, and all my dungarees had the pockets, metal buttons and the rest of I thought WW2 items. This was in fall of 1953. When in Japan, I hawked my overcoat when the raincoat with liner came in. I still have my green shirt and green winter gear plus may other items. I give a class at my daughters history class on the Chosin and how that came about twice a year. There are about 200 students that must behave while I do my thing and let them know the Marine Corps is special.
Sgt. Peter Wojciechowski 53-56.

Dear John Letters
Received three of them in 14 months, did pi jan 28, 1958, discharged march 6th 1959, ref the khaki uniform, here's my picture wearing them in 1959, issued at pi.

enjoy reading the memories, forgot my platoon # at pi, records show that i was in P co 3rd batl 1st inf. we had tropical uniforms as well,

done 25 years law enforcement, retired 1994,
semper fi, LL Collins

Rough Side Out
Do you remember the utilities with the sleeves that had only a strap and a button or a little later the utilities with the buttons covered on the pockets and front. How about the boots with the rough side out. What a job to spit shine. I was late for the herringbone utilities.

Sgt John R Young (Ret)

He Gave The Command
In reading SSgt Blair's mention of the San Diego runway adjacent to the practice drill field at MCRD in the June 6th news letter, I was reminded of my own experiences there. I went through platoon #3151 from Nov'70-Jan'71. Our practice grinder was adjacent to an airport taxiway, where the planes, usually from PSA, would rev up before hitting the runway. I remember one of the last practice sessions just prior to the graduation drill competition. Our DI was Sgt Johnson. It was a particularly busy day for PSA using that taxiway. Sgt Johnson had just gotten done emphasizing our inability to differentiate "port arms" from "right face". They both sounded like "AAARRRT HYUH". Half would do a right face, the other half would come to port arms. Complicating all of this, the large jet would start revving the engines, so that we could not hear the command of execution for the "right flanks" and "right obliques" while marching. It was a fiasco. Sgt Johnson maneuvered us all into a single line along the airport fence. When the next plane came out and started to rev up, he gave the command, "Flip Bird!". At which point we all executed a perfectly timed one-finger salute. While holding that salute, we all, in cadence, repeated after him, on command, "f///-you PSA!". The airplane windows on our side of the plane filled up with faces. I believe Sgt Johnson got into a bit of trouble for that one, but our platoon did take the drill comp.

(Cpl) Dana Smyser, CoG, 2/7, 1st MarDiv ('70-'72)

The Bull
Sgt. Grit...I truly like your web site...I get on it all the time...right now I would like to ask fellow Marines who served at El Toro Marine Base during WW11, and after, if they remember a tough by the name of M/Sgt. Albert "The Bull" Gordon ..He was really something...tough as hard nails...chew you out in a second..and yes I even heard young Lieutenants reply to him as "Sir"... Just wondering if any one was left around who remembered him.....San Diego MCRD...toughest training on earth.
Scaro

Let Us Never
I recently responded directly to Sgt Newton that is incarcerated and feels that himself and several other Honorably Discharged veterans are being shunned by fellow vets and vet organizations. When I was a baby Marine (17), I chased some Long Beach girl around while UA for 14 days. As a result I spent 14 days lost time in the Pendleton Red-Line Brig in '64. A Marine Major told me what an embarrassment I was to "his" Marine Corps, the EGA and humanity itself, and should exit it ASAP. 4 years in Vietnam and 2 tours as a DI later, he was still a Major and I his GySgt Supply Chief.
My 2 best friends in H&S 2/7 both had to return to the world from RVN in '65. Joseph Nimoroski had to marry his girlfriend, and was KIA 2 days after returning to RVN on Harvest Moon. Ken LaFrancis' Dad passed and he chased that same LB girl, stole a car and went to prison. I lost both of them, did I love one more than the other? Was my loss any less for either of my 2 brothers? I taught my recruits that Marines live by a Code of Honor. That along their path in life they would meet Marines that served before them, with them and after them. A Marine never loses faith with his fellow Marines, and we always look after one another. This site is proof that all it takes is a cap or shirt or tattoo to indicate who are Marines and we gravitate towards that person, with our Semper Fi. I can't tell you how many times the stories on this site, have brought this old 60 year old man to tears. The is a reason there is a UCMJ and a brig. We are Marines and like all other creatures, not perfect. Let us never turn our backs on our Honorably Discharged brothers, that have fallen from our Code. Instead lets lift every person up that has ever taken the oath to defend our nation, and leave no man behind..We are losing our WWII, Korea and VN vets daily...Lest we never forget...those youngsters that fill our shoes today..Semper Fi

Potter, MGySgt of Marines
RVN: 2/7 65-66, 1stMT 69-70, FSSG 72

San Diego Zoo
Your recent newsletter triggered a lot of memory in this "old Marine!" It took me back to recruit training in January of 52', in San Diego, Tent Camp 3 inside the gates of Camp Pendleton from San Clemente, to G-3-5 Korea, then 54' & 56' at Marine Barracks, Atsugi, on to DI School, then 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Diego, to Sea School where I served as an Instructor, while the base was under the command of one of the Finest the Corps has ever produced, "General Victor H. Krulak."

It brought to mind one of the most laughable incidents in my 10 years of duty among the finest, during the retirement parade of "Sgt. Major John Muth", of the Recruit Training Command! Fortunate to be selected to serve as part of the reviewing staff, directly behind the Sgt. Major, and Colonel Hochmuth, proceeding to advance to review the troops "as they passed in review, we overheard the Colonel say to John, "what are you going to do following retirement, John?" The Sgt. Major paused to answer, then quietly said, "I'm going to go to the San Diego Zoo!" The Colonel said, "what would a Marine Sergeant Major do at the San Diego Zoo?"

Muth replied, "I'm going to get even with the monkeys...I've been taking orders from them for over 30 years!" Smiles overcame us all, even the good colonel, knowing that "only a Marine Sergeant Major could pull that one off!"

While at Sea School I was blessed to have been selected to accompany retired Marine General H.M. "Howling Mad" Smith to some civic affairs when he and his family lived in La Jolla, and the former Commandant General Ian Richies of the British Royal Marines along with his family, when they visited San Diego. I drove Major General James Risely on his trips to Atsugi. Incidentally I was an 0369/5841, not a driver.

Since, I've been blessed to come home to Arizona, serve as a Special Assistant to a U.S. Congressman, a State Police Officer, and then be elected twice to the Navajo Tribe, Indian Wells Chapter, incidentally I'm married to a Navajo.

I proudly wear the "bolo tie" of Navajo Code Talker Sgt. Major Dan Akee, and count his friendship and that of former Code Talker Bill Toledo of Laguna, New Mexico as an important part of my life's experiences.

I also remember T/Sgt Joe Lazarko, and T/Sgt Billie Love, who both played prominent parts in the D.I. movie in 1957. Joe has been to some of the DI Association reunions at San Diego. They were part of the Recruit Training Command.

When we meet again on the streets of Gold, and remember the 3rd verse of the Hymn, "if the Army or the Navy ever look on heaven's scenes, they'll find the streets are guarded by United States Marines!" I'll be looking for John Muth, the General, and the rest of those I had the pleasure of serving with! What "sea stories we can share!"

Sergeant Richard A. Stauffer, Phd
51-60

Bombs AWAY
Ah, K-Bay. It was 1966 or 67 {Yep, I'm getting old too}. I started out as a bus boy in the e-club and ended up as a bartender.
I was with an F-4B squadron that I can't even remember. Naturally, being good Marines, we had a rival with the squadron in the next hanger.
So, inspection was coming up and we had to do something to these....sub-Marines
After work one night when I was walking back to the barracks {I had to walk I was too drunk to drive} I passed by the OD's Jeep. A flickered flame of thought entered my mind. I jumped in the Jeep {The OD was in the e-club getting a drink at the office of the SNCO in charge of the club] and headed to the bomb dump. All the practice bombs new and old were here. I selected a 250 pound green mother of all bombs. I couldn't get one any bigger cause it wouldn't fit in the Jeep and besides I couldn't pick up anything heavier. I know, I know......wimp. Now I've got the bomb loaded and I head back to the barracks area. There is a stream of Marines coming back from the e-club so, no problem finding a servant Marine to help me get this mother in the barracks.
K-Bay Barracks were all alike, two floors and squad bays. No private rooms back then unless you were Staff NCO. With the help of a fellow Marine or maybe it was two from my unit, we managed to get the bomb on the top level, standing on it's fins, right in the middle of the squad bay. What a pretty site. We were so good, we didn't even wake the fire watch. We all slithered out of there leaving the OD's Jeep somewhere in the barracks area. Well, the next morning you would have thought I'd dropped the bomb on Japan. We had three 6-by's loaded with practice bombs and about 10 EOD people giving every squadron a lecture on the hazards of handling practice bombs. I was NCOIC of my shop that day and had other plans. Back then they didn't take names to see who wasn't there.
If anyone ever asks, I deny all the above.
J.M. Clontz USMC {Ret}
29 years; Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Iraq

Snake Marine
In 1972, while with Mike 3/9 in Okinawa, I went to the NCO club at Camp Schwab and witnessed a floor show I will never forget. It was a mongoose-haboo (not sure of spelling) fight refereed by a local. The extremely poisonous snake made numerous strikes at the mongoose as the oversized rodent danced back and forth trying to make the kill. The show was beginning to bore most of the spectators until this Sgt staggers to the stage and grabs the venomous snake and literally chews it in half. He staggers back to his seat with the back half of the snake in one hand and a Bud in the other. The M.P.'s were called and a bunch of us Marines approached him to see if he had been bitten. He staggered out of the NCO club and no one seems to know what happened to him.

About a year later, while working as an operations chief (S-3) for HQBn, 1stMarDiv, Camp Pendleton, I ran in to this Sgt again. He was now a SSgt and was with Division S-3. We became pretty good friends. His name is Larry Walker. I asked him about the snake incident and he told me that he was so drunk that he remembered nothing of it. He said that he remembered waking up the next morning with a terrible hangover, a foul taste in his mouth and 'these peculiar scales in his teeth. SSgt Walker was an easy going Marine that one would never suspect him of such behavior.

A couple of years later when I was a Nevada Highway Patrolman, I had just returned home from my 2 weeks of USMC Reserve obligation. I picked up my patrol car at the station and was heading home when dispatch called me and gave me a number to return a call to a Sgt Walker. I assumed it was an officer from the Reno P.D. wanting to question me about a previous accident/arrest.

When I got home I called the number given me. "Marine Corps recruiting, Gunnery Sergeant Walker speakin." I couldn't believe it. "Is this you Larry?" I asked. He actually spotted me through the recruiting office window as I drove past in my patrol car. Small world. When I went to the recruiter's office to visit him, he had photographs of him chewing that snake in two under a piece of plexi-glass on his desk. GySgt Walker told me that he used the picture as a recruiting aid.

A couple of years later in 1977 while I was with a reserve unit in Sacramento, I had the opportunity to bypass 2 h&llish weeks of drill at 29 Palms and finagled orders to the Kansas City Finance Center. While there I decided to search for the whereabouts of Gy Walker on the old fish-file. I found him. He was with an I & I unit in New Hampshire. I decided to pull a joke on him. I called his unit and asked for Gy Larry Walker. A LCpl paged Walker and he answered the phone. "Gy Walker? This is Gy Foster from the Kansas City Finance Center and I am sorry that I have some bad news for you. There has been an error on your pay records and the Marine Corps has been paying you as an E-8 with 2 dependents for the past 6 months. You owe us approximately $2,147.92." He came unglued. "Are you sh&%%@#* me?" "Gy, we can work out an allotment for you to repay the finance center at your convenience. How would you like to set it up?" After about 5 minutes of the snake Marine cursing me and dam*ing the finance center, I couldn't hold back any longer. I busted up laughing. After his blood pressure got back to normal we had a great conversation and got caught up on what we had been up to.

USMC 1966-1974
USMCR 1974-1979
JOHN D. FOSTER

My Favorite
My name is Eddie. I have been the Marines for two years and right after I got home out of bootcamp I wanted to get my first tattoo and I wanted it to be the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. I have since gotten three others and am very proud of every single one but this is my favorite.

Long Haired AWOL
I cannot forget the great times too that I had while in the Marine Corps. The "Run" platoon was a special platoon of Marines stationed at Marine Bks Great Lake, IL. Back then we had the cream of the crop sorta speak in collecting the AWOL's that had been arrested and were housed in the local county/city jails. Back then the AHJ ( Police ) would then notify the Gov't who in turn would dispatch a team of two Marines to collect these AWOL Marines and or sailors.

It appeared that the busiest state( back then ) for the 9th Naval District was the that state of Ohio.

With so many cities that make up that state - we even used a chartered bus several times over and just traveled the state working city to city.

At one time we even spotted a hitch hiker on the freeway with a very short haircut. I ordered the bus to stop (as the NCOIC) and sure enough - he was AWOL - Marine.

The toughest collection was a Marine that had been AWOL for over 2 years. We need leg and waist chains for this long haired AWOL.

We also took pride that we didn't need to get rough with any of these AWOL's. Having US Marines walk into the jail - calling them to attention - often shook the jail and those going back with us - They got the message. Most of us had been or just returned from Vietnam.

Several today as told - went to complete a fine career in law enforcement.

Even some of us were lucky enough to attend US Secret Service school - POB and become a dept counterpart to help protect the president when a movement came through your AHJ.

Semper Fi

Sgt. Gene T. Spanos
Lieutenant Retired 72/95
USMC 66/71
Marine Bks G-Lakes, IL ( 67') & ( 69/70')

I Swear I Say My SDI
Reading all of the sea stories in your last newsletter reminded me of an incident I had in basic. I was with Platoon 1021 at 'Diego in 1988. We were all on our footlockers for the nightly health and welfare inspection by our SDI. Since my last name began with an "A", I was one of the first inspected. As our SDI proceeded down the one side of the squadbay, my buddy next to me whispers; "Check out McChesney", who was almost directly across the squadbay from us. Now when we were issued our gear, we had the choice of boxers or briefs, and McChesney had chosen boxers. There he was standing at attention in all of his glory with his entire package hanging out of his boxers. This breach of uniform regulations, of course, soon passed up and down the line, and as the SDI got closer and closer to McChesney, the snickers and held-up laughter began. Of course our SDI thought we were grab-as5ing and threatened unimaginable pain and suffering if we didn't knock that sh!t off. Well, soon enough, he got to McChesney and let out a "JESUS H. Christ MCCHESNEY, TUCK that SH!T IN!" We couldn't hold it any longer, and I'm sorry to say the entire platoon broke discipline and fell out laughing. I don't know if I was the only one who saw it, but I swear I saw my SDI barely succeeding in keeping a straight face. We all ended up paying dearly for that, but it was the only time during basic I recall laughing until graduation. Man am I glad I chose briefs.

To all those who are serving, and who have ever served, this Marine offers a hearty and hale SEMPER FI! Thank you Sgt. Grit for this outstanding forum to tell our stories. We are truly a Band of Brothers.

P.S. By the way, as any combat veteran will tell you, no "Doc" of mine ever had to buy a drink when I was around, and as far as I'm concerned they deserve as much or more respect as I would give any of my fellow Marines.

Craig W. Anderson
LCpl. of Marines
"A" Co. Marine Barracks, Subic Bay '88-90
"L" Co. 3/9 1stMARDIV '90-92

All But One
Your readers' stories regarding the Marine Corps continue to amuse and fascinate me. I can think of no other field of endeavor which causes as deeply-felt camaraderie as the Marine Corps.

My son, Midshipman Second Class USNR, at Maine Maritime Academy is currently training toward a commission in the Navy under the auspices of a hard-charging Gunny and a Mustang Major. They are somewhat mystified that he's not Marine Option, but his classroom abilities in Engineering require his talents elsewhere in the Naval Service. However, he's watched Marines' hailing rituals for some twenty-two years:

"Semper Fi."

"Do or Die."

"Bravo One-Four."

"VMF 231."

"Swing with the Wing?"

"In the rear with the beer and the gear."

"Hollywood?"

"H&ll, No, PI."

"Green side out."

"Roger that."

For a Marine, this exchange needs no translation. It's sort of like the "Trail'st thou the puissant pike?"* exchange from HenryV.

It seems that somewhere among 231 years of tradition, Marines have picked up a "neanderthal" reputation. However, of five Twentieth Century innovations in the art of war: amphibious doctrine, close air support, vertical envelopment, combined arms, and suppression of enemy air defenses, all but one were initiated and perfected by the United States Marine Corps.

It seems to me that despite all our reverence for the "old corps" the one constant amongst Marines is change for the better. Admittedly, some bright ideas like the "Mighty Mite" have since disappeared from the inventory, However, the title "United States Marine" represents all the best from Article One of the Code of Conduct.

Confusion to the enemy and success to the Marines.

K. Brown

French Actress
Sgt. Grit,

I also would like to know where Cpl. J.R Brown is today. Cpl. Brown was my Junior Drill Instructor for plt.20 - 31 JAN.56 - 9 APRIL 56. Cpl. Brown had just completed Drill Instructor School and was assigned to Company B, First Recruit Bn. It was my turn in the company to pick-up the next plt. and Cpl. Brown along with a Sgt. Wire were my junior drill instructors. After a few weeks Sgt. Wire was assigned another plt. as there was a shortage of drill instructors. He went to work with a new plt. and Cpl. Brown and I had plt. 20 all by ourselves for the next 12 weeks.

Cpl. Brown was a native from Ohio been to Korea wounded in action and got out of the Marine Corps after his first enlistment. He tried civilian life but could not adapt so he reenlisted in the Marine Corps and ended up at Parris Island as a Drill Instructor. Cpl. Brown had difficult in calling cadence for the plt. but in a few weeks he got the hang of it. Each D.I has his own patent on how he calls cadence. Cpl. Brown and I worked very hard with the plt. and the proudest we were was when the Plt. was awarded the DEPOT HONOR PLT. for their hard work in all four phases of competition.

Cpl. Brown was interviewed along with many other D.I`s at Parris Island and he was selected and sent to Hollywood for 6 weeks to make the movie D.I. Cpl. Brown married a French actress while in Hollywood and brought her back to Parris Island however Beaufort,S.C and Port Royal was not her cup of tea so she returned to Hollywood.

Cpl. Brown upon returning from Hollywood was assigned to the base Public Information Office as he was a celebrity for a period of time. I lost track of him as I packed my seabag and went to the 4th Marines in Hawaii.

J.R Baumgardner Maj. USMC Ret. (1951- 1977)
Drill Inst. 1954-1956--Jan-May 1966-

78 RPM
Sgt. Grit...
I was stationed at Camp Catlin, Territory of Hawaii, from Jan, 1954 to Jan. 1955. During that period, I was Sgt. of the Guard for a few weeks. One of our duties was to raise and lower the Colors. One Sunday, I and my Corporal were standing at the flagpole, flag in hand, ready for the playing of the National Anthem at 0800. The person in the guardshack had the phonograph at the wrong speed, and played it at 78rpm instead of 33 1/3. Needless to say, it was a short presentation. To my amazement, there were no repercussions, possibly due to it being on a Sunday (hangovers and all).
Donald C. Shope
Former Sgt., USMC
1289552 (1952-'55 )

Hollywood Games
Sgt Grit

I have read of many former Marines from the 1957 era mentioning Sgt. Brown who appeared in the Movie "The DI".

Well I too had him for my Jr DI, for a short period of time. I was a member of PLT 202 in July 1957. Sgt Brown was with us when we were issued our 782 gear. I had just recently seen the movie prior to enlisting and I quickly recognized that I had seen Sgt. Brown before, but could not recall where.

After we finished drawing our gear we went to our barracks and our Sr DI has us assemble around the table in the middle of the barracks and told us who Sgt Brown was and admonished us severely that if we every brought it up that the consequences would be serve. Enough Said!

Sgt Brown had a very large amount of Hollywood Games that he loved to play with us like: FLOOD!- AIR RAID!

We were not the least sadden when day he did not appear and we heard he had been reassigned!

Jim Cocke
Plt 202

Unspeakable Things
I have been reading the Sgt. Grit news letter for a few months and decided that I would send in one of my own unique stories. I am a still active duty Marine on my first contract entering my fourth and final year. This story is of my previous duty station, Parris Island or PI as it is most commonly known in the Corps. I am an 0121 Personnel Clerk and was stationed at PI with Recruit Training Regiment (RTR), Support Battalion, Recruit Processing Company, Recruit Administration Center. In other words I worked in the building that unitilized the famous yellow foot prints.

The way our admin shop was, was like any other admin shop in the Marine Corps, lots of PFC's, LCpl's and Cpl's working sun up to sun down in front of a computer screen. Our shop was broken up into several sections, discharge, unit diary, orders, legal, and SRB (Service Record Book). The main focus of this story is the SRB section and their unofficial mascot. However it was decided I will never know but the Mascot chose was a small stuffed bear, like one you would find in a childs christmas stocking. It was a weekly if not daily tradition to "kidnap" this mascot, torture and mangle it. And of course the whole section would up in arms over this demand to have it back each time we took it. Whoever had taken would of course return it but not before they had done unspeakable things to it. The mangling this bear received ranged from being pierced by a few hundred staples, wrapped in copper wire (that took them forever to fix), impaled with straightened paper clips, and frozen solid with a can of compressed air. After a while though, the SNCOIC put a stop to that and business returned to normal.

LCpl King
SRB Clerk
I&I Staff
GSMCO 4thMaintBn 4thMLG
Rock Island, IL 61299

Ship Still Bobbed
Sgt. Grit,
Just finished reading some funny sea stories and wanted to add one of my own! This story takes place during my second Med cruise (on our way back to Beirut) at our first liberty port which was Naples, Italy. My unit (Lima 3/8) was a Helicopter Assault Unit so we were on an LPH. Anyway, before leaving Morehead City we of course stowed our gear and grabbed a rack. Since it was my second float I was smart enough to grab a top rack. At the time I was thinking that I was a salty LCP, so when one of our new "boots" grabbed a bottom rack and replied that I was stupid for grabbing a top rack and having to climb up 4 racks to get to mine, I replied, "you'll find out why soon enough boot". I forget what his exact reply was, but it was something to the effect of, "my mother didn't raise no fool, I'm taking one of these bottom racks". Well, we made our way across the Atlantic without any incidents, but sure enough we docked in Naples harbor as planned and everyone took off for the liberty boats and a night of wild drinking. Since this was my second cruise and I had already been to Naples probably 4 times before, a few buddies and I went down to find a decent restaurant and then returned for some good sleep with no duty the next day. Well just after mid-night I guess, the liberty boats started hauling all the drunken-*sses in and as expected the harbor was not all that calm and even though we were anchored the ship still bobbed slightly. Not sure if it was that, or that these dumb-*sses just had too much to drink or a combination of both, but anyway, 3 or 4 of the guys below me laid in their rakes and after just a few minutes started barfing over the side of their racks, each other and onto the deck all over everyone's shower shoes (except mine which were wisely stowed with me on my rack). I just laid back and covered my face with a towel to mask the permeating odor while the poor fire-watch and Cpl of the guard had to herd the offending turds into the head to get them cleaned up. The funny part of the story is that the smart-*ssed boot who questioned why I wanted a top rack, quickly learned why as he spent the next hour cleaning the barf of multiple drunks off of his gray, wool navy blanket, uniform, towels and PT gear!
Semper Fi to all fellow Marines and God Bless all of you fighting for our freedom! To our fellow Marines who have given their bodies for our cause, and to the families of the Marines who gave the ultimate sacrifice - a very heart-felt Thank You!
Mike Kunkel
CPL, 0331
81-85

EDDY Test
Are there any old Marines who took and passed the EDDY Test? I did, in 1943, and was selected to attend radio/radar school at Wright Junior College in Chicago, Grove City College in Pennsylvania and NTTC, Ward Island, Corpus Christi Texas. After the war, I worked for 42 years as an electronics engineer. I hope to hear from someone who had the same experience.
John Hill, SGT. 43-46

Experienced The Antics
Referencing the two comments from the June 20th issue, I also 'experienced' the antics of Corporal (E-3) John R. Brown while a recruit in Platoon 351, 1st RTB aboard Parris Island. My platoon was in training during the 1 October to 31 December 1956 timeframe. I checked my recruit book before writing this and confirmed that Brown's middle initial was, indeed, "R" not "G" but other than that, the accounts are right on. Interestingly, we have never been able to find John Brown after the movie was distributed and he may have either followed his actress wife to Europe or he may have passed away. The Drill Instructor's Association cannot locate him anywhere. My senior D.I., then-Sgt E-4 Eugene Alvarez is still in contact with the leading actress (Jackie Loughery) as a close personal friend. Gene, a two-tour D.I., is a retired PhD from the University of Georgia system who has authored a number of superb historical books on Parris Island. He is now a 75 year-young Marine living in Florida. It's very special to still be in frequent contact with both my senior D.I. and my senior recruiter from NE Philadelphia some 51 years later.

Maybe not really "old Corps" but I did have a service number (1647380) was issued an M-1 (#441380), had herringbone utilities, boondockers, collar emblems on khakis and trops, brown dress shoes, among other things.

Joe Featherston
Major, USMCR, Ret.

Arizona Platoon
I was also proud to be in Arizona Plt 3019. We started boot camp on 07-07-67 and now forty years later 07-07-07 we celebrate that glorious occasion on a special date. Our Drill Instructors were Gunnery Sgt Green, Sgt Reynolds and Sgt Newman. We left Phoenix and the temperature was in the 100's. We arrived at MCRD San Diego and the temperature was around 60 degrees and to many of us desert rats this was a welcome place to start our careers as Marine Recruits.

We were a tight group and much was expected of us because we were all from Arizona and were not allowed to forget that we competed for ribbons in our learning of history, first aid, drill and rifle range. There were others but I forget which ones. Anyway at the end of the seventh week after the junk on the bunk inspection we were led to believe that we had lost the chance to become the honor platoon and having heard the loud rejoicing of our sister platoon and the mad look of our DIs we knew that we had not done enough. This lasted a couple of seconds and then the word came that we had aced all the ribbons and were the honor platoon. We were taken to the big grinder and went through our close order drills and we were stopped in front of alot of new platoons and displayed our proud and colorful guidon. We graduated after eight weeks.

Alot of us were in the Nam by Dec and Jan and I know we had at least eight KIAs that I found on the Arizona Viet Nam memorial that is located on the grounds of the capitol building. How many were wounded I have no idea.

I served with Delta Co 1st MP Bn FLC III MAF our TAOR was from south of the air base runway to the east along Dogpatch. We manned post 1 thru gate 12 which was the gate that led to the road that went to the Freedom Hill PX Hill 327. We also had Hoa Vang district and the Cam Le Bridge. That bridge was attacked and taken over on the south side by the VC/NVA units on 23 Aug 68 and again on 29 Feb 69.

Thanks again for the great newsletter and keep up the good work.

Semper Fi Carry On.

Edward (Taco) Contreras
Sgt (Ret) 1967 - 1970
Arizona Platoon 3019 Honor Platoon.

The Only Difference
I would like to respond to Corporal Ross P. about Darryl Newton and all the other comments made of this Marine. I served my Corps and when I returned from overseas, I ran into my wife's new love. Needless to say, I began drinking on the base, Camp Pendleton California. That was my mistake. I eventually went out and showed him what I learned after 10 years of service. What I did was wrong. I did my time. The only difference between him and I is, I never asked you or anyone else for any kind of assistance. Like I said, I did my time. I am a Marine, 0311 and proud of it. The only person that can take that away from me, would be the Marine that gave it to me. My Drill Instructor. I still spit shine my shoes and work boots. I still use my military alignment. I am still squared away. Every Memorial Day, 4th of July, Veterans Day and Marine Corps Birthday I wave My American Flag, My MIA-POW Flag and My Marine Corps Flag. Some of us make mistake's in life. That's just the way life is. Do Not Think You Have The Right To Call Anyone One Of Us An EX-MARINE.
S/SGT ALVAREZ
USMC

Cpl Charles Lindberg
Sgt Grit, we have lost a very good man and a great MARINE this week in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis & St. Paul, Mn. I could write volumes about this Marine but I won't at this time. I will say that he was a modest man and he didn't get the recognition he so richly deserved until recently for what he did on Iwo Jima. Every time I heard him speak I got chills up and down my body. A bronze bust of him will be included in the monument to all veterans that is being built at Veterans Memorial Park in Richfield Mn. It should be completed in July 2008. I'm sure he won't be called " A Liar " at Heavens Gate and that there will be many of his Marine buddies from Iwo Jima to welcome him to his final resting place.
God bless you Cpl. Lindberg--Rest in peace.
Semper Fi, Robbie, PFC- 1472172

Whining Is Embarrassing
Sgt. Grit,
I want to chime on with my thoughts on the Marine who is incarcerated. Most of us have made regrettable mistakes in our lives. Obviously, this Marine is in prison because he made a big mistake. That doesn't mean that he is no longer a Marine. It means that he is a Marine that F***ed up. What I do not respect is all of his whining about the circumstances he created. We are Marines because we stepped up and paid the price of becoming a Marine, with everything that entails. Being a Marine is a lifetime commitment to excellence. We don't get entitlements for being a Marine. We owe a debt to our nation and to our fellow Marines because we earned the privilege. I recommend that our incarcerated brother start acting like a Marine, pay the consequences for his actions, and quit whining about being unloved. Even in prison he should act like a Marine instead of a convict. The whining is embarrassing.

Semper Fi,
Mark Lurtsema
1980-RIP

Amtrackers
"AAVP7A1 RAM/RS" I served on the USS Carter Hall with the 26th MEU (SOC) BLT 1/8 on a med float during 2003 during Operation Enduring freedom as a part of JTF Liberia and JTF Horn Of Africa. This was my baby and I still miss her everyday. Amtrackers can be passionate about their vehicles.

Cpl. "Rommel"
Formerly 2nd AA Bn.

P.S.- Keep apricots away from it!

Sugar For His Coffee
Funny then, Funny now! 1959 Cherry Point GCA 38M, (Ground Control Approach- Radar Air Traffic Control) never told a soul, Capt Martin liked sugar for his coffee. Our crew was out of sugar. Tore the place apart. There under the fridge was a bag of sugar, on it was written, "Keep out Crew 2"! We then wrote, "F... Y..! the Phantom strikes again!" , the Capt got his sugar, remember the year, 1959, it was a long time ago! Capt Robinson CO of the Unit never found out who! Capt Robinson could be a jerk! We sent him a card, "As an outsider, ... What do you think of the Human Race?" Still, Crane, & Taylor were all in on this! 1959! Never got caught!
Yet! R Olson 1957-58-59

Don't Mess With Marines, Young Or Old
Check out this link about a 72 year old Marine. Once a Marine, always a Marine.
Ric

http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6712595

http://www.koco.com/news/13586105/detail.html

Without A Break
Thank you,
The patches I order arrived on Monday. My unit from Nam 5th comm bn. and my unit from Desert Storm MWSS 273. They will finish up my riding jacket for my bike.
I come from along line of Marines. My Dad Sgt Major William R. Elder JR. enlisted in 1941 and retired in 1962. He was wounded on Iwo Jima. He passed of natural causes in 1999. He enlisted my half brother, his own stepson, Gysgt Harry W. Davenport while on recruiting duty in 1955 he retired in 1976. Harry did three tours in Nam trying to keep me out . I enlisted in 1969 he came back I went over. We lost Harry to Agent Orange in 2006. I retired in 1993. My nephew Jeff Richey finally got out in I believe 1997 to become a US Marshell. So from 1941 without a break in time someone in my family was in the Marines until 1997. 56 years I guess you would have to say we are a Marine Corps family.
I still talk with some of my brothers I served with in Okie, Desert Storm, and Beaufort. We are a close family once a Marine Always a Marine. We all live from one end of the states to the other but we still have that bond. Some still have that DI voice and we all still like hearing about Marines. We remember good times and the hard ones, The nicknames such as Cabinshoe, Chewy, PaPa Smurf, Princess Palmer, and I better not leave out Old Fart. Marines we are a special breed.

William R. Elder
Gysgt USMC
1969-1993

Never My Intention
Sgt. Grit,

It was never my intention to place something in the Sgt-Grit Newsletter, as a direct result of my article in the June 7Th edition, one reader launched a personal attack on me as an individual. Therefore it's vital I be permitted to reply in a civil and dignified manner. After wards I will not respond to such comments or responses.

I'm deeply offended that a brother Marine would attack me personally for simply bringing to light a situation that affects countless incarcerated veterans. It would not have been offensive to speak out on the issue, but to attack me personally was not only wrong, it was demeaning and malicious, even more so since Michael Gray does not know me or my situation.

My article in Sgt. Grit was not to solicit money. At no time did I ask for money. I clearly stated what help we (myself and our Veteran's Group) needed. That was information and assistance to obtain the benefits we as Veteran's earned, I.E. Medical, Disability, and Educational. Also help from organizations in there areas. While the California Prison system is vile, I did not complain about the conditions of my confinement. There is other avenues for that, not Sgt. Grit.

Yes, I did commit a crime against humanity and brought discredit upon myself. I'm "repaying" my debt to society as society deems fit. That does not change the valid truth of being a veteran and a Marine.

I am not a "villain trafficking in good men's Honor." I earned the title of Marine, I served over 4 years of honorable service, as one MgySgt. recently wrote me "not even death can change that fact."

As a prisoner, jailbird, convict, or whatever adjective used, I do agree the public should remain vigilant, there are prisoners who spend hours, days, weeks, and months figuring how to scam money from strangers. I however and not one of them. I never asked for money to be sent to me or anyone. Only help from veteran organizations to obtain legally for fruits of our services. The fruits (benefits) we earned.

Mr. Gray wrote that if I was on active duty I would be in the Brig. Let me remind Mr. Gray of General Lewis "Chesty" Puller. He once visited the 5Th Marine Regiment, after his inspection he said, "Now let's go to the brig and visit the men." Even Chesty believed in giving men the chance to reform and change. He did not abandon those men, those Marines in the brig. He visited them, what an honor he gave those Marines. It was an act of Great dignity and compassion.

My plea was a "set up" as Mr. Gray wrote to Sgt. Grit, there is nothing to "set up" for. To obtain our benefits we must provide proof, DD214, "Page 11"'s, medical records, ETC. being in prison our applications go unanswered, misfiled, ETC. Veteran organizations do not want to help us which most claim is their objective, even the one's who offer up membership. There is no "set up" to obtain anything that's one is rightfully and dutifully entitled to.

Be mindful, the same incarcerated or jailed veterans will be released back to society. Released to lead law abiding lives. It's my wish and endeavor to be a participating citizen contributing to the well being of my community and family. Being afforded access to services for veterans, job training, and employment assistance, education, and medical will only help not only me but society at large.

Mr. Gray it's obvious you have a negative view of prisoners, that is your right, but your do not have the right to maliciously align anyone without having intimate knowledge of that person, in that sir your are in error. My article was submitted in good faith, with good intentions. I wanted this opportunity to respond to clear the "air." State my purpose of my article. If you have further comment on this issue you and anyone else can write me directly. Do not waste space in Sgt. Grit to write malicious and demeaning articles that are unfounded. God Bless Us All.

Semper Fi
Darryl D.J. Newton

Single Act
The value of a single act:
Years ago I purchased several of the "Once a Marine, always a Marine" coins to give to WW2 Marines that I was meeting through attending WW2 Commemorative events . I had a co worker who mentioned that her Grandfather had been a Marine in WW2 and she was going back the upcoming weekend for his 84th Birthday. I gave her one of the coins and told her to simply say when she gave it to him: " With Thanks from a Doc ". When I saw her the following Monday she told me she didn't know whether hug me or hit me. She gave him the coin right as the Birthday party was starting, just thinking she would get it out of the way before she forgot to do it. She said that after giving him the coin and saying what I told her to say that he got up an put the coin in the middle of his fireplace mantel and that nothing anyone did , gave him or said equaled that gift in his eyes. He kept going back and touching it and smiling, his back was a little straighter and she spent all day Sunday hearing his stories about what he did and saw, she had no idea he a had been an Iwo Marine, wounded twice and that he was in active combat in the Pacific to end of the war . She had just assumed since he hadn't previously said much, that he hadn't taken an active part in the War and never really thought to ask him about his experiences. Semper Fi
HMC (FMF) Elheran Francis
USNR (Ret)
aka The Saint

Just Act Natural
In 1964 I was an E4 stationed in the Marine Training Detachment at NAS Los Alamitos. This was a reserve Naval Air Station with a several Marine Reserve squadrons, we were regulars there in a training capacity. Good duty, though kind of off the beaten path.

Over at the Education Office they had boxes of paperback books. They were free for the taking. One day I found one on Yoga. The blurb on the cover said it would improve my se.x life. That got my attention and I thought I'd give it a try. Like at 24 my se.x life needed improving? What would improve my se.x life was some willing young ladies, not a book, but it was intriguing nonetheless. In the I beginning I started practicing the breathing exercises. I did this sitting on my bunk. Well this didn't last too long as my buddies thought this was hilarious and started razzing me endlessly. What to do? Aha! At the end of the squad bay just outside the head were two very large closets. On one side was where the buffers, wax, and toilet supplies were kept. One the other, was a series of large strong shelves where we stored our seabags. There was a little window just off the top shelf with a streetlight outside providing a little light. The top shelf was about eyeball level and there was room enough to sit. This was my place, nice and quiet -- and – out of sight. So after taps and lights out, I'd go down towards the head and quietly slip into my little private space, climb up on the top shelf, and practice my yoga breathing. And, so there I am one night, breathing away in the dark. I hear the door open. As it turns out it was a new arriving E5 coming down to stash his seabag and gear. I was sitting, in the Lotus Position, in my skivvies, on a shelf at about the height of his head. He didn't see me in the dim light. I wasn't sure of what to do, but impulsively I said, "Hi, you're new huh? Checking in?" He must have come two feet off the deck.

Ok, Marine, I said to myself, just act natural.

He recovered, and I reached down to shake his hand. I introduced myself, and all the while acting like this was the most normal thing in the world. He said something about being whacked out from traveling and badly needed some sleep – also something about starting to hallucinate. He quietly left not asking any questions.

In the chow hall at breakfast, several of my buddies said that the new E5 was asking a lot of questions about me. I never brought up the situation again and neither did he.
Cpl. Dick Sullivan 189605

Came In Low
Sgt. Grit,
I have written you before. I particularly enjoy the quotes in the newsletter. I have a humorous anecdote regarding two Marines on a duck hunt. Last year my son and his uncle, my brother-in- law, both Marines, were duck hunting in the marsh along the Texas coast. They were hunkered down behind cover that grows in the mud of the marsh. My brother-in-law called in some ducks and they buzzed the two hunters. One duck came in at low level and my brother-in-law saw it flash behind the bush my son was hiding behind and then he heard a loud "whack" and the duck did not come out the other side. My brother-in-law says...."Charley, you get that duck?" Charley says "Yeah". Rob says "How?" Charley says "Buttstroke". Charley told me later that he looked at a movement he caught out of the corner of his eye and it was the duck flying straight at him and he had no time to shoulder his shotgun. The duck swerved when he saw Charley and Charley just automatically brought the shotgun into buttstroke position and the duck flew into the stock....broke his neck. Once a Marine......We have had many a chuckle over that one since last season.
Don Chilton
SSgt. – AFRes 1961-1967

89 Combat Missions
Good Morning Sergeant!
This "old" (only 88) Marine is compelled to stop everything and do something I have thought about since you began this wonderful job you do for us.

I am a Mustang who was in Iceland when Pearl Harbor was bombed, C Company 1st Aviation Engineer Battalion, 5th Marines Provisional, 1st Marine Division. On December 8th I was in my Company Office to apply for Flight Training. To shorten a long story, we were transferred to Tent City, now called Legune, from which I was transferred, "awaiting Orders, while my outfit headed for the landing at Guadalcanal. After training I flew the Corsair on 89 combat missions, and was awarded 2 DFC's and 5 Air Medals.

My son, now a Doctor, is a Marine, as are his 3 sons.

All this is background for me to tell you how very much you are adding to "our family" by the work you are doing. Please keep it up, and may God continue to bless your efforts.

Faithfully, and Semper Fidelis!
The Rev'd. Wm. H. Magill
Priest of the Episcopal Church, retired.

Outstanding
This is a very heart warming video clip of a good woman.

One Of The Few
Sgt Grit,

I have attached a picture from our Armed Forces/Memorial Day Parade. The Grand Marshall was Les Brown, a WWII Pacific Guadalcanal Combat vet. The Marine Corps Recruiters picked him up and drove him in the Parade in the new Hummer. PFC Brown is wearing his uniform from 1944. He is one of the few that could still fit in his uniform. The Marines from the Albany Detachment were impressed and the CO and Sgt. Major came to greet him.

We take care of our own and we don't forget them either. Notice in WWII, We only had Chevrons on one side of the uniform

Greg Bourlotos

Regrets
Growing up on a farm in the middle of Iowa I did not know what opportunities were available to me, until I received an envelope of information about the Marine Corps. I immediately knew that becoming a Marine was what I was going to do. And I did just that. However, being a farm boy from the middle of the heartland, I had lived a sheltered life. I was not overwhelmed by Boot Camp or my time on active duty, but I also did not excel. I approached everything with caution. Regardless of being meritoriously promoted twice, I never really understood how things worked. Now after 10 years of being out, two things have happened. One, I love the Marine Corps more and more, and two, I regret that I did not serve as well as I know I could have. Reading your letters always brings a smile to my face and sometimes a tear to my eye. Reading about the great people that have served and still do is often a reminder of what I could have been and what I really was. For that I want to apologize to the Marines I served with, to the Marines who came before me, and to the Marines of today.

Cpl. Roose '92-'96

Not A Saint
Sgt. Grit
In response to the initial letter by Michael S. Gray concerning Marine Darryl Newton and subsequent letters by R/S, JRS Ssgt 79-89 (whatever that alphabet soup means) and finally Ross P. Corporal 88-89, I respectfully submit my rebuttal.

I joined the Marine Corps right out of high school in 1967, Did my tour in Vietnam 68-69. When I returned to "The World" I was honorably discharged as a Corporal (blood promotions)after serving 1 year and 9 months. The Corps will always be with me as It was in Vietnam. The term of "Leave No One Behind" is a phrase we all should adhere to. I am not a saint nor do I feel that I have tarnished the image of my Marine Corps. I, along with a impressive number of Marines and Former Marines, have raised some h&ll in our time and I would venture to say future Marines will probably do the same. In my humble opinion, a Marine that ends up in jail is not a disgrace but a Marine Brother who needs some help. Maybe your career as a law enforcement officer has jaded your memory of what it's like to be a Marine. Please try pulling your head out of your sanctimonious a** and take a look at the Real world. Marines are a team.

Semper Fi,
Chris DeSpain
3rd Mar Div, 3rd Tank Bat, Charlie Co
2nd Platoon, Tank Commander
I Corps, DMZ

Marine Recruiter Are Forbidden
How do I put this? For several years a small group of vets in my area have been trying to help the recruiters in their effort to do their job in regard to enlistment candidates who have some minor trouble with the legal system that stops them from being inducted. Most problems are just traffic tickets that are stuck in the judicial system that can't be cleared up until they have gone through miles of legal procedures.

Marine recruiters are forbidden from contacting government officials to expedite tickets and such (I don't know if the army has the same regulations as most of the work we do is with the Marines). We never try to have the outcome changed (although some prosecutors will cut an enlistee some slack) but just enable the young person to ship on time. Some times the enlistee will get a traffic ticket just days before his ship date and it will cause havoc with their shipment!

What I'm asking is if there are any vets out there that would help the recruiters with this type of problem. Remember, there are quite a few of us out there that would have not turned out alright if not for our time in the service.

It seems that the Marines have more spirited candidates that the other services and have more to offer our youth in becoming a real American!

Please, if you belong to a veteran organization or are just a person who realizes the value of an education in growing up and serving others, please contact your local recruiter to see if you can help. They especially need people who are familiar with politicians in the judicial system or are not shy about asking for all possible speed in order for a young person to serve and defend his/her country.

T Jordan, Sr.

Who Gave All
This is a tattoo acquired by a young just 18 year old just before deployment to the Northern I Corps. of Vietnam in 1968, obtained in California. It is the best thing this Grunt ever did to honor the Corps. We served. We least not forget the ones we lost, who gave all. Glad to have served, glad to have survived, glad to keep the memory alive for all of those that served.

Gary Spence
Sempi Fi - 2/3 Marines Sept. 68 - Oct. 69

Crash Fire Rescue
I was in the USMC 13 years From Feb 81 to July 94.(SSGT)

MOS 7051 Crash Fire Rescue.

This is my design of a Fire Maltese Cross, with a Eagle Globe & Anchor. My tattoo is to show the tine I spent as a firefighter in the Marine Corp for 10 years.

Semper Fi
Rodney J. Dommer

He Came Up To Me
Sgt Grit,

Just a quick story from Viet Nam. I was there from Sept 1966 to July 1967 and March 1968 to May 1968.

I couldn't believe it! Look at all that stuff! There was almost anything you could possibly want, candy, clothes, soda, radios, cameras, all as far as the eye could see, The Great PX at Da Nang.

After being out the in bush for a few weeks (or was it months), I was able to head south to the U.S.S. Repose at Cam Ranh Bay to get a new set of glasses. At last, I would get to see Viet Nam. I lost my glasses during the move to the DMZ from Chu Li. I could just barely see anything without my glasses, good thing I wasn't put on point. There were two things that almost kept me out of the Marines. One, they found out my parents were married, and two; I had to cheat on the eye exam. I had to take two steps forward to read the big E on the eye chart. It's a good thing I memorized it before I went in.

Anyway, I was wandering around the PX, just looking at things, trying to decide what I could afford. I hadn't been paid for a while and only had about three bucks MPC in what was left of my pockets. I couldn't decide if I wanted a candy bar or a soda, when an Army Officer stopped me. I can't remember what his rank was, but it was defiantly much higher than mine, PFC, U.S.M.C.

This guy looked like he had just stepped out of a recruitment poster for the army. Starched utilities with a crease so sharp you could slice a finger off if you weren't careful. Boots so shiny, you could use them as a mirror to shave. Aviators' sunglasses that reflected your image back at you. He had every hair in place, every crease was perfect, and not a thing was out of place. I don't think this guy even sweated, you know, the "perfect" leader.

He came up to me, looked me up and down and started reading me the riot act. It seems that I didn't meet the standards of the United States Armed Forces, Viet Nam according to his views. I was a disgrace to the Marines and the United States. I should be put up on charges for appearing the way I was out in public! He was going to see that I went to jail for my crime! What was my crime! Well, believe it or not, I had just come out of the bush, a place where if you got one meal a day you were lucky. A place where there weren't any laundries to make sure the crease on your trousers was starched and perfect, in fact, I barely had any trousers. Mine had rotted through enough that I had to sew the inseam with communications wire to keep everything from falling out (and I mean everything!). My boots were almost worn out; I didn't have a utility shirt on, only a dirty T-shirt that was so dirty that when it got wet and you wrung it out, the water ran brown. I hadn't shaved in a couple of days, no bath for a week or so, and my hair was getting a little long. Oh yes, don't forget a flack jacket, helmet, and a loaded .45.

Well, it seems that I had a little bit of an attitude in those; my younger days and I really didn't feel like taking a ration of sh!t from this officer. While he was chewing my a$s, my hand started to move, without any thought from me, towards my .45. I had just lifted the flap of the holster when a hand grabbed my wrist from behind. It was a Marine Officer of an even higher rank that had been standing there listening to all of this. He asked me what unit I was with, what I was doing there, and where I was supposed to be. After I answered all of his questions, he told me to go about my business. I gave a look that would make the NVA think about going home at the Army Officer and left. As I was walking away, I heard the Marine Officer reading the other officer the riot act and telling him how lucky he was. I think I would have blown that officer away if I hadn't been stopped.

After all, he was only Army!
Richard Constabl
USMC Lima 3/7
Semper Fi

Ex-Marine Kills 300-Pound Bear With Log
The Incident Is the Latest in a String of Bear Attacks
By D. Aileen Dodd
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/22/07

It's a feat of bravery worth boasting of on a T-shirt: Chris Everhart clobbered a black bear to save his three sons.

"He killed a bear with his bare hands," bragged Everhart's oldest boy, Jake.

Yes, his bare hands and a sturdy piece of firewood thrown just right. And that's no campfire tale.

The male bonding trip to the Chattahoochee National Forest near Helen on Father's Day weekend is one this family won't soon forget. It was Everhart's first camping trip with his sons outside the wilderness of their Norcross backyard.

Everhart had planned on spending some quiet time with his sons —- Jake, 11, Kyle, 9, and Logan, 6. But their vacation at Low Gap Creek campground was interrupted when a hungry 275-pound female black bear showed up after dinner was served. Everhart's heroism in the 30 seconds that followed thrust the unassuming AT&T technician and former Marine into the national spotlight.

"I was doing what any parent would do," shrugged Everhart, a rugged outdoorsman. "Heroes are firefighters jumping out of burning buildings. I just got lucky."

The family was roasting marshmallows when their unexpected guest arrived. It was about 9:30 p.m. Saturday. The fish weren't biting that day, but the bears were out. The clanging of pots and pans could be heard for miles as people tried to scare off the animals.

So when the Everharts heard some rustling near their cooler they jumped to their feet. The dad picked up some pots and pans to bang. Everhart's most adventurous boy, Logan, 6, grabbed a large shovel and charged at the animal.

"He was like a knight with a spear," said Jake.

The bear was trying to slip away with the cooler in her teeth.

"Once the bear saw Logan, he dropped the cooler and started coming at Logan," Everhart said. "[The bear] was growling."

Everhart quickly ran to his truck and grabbed the first thing he could get his hands on —- a hefty piece of firewood. He said his pistol and his hunting knife were packed away.

He hurled the log and knocked the bear in the head. The hungry heavyweight went down in one blow.

Everhart's boys stood frozen in their tracks as the animal fell.

"I'm a pistol shooter," Everhart said. "The hand-eye coordination is all the same thing."

He rushed his boys inside his Jeep to take cover. But the bear remained quiet.

Campers nearby ran to the scene. Department of Natural Resources officials came soon after.

Investigators had come to the campgrounds to arrest another man who tried to run down a bear with his car. Officials said he was charged with a DUI.

The investigators told Chris Everhart that his bear was dead and carted it away. Everhart and other

21 Jun 2007
Printable Version Online Catalog
Sgt Grit Newsletter
Responding to JMA Cpl, 1979-1983. I also served from '79-83 in Hawaii. I'd bet anything you were in the 3rd Marines. And your training area was the Kahukus. I know that place well. Probably my fondest moment was returning to K-Bay in the back of a deuce full of dirty, tired grunts. A pickup truck with a couple rednecks followed for awhile, then sped past us. Up the road away, at a stop sign they pulled over. As we stopped, they chucked two six-packs of cold beer up into the truck. I never seen 12 beers disappear so quickly.
Thank you guys whoever you are.
Sgt G.Mckruit G. 2/3 1Mar.Bgde 80-83



Couldn't Understand
Reading letters from former Marines does bring back memories. We remember the good times and kind of forget the bad times. I was in Korea in 53 just after the cease fire. I was transferred from E-2-5 to Bn Supply.
It was not of my choosing, but in the long run a good move. I remember the exchange of prisoners, both ours and theirs. I stood guard duty on the main road leading to Freedom Bridge & Freedom Village. What was remarkable was that the North Koreans & Chinese were issued new clothing for the exchange. As the convoys passed us they pelted us with shoes & clothing and arrived at their release point claiming that this was the way be treated them by taking the clothes off their backs. It was a shame that most of them couldn't understand our language, but I believe they got the message of what the middle finger stood for.
Jack Nolan 1131869 (1950-1957)

Through Their Enlistments
Sgt Grit,

I've been reading your Newsletter for a long time. Some times I'd see names or subjects that ring a bell. Within the last few months, you've run a number of comments or add-ons regarding the All Arizona Platoon, Platoon 354, in 1964. Those articles opened up my memory from way back in my mind. You see, I was one of those that had the Honor of representing the Great State of Arizona in a special State Platoon, that wasn't very common back then. My memories, unlike many others, of boot camp have become vague over the years. I guess your mind covers up or filters away certain parts of your growing up that you'd rather not remember. Charles Hightower's comments on the names of our DI's blew through my mind like a fresh breeze. Prior to his comments, I couldn't have told you any one of their names. Just vague outlines of them and things that they did. I believe it was Sgt Cohen, who loved to demonstrate his knockout abilities by putting his fist about 1 or 2 inches in front of a recruit's face, and drive his arm forward, without any draw-back, and knock the unlucky recruit out cold. He had been some kind of Champion body builder in the past, and loved to do this "event" frequently. I do know his next Platoon, which he picked up just before we graduated, happened to have a couple of "special" Koreans in it for training as recruits. Now Sgt Cohen didn't like Asians, and almost immediately pulled his event on one of the Koreans. Trouble was, the guy didn't go down. Turns out that both the Koreans were Sergeants Major in the Korean Marines, and wanted to see actually how our boot camp compared to theirs, the hard way, without the knowledge of the DIs. They both were Black Belts in Korean Martial Arts, so it doesn't take a Brain Surgeon to figure out what the "cause and effect" was. I never heard the final story of how bad Sgt Cohen was "taught" respect by the Sergeant Major, but I know it was just a blur to everyone else standing there.

Hightower! You remember the "cry baby" we had for a number of weeks beginning boot camp? He couldn't do anything right, and was as weak as a baby. Even Midnight "thumpings" by the Platoon didn't make him come around. He just disappeared one day (the only recruit dropped from our Platoon), and nothing else was said about him. Turned out he had faked his way into the Marine Corps, and was only 15 years old. I was just glad we hadn't been at the Rifle Range with him, cause he would've surely blown his brains out there.

I've often wondered how many of the original Platoon members made it through their enlistments. Vietnam was getting hot n heavy, and losses were heavy. I was one of the lucky one's that didn't go immediately after MOS training. I waited a couple of years before I volunteered to go, and made some rank before reporting to Vietnam. That was the longest year of my life, but I got out without a scratch. Can't say the same for my helmet and flak jacket. I've still got a couple big pieces of metal that my protective gear stopped from hitting me.

I spent just short of 22 years on active duty, then went to work with the Department of the Navy, as the Marine Corps Casualty Coordinator for WestPac. Eight years after that I joined the "Riffed" line and really became a civilian. The Marine Corps gave me everything a man needs to succeed in life and a career. Those that followed our foot steps are every bit as good as we were, if not more so. So when one of us "ole timers" sees a modern day Marine, we see ourselves in days gone by. Even today I some times wish I was young enough to get back in the "game" again.

SEMPER FI to all my fellow Marines (male and female).

Robert Eisenreich (AKA: Ike)
1stSgt, USMC (Ret.) 1964 - 1985

No Come Off
While station at Cp Hansen, I was having a drink after dinner one evening when this Captain setting next to me told me the story of getting the commode in his bathroom cleaned properly. Seems it had developed some unsightly yellow rings. So he ask his maid to clean it properly. She advised him she had tried and rings "no come off". He said he instructed her to a brush. Over the next week or so the rings started to fade. He said that while in his quarters during lunch that day, he noted that the rings were gone, so he called the maid and ask how she had accomplish the task.

She told him that she use brush and cleaner that she had purchased in Ken Ville. "Work very good" she said. He told her how pleased he was and ask that she show him. He said she left and came back with a can of power with instructions in Japanese, and a symbol that turned out to be a skull and cross bones. She then retrieved his tooth brush put powder on it and started scrubbing. Where upon he said he d*mn near lost his cookies

After downing the balance of his drink he said "You know, I had noticed that my tooth brush was always wet, but I just thought that she was running it under water when she cleaned the bathroom". I use that d*mn brush two/three times a day. Now I have the cleanest commode in Camp and I am waiting for my GD teeth to fall out" A few others heard this story and every one, except the poor Captain cracked up.

JACK T. DARBY
Major, USMC (Ret)
096494 and 1358700
Jan 1950/Aug 1976

Out Of The Corps
I've been out of the Corps for over 30 years and always wanted a tat to show my pride. I worked in a very dirty place and all cuts got infected. I retired last year after 30 years and got this a month later. I couldn't think of anything that said "Marine Corps" any louder than this!
Roger Serpette
Sgt. 70/74
Semper Fi

Down The Alley
Sgt. Grit:
I have a hang-up with numbers; I remember phone numbers going back many, many years, but I suppose the easiest number was my service number issued in March, 1949: 1 043 043. I have no idea what any of my rifle numbers were; either M1s, or M14s, though.
While I was stationed at MCAS, Yuma from October 1964, to March 1967, a new bowling alley was constructed and the CO, Colonel Joe McGlothlin, was to officially open it, by rolling the first ball down the alley. Unknown to the CO, a new, undrilled ball, was returned to him for the spare shot. Needless to say, everyone really broke up, when the CO couldn't find any holes for his fingers and thumb.
I always said, the last place I wanted to be assigned was HQMC, and it was, I retired in January 1970.
James R. McMahon
Hendersonville, TN
Gunnery Sergeant of Marines

He Flashed His Light
I guess my favorite sea story occurred while I was a young Grunt with the 4th Marines in Hawaii back in about 1962. We had been doing the unthinkable...drinking in the squad bay. My little Cajun buddy Ralph Dagle ad been getting really hammered and was snooping and pooping around, over and under the bunks and footlockers when Taps sounded. We were still pretty well wired and laughing our butts off about Ralph's antics when the OD came in to do his squad bay check. He made it about 15 feet into the squad bay, just where it started to get really dark. He evidently heard a noise from on top of the wall locker. He flashed his light up to check it out. There was Ralph, on hands and knees, bare a**naked on top of the wall locker growling at him. The ODs only remark was "Well, I guess you guys are safe tonight."
We also pulled one of the best pranks while in the 4th. A Corporal would sleep in and we would all hang for his sloth. We decided to fix him and brake him from his wicked ways. He slept in a single bunk toward the end of the squad bay closest to the stairway going to the battalion parade ground. Slept real heavy too. He woke up still in his bunk at morning formation in the middle of the parade ground. The gunny didn't think it was too funny.
Semper Fi
Bob Granberry
1961-1968

Silently Wishing
After our tour in Korea (1950-1951), we boarded a General class ship which was a "liner" compared to the APA's and AKA's on which we had previously served.

Much to me and my buddy's dismay we were assigned to mess duty but were relieved to find that we would be working in the Officer's Mess. Finally, we thought, we are going to be eating good food. WRONG! It seems the Chief of the mess hated Marines and called us every name in the book that he had ever learned in his 20+ years, except Marine.

We we're allowed to eat after his spit and polished galley had been thoroughly cleaned. And the food that we were fed was not what the officers had dined on.

This was two weeks of h&ll and we were silently wishing to be returned to Korea for an extended tour or to find some way for "pay backs".

Since we we're docking in the morning in Oakland the last meal the officers ate was steak and eggs. Of course, we got our usual bowl of cold oatmeal and a piece of dry toast. The chief told us that we were to report back to our unit after breakfast.

While the Chief was proudly standing by his spit and polish galley receiving handshakes from the officers for the outstanding meals he had served, my buddy went to the "reefer" and stole a dozen or so eggs, put them in a pot with just enough water to cover them and turned the burner on high. This allowed us just enough time to make a strategic withdrawal to our unit.

We returned to the galley area, along with a few hundred other Marines just as the water boiled out and the eggs began exploding. It sounded like a barrage of "incoming".

You can imagine the mess it made when those eggs exploded. The chief's spit and polish galley was covered from overhead, to bulkhead, to deck with egg and shell "shrapnel". And it smelled like an uncovered slit trench.

The moral to this story? Never under-estimate the retaliatory efforts of a Marine, whatever his rank.

Thank you Chief.

J Robertson (48-51) One of the Few, the, the Retaliatory Marines.

To Talk To Me
Hey Sarge!

Always enjoy the articles you publish. I joined the Corps during the war in Korea...served my 8 years on active and reserve duty...partly with the 1stMarDiv and then with AirFMFPac at El Toro. In response to the Marine who spoke of "Old Corps" traditions, i.e,. service numbers and button colors, I still have my USMC green dress blouse...with BLACK buttons. I never saw one with brown buttons. I still have several buttons from my Dad's uniform from WWI...they are black. He served with the Marines from 1916-1919...did his boot camp stint at Groton, CN., I guess prior to PI being activated as a training camp. Then I have a younger bro who served with the 3dMarDiv during VietNam.

When I was stationed at El Toro in the G-1...MG Christian F. Schilt was the CG. This gentleman had the CMH...received it as a young 1Lt in Quilali, Nicaragua, c. 1924. He flew his bi- plane into the streets under cross fire...brought in ammo and food to the grunts and then tied wounded onto the wings of his craft and flew out. He did this 5 times....really a fine Marine! I was proud to have known him and served under his Command. One day in G-1...where I was the NCOIC of Overseas and CONUS assignments...and had access to the Marine Corps General Orders...a MSgt walked into my office and asked to use my phone. I recognized his name....MSgt Clemons, I think...he was on orders from HQMC to go to MAG-13 at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. After he got on my phone he turned to me and said that there was an officer that wanted to talk with me. I grabbed the phone and stated..."Sgt Morrell speaking, sir"...the response was..."Sarge, this is General Shepherd"...I flew out of my chair at attention...Gen Lemuel Shepherd was Commandant of the Corps! He told me he was sending me a naval dispatch at 1300 hours modifying MSgt Clemons orders to read..."when he feels like it, he can go to Hawaii"...it turns out that MSgt Clemons was Gen Shepherd's drill instructor when he was in boot camp. MSgt Clemons had more hash marks than he had room for on his greens. I will never forget that conversation!

As a post script to the conversation concerning ex-Marines (who have PCS to guard the streets of heaven) and "former" Marines....I am neither....I am a Marine and always will be. Once a Marine, always a Marine!

Enough scuttlebutt for now. Keep those cards and letters coming! Semper Fi!

Lawrence D. Morrell, Ph.D.
Sgt USMC Korea

Wasting My Folks Money
In March of 1966, I was a nineteen year old college student wasting my folks money and my time and had visited the Air Force recruiters office, taken the tests and was waiting to be sent to AFEES in Atlanta for entry. One Friday afternoon, I was driving around the court house square in Dublin and noticed the Marine Corps "A" frame sign, remembered the number and called the recruiter when I got home. Saturday morning he was sitting at my dining room table and Monday I was on the bus for Atlanta - delayed enlistment until May 12th. That night is when I saw the yellow footprints in front of receiving barracks, MCRD, Parris Island. The next day, we were picked up as Platoon 184, C Company, First Bn with SSgt Paul A Rossano as SDI and Sgt Leslie Clark (can't remember the other DI but he was first class - made me squad leader). Boot camp was eight weeks then, due to the Vietnam war. I received a steam burn on my left hand while on mess duty, spent a couple of weeks in the Naval Hospital at Beaufort, a few days in Hospital Platoon and then joined Platoon 199, B Company just before the rifle range. Senior DI was SSgt Mullins along with Sgt. Young and Sgt. Shrewsberry, all outstanding Marines. Just wanted to thank Rossano, Clark, (?), Mullins, Young and Shrewsberry for making me a Marine. No other mentor, professor, coworker or friend has had the effect on me that these men had and almost forty-one years later, these thanks are long overdue. I would very much like to hear from any of these men along with anyone in 184 and 199.

Ronald K. Bell

Nope
We were given Service Numbers in 1969. Mine is still memorized (258 52 26), and, believe we switched to SSN in 1970. Anyway, in 1970, I approached a Master Gunnery Sergeant at IIIMAF, Camp Courtney, Okinawa. He had 35 years active duty. I asked him if he was "Old Corps". His reply, "Nope, that was before my time"......
Jim Beck
Sgt. USMC
1969 - 1972

Marines Wear Trousers
Here's one for ya. This is no sea story. I received my draft notice at age 26 while serving in the Army, 1st Bn 28th Infantry, Black Lions, 1st Infantry Division, Phuoc Vinh, RVN. To make it doubly ridiculous is the fact that I'd already served a four year tour in the Marines, Mar. 59 - Mar 63. I wrote a very polite letter to the draft board telling them I would be more than happy to report for my physical if they could talk the Army into letting me out of Vietnam about seven months short of my 12 month tour. I never did receive a reply.

Went to PI and don't recall any yellow footprints, but that may be because I was so busy trying to keep from soiling my pants ( that's right, pants. Only Marines wear trousers. Pants are worn by sailors and split-tails. ) while several insane monsters, wearing Smokey Bear hats, were screaming at us to get off " their bus! " Plt. 317, Nissen huts, Mar - Jun ' 59. They were constructing brick buildings while I was there, but those civilians sure were taking their time about it. I mean, they didn't work just because it was raining, what kind of civilian s&&t is that ??

Tattoos: when I was in the Corps it was considered a Navy sailor kind of thing to have numerous or ornate tattoos. The most I ever saw on a Marine was four, two bluebirds (one above each nipple) and two black panthers (one clawing its way up each forearm.) Back in the day you couldn't see any tattoos, unless the Marine had one on his hand (which was very rare) because there was no such thing as a short sleeved shirt in the Corps. As far as one of those tats climbing up ones neck, they just weren't in vogue.

EGA: Never heard this until a couple of years ago, it was always Eagle, Globe and Anchor, never initials. We received ours prior to final inspection in Boot Camp, one for our pee cutter and two to put on the collar of our Troops. You know, Tropical worsted; shirt, trousers and cover. ( In the Army they were called TW's.)

Semper Fi: I heard or read a story about CMC being told by a wounded Marine, "Semper Fi." I got a laugh out of that one because when I was in the Corps it meant " Screw you, buddy." Semper Fidelis and Semper Fi meant entirely different things, back then.

That's enough for this installment so I'll sign off.

Kirk J. James, Cpl 1841667, 0341 ( 81's) Mar 59 - Mar 63 USMC
Sgt 12724303 11Bravo Dec 64 - Nov 67 US Army

Only Unsuccessful Assault In Marine Corps History
I am sorry to admit that my stay at the E-club may have aided the only known Marine assault that was a semi failure. During the summer of 1965 or was in 1966 (I'm getting old) I was with the 6th Engineer Battalion, USMCR undergoing amphibious training at Coronado, CA. This training was prior to our transport to San Clemente Island to perform various construction projects.

While at Coronado I noticed a pen near our Quonset huts that housed a goat. There was a building near the goat with two sailors and a flood light that was on the goats cage at night.

I inquired as to the reason a goat was housed with apparent security and was advised by the sailors that the goat the navy mascot and was to be used in an upcoming parade. I thought I saw an opportunity to enhance Marine / Navy inter service rivalry.

I presented my idea to Marines, McDermott, Miyake and others whose names I do not recall. The idea had over whelming acceptance. We reconnoitered the area and found that the pen housing the goat was temporary and not secured, it simply rested on the ground. We decided that Miyake, being very agile (2nd degree black belt in judo) could climb to the roof of the building and take out the flood light. When the lights went out the rest of us (number of participants had now climbed to over a dozen) would rush the pen, pick up one side and while the rest held up the pen a couple of Marines would sn*tch the goat.

The plan sounded fool proof, two sailors guarding a goat, what are they going to do? Nothing. After all we're UNITED STATES MARINES. Assault is what we do.

On the night of the assault, as we were to leave aboard an LST the following morning for San Clemente Island, we retired to the E- club to celebrate our upcoming fool proof plan. We had the cooperation of our NCO's, as they had arranged to provide us with a six-by to transport the goat on board the LST. We planned to release the goat on San Clemente to join the hundreds of other goats on the island.

It was a festive night as we knew we could not fail. The beer flowed freely, too freely. I awoke the next morning to hear about the assault, I had apparently consumed too many beers to be woke, as had most of the others. A few had remained sober enough to attempt the assault but encountered one aspect we had not envisioned in our plan, the Navy's communication system.

When the Few and the Proud approached the goat area the sailors simply called the shore patrol. Multiple shore patrol units arrived and the assault was repulsed.

The only saving factor was that two Marines, whom I don't recall as part of the assault plan, were able to obtain the Navy flag from the flag pole and it made it's way to San Clemente with the unit. However while on there island a Navy plane landed and the Navy demanded the flag. It was returned after threats of disciplinary action. The plane and demand for the flag's return fortunately occurred before the flag was cut. The two Marines that had the flag had decided that the only fair way to decide who would keep the trophy would be to cut it in half.

It was actually a great training lesson. Never forget the enemy's communication.

Dan Corum
Corporal USMCR
1963-1969

Busted For Staying
Here is a story from Camp Schwab. I loved it there and we were given two sea bags of 782 gear for 'Nam.

During Christmas 1967, a platoon of us spent a month at Camp Schwab, Okinawa. We were given no Liberty or money to run into Henico (sp) the little town close by. Our records hadn't caught up so we got a "flying $20" every so often.

They believed busy Marines are happy Marines. We had work details everyday including cutting the grass at the Japanese women employees quarters. Some of us became experts at dodging work details. You could go to the MARS station and call home by Ham Radio, or sneak off and run down to the beaches and swim. We found the beach house that rented sail boats, or loaned fishing gear. My buddy caught a foot long Moray Eel and I caught a poisonous Lion Fish. No more swimming for us. We just watched the Sea Cucumbers.

We got busted for staying in the mess hall and missing morning muster. Confined to barracks, I checked finding my name not on any cancelled liberty list. I went to the Enlisted man's Club and ran into the Sergeant. I don't know who's eyes were bigger. He put a chaser with me to ensure I scrubbed the shower with a toothbrush.
Larry Tooley

Their Cousins
My wife and I were at our grandson's baseball game the other day and she was being bothered by some kind of little bug. She asked me why they weren't bothering me and I told her they knew better than to bother me because their cousins told them that I was at Parris Island and I could not be effected by them. Semper Fi
Ralph Doherty (Sgt. 57-66)

Simply Shook His Head
Sgt Grit,
I enjoy your news letters, especially reading some of the funny sea stories submitted by your faithful readers. I decided to tell a little story of my own:

I was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Tustin just prior to the base being closed in the mid-90s and worked in Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 16, Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Shop as a 6073 (Aviation Support Equipment Electrician). One fine Marine Corps morning we received a case of common rubbing alcohol from supply. No one was sure who ordered the alcohol or for what purpose so we decided to have a little fun with it. One of the brainiacs in our shop soon discovered that rubbing alcohol was highly flammable and decided that it would make the perfect "weapon". Being in the Air Wing, the only time we got to fire any weapons was during our annual qualification at the rifle range so we decided to conduct a little "field training" of our own. We located several empty spray bottles and proceeded to fill them with the rubbing alcohol. Now armed to the teeth, we divided ourselves into groups of "hostiles" and "friendlies" and took up strategic positions around the compound. Suddenly. all heck broke loose as us "good guys" attacked the well dug in positions of the "enemy". Fire was every where and all of us were getting hit pretty badly. Despite the heavy fire, we overran the hostile forces and victory soon followed. Afterwards, all of us soaked to the bone in rubbing alcohol we decided to call it quits and take a smoke break. (Here's where things got interesting) One of the guys decided to amuse himself by dipping his finger in a bottle of rubbing alcohol and lighting it on fire, his version of a human torch. After a pretty cool pyrotechnics display, his finger began to get a little warm and he tried to blow it out. Well, as hard as he blew the flame on his finger would not go out. In a panic, he tries to put his finger out on his pant leg, which is soaked in rubbing alcohol. See where this is going??? His pants now on fire, we jump on him to smother the flames, of course forgetting that we ourselves are also doused in alcohol. To make a long story short, we managed to put the flames out and escape any injuries. After checking ourselves over to make sure all body parts were still intact we began to laugh at our stupidity. It was then that I looked up and noticed our XO standing across the compound, enjoying his morning coffee and cigar. He had witnessed the entire episode. I could tell he wanted to come over and chew us new ones but with cigar and hand and a bunch of rubbing alcohol-soaked Marines, he thought better of it. He simply shook his head and pretended not to see a thing. Phew....
Those were the days!

A huge Semper Fi to all my brothers and sisters fighting the good fight at this moment. I know s**t is deep for you but I hope that reading stories like this one helps you to remember better times of your own. Stay safe and know that we here at home are behind you 100%

Sgt. Steve Chargois
1996-2000
Once a Marine, always a Marine!

Letters From A Buddy
It was the spring of 1966 when a buddy and I decided to enlist in the Corps. We arrived at MCRD San Diego in April of 1966, and were assigned to PLT 1001, 1st Bn.

Sometime during the first few weeks of our stay, we were invited to join the D.I.s in the Duty Hut. This was accomplished by a scream of "Barnett and Cornell, get your a##es in here. NOW !". Repeated in chorus by the entire platoon.

As I ran to the hatch of the duty hut, I was met by my buddy, flying backwards out the hatch. He had forgotten to knock and request permission to enter. After we had untangled ourselves and properly asked to enter, we were standing tall in front of our junior D. I., a Corporal at the time. He was holding two letters in his hand and if not literally foaming at the mouth then doing a very nice imitation of a mad dog. He proceeded to use language that only a Marine recruit would understand, to inform us that he had been to the base post office to get letters that had been sent to us. These letters had been sent by another "buddy" of ours who had enlisted several months prior to us and was doing sea duty on board USS Galveston , somewhere in the south pacific. He had addressed these letters in a manner that, was sure to attract attention to Pvts Barnett and Cornell, and not in a positive way..

Our D.I. proceeded to speak to us for several minutes regarding our friends, family and heritage. He also informed us of the necessitates of providing the proper address, etc. if we expected to receive mail. Again this was all done using language common to only a Marine D.I.

He then requested we open our letters which he had been so kind to hand deliver to us and advise him of the contents. My buddies letter read.." Jack, F##k You. Bob." . My letter read "Rick, F##k you too. Bob.

Needless to say that this unleashed another tirade form our D.I. He demanded to know who the @#$%$#^ was that would send such a missive. Being good Marine recruits (and scared half to death) we immediately "gave up" our friend.. who had wisely not included a return address. We were then politely requested to write our friend and advise him that such letters were not appropriate communication between fellow Marines and that if our D.I. ever had the opportunity, he would like to discuss the finer points of letter writing with our friend.

This all happened over 40 years ago and we are all still friends and have had many laughs over the "Letters from a buddy". Though later, while going thru schools Bn. At MCRD, my buddy , Bob, did visit me, I didn't introduce him to my former D.I.

Barnett, R.M.
2278158
LCPL, U.S.M.C.
1966 / 1968.

Dear John Letter
Sgt Grit:
I was in platoon #491 at MCRD in 1952 ... we were probably the last platoon to get khaki's and also the first to get "tropicals" ... the last platoon to get 2 pair 6" boondockers (with leggings worn during 4 weeks infantry training at Tent Camp #2), and the first to get 2 pair of the black combat boots ... the last to get the WWII metal USMC buttons on dungaree jackets. (Donated to the Gold Star Museum at Camp Dodge, Johnston, Iowa. Give your "precious stuff" to museums so your next of kin won't have to deal with the problem.) I also gave my "Dear John" letter received after 2 months in Korea to the Museum, (in 1999), and the Curator checked and said it was only the 3rd Dear John he could find in existence in War Museums in the World. (Both pair of boondockers had to be re-soled/heeled near the end of boot camp, a week before we graduated. I well remember the DI's yelling: "Heels! Heels Heels!") All this was before the maltreatment BS that came later! When I reached Treasure Island upon returning from Korea ... I was offered another stripe if I would be a DI at Dago ... I told them: "NO, because, if I treated recruits they way my boot platoon had been treated ... I'd be court-martialed."
PS: One of my dungaree jackets issued in boot camp had the herringbone pattern with the "grenade pockets" .... also donated to the museum.
Sgt JJ Kramer 52-55

Married An Actress
Sgt. Grit,
My junior DI at Parris Island was pulled from DI duty to play the role as Jack Webb's assistant in the Movie The DI. His name was Cpl. John G. Brown, the meanest sh*t we had encountered on PI. needless to say we were glad when he failed to show up and a new Jr. DI had replaced him, we did not know what happened to him until after graduation. He got out of the Corps after the movie and married an actress he met in Hollywood. He was the Buck Sgt. that interrogated the fire watch. There are recruits in Marines from our platoon and earlier platoons that would like to find him today.
Carl Fishel, Sgt. USMC

Over Texas
Once upon a time there was a Captain at Cherry Point, NC who was a pilot of the new A6A Intruders that we had just acquired from the Navy at Oceania, VA. This Captain liked to be a semi-hard ^ss to a few of the enlisted Marines in the squadron. One night before the squadron was to fly across country to Yuma for training in the dessert a certain enlisted Marine went out to the Captain's aircraft and shorten the relief tube that is attached to the middle of the ejection seat between the pilot's legs. This tube has an elongated funnel on the end and is what the pilot uses to relieve himself on long flights or when the need may arise. Some where over Texas the next day after refueling in the air and maybe taking a drink of water the Captain had need to use this relief tube. He could get it unlatched but with the tube being shortened about 6 to 9 inches it just would not reach up beyond the top of the seat. Needless to say in trying to use the relief tube the Captain wet him self considerably. And the B/N sitting in the right hand seat could not but witness the hilarious episode. Once this news leaked out Captain "Shorty" as he was nicknamed by a few, seem to be considerably more friendly and easy to get along with. To this day the name of the Marine who shorten the relief tube is safe with me.
Sgt. Marty Maners USMC 1963-1967
Semper Fi

Paint Overs
I read your newsletter with a lot of interest and amusement. The "old timers" who contribute rekindle memories of the terrors that befell us at that island many years ago. They bring a lot of laughs among the group that assemble at the Marine Corps League every Friday night. I don't know if they still use terms like yardbird, skinhead, tie-ties, clothes line watch, sand pit and mess duty anymore, but there have been times when I think many of us could write a book on the experiences from the early 50s era. I'm sure those who came later feel the same way, Some of the experiences mentioned bring back memories that I've long forgotten. The letter written about using ink to put stripes on the sleeves of utilities brought a smile to my face. Some of those jobs on the sleeves were pretty bad. The paint overs after promotion were especially bad. While at ITR at Pendleton, I even saw some who put a small X over the top of their PFC stripe to show they had been busted. I saw a Lieutenant jumping all over one of the bustees in a chow line and the practice stopped, and the blacked out stripe had all appeal of one who had just come out of the brig. I don't know if stamping of clothing with the rubber marker is still used, but a buddy from the League tells the story of a recruit in a group following instructions from the DI, stamping his name on the outside of the back of his shirt collar instead of the inside, and it wasn't noticed until the platoon was readying for final inspection. All of us can imagine the interest stimulated in the DI. I don't think skinhead, yardbird or orifice were used in this encounter. Keep those tidbits coming. Semper Fi to all you one time Sbirds out there.
Frank Athis PI Class of 52

Yakking It Up
Sgt. Grit,
Just recalling some things when stationed at H&MS 36, MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan in 1978-1979.

I worked in the van complex near headquarters and the barracks where we lived was on the opposite side of the runway. So usually you had to go a mile and a half around the runway to get to the complex. During the day there were cattle cars and buses to shuttle you over but we were working the graveyard shift. So many times we had to walk it. The runway lights were usually off by the time we were leaving for work so it was much easier to just cut across the runway for a 1/4 mile walk even though that was forbidden. We were never noticed except by the dog at the firehouse. There was one night we didn't chance it though. Jimmy Carter was visiting Okinawa and Air Force One was parked on the runway. We thought it might not be a good idea to be walking around the runway in the dark that night.

Another time one of the guys in the shop was fixing some two-way radios and wanted me to help him test them. So he stayed inside the van complex while I walked out and headed over to the Red Baron, a small sandwich shop with some other goodies, on that side of the flight line. We were yakking it up on the radios and using some "colorful" language back and forth. Suddenly a Cpl from the firehouse comes on the radio and says we're using the frequency for the firehouse and to watch the language. I tell him sorry and we keep talking as I'm walking back. Now a MSgt from the firehouse comes on the radio and starts chewing me out for using an emergency frequency. Then he says he wants my name, rank, and serial number. He doesn't know who I am or where I am so I'm not about to tell him anything. Then my friend I was talking to is hearing my side of the conversation but not the MSgt's. He comes on the radio and says, "Hey Hower, who are you talking to?" I didn't want the MSgt to hear that! So I pushed the emergency alert button to transmit a high pitched squeal until I got back to the van complex to block anything my friend was saying until I could shut him up. I heard the MSgt say when I finally let go of the emergency button, "Very Funny". They never caught us.

SSgt Rick Hower
1977-1981, 1987-1993

Korea 51-525
Sgt Grit
A friend on mine gave me this Post Card from USAA. It is a Memorial Service held after the Bn came off line. Each time we would come back to a Reserve Area we would hold a Service for all the Marines we lost in the last engagements.

I would guess that the Marines at Present Arms were the Squad or Fire Team Leaders representing the KIA. I did not know if you would like it and maybe add it to your News Letter or a filler for one of your Catalogs.

Semper Fi.
Floyd D. Newkirk, Wpns. Co. 1st Bn 1st Reg Korea 51-52
June 21, 1951 1st Bn 5th Reg 1st Div Me. Service 001

Finding The Holy Grail
I enlisted in Jan 61 and was issued and allowed to wear the emblem from day one. It took 13 weeks to earn it but we were allowed to wear it. We were the last series to wear the emblems on the collar 's of the tropical uniforms in our Boot Plt photo's at Dago. Plt 1015 series honor Plt. There were still a lot of the: OLD CORPS' emblem's around and finding one was like finding the holy grail. Same as finding a serviceable set of Herringbone utilities. To me the Old Corps is the Marines who were in at the time of the old rank structure E-3 Cpl ,E-4 Sgt , E-5 S/Sgt etc. I still call myself a boot because it was drummed into us at the time (46 years ago) That there was the" Old Corps, The New Corps, And Now this Sh-t" And that we were so low that we had to look up to see whale shi-t on the bottom of the ocean. The only thing lower than a Marine recruit was a sailor recruit.
Semper Fi
Sgt Doyle Clark
1961-69
B-1-1
2nd cag
Rvn 67-68

Con Thien
Back in 10 November of 1967, 2/9 was in the Con Thien area. The mess hall delivered, to the field, the biggest birthday cake I had ever seen. It was on a 3/4" sheet of plywood and had to be carried by eight Marines, due to its weight. The CO made sure every Marine got a peace of it.
During the cake eating the CO promoted several officers. One in particular was promoted to Captain. After the usual words were given the CO, still with a straight face, told him he was to be transported back to the rear on the truck that brought the cake. Once there he was to report to the medical office for a much needed surgery procedure. We were all shocked at this because there did not seem to be anything wrong with the Capt. The CO then explained the procedure to be performed. "Sir, you will have 9 sq. inches removed from your stomach area. In that space you will have a 1/2" sheet of Plexiglas inserted. This will enable you to see when your head is up your a**." We had a good laugh on that one.
It is also interesting that I often find people who need that operation.

John Halpin
2/9 Viet-Nam

Hail Of 30-06
Not all the training pranks were in the enlisted ranks. We were on the Quantico range for BAR familiarization as part of our 1-57 Basic School. We moved back to the 500 yard mark and someone noticed that there was a trooper style Gunny hat at the 200 yard mark. Word spread quickly. When the word came to Commence Fire, the hat disappeared in a hail of 30-06 rounds. Everyone on the line got the pleasure of making a cash donation for a replacement. Not all the lessons learned that day were from DI's
Ron Donahue Lt.1-57 [50th Reunion Aug 23]

"Old Corps" and "New Corps"
Dear Grit,

How's this for a "dividing line between "Old Corps" and "New Corps" I was in when we had steel pot helmets, 1911 A1 .45s, and plain green flak vests, M-16 auto riflemen, and M115 jeeps, that's old Corps to me. Now it's Fritzs, 9mm, camo vests, SAWs and Hummers, that would be considered new Corps to me.

Got a question to throw out to the faithful, when I was in, the steel pot helmet was used as a wash basin, cooking pot, barf bucket (I always got sick riding in the back of tracks) and seat, what do you use for those things now? Can't cook in the Kevlar ones, can you?

Always Faithful,
Doc Lunsford
G 2/9

Without Hesitation
To: L.A. Whalen's post concerning the EGA. Yes, SOME reservist did not go through boot camp when we were called up in July '50. If you had certain, defined requirements, you HAD TO GO to Korea, as they needed live warm bodies, quick, to fill out the Division so they could make Inchon. Quite a few in the 11th Marines so qualified and were gone, without hesitation. The rest, ALL went to Diego, to learn how to spell Marine. And don't know about the EGA situation, but do know this, the enemy, when they are shooting at you didn't ask whether you were a regular or anything else, you were in trouble. And a whole bunch of us boots wound up on the lines, 24/7.

And on June 9th, '51, 56 years ago, last Saturday, we lost a good Marine that day that was physically hit, BY A MORTAR ROUND, Alexander, "Baggs" Marchese, and WE REMEMBER!

SF
NC 1108487
C-1-1
Chesty's last regimental command.

Smoker Stand
Great place to relive the past. Ordered a green utility cover, received fast did not think of the changes that must have been made. The NEW Corps cover is lighter weight material, the old was heaver material lighter green color, no sewn-in square corners and had a herringbone pattern. We didn't have the camo utilities. We didn't even have boots till a little later, issues lace up leggings. Had a service number that indicted what an old a salt you were. Boot camp at sand flea heaven, (P.I.) we lived in tents, don't remember the yellow foot prints; do remember a line to toe on upon arrival. Not me but a recruit found smoking by the DI, who was a police officer in Norfolk called up to active duty, had the smoker stand in the middle of the platoon street, with a bucket, a towel and cigar the cigar was lit, bucket over his head the towel around the neck and told to smoke all he wanted..

DEW, SSgt.
1181914
1950-1959

"All Present Or Accounted For, Sir"
Sgt. Grit:

Every lieutenant is convinced that his gunnery sergeant is the best in the Marine Corps, but in my case I think it may be true. Or at least I have a major contender.

After serving an initial officer tour with 3d Tanks, 3d MarDiv, on Okinawa I was transferred in the mid-1970's to Marine Barracks, Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, as a Guard Officer.

I was assigned to Separate Guard Company, Cubi Point Naval Air Station, which had its barracks next to the Seabees up on the hill above the Air Station, just across the road from the Cubi Point Officers' Club.

Separate Guard Co. was a task-organized unit, primarily responsible for providing security for the U.S. Naval Magazine, which at 20+ square miles was the largest American ammunition processing and storage area in the Pacific, and which contained the "go to war" reserve ammo for the Pacific Fleet and the 3d MarDiv as well as munitions for Clark AFB. It also contained a Nuclear Exclusion Area containing special weapons. Separate Guard was the size of a small battalion, commanded by a major with a captain X.O., and consisted of three company-sized platoons commanded by first lieutenants. I commanded 2d Platoon, and Gunnery Sergeant Earl Bartlett was my platoon sergeant.

Gunny Bartlett was a superlative Staff NCO. He had played football for the Marine Corps back in the States, and went into the Reserves and played professional ball as a lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers for a couple of years prior to returning to active duty as a career Marine. He was over six feet tall, Black, weighed about 245 pounds--- none of which was anything but muscle---and had the only perfectly round head I have ever seen. He had a head like a shaved bowling ball; when he wore his utility cover the bill was perfectly straight, not curved down on the corners as usual. He didn't have a neck. His ears kind of sloped down into his axe-handle-wide shoulders and his huge arms, bulging with muscle (He had a very hard time rolling up the sleeves of his utilities, and had to surreptitiously slit the lower seams to make it work.) terminated in hands the size of small hams which hung below his knees. He had a deep bass voice that could be heard, as a result of a tour as a drill instructor, upwind at about a half a mile. And to put the icing on the cake, belying his outward Neanderthal appearance, he was a very bright guy, and had a wicked sense of humor.

Gunny was the most squared-away Marine I ever served with. The Philippines is a very hot and humid place, and he liked to set the example for the troops, so at lunch he would march over to his hooch and "break starch" on a clean set of utilities and don a freshly spit- shined pair of boots for the afternoon. A bachelor, he lived in a room in the Staff NCO Quarters just across the road from our headquarters barracks. He once invited me over to his room. He had put up a long piece of steel water pipe the length of one end of his room and on the pipe hung a dozen starched and pressed utility uniforms. Above them was a shelf containing 12 starched and pressed utility covers. Under them were six pairs of spit-shined combat boots.

I was a married officer on an accompanied tour, but as many of you may know, a permanent assignment to the Philippines was paradise for single Marines. I was always impressed by their stamina. We worked "24 on/24 off" at Separate Guard. The U.S. dollar was worth so much in the P.I in the '70's that two or three enlisted Marines could afford to rent and furnish a house in Oolongapo City outside the gate, hire both a maid/cook and the appropriate number of live-in hookers, and still have money left over to bar-hop practically every night until the midnight curfew chased them home. They would party until midnight, head home and "refresh" their girls until 0200-0300, and then head back in to the base at 0500 to make our 0600 P.T. formation. After calisthenics we would generally run anywhere from 3 to 5 miles... and given that our barracks was at the top of the highest hill in the vicinity, that meant running the back end of the run uphill. Running next to my Marines was like running past the San Miguel Brewery as they sweated out the last evening's consumption, and periodically one of the troops would run to the side of the road and barf up beer into the jungle prior to rejoining the formation.

Morning formation in uniform of the day was at 0745 in the parking lot in front of the Barracks. The company would form up in three platoon blocks fronted by their platoon commanders, and the C.O. would march out and call the formation to attention for Colors and to pass the day's activities, assignments and training schedule. Prior to the C.O.'s arrival the Company Gunny would poll the platoon sergeants for "present for duty" status.

One well-remembered morning, when Gunny Bartlett was checking personnel status with our squad leaders, the third squad leader, Sgt. Etsheidt, reported "one man missing". Gunny asked, "Who?" The squad leader told him that one of his Marines had come in early that morning from town, still drunk out of his mind, had hit the rack, missed P.T. because he couldn't be woken, and when he was woken again just prior to formation said, "F---k it... Tell Gunny I ain't comin'". Gunny Bartlett never missed a beat. He called the platoon to attention, turned over control to the 1st squad leader, did an about face, saluted smartly, and asked, "Sir, permission to be excused for zero 5 mikes?" "Granted, Gunny", I replied.

Now our barracks were non-air-conditioned tropical barracks, which meant they were sturdy steel-reinforced concrete structures that had screened sides with floor-to-ceiling aluminum louvers that could be cranked out to let the breeze through the entire structure or shut to keep out the monsoon rains. My platoon was billeted in four man rooms on the "second deck", which had a set of outside metal fire stairs leading up to the steel door on the end of the barracks. It was these steps that Gunny Bartlett ascended in his quest for the missing Marine. The rest of the platoon had been given "at ease" out on the parking lot, and necks craned back towards the barracks as my Marines followed Gunny's echoing progress up the stairs, through the door, and down the hall towards the miscreant's room. He arrived in the room of the hung-over young Marine---a private who had been assigned to the Marine Barracks right out of Boot Camp and who had only been with the Barracks for about three months---and the second deck of the building reverberated with a series of bellows, clangs and crashes. The Marines in platoon formation cringed as whispered exclamations of "Oh, Sh- t!" were heard. (Gunny was famous for his up- close and personal "counseling sessions" with uncooperative young Marines.) There were further sounds of scuffling heard echoing down the second deck as Gunny and his charge approached the steel fire door at the end of the barracks.

As luck would have it, the major opened the first deck door at the end of the barracks on the way to take the morning formation just as Gunny and his burden reached the door above. There was a resounding "CLANG!" as the steel door was kicked open into the steel railing of the fire stairs, and then a kind of horrible warbling "AAAAAHHHHH!" as the young Marine, who was about 5 feet 9 and 150 pounds, sailed out of the open door gaining altitude as he cleared the railing and fell to the grass at the end of the barracks, clad in one rubber flip- flop and a pair of issue white boxer shorts. He landed right in front of the C.O., on his back, and after a minute of trying to regain his breath, got to his knees and elbows just as Gunny Bartlett marched out of the door and down the stairs, squaring away his military alignment as he came. Gunny made the corner and saw the Skipper standing there with his hands on his hips, looking at the kid on the grass. Gunny snapped of a crisp salute and a "Good morning, Sir!"

The major returned the salute, looked bemusedly at the kid on the grass, looked back at Gunny Bartlett, and said, "Gunny, did I see what I just saw?" Gunny replied, "No sir, the Major didn't". The C.O., nodded and replied, "Very well then, Gunnery Sergeant, carry on.", turned, and walked down the sidewalk out to the formation.

Gunny Bartlett walked over to the Marine, picked him up by the back of the neck and the elastic waist of his skivvy shorts, frog-marched him over to the end of the third squad, planted him next to the last Marine at the end of the file, and with formal facing movements marched to the front of the platoon, called them to attention, did a crisp about face, saluted, and reported, "All present or accounted for, Sir."

I loved the guy. With him as my platoon sergeant I had the easiest job in the Marine Corps.

Don Kaag
LTC, Armor, AUS(Ret.)
...and former Sgt. & Cpt. of Marines

H&ll No
Our Marine Corps League Detachment # 1233, The Fox Valley Marines, marched in the Aurora, IL Memorial Day parade. One of our unit's Marines, 87 years young, Lee, a WWII Marine from Batavia, IL, was having a hard time keeping up, and we keep asking him if he wanted to drop out! He kept saying h&ll no, I will not drop out, and I can make it! We finally had to sit him down and call an ambulance to take him to the end of the parade route! All I have to say is that Lee is one h&ll of a Marine, who would not drop out! Men like Lee are what the Marine Corps is about!

Former. Sgt. Harold E. Withey Jr.( Hal)

Medevac Crew Member
To Doc Byars Sgt Grit #150

Doc, there will Never, be a time in my life that a Corpsman of any era has a door shut in his face. You have earned the right to the EGA, you and others like you have ensured that Marines like me and my fellows could come home. I was a medevac crew member in RVN, (HMM-364 1-67 to 4-69 out of Marble Mountain), I saw what you did, how you did it and D#% it, if you hadn't have done it, the very people that shut the door may not have been able to do it.

SSgt Rod Jerls
Vietnam 1967-1969
U S Marines 1965 - 1978

Out In Public
Sgt. Grit,
I recently found myself at my local mall and came across a site I never thought I'd see. Two Marine Pfc's in camouflage utilities. I approached and asked them why they were out in public in a work uniform. Their response was that their NCOIC authorized it even though it's against uniform regulations.

I then called the recruiting office and talked to their Gunny. He tried to convince me that HQMC has given recruiters the discretion of allowing this, although he does not have a directive to reference. I called B.S. and proceeded to let this gunny know that if he wants his subordinates to wear cammies in public then he should have joined the Army. We are different! We hold ourselves to a better standard, and this is unacceptable! His response was that if I had ever been a recruiter I would understand his decision and that kids today like the cammie uniform over the deltas. My response was that if someone wants to join my Marine Corps for a uniform, than I don't want him. Earning that uniform is a by product of something much greater.

When I asked how I can contact his C.O. he responds that he doesn't know.

Could I get some feedback to see if I'm off base here.

To all my fellow Marines who have served, Thank You and Semper Fi!

To all of the family members of our Marines, God Bless you and you are in my prayers.
Greg
Cpl '83-'89

Memorial Day Services
Mount St. Helens Detachment 889, Longview Washington were the Honor Guard.
David Schooling



Screwups
Sgt Grit
June 12 1957 Pete Lorenz and I left the old Kansas City air port for MCRD . We got off the plane at San Diego air port and asked where MCRD was in the early hours of June 13. We were pointed in the direction of the main gate and we walked carrying our sea bags as we were reservists. It seemed like a mile or so in the dark we see this lighted area which was the gate. We were grabbed and taken to receiving barracks and then after a day or so of standing [ I don't remember the yellow foot prints ] we were made up Plt 356. There we met S/SGT JOE CURLEY and SGT T J HAYEK. and our lives have never been the same. I have talked to both of them in the last year or so but they didn't remember me as S/SGT CURLEY said he only remembered the screwups.
Dale Hartley 1607484

Marines Call Me, Gunny
Hey Sgt Grit,
Thanks for all the great stories and great quotes. I've posted some of those quotes in the connex box where my soldiers keep there weapons. The men love them.
I am a former Marine currently serving in Baghdad with a deployed National Guard unit. We have several former Marines in the unit. The Marines in Baghdad have been great to my guys. I am a Sergeant First Class (E-7) but all the Marines call me, "Gunny".
Enclosed some pics of the Marine Corps Birthday Ball last year in Baghdad and a pic of me at work.

Semper Fidelis,
SFC McSheffrey

Somewhat Slurred
Everywhere I go I wear something that denotes that I am a MARINE. 1969-1974. On Memorial Day, my wife and I were in a grocery store locally, picking up some last minute things for a family picnic with my brothers-in-law. Many local groceries hire baggers that are to some degree 'challenged'. The baggers at our lane struck up a conversation with my wife and being hard of hearing, I tend to sometimes tune out things I may not 100% hear. As we walked away I did hear, however, this young man, around 20, yell out," Semper Fi, MARINE, thank you for your service". His speech was somewhat slurred and his gait somewhat unsteady due to his illness, but he snapped to attention and rendered a d*mn good salute. As a Good MARINE, I returned the salute, walked up to him and shook his hand. We talked briefly, and in between what I could not understand and not hear, I found out that his father and brother were both MARINES. He always wanted to be one but could not. I always have an abundance of pins somewhere on my hat/vest/shirt. I took off an EGA from my hat and pinned it on him. He was in shock and I had to exit quickly before this one MARINE broke down in public. I was in the store a week later and the store manager stopped me and thanked me. The boy, Tommy, just loved the pin and was so excited that even a week later, he was telling everyone who would listen about the day he got his EGA. It is a shame when someone who would love nothing better to serve cannot, while those who can, will not. My youngest follows the family tradition 7/7/07 and boards that plane for South Carolina. OOHRAH, SEMPER FI.
Jim Wolter
1969-1974

I'm Not Here Idiot
Now why the h&ll are you sending me a freaking email? I'm not here idiot. I'm off at USMC boot camp training to kill people and protect your right to send stupid emails. So go do something worthwhile and send some care packages to our troops fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, or even a freaking letter, or...guess what... A D*MN EMAIL! Anyways, adios. If I like you I'll get back to you when I get back, if not, well, I'm sure you know.
Brandon Kappel

Note: He's either going to be an outstanding Marine or his DI will kill him. He has the attitude going in.
Sgt Grit

Did Ya' Know?
The story regards a small group of Marines, haggard and tired from day's events, sitting at their jungle outpost as night approaches and attempting to find solace after the loss of friends in battle. Ceremony, designed to sooth, and which normally surrounds loss of those close to us is not to be.

Mingling among family and friends at the wake, kind words from the preacher, the funeral procession to the cemetery for more kind words and capped off with roast turkey, drinks and even a bit of laughter as the pleasant memories take over. To be able to pay respect. In a proper way, to a friend.

None of this was to be. Simply there one moment, with talk of the future and, of course, tales about the incredible babes back in "The World". And gone the next moment, with the unceremonious zipping of a body bag.

For reasons only an infantryman can fathom, the talk turns to the atom. It seems, according to one Marine, that every thing as we know it, the wind, the rain, the hub cap off a '55 Chevy, even those of us, are made up of different combinations of only eighty some odd atoms. Each with it's select number of electrons orbiting at various levels above a proton/neutron nucleus.

"Did ya' know?", he adds, "That the ratio of the nearest electron to it's nucleus is greater in distance as compared to the earth from the sun.". His friends are impressed. "Not only would you need a million atoms, piled on top of each other, to equal the thickness of a page, but to be able to compress the electrons into the nucleus would also mean that you could fit an entire sky-scraper into the eraser head of a pencil.". Now his friends are amazed.

A few moments of silence. "Kinda' makes you wonder about the guys.", another Marine suggests. "I mean, if all those millions of bucks were spent to split a single atom, are they really dead? Seems to me that those electrons are still goin' through a spin cycle."

Discussion continues, cigarettes are smoked in cupped hands and, bingo, ARE is founded. Atomic Recovery Employment systems. Until someone pointed out that ---- ------- would be ticked off if recovered with the head of a moose. A long moment of laughter, and they pondered some more.

To the scientist, there is the atom. To the theologian, there is spirit. To that young group of Marines, having found their solace, there is Comparable Atomic Recovery Employment systems. CARE.

Seeming to sum things up, one of the Marine's who has remained silent throughout, simply listening, finally speaks. "You guys are gonna' think me wacko on this one, but when I was a kid my family went on a cross-country trip and at one point I found myself in one of those rare moments in a large family. I was standing alone with my dad. We were at the very lip of the Grand Canyon, gazing at the incredible beauty, when he says to me, completely out of the blue, and we're not talking a religious fanatic here, "Ya' know, sport, I think this is what Christ had in mind when He said, probably in frustration, "The Kingdom of Heaven is here, now."

Heads nod, cigarettes are snuffed, and talk comes to an end as a Marine glances at his watch, stands with an M-16, and heads off to guard duty.

"Catch you guys later.", he concludes.

Semper Fi'.....
Mike Regan

GENERAL PACE Speaks Out
Honor still lives here in America! Is it any wonder that a Marine would be the one to prove that, again?

From NATIONAL REVIEW.
Gen. Peter Pace Speaks [W. Thomas Smith Jr.]
Last night, during a Q&A following remarks by Gen. Peter Pace at The Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia, the general was asked the following question:
My question is about what many folks at the reception tonight viewed as the very disappointing news about your replacement as chairman. I wonder why you believe that is happening, and what are your thoughts about the process by which we choose the nation's top military uniformed officer?

General Pace responds:

I will tell you the truth as I know it, and that is around the middle of May, within a day or two of the Secretary learning from certain members of Congress that there may be a problem to renominate me, he brought me in the office and sat me down and said "Pete, this is what's happening. I want to renominate you. I want you to know that this is what I'm beginning to hear, this is what I'm going to go do, this is how I'm going to go do it."

He went out and did exactly what he said on television, and exactly what he's been saying in his interviews, which is he went out and pulsed various members of Congress and he heard back from them the things that he said that he heard.

He and I sat down, and I said "I'm a Marine...If you want me to go forward with the confirmation process, I'm all for it."

I also told him that what he needed to do, in my opinion, was what was best for the institution, and whatever he and the president decided was going to be best for the institution was what Pete Pace was going to do. Oh and by the way, I can read the Constitution, which says the president gets to nominate and the Senate gets to confirm, or not, and neither one of those two things is going to happen, therefore I'm not staying.

One thing that was discussed was whether or not I should just voluntarily retire and take the issue off the table. I said I could not do that for one very fundamental reason and that is that PFC Pace in Baghdad should not think – ever – that his chairman, whoever that person is, could have stayed in the battle and voluntarily walked off the battlefield. That is unacceptable as a leadership thing in my mind.

So I elected not to submit my request for retirement until after it was publicly known that I was no longer going to be renominated.

That is very important to me. The other part that is important to me is personal. The first piece holds true for anybody in this position – anybody.

The other piece for me personally was that some 40 years ago I left some guys on the battlefield in Vietnam who lost their lives following 2nd Lt. Pace. And I promised myself then that I will serve this country until I was no longer needed — that it's not my decision. I need to be told that I'm done.

I've been told I'm done.

I will run through the finish line on 1 October, and when I run through the finish line I will have met the mission I set for myself.

That asshole Harry Reid is not good enough to clean "any" service member's boots and he sure as $#@$% is not competent enough to offer even an opinion on General Pace.


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"Harry Reid is a wimp, acts like a sissy; could not lead Marines to The Head"
Author Unknown


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General Shoup
For many of us, General Shoup was Commandant of the Marine Corps when we enlisted. For those of us that had the pleasure to serve under his command, his picture is in our platoon books. I for one, never really looked at the picture until today when it hit me. "Is that the Congressional Medal of Honor on his chest?" A little research showed that General David M. Shoup, Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1960-1963 is indeed a Medal of Honor recipient and his citation reads as follows:

SHOUP, DAVID MONROE

Rank and organization: Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, commanding officer of all Marine Corps troops on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, and Gilbert Islands, from 20 to 22 November 1943. Entered service at: Indiana. Born: 30 December 1904, Tippecanoe, Ind. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of all Marine Corps troops in action against enemy Japanese forces on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, from 20 to 22 November 1943. Although severely shocked by an exploding enemy shell soon after landing at th

07 Jun 2007
Online Catalog
Sgt Grit Newsletter
In additional to your service number, another good "dividing line" for the Old Corps is whether the buttons on your dress green blouse were black or brown! I was issued one blouse with black buttons and one with brown buttons. I always wore the one with the brown buttons and it hangs in my closet today.

James D. Cool
India 3/4 (1967)

Achieved His Dream
Sgt Grit;
I so enjoy your newsletters and of course, ordering from your website. I'm writing because I just want to thank all my Marines for a wonderful job they're doing. My son, LCpl Rex Page, wanted to become a Marine since the 3rd grade. As we stood on the edge of the parade grounds at MCRD San Diego in August of 2005, we proudly watched as he received his EGA pin and was called a Marine for the first time. We knew that he had achieved his dream. He became a SAW gunner for the 3/5 Lima 1st Platoon. Last June 28th, 2006, his life was taken by a sniper's bullet in the Al Anabar Province of Fallujah, Iraq. He died doing a job he loved and believed in, with men he loved and believed in. He was the recipient of two purple hearts, a letter of commendation for saving a Marine buddy's life and was recommended by his DI for Presidential Support duty. He was proud to be a Marine and proud of his uniform. He wore it every where when he was home on leave. One of his buddies asked him why he joined the Corps and his reply was, "I wanted to better my life and make my family proud." He accomplished both of those things. We miss him but he's serving duty at the gates of Heaven. We have adopted 35 Marines of his company and they have covered our backs since. Thank God for our Marines. Semper Fi.....oorah!

Larry "The Geezer
In loving memory of LCpl Rex Page, U.S. Marines...
Lcpl Leon Deraps, U.S. Marine Corps
& Sgt Ryan Campbell, U.S. Army....
Semper Fidelis....oorah!
"Good night, Chesty Puller, wherever you are!"

Groucho Marx
My husband joined the Marines in 1953 to be with his brother who was enroute to Japan and Korea. When he was at Camp Pendleton, his company participated with other companies marching past a review stand consisting of Colonels and Generals. The captain in charge of his company must have had a sense of humor to pull off what he did. He gave each Marine a cigar and told them to put it in the pocket of their shirt. He then instructed them to wait for his signal when they passed in front of the review stand. At that time they were to take the cigar out of their pockets, put it in their mouths, crouch down, turn their heads toward the stand, and walk like Groucho Marx. The Colonels and Generals were all laughing and the people watching applauded.
My husband and his brother never got to Korea, a truce was signed when they were in Japan. He had a lot of stories he told me about those days, I am sure that he left out some of them. Those were great days. He died six years ago and it has been tough. Being in the Corps instilled leadership and courage that stayed with him until he died.
Joyce Godwin

S/Sgt. Chambers
Sgt. Grit,
The name of the Marine Standing at attention in the middle of the road is: S/Sgt.Tim Chambers and is Stationed in 29 Palms,Ca. I met him at the Thunder Run of 2004 when they dedicated the World War 11 Memorial. It was and still is the biggest turnout of Bikes for the Thunder Run. They counted over 500,000 bikes in the run.

S/Sgt. Chambers stood for 3 hours and 50 minutes that day, without dropping his salute or his position of attention. His shoes were spit shined not the new stuff. His Cover was spit shined also. Braso the same old fashion way. He gives motivational speeches at schools and organizes events for patriotism. He is a motivational Man and speaker.

Someone in your outfit or the Marine Corps community should do something in recognition of this Marine's patriotism and the demonstration of the Spirit Of The Marine Corps. He has been doing this at least 5 or 6 years now. As far as I know he is still stationed at 29 Palms, Ca. If you call the base his name is listed with a phone number.

Thank you for your time. He put a lump in my throat that day and a pride in my Marine Corps. When I finished my run ( I was among the first bikes by) I return to watch him and give encouragement to him. We have e-mailed each other over the years and talked now and then. He knows me as the Ole Marine from upstate New York

I am a Vietnam Vet of 1966, 1st Marine Division, Battalion 1/5, Charlie Company, 22nd Plt. We are the ones who came to the aid of the Marines on Hill 488.

Thank you again. And as I sign off all my Marine mail:
May God Bless and Keep You Safe.
Semper Fi!
Gary W. Johnson Sr.

Very Special Group
Sgt. Grit,

In response to those who always ask who should and should not wear the EGA.
There is a very special group of men who rate it and should wear it proudly. These are the Navy/Marine Combat Corpsman. These are the guys who are there on the ground with us when we need them to patch us up and MedEvac us out to safety to get treatment. These brave men don't think of saving their own butts they are always there to save ours. I don't see much written about them any more and more should be said for what they do. They are the "Unsung Heroes" of all the wars. I have three of them as close friends and I am honored to call them Marines. They join the Marine Corps League with full membership and honors; which means they can wear the EGA right along with us. Hope not to offend any Marine Brothers out there just want everyone to realize the Combat Corpsman are every part of the Corps in my opinion.

Semper Fi, and God Bless our Troops,
Don Yoder
Sgt. USMC Ret.
Vietnam 65-66/68-69

We Did Have
I was a D.I. in San Diego from 1956 to 1957. I read for a part in that movie but unfortunately I didn't get to go back for a second reading. Most of the Marines in the picture were DI's on loan to Hollywood.

We didn't have sand fleas in Diego but we did have the airport right next door which caused many interruptions on the drill field. The drill field was 1100 yards long and occasionally one of the planes would start to come in for a landing especially if was a little foggy. The command to the recruits was "Get off the field now!" Fortunately none of the planes ever made a landing.

SSgt George M. Blair
USMC 1951-1962

We Even Raised Money
Dear Sgt. Grit,
I was reading my newsletter (as I do religiously) and came upon the text sent by someone who was looking for Marines (or any veteran) of the 1968 Battle of Khe-San. I didn't have to look far, for my brother-in-law was with the those "Few & Proud" that fought there. Vincent "Vinnie" Trevino enlisted with his high school buddy Rudy T. Castillo (MGySgt. Ret.) right after graduation in 1967 and soon (like most) found himself in a place that no one had even heard of until then Vince was wounded (two Purple Hearts) and was discharged.

On Sunday after church, I went to see him and asked him "Didn't you fight at Khe-San?" he gave a heavy "Yes". I told him about the documentary that I read about on-line and he said that he would be VERY interested in telling his story if it will help shed light on a rather mis-understood battle. It may also help to put our brothers in their rightful place in history. You see I am a Marine 1987-90, my older brother Edward 1969-1972, my uncle Alejandro Molina (GySgt Ret.), my uncle Raymundo Molina Jr. (Alejandro's little brother-that must've been interesting), but the one I take the most pride in is the uncle I never met. My Dad's older brother, Ralph Lopez Sr.-he lied about his age, joined the Corps, survived the Island Hopping Campaign and fought at Iwo Jima. The Lord called him to post in the early 1960's in an accident of all things. But the stories I here about him. Even my father was awestruck by his presence not just because that was his brother, but his brother was a Marine. I hope that who ever wrote that letter will contact me ( I sent an e-mail) because the look in my brother-in-laws eyes is something I'll never forget. As if to say "Finally, someone cares".

Vincent was the backbone behind the building of a Vietnam Memorial dedicated on Memorial Day in 1992, which I of course volunteered to design. The Memorial is the ONLY one of it's kind on a High School campus that I know of. The names inscribed on it are the only two casualties from my home town of Parlier, California. A good majority of young men at that time went to Vietnam, including my three older brothers, two uncles and one brother-in-law, as well as, many friends. But only those two did not come home. The Memorial was built completely by veterans (mostly Vietnam Vets of course), and the entire piece was built with donated materials, talents, hands, backs but most of all....HEARTS. We even raised money to have one man's mother and brother flown in from Texas for the dedication ceremony which was attended by Vets from all over. Vinnie said in his speech that it had been a long time since his return from Vietnam and the two friends that he laughed and played with on that very school ground were laid to rest, but he said, "Today-this day that we dedicate this memorial to our brothers and all of our veterans-Today I come home....And I bring my friends with me." I thank you for your time, take care and God Bless

Con Todo Mi Corazon,
Semper Fidelis
Gabriel Lopez USMC 3rd MAW MCAS Tustin

Pull Off Your Boots
Well how many Marines haven't taken empty soda or beer cans and placed them under the legs of a rack in a dark open squad bay? Friggin hilarious, and the laughter is usually louder than the crash!

In 1983 I was Sergeant of the Guard at Camp Hansen, Okinawa when I was a victim of this hilarious crime. There is little to compare coming off a long watch to catch a few "Z's" and have your rack collapse under you while sitting down to pull off your boots. Gee, thanks guys…

Semper Fi,
Paul "Gunny" Kaiser
GySgt USMC (Ret)

In That Instant
Sgt Grit,

Not long ago I was attending an outdoor concert in Houston, TX. The conductor announced that the anthems for each military branch would be played in turn. Before each anthem he asked for any current or former personnel from that branch to please stand and be recognized. The Navy was well represented with 30 or 40 people standing. The Army had twice that many. Even the Air Force and Coast Guard had over a dozen each. When he asked the Marines present to stand, 4 of us stood tall. It hit me in that instant as we caught each other's eye and did that barely perceptible nod Marines do in almost secret recognition of sharing what only a Marine can know. In that instant I came to truly understand we are "The Few..."

Semper Fi,
Curry, HC GySgt of Marines
1969-80

Incredulous Stares Followed
My, how times change. After I read Sgt. Rick Torrence's tale of cleaning heads, I couldn't help but recall one of my own. When he stated that "NCO's DON'T clean heads", I knew I had to share it.

While at Camp Schwab, Okinawa in 1985, I had the dubious pleasure of being assigned to working parties by our Gunny Combs. When I first arrived at Supply, I was asked, "How can we help you, Corporal?" I informed them that I was reporting as a working party. Incredulous stares followed. One Marines asked who I was with and when I replied, "TOW", he rolled his eyes and suggested I go on in the back to "count pencils". You see, our Gunny had a reputation as a suck-butt who would use us to curry favor, not to mention trying to knock a group of us down.

My first float from Okie in 1983 I was low man on the totem pole so it came as no surprise that I drew mess duty. What did amaze me was that two years later, as a senior Lance Corporal, our Staff NCO felt that it would unfair for the boots to serve a lot of time on working parties, guard and mess duties. So he held up several of our promotions and picked us first! I finally did receive my Corporal stripe (along with my Good Conduct Medal... go figure), but it didn't end there. He continued to ignore any distinction that extra stripe made.

Despite this despicable character, I and my fellow Marines carried on, but I do know that he figured prominently in a number of Marines' decisions not to reenlist. And on a side bar, I was disgusted at how unsat the Staff NCO's head was at Camp Schwab. So let's hear some other working party horror stories, shall we? After all, a good story lasts longer than a good time!

M.A. Thornton
Cpl. '82-'86
"TOW by God!"

Maintain Regularity
Sgt Grit,

I'm responding to the use of C-Rat peanut butter oil or lump for maintaining regularity. As a new-Corps Marine in 2/6 in 1980, we figured out that our desire to replicate Reese's Peanut Butter cups using Sh*t Disks and C-Rat peanut butter resulted in our maintaining regularity in the field!

S/F
Pete Hoeft
Still "New Corps" to you old farts!
Gunny, retired

Ohms Measure
This story was told to me by some of my buddies when I joined Radio Relay Plt before going to 'Nam. Maybe it's just a sea story, but it sounded true. It took place in 1966 or early '67

At Camp Schwab on Okinawa, some of the guys in Radio Relay Plt., HQ Co, 26th Marines set up a practice shot with a TRC-27, which had the lollipop microwave antennas. Since they were only about 200 yards apart, the antennas were set very low.

In the middle was the path to the enlisted club. So they set up a sign that said, "Danger, 10,000 Ohms." If you don't know, "ohms" measures resistance. A rock probably has a billion, not dangerous at all.

Then one of the guys would hang out until he saw a few grunts coming from the club. He'd walk ahead of them, stop and read the sign, look both ways at the antennas, then get down and crawl for about ten feet, then rise and walk on. Sure enough, the guys following him usually did the same thing, breaking everyone up.

At Comm Support Company at Camp Hanson in 1966, we once had a radio relay shot from a van out to one on either the Iwo Jima or the Okinawa, a chopper carrier. One of my buddies, Jerry Bailey, was covering the radios on the ship. We were down island (Kadena?) where there were a few woman Marines--real American girls. We got one to go on the radio and tell Jerry, in her Georgia peach drawl, how much fun she was having taking us to the club, bringing us breakfast in the morning, etc. She was quite good, really had Jerry going, may have led him to believe she was closer to us than she was! Of course, we described her to him as a future Miss America. If Jerry reads this, I would love to talk to him or to LCpl Murp Murphy from Radio Relay at Khe Sanh in 1967.

Robert A. Hall
Former SSgt of Marines

Repeat After Me
Your comments on the movie The D.I. reminded me of the first time I saw it. Packed with kids and parents the theater was full because after the movie there was to be a swearing-in of new Marines. At the end of the movie the Marine recruiters marched onto the stage with an honor guard for the ceremony. The to-be Marines marched onto the stage, told to raise their right hand and, "Repeat after me." Then they were told to step forward to affirm their oath. Most stepped forward but a number didn't. The movie had ended their careers early!

John Wood
1959-1963

Archeologist
While stationed at 13 area dispensary at Camp Pendleton (1972), I was entertained regularly by young Marines coming to Sick Call. One day a Marine was wandering the hallways of our dispensary and obviously was lost. He carried a big envelope of x-rays and I asked him If I could help. He said, "Yes, Doc, I was told to take this envelope to some kind of archeologist". I knew he meant Radiologist but couldn't pass up the opportunity so I told him, "Oh, alright, yes.....he works underneath the building!" After even more confusing looks, I told him which office was the Radiologists!"

A Marine reported to sick call because of hemorrhoids. We gave him suppositories and told him to use them as directed on the package. Three days later, this same Marine came to the dispensary again. This time he was very agitated and told us "Doc, you have to give me something else. These things are tearing me up!". We soon realized he was inserting them with the foil still surrounding the suppository!

Charlie "Doc" Rose

Half-Hopping
It was January 1961 and a group of Marines and sailors who had been stationed at various locations in Japan were at Yokosuka waiting eagerly in a barracks to hear their names called for a flight to the U.S., and then discharge.

About 2100 hours, one sailor hit the rack and fell asleep. His buddy quickly assembled the rest of us (about 30) out of sight in the back of the barracks. Once hidden, he went up to the sleeping sailor, shook him hard and yelled at him when he was half-awake, "They just called your name for a flight and the bus leaves in one minute!"

The now wide-awake sailor, wearing only his skivvies, bolted out of bed, grabbed his uniform with one hand, his sea bag with the other, and began half-running, half-hopping toward the exit while trying to put on his pants.

We were all able to watch this dash to the barrack's exit for about 10 seconds before bursting into laughter. The look on the sailor's face when he figured out what had happened was priceless. His comments were drowned out by the laughter.

The next morning, all of our names were called for a flight to Hawaii. And, we had ample time to put on our pants.

Cpl. Wayne Whitehead
Kami Seya, 1958-61

Copies Of Pamphlets
Sgt Grit,

Just read with interest Sgt James Carter's comments regarding Freedom Village in Korea August 1953...I was also there at the time as a young Cpl and was with the 5th Marine Regt. Also recall the armband he referred to. Also, at a different time, my platoon was assigned as security (manning 30 cal MGs) on a hill overlooking the road as they were moving out in vehicles, to ensure there were no problems. Somewhere in my Marine stuff, I still have copies of pamphlets that they threw out of the vehicles saying in essence, what great liberators we were!

Semper Fi
Don Rousseau USMC (Ret)
Pvt through Capt
1952-1974
Still say the best rank in the Corps is Sergeant !

Prowl The Squad Bay
As we all recall, before 'lights out' at basic your cammies had to be neatly folded on your footlocker, and your boots close by. At reveille, dressing was a 5 second, closely monitored, ordeal.

In the middle of night "gremlins" (pranksters) were known to prowl our squad bay. My all-time favorite was switching the cammies of the most notoriously huge recruit, with those of the smallest and most petite. The reaction in the AM was a riot. Yes, I was caught, and playing "dead bug" gets old after 30 minutes.

My only other great one was during a "left flank" recruit Moll decided to execute a "right flank". Yeah. I stood out. When DI SSGT Creeden not-so-politely inquired about my major malfunction, that rolled off my tongue was this... "Sir, this recruit demonstrated temporary mis-appropriation of bodily momentum, resulting in executional error, Sir!" My comment was replied with "very well, carry on." Whew....

Chad Moll, Sergeant, USMCR
Basic Platoon 3045, I Company San Diego
EG&A earned Sept 11 1992
Stationed MWSS 472 Det B, Selfridge ANGB, Mt. Clemens MI

Banging On The Door
Clarksville Base was an integral part of the Armed Forces Special Weapons Program network. These facilities stored, modified and shipped nuclear weapons around the country. Security duty for Marines was boring, yet stressful since we all carried live rounds in the chambers of our weapons while on duty. More than a few Marines were accidentally shot during the seventeen years the Marines handled security there.

Part of Marine Corps tradition was that non-NCOs pulled thirty days of mess duty. Having been reduced in rank from Cpl. To Pfc., I volunteered for mess duty to escape the boredom (and to have every night off). Our Mess Deck boss was Boatswain's Mate First Class Griffith. Griff did his best to make us follow Navy regulations for a mess deck, but supervising Marine mess men was akin to herding cats. We gave Griff as bad as he gave us. On one occasion, he really pi **** us off and we decided to get even with him.

The messmen's quarters were on the second floor of an old wooden barracks building. We all slept there and every morning, Griff would delight in waking us up by banging trash can lids together. We had had enough of that and decided this night we would take action. We first unscrewed every light bulb in the place so that when Griff flipped the switch "on", nothing would happen. We then bolted the door and all went to bed.

At 4:30 a.m., we awoke to a loud banging on the door. Of course we all were VERY SOUNDLY asleep! Finally, Griff used his shoulder to forcibly enter our domain. He reached out and flipped the light switch and nothing happened. We were still SOUND ASLEEP in our cozy little beds. As we lazily awoke for our slumber, we allowed as how no one knew who had bolted the door or did dirty with the lights. Well, old Griff was red-faced and livid over this escapade and said he intended to write all of us up. We laughed. What punishment could the Captain possibly give a Pvt. or a Pfc. on mess duty?

Griff ran his report up the chain of command over the next few days. He never expected the result that came down. None of the messmen were reprimanded or disciplined in any way, but Griff had to pay for the lock and door he destroyed in attempting to enter our quarters. He never tried that again, and we never had to engage in battle with Griff after that incident.
J. Tonkin

Five Decades Ago
Back five decades ago, we stenciled our chevrons on our dungaree shirts or failing that we used a pen or pencil to indicate our rank. Cpl. H was a free spirit and one of the best sketch artists and cartoonists I ever met. We were both in PIO with the lstMarDiv in Korea just before it was replaced on the line by an army division and redeployed to Camp P.

Like the character in Li'l Abner that had a black cloud plaguing him, Cpl. H. just attracted bad luck. This being a family oriented site, I have to skip one incident that occurred (penicillin was involved just before we embarked for SD), but there was the time he borrowed someone's new electric razor at Ascom City -- and dropped it!

When we were still near Munsan-ni, he had the harebrained idea to stencil MSgt chevrons on his long johns (this being winter). Not a good idea for a two-stripper to do, esp. when you get caught by a MSgt. Use your imagination for the words that were spoken.

Bob Rader #1405534 aka Sgt. Wolf

Every Sunday
Sgt. Grit.

In response to Sgt. Glass note on 5/24/07, about the movie "The D. I.", it brought back tears of joy. Every Sunday, during boot camp, my D. I.'s would roll out the TV and put in the movie. I just remember say to myself don't you ever slap at a sand flee. That was the last thing I wanted to do is dig a whole for one of the DEVIL bugs.

Semper Fi,
Eric Amsden
Sgt. USMC (Ret)
1990-97

No Yellow Footprints
In response to Sgt James Carter's experience at Operation "Little Switch" in 1953. I was at both Operation Little Switch and Big Switch, but can't remember in what capacity. I rode shotgun for a Colonel from HqBn on the one occasion but was told to remain with the jeep driver and was not allowed through the gate. I remember the Freedom Gate and bridge vividly. I also remember a group of us presenting our social fingers to the commie Chinese who were waving banners and going to North Korea by train. I also remember those in six bys waving their banners from the front of the truck bed. Soldiers in jeeps with mounted 30's made sure they found their way across the 38th.

A lot being said about yellow footprints. They weren't at Parris Island in 1952. We came from Yemassee via Parlmetto Bus Lines with windows open. (noAC back then) Permanent personal would give a grin as we passed by and yell a popular phrase from the old $64 Question radio show of that time, "You'll Be Sorreeeee! No yellow footprints waiting for us, but a nasty SOB telling us to keep our fffing mouths shut. On command we were told move. I remember asses and elbows all over the place. Those in front would catch a size 11 along with those bringing up the rear. A heary welcome to finishing school at tropical Paradise Island.

Sgt Frank Athis 1335915
July 15, 1952 -1955

Blow Up Dolls
When I was at MCAS Yuma, we used to put blow up dolls in the rack of any "boots" on their 1st Field Day inspections. The 1st Sgt always got a kick out of the expressions on their faces.
Lance "Buka" Vasquez
A-Btry 1st Plt
2D LAAM Bn.
MCASYuma
91 - 93

Col. Utter
I would like to take a moment, on this Memorial Day to remember Lt Col Leon N. Utter and the officers and men of the Second Battalion, 7th Marines. From the time of his assignment as our Commanding Officer, just prior to us departing for Vietnam in 1965, I never met a finer man. No matter how rough the times got, LtCol Utter was right there beside us. As far as I am concerned, no greater man ever walked this earth with me. I would have followed him though the gates of h&ll, and I never met another Marine that didn't feel the same. Our Corps seems to make the best of officers, to be better. 2/7 had Capt Nolan, Capt Grosz, Capt Lee, Capt. Gormley, Lt Lau and Lt Cornelius, to name a few.

A reporter lied and spread the word that 2/7 had used lethal gas in Vietnam, which greatly exaggerated, was in fact CS gas, and we almost had our beloved CO, to be relieved from duty. It would have been disastrous for us and our nation to have lost such a great man. I also had the good fortune to be stationed with Colonel Utter when he was the Chief of Staff, Force Troops, 29 Palms, Ca. He saw me the day I was checking in from a tour on the drill field in San Diego. I was just a Pvt/PFC in 2/7, a supply poge at that, but he remembered me. Col Utter saw me and to the shock of the officers around him, hugged me and called me "one of his hip pocket reserves," which was a reference to the motor t, supply and cooks being a sort of security platoon that accompanied the Battalion on Operations in Vietnam. I will never forget that day. He was a man I truly loved. I have always been in awe of all of those that served before me, passed with me and serve today in our beloved Marine Corps. I am grateful to have earned the title for myself and to live in such a wonderful nation, that produces the kind of officers and men of 2/7, which I served with 64-66.
Semper Fi GySgt Potter USMCR

Perfume Of The Gods
Sgt. Grit. I really enjoy reading all the letters from the Marines and former Marines who have written in. Me being a Corporal of Marines I thought it only fair that I write in and tell you about incident that took place in a certain training area in Hawaii. Then 1982 being a squared away Lance Corporal fire team leader I had made sure my team was fed chow and had topped off canteens for the upcoming night patrols. While we were being briefed on our mission I took the opportunity to put some Copenhagen between my cheek and gum. After we were briefed we did our final gear check and moved to the line of departure ( Dusk ) Completely quiet and covering our assigned area's we moved through our pre-assigned rout. We had made it about 3 clicks away from the platoon area moving down the side of a hill when all of a sudden all h&ll broke loose. Point man hit a flash bang. Machine gun fire was in all directions, Close to the main body we heard several pop's, Squad leader shouted GAS. Being a good Marine I cleared and put my gas mask on, We regrouped and were moving at a high rate of speed down the side of the hill. Running at top speed and returning fire I inhaled the Copenhagen (First Mistake). Again like a good Marine I did not stop, Coughing and gagging I couldn't take it anymore I pulled my gas mask off. ( Second Mistake). After a few deep breaths of the perfume of the god's I decided to put my gas mask back on, It was too late, Now I have snot down to my chin and my eyes are on fire. and then proceeded to Vomit 2 cans of beans and baby d!cks up into my gas mask , Now I could not see where I was running at a high rate of speed and bit the dust. My squad leader stopped the squad and my comrades helped me back on my feet where they all had a very good laugh on me, seemed like an hour. And did not let me live it down for quit some time. Well that was many years ago now. My oldest son is now stationed in Cherry point as an aviation specialist and my next oldest son leaves for boot camp in August where he will be an MP.

JMA
Corporal of Marines
1979--1983

Assorted Hardware
Back in Nam I was a CH-46 crewman. We use to buckle up the engine compartment doors inside the aircraft, but first we would fill them with nuts and bolts and other loose hardware. We would get our grunt bothers in the aircraft and then act like we heard a weird noise and were discussing it with other crewman through our headsets. One of the crew would point towards the engine doors and another crewman would go to open them up. When he did assorted hardware fell out onto the floor and we would start running around like the world was ending. The looks on the faces of the ground Marines was priceless. Kept me laughing for days.
Mike Henasey
HMM-164

Rinsed Our Skivvies
San Diego, 1943: After we washed & rinsed our skivvies, we hung them in a fenced area, to dry. One evening, before dark, I had guard duty. I had been a boot for maybe 10 days; A 2nd Lt. approached me and started a conversation. My D.I. was sort of a god; I didn't know what a 2nd Lt. was, but I knew he exercised lots of power & authority. In spite of the General Orders, I was not going to challenge a 2nd Lt. and get court-martialed. He proceeded to open the gate (no lock) and helped himself to several pieces of skivvies. At the time, I didn't know what he was doing or where he was taking my platoon's laundry.

Didn't take me long to learn. Corporal of the Guard brought a replacement; told me to report to the D.I.'s tent. I only had to sleep with my M1 rifle for a week.

James D. Broome
Cpl
495285

And Brought Popcorn
The first article in your news letter talked about the movie, The D.I., which is probably the best recruitment movie the Marine Corps ever had. I must have seen it at least five times during my high school years in the early 60's. It was very challenging for an impressionable young man like myself. In Pittsburgh, where I grew up, you had VFW's, American Legion Posts on every corner it seemed, I thought you turned eighteen and went off to fight a war, like our fathers and uncles. Early in my enlistment I attended an electronics school on an Army Base in Northern Alabama, we had a GunnySgt, named Gunny Joe Holmes...why is that important, well he was in the movie, The D.I., in fact he was the recruit that barked out his general orders. Once the movie was on TV during our training, and the Gunny held all our liberty cards, (do they still have liberty cards now?) and brought popcorn for all to watch "his" movie. He was a trip, but deadly if you messed with him. Once I was not doing well in my class, he took me into a broom closet, and grabbed me by the throat, and said, Marines do not flunk out of this school, do you understand. I have to say, I saw the fire of God in his eyes, that was in week fourteen of a fifty-four week long school, I did pass and graduated from the program, MOS 5911. I did not want to ever see those eyes of the Gunny's again. Yes, fear is a motivator, and it taught me a very valuable lesson in life, that if I put my mind to something, I will succeed. I have done well for myself throughout the years. Yes, I have a copy of the movie, The D.I. It's a classic.
Semper Fi
S/Sgt J.D. Robinson , 2209933
RVN 69 - 70, 1st LAAM Bn.,"B" Btry, Monkey Mountain
USMC 66-70

Quiet For Evermore
Semper Fi Marines:

Here's a great practical joke for ya'll. While stationed in schools at Court House Bay, Feb, 1972 we had a private who knew more than the instructors and just would not shut up. so one day on noon chow break we marched back to the Quonset huts. As we prepared to fall out for 1300 formation we found MOTOR MOUTH fast asleep so fast asleep I untied his boot laces and retied them, to the bunk springs stretched as far out as I could get them, then knotted them. He showed up to class at 1500 hours and for some reason was very quiet for evermore!

Semper Fi
Sarge, ramona california

Pink Skivvies?
I notice in your catalog that the boot camp sweatshirt is yellow w/red letters. Oct. '59 they issued us the reverse, red shirt w/yellow lettering. All was well until we had to pull "butts" in the rain. Most of the guys wore their red sweatshirts under their utility jackets. Needless to say we all got very wet ponchos don't keep out much rain as you well know). The red sweatshirts faded on to our skivves and turned them a nice shade of pink (not a regulation color). It was really a miserable day for us in the butts and even worse for the recruits trying to qualify. It was just before Christmas '59.

The article about the "DI w/Jack Webb", I had a roommate at Pensacola who said he was in that movie, yeah right. Well I watched the credits and they did use recruits. He was Douglas E. Wilson III. I guess it wasn't a tall sea story.

Semper Fi
E.L. Collins
Plt. 280
Cpl. '59 - '63

Do You Know When
As a young LCpl, and stationed in MACS-9 at MCAS-LTA Tustin in 1963, I had been put on guard duty one night. Since we had sensitive radar units we were armed with M-14, which were loaded with five rounds of live ammo. That evening the Sergeant Of The Guard, a SSgt Simms, who had at my prior unit (MASS-3 El Toro) arranged for me to have an Article 15, which had awarded me a six months suspended bust in rank. Of course, SSgt Simms wasn't at the top of my list of favorite Marines. Prior to going on guard duty SSgt Simms asked me, "Snodgrass, do you know when to fire your weapon?" Looking him straight in the eyes I replied, "Yes Sir. To save life or property, or if I get scared!" Funny thing, SSgt Simms never came out of the Guard Shack that very dark night to check on my post! Wonder why?

Semper Fi
Gilbert Snodgrass
Sgt of Marines
1962-1966

Came Up Missing
Sgt Grit,
While serving with the first Marines in Korea I received a telegram that my wife gave birth to our son on Christmas day [ 1951 ]. Being a proud father I gave out some cigars. I gave one to a cook by the name George B. that was fixing stew, part way through the cigar it came up missing, he never found it, as you know Marines can put up with any thing that was fed them. We still get together about once a year and we still talk about the cigar.

Sgt Cox
1948-1957
Semper Fi

Not To Bring Anything
I joined the USMC on August 28th, 1968 and on arrival at MCRD in San Diego I joined my fellow recruits as we stood on the yellow foot prints that showed us how to fall out in formation. We had been instructed not to bring anything with us other than what we were wearing, but having come down with a raging case of poison oak I brought with me my much needed medicine. One of the recruits was dispatched to pick up the few extra items and gave them to our D.I. The DI yelled out, "Pvt. Martin. What in the h&ll is this?" I answered meekly, "Its for poison oak Sir." To which the DI replied, "We don't have any of that sh!t around here," and promptly threw my meds into a large trash can. The first several weeks of boot camp were made a bit harsher for me as I struggled to stand at attention, in the hot sun, while my whole body was screaming to be scratched. Its funny to me now.
Thanks, SGT Terry Martin USMC 1968-70

Any Cadence
Sgt. Grit,
I was talking with a good friend of mine about the good old days at MCRD San Diego when he told me this story.
It was the last day of training and the recruits were getting ready to go on a two mile run. Because it was the last day of training, the D.I. told the guys they could call out any cadence they wanted. One brave sole called out.......If I Had A Low I.Q.,( and everyone repeated ) I Could Be A D.I. Too......Needless to say the two mile run lasted a bit longer. The guys new they would be in trouble, but they said it was worth it to see the look on the D.I.s face........who had all he could do to keep from laughing.

CPL Larry Fisher
1962 - 1966

A Million Dollars
Sgt Grit,

While in PI in 1962 my DI SSgt Veasey made a statement to me while the buses were warming up to go to camp Geiger I said thank God, I never thought they would get here.

My DI was standing behind me. After giving him a 100 push ups he told me that I would not take a million dollars to forget about him or Parris Island.

And that I would not take a million to come back! either one of the many things I will never forget!

David Basso
Sgt of Marines
1962-1966
4 years & 4 mo.

Fairy Tales and Sea Stories
Per your request Sgt Grit: From the Annals of Fairy Tales and Sea Stories. Duty Station: Maine Barracks, USNAD Weikele, Oahu, Hawaii Time Frame: May 1962 Thru March 1963. I had just been promoted to L/Cpl and was feeling pretty proud of myself. At this time Capt. Ryan was rotating back to Division and being replaced by a newly promoted Capt. To protect the guilty I will call him Smiling Jack. He loved to smile while applying discipline. After the change of command ceremonies Capt Jack inspected the troops in formation stopping every so often to comment on the lack of military bearing. Being a graduate of some military academy somewhere back east he was bound to run his command by the book, the absolute BOOK. Within weeks we learned what by the book meant. It was the UCMJ Article 16 I believe. There were a number of Pvt's, Pfc's, L/Cpl's and one Cpl who learned first hand chapter and verse his interpretation of the book. I was among them. With less than 90 days TIG (time in grade) I was remanded to Pfc. and none too happy. What started out as a vindictive prank became an ongoing game of wits. My best buddy and I decided to short sheet the Captain when he had the Officer of The Day duty. The first time we did it you should have heard the ROAR that came out of his sleeping quarters. Definitely language unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman. Next day every one was called front & center and he was bound and determined to find the culprits. Only two people knew and neither of us was saying a word. After formation every body got belly laugh at Smiling Jacks expense, behind his back of course. H&ll, even Gunny King got a big laugh after he made the statement" If I find out who did this I will let him live but I promise you, He Will NOT REPRODUCE." The Gauntlet was thrown out and the challenge accepted. My buddy The Greek and I made it our life's mission to keep short sheeting the Captain every time he had the duty. It became a battle of wits. We both graduated from Wit University and the Captain only got half way through. We would drive back from liberty sneak aboard a top security base short sheet the Captains Rack sneak out and continue on liberty. He never caught us. So, some where in the Glorious state of North Carolina, Captain Smiling Jack will finally learn that Private Greek And L/Cpl (I got my stripe back) G.D. Vallejos USMC 1900576 are the no good @#$%^ ^&%$# that short sheeted him until March of 1963 when the Greek and I rotated back to Division. After 44 years the Greek and I still get a huge at laugh out of this prank.. SEMPER FI.

The Next Morning
Sgt Grit,
When I was in Staging at Camp Pendleton on my way to West Pack in June of 1968. The last night, we were in training, they put us in a VC POW camp. We were than allowed to escape a few at a time and make it back to our area. While in the POW enclosure, there was this large VC flag flying above the camp. One of the training officer's wife had hand make the flag. I though it would be a great souvenir. So, before I escaped, I lowered the VC flag and took it! The next morning we were all lined up to board transportation to El Toro. An officer or who ever was in charge informed our company, in a not to pleasant way, that no one would depart, until they had the ##### VC flag back. I had packed the flag in the bottom of my sea bag, and it was piled with hundreds of other bags. I though, they would never find it! So after a long 5 minutes, the powers to be stated that if the flag was returned no punishment would be awarded, but if they didn't get the flag, the Marine responsible and any others who new of it would be in the Brig! A number of Marines in our Squad knew I had it, and were getting nervous....so I went forward and said I had it! I had to move I don't know how may sea bags, but found mine and gave them the flag. Ever one was happy! I'm sure the officer's wife was also happy! We were then on our way! I really to this day don't think they would of found the flag, and I thought it was quite a great prank... and was d*mn funny!

Sgt. Harold E. Withey Jr.
2358510

Opportunity To Talk
Dear Sgt. Grit;

One more comment about EGA tattoos, if you don't mind. I served in our beloved Corps from 1957 to 1965. One day I was standing in line at Disney World to ride on The Land. As any who have visited Disney when it is crowded understand how the lines run in side by side circles. At one point I found myself next to a young fellow wearing my beloved EGA on his forearm. Since I believe in the brotherhood of Marines, I never miss an opportunity to talk to a Marine and thank them for their service. I asked the young fellow when he served. He gave me an answer but there was something in his response that didn't have the ring of truth, so I followed up by asking him what platoon he was in when in boot camp. His answer was that he didn't remember and he just got out of line and disappeared in the crowd. I believe that anyone who is a Marine or marries a Marine deserves to be able to have an EGA tattoo but not a pretender.

Cpl. R. E. Hill

I Got Tired
While in Casual Section with a bum knee at ITR in Camp Pendleton in November of 1966 I was assigned telephone watch in Headquarters. I was instructed by the Lt. O.D.. to awaken him every morning at 0430 and have a pot of fresh coffee ready. The nearest water was about a block away on a water spigot coming out of another building and it was very cold outside this time of the morning. I got tired of this routine because I was not only cold, but I had to run there and back so as to lessen the chances of me not being there to answer the telephone and awaken a very angry Lt.. I started to scoop the water out of the toilet bowl and making his coffee with the toilet water every morning. Sometimes I remembered to flush the toilet first. One Saturday morning my mother and father came to pick me up for liberty and I was summoned to headquarters on the orders of my Colonel. I arrived just in time to see my Colonel ask my mother if she would like a cup of coffee, which she accepted. I was trying to yell in ESP to NOT ACCEPT IT ! Too late. My mother hates me to this day.

Les Cofer

You Asked Who
Reply to: SSgt Moore, J.C. 2389599 You ask who washed and ironed all the utilities, who cooked meals, who dealt with bill collectors, etc. Well I did and many others did as well. Just because your wife did that for you is isolated in many ways. So if I chose to do all that myself, then what, she doesn't deserve the "Title"? I guess we should take out EARNING the title then, because people are just freely giving it away as they choose...we're a band of brothers....not a band of brothers, wives, cousins, etc...unless they too have EARNED the title....So if anyone could claim the title by those means....let's stop promoting the motto: The Few, The Proud.....because it wouldn't be the FEW is every relative, spouse, etc could claim if by being associated.

Cpl. Jerome R. Roseborough

Corps Values
I got these two in fall of 2006. Corps Values are what Marines live by and make them who they are. Marines must ensure they guide their performance, behavior, and conduct every minute of every day.

Honor - Integrity, Responsibility, Accountability
Courage - Do the Right thing, in the Right way, for the Right reasons
Commitment - Devotion to the Corps and my fellow Marines

Semper Fidelis
Cpl Holly Backer
02Jun07

Yet None
I have been following the controversy about the right to wear the EGA. I think I am right in saying that if you look back to the Korean War you will find that many reservists were activated spent 2-3 years active duty. Many served in Korea, yet none of them attended boot camp. I served with two of them. I think they have the right to wear the EGA

L.A. Whalen Cpl. 1951-54

All Arizona
Lately I have read letters from members of Platoon 354. This platoon was made up of all Arizona recruits, except for one recruit, I can't remember where he was from. A number of the recruits drew a flag of a "Desert Rat" ready for combat. Our SDI was SSgt Radmall, along with DI Sgt Cohen, and DI Sgt Madison. Sgt Cohen had a way of calling caddice, one of them went with the tune of Davy Crockett. I became quite familiar with him, because I had a habit of messing up one way or another. After all this time I still have respect for these three DI. "Platoon 354" was one of few incoming platoon that was cheerfully greeted at the yellow foot prints by their DI's. I still think of the recruits that became Marines in Platoon 354 guided by SSgt Radmall and Sgt Cohen and Sgt Madison. God bless all of them.

Semper Fi
Charles Hightower
Sgt USMC

User Is Unworthy
Use of "Semper Fi" by others is not offensive to me, unless the user is unworthy. And, I am uncomforted when anyone challenges a brother Marine for any reason, you know "he's a Marine, right or wrong". I am also annoyed when Marines argue in a public forum.

Thank you Grit, for what you do &
Semper Fi, SEMPER!

Fred Christie
Sgt of Marines '66-'72
RVN 2/1 TACP Tet Vet '67 & '68

Double Barreled Sling Shots
Sgt Grit;
I'm not sure just what constitutes an "Old Corps" Marine. I went through Parris Island in 1944 - 12th Recruit Batt., Platoon 294. I had a six figure service number - later changed to my SSN - and I later served with people who had seen Nicaragua. They said the "Old Corps" were the guys who carried "Double Barreled Sling Shots with Spear Mounts" - what do I know. I also Served with Reserve Sgts who had never been to Boot Camp and thought "General Orders" was a Division Commander. This same Sgt spent three hours searching a California map, looking for Sunova Beach. Never did find it.

And, as an added comment. My wife raised our daughter while I was enjoying the "travel and education" benefits of the Corps. I firmly believe she rated the EGA as much as anyone. Her "Boot Camp" was the trials, tribulations and stress of my not being there to help when things went wrong.

Semper Fi
Edwin H. Tate
Gysgt USMC (ret)

Convenience of the Government
I read with interest one letter in newsletter #148 stating that some members of the band, President's Own, never had to go through boot camp. It brought to mind an experience I had while auditing the payroll of those stationed at the Depot of Supplies, Philadelphia, PA. It was 1943 and the WWII draft was affecting every facet of life in the US. Many supervisors at the Depot were civilians with a lot of experience in their jobs. The payroll reflected that they were sworn into the Marine Corps as privates and immediately promoted to Master Quartermaster Sergeant on the same day. They lived at home with their families and were awarded $2.75 per day to pay for quarters and subsistence. ($1.25 for room and $1.50 for meals) They came to work as civilians and went home as Marines.

The Marine Corps thus managed to retain qualified personnel and the personnel avoided being drafted. All this for COG (Convenience of the Government). It must have been rough duty for them but don't we all have our problems?

Semper Fi,
SSgt Bob Gaston
384564 USMCR(PM) PS. PM in WWII was Paymaster Department

My Wife And I
Sgt Grit,
My wife and I were able to come up to Oklahoma City last weekend to visit her grandmother, while we were there we were able to stop by your shop on Saturday. (It was actually the very first thing we did that morning!) Let me tell you the place rocks! I was like a kid in a candy store! We bought a few things and I definitely want to come back. Your staff was the epitome of professional and courteous. Your personal collection was impressive especially the M-1903 rifle.
Semper Fidelis Sgt Grit and keep doing what you are doing!

Cpl Jacob Bullion
USMC 1997- 2005
USAR 2006- ?

"Oderint, dum metuant" - Roman Army
(Let them hate, so long as they fear.)

Kicking Their Six
I read the e-mail you sent out and the article about Vietnam really touched me! Because I fought over there with H&S Company, 1st Battalion 4th Marines in 1971-72! I was a gunner for a 106mm Platoon! Keep the stories coming! When I left from the Bush, we were winning! I don't care what the public says! We, the soldiers who fought and died there was kicking their six! The political morons pulled us out of there when victory was within our grasp! I, too, was a proud Marine and I'm still one at heart!
SEMPER Fi! Mel

E-4 Twice
Sgt. Grit,
I went to DC for Rolling Thunder, but not as a rider, just another vet helping a vets son record a documentary for his thesis.
A reporter wanted some info and asked me where she could find a vet to interview. My problem? I didn't have a pony tail, didn't have any tattoo's, didn't wear chaps and didn't have a Harley. Another words, once again, I didn't fit the pre-conceived notion of what we are all supposed to look like.
I was sitting on a marble wall to cool my six and another Marine asked me my "vet credentials". I said, Corps, I Corps 67-68 and made E-4 twice. We both, almost fell off the wall laughing.
Semper Fidelis, MARINES!

Okinawa Battle Memorial Museum
Not sure how to go about this. We are stationed in Okinawa and I had the incredible opportunity to attend a meeting at the Okinawa Battle Memorial Museum on Camp Kinser. Which brings me to my point. They are desperately in need of WWII aviation memorabilia. I am a little bias as we are Air Wing. They are actually looking for any Battle of Okinawa artifacts and memorabilia. The Proprietor, Chris Majewski, is enthusiastically revamping the museum to the best of his ability. I had the incredible opportunity to see some of the undisplayed artifacts that were donated and hope some of you ,whom have memorabilia that they are willing to part with for a good cause, will do so. The museum is non-profit and is opened to school groups and tours. What a wonderful way to teach our military children about history of the American fighting forces so far from home. Thank you for your time. To contact me please email me: Redhotdragnfly @ yahoo .com.

Zero
I went through Parris Island four years later, in July - Oct 1962, and I remember your sand fleas well. They certainly got their quart of blood from me.

Interestingly enough, I was Right Guide for Platoon 245 and we probably used the same WW1 H-shaped wooden barracks as your Platoon 241. Here's a funny PI story, although it probably wasn't funny for the two recruits involved. Two recruits in Platoon 245 were from the hills of Kentucky and I suspect that neither of them had ever worn shoes before they got to PI. (This is a coincidence and NOT a reflection on Kentuckians or on the great state of Kentucky.) Both were more than a little odd, very short (probably barely made the cut), and incredibly uncoordinated. To say that they had no rhythm and couldn't march if a drum was pounding cadence in their ears simply doesn't adequately describe how f--ked up they were in every possible way. Eventually, they were both surveyed out of the Corps.

On drill-comp day, our DI made both recruits hide in the Dempster Dumpster behind our barracks while the rest of us went to drill comp. He told them that they should be absolutely silent like they were hiding for their lives because if anyone found them he would kill them. I'm certain they believed every word because, after drill comp, he marched our platoon to the Dempster Dumpster and they were still in there. We marked time while he ordered them out of the Dumpster and chewed them out for missing drill comp. "WHAT the h-ll are you t-rds doing hiding in my dempster dumpster?! WHERE were you during my Drill Comp?! DO you know that being AWOL is a Court-Martial Offense?! DROP and give me a hundred bend-and-thrusts while I decided whether to send your sorry as-es to the BRIG!" It was all the rest of us could do to keep from laughing out loud. After fifteen or twenty bend-and-thrusts he ordered them back into platoon formation and marched the platoon back to our barracks.

One of these guys was a redhead who looked like a human replica of the cartoon character "Zero" in the "Beetle Bailey" comic strip, so I'll just call him Private Zero. He also had a peculiar accent and when he tried to say "Aye, aye, sir!" it came out "Oy, oy, sor!" The DIs tried and tried to make him say it right. They would make him stand on the table in the center of the squad bay and say it over and over and over while coaching him to say "Aye, aye, sir!" but it always came out "Oy, oy, sor!" Finally, they gave up in frustration but when we would be in a location where there were other platoons and DIs, the DIs would be talking among themselves while we waited at parade rest to go to chow or some other function. Soon, one of our DIs would say, "Private Zero, get UP HERE!" Of course, the platoon would come to attention and recite in unison, "Private Zero, report to the Drill Instructor as ordered!" Zero would report to the DI and, without even looking at him, the DI would say, "Say it, Zero." Zero would then say, "Oy, oy, sor!" and the DIs would all turn away and crack up. You couldn't hear them laughing but you could tell they were. It was a hoot, although I did feel a little sorry for Zero. He was so incredibly screwed up that it's difficult to describe just how screwed up he was. Maybe he joined the Army after washing out of PI and got promoted to General. :-)

They say that Marine Boot Camp is a life-altering experience and it certainly was for me. There are few things I remember as well. I can't remember things that happened to me last week but I remember Parris Island and my Drill Instructors like it was yesterday; I even remember the smells and the heat and the sounds of boot camp. The sounds of seventy-seven senior recruits drilling on the main parade deck during red-flag conditions, images of buildings on the other side of the field shimmering in the heat rising off the asphalt, the Drill Instructor's cadence, the sound of seventy-six rifles (Right Guide doesn't carry a rifle) crack-cracking as the platoon executes the manual of arms, the din of the chow hall as we sidestepped through the chow-line, eight recruits slamming their butts on the seats in absolute unison, the smell of "Hoppe's No. 9 Powder Solvent," the statue of "Iron Mike," the smell of the dirt as the sun beat down on us in our shooting jackets, sweatshirts, and leather gloves, while we snapped-in after noon- chow, Eliot's Beach and the confidence course, pugil-stick training, the feel of cold water and soap as we washed our uniforms with scrub-brushes on the wash-racks and tied them on lines with "tie-ties" to dry, the thrill of seeing the white- marker after getting my first shot in the black from the 500 yard-line, the disappointment when I got my first "Maggy's Drawers," and the incredible pride I felt on Graduation Day as my family watched from the stands to see me become a United States Marine. Yes, "The change is forever."

I was on active duty for seven-and-a-half years and my memories of my time, including a year in Vietnam (3rd MarDiv, based at Dong Ha, Quang Tri Province, I-Corps, about one klik south of the Z), are still fresh in my mind. The faces of my fallen brothers are still young in my memories and they walk with me every day. They were the best of the best. Today, when I see young Marines on TV in Iraq or Afghanistan it makes me understand that they look just like us. When I look at WW2 films of Marines on Mike boats or AmTraks headed for the beaches of Tarawa or Iwo Jima, I recognize them and I know their faces. They are me. They are us. We are forever the Corps and our history, missions, and traditions are being carried forward on the capable shoulders of the most competent fighting force in world history, today, and still ... United States Marines.

Sir Winston Churchill, WW2 British Prime Minister, said of the U.S. Marine Corps, "I am convinced that there is no smarter, handier, or more adaptable body of troops in the world." He is still correct.

Semper Fi,
Mark Van Noy
Sergeant of Marines
1962 - 1969, Nam 68-69

I Had No Intention Of Joining
I had to chuckle when reading Cpl. Nix's (2068570) letter about his mom being sent the draft notices while he was on duty with his brother. My mom got the same treatment in Las Vegas when I was with 1st MAW on Monkey Mtn in DaNang. When I returned home just before my 21st birthday mom showed me the stack of notices. We laughed because my younger brother had some as well. He was a Marine tanker on the East Coast at that time. Mom had dated Air Wing Marines while she was at college near Pensacola Naval Air Base in WW II. Some of her friends didn't come home from the Pacific so she always had a little place in her heart for Marines of any generation. She volunteered to take me down to the Federal Bldg and discuss the letters. I asked if we could stop by Nellis AFB to get a squared away haircut. Many of the Nellis airmen had been on Monkey Mtn with their radar site so I was on familiar territory. They knew what a Marine "high & tight" was...just start and finish with a "No. 0" clipper. Mom and I got to the Federal Bldg and went by the Navy-Marine offices down the hallway. A Navy chief with a ton of fruit salad...including a China Service ribbon...was getting a nice cup of NavMar Java. He looked up and instantly smiled. I knew him from somewhere and couldn't remember. He slapped my shoulder and told me we had met a few times at the Camp Tien Sha Naval Facility's book store and bank. I laughed and remembered him as the smiling Master at Arms on occasion who locked up our weapons whenever we came on base at the foot of Monkey Mtn. Mom showed him the letters and he wanted to come along. They chose to stand outside the Army Recruiter's office and kibbitz while I went in and sat down with the envelopes. There was a group of very sad looking UNLV students with long hair and the classic bell bottoms, sandals, and tie-died shirts. The E-7 soldier was the spitting image and personality of the character played by the late Bruno Kirby in "Good Morning Vietnam" later on. He was deriding and rudely barking insults at these "kids" who had apparently "missed" their appointments with him. When he saw me he stopped and stepped around the group to face me rocking on his heels DI style. I was grinning like Jack Nicholson in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" maybe to just tweak his mood a bit. Don't get me wrong. I've known and proudly called many Army yellow striper infantry my friends. Mom and the chief were watching...He'd reminded me to "be civil". I stood and approached the Sgt. I handed him the notices just for me. I wanted my brother to have some fun upon HIS next leave. I informed the solder I had no intention of joining the U.S. Army at that time in a quiet pleasant voice. He squawked and hissed something about my not having a choice in the matter. I pulled out my Marine ID card and a couple of photos I had from DaNang. He stared at them and was just silent. I concluded that 1) I had just finished two tours in DaNang as a Marine and 2) The Commandant of the Marine Corps would most likely not approve of my signing any documents in his office...not withstanding his coming out there to personally rip both our heads off and "XXXX" down into our chest cavities. The E-7 and I laughed, shook hands, and he tossed the envelopes into the trash. As I left, he actually called out "Semper Fi, kid" to me. Nice. The chief, mom, and I all went down the hall to the NavMar side for some good old fashioned "pogey bait" and NavMar issued Java.

T. Duke Ogden's (1550484) memory of the racktime prayer was great. Things change only in some small details. In 1967 at Edson Range, our PMI...Preliminary Marksmanship Instructor... taught me a newer version to repeat to our DI's when it was racktime. "Now I lay me down to sleep/Belts of 7.62 ammo at my feet/If I should die before I wake/ (2 versions here) Put me on the Liberty Roster for God's sake! or I pray my soul the Corps will take/ God bless the Commandant, our DI's, Chesty Puller, and my M-14A. I figured then these prayers were important so if we ended up there, the angels would gladly pull targets and pick up our brass for us at that "Big Range in the Sky".

Semper Fi,
P. L. Boddy Jr. 2350175

Hollywood Marine
In late 1964 the government announced we needed to stop Communism. We needed to stop them in Viet Nam. Most of us were patriotic son's of World War ll Marines, we volunteered. My father was at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Okinawa. I was 16 years old and I felt like I had to do my bit for our country. So in December 1964 I went to the Marine recruiting office to enlist and fight for the old U.S.A. The Marine recruiter told me I had to be at least 17 with my parents permission. I was going to turn 17 in about six weeks, so we started the tests and paperwork. On February 10, 1965 four days after I turned 17 years old I was at MCRD San Diego. This was of a major culture shock for a young boy. I took a lot of heat in boot camp because of where I was from. My parents lived in Hollywood, I went to Hollywood High School, my father worked for a major Hollywood Studio, and I enlisted at the Hollywood recruiting office on Hollywood Blvd. The Drill Instructors had a field day with that information. We are talking the ultimate Hollywood Marine. The Drill Instructors told us we better learn our lessons well because every swinging one of us was going to Viet Nam. Almost all my buddies were sent to Nam and some did not return. That's something I have to live with.

From 1965 to 1969 were turbulent and trying years for the Marine Corps. The Corps grew from about 170,000 to about 300,000 Marines in a very short period of time, All those Marines needed to be trained and organized rapidly. On Feb. 12, 1967 when we hit the rack we was attached to Engineering Maintenance Company, Maintenance Battalion, 1st FSR. 1st Marine Division FMF, Camp Pendleton. When we woke up on February 13,1967 we were attached to Engineer Maintenance Company, Maintenance Battalion, 5th FSR, 5th Marine Division, FMF, Camp Pendleton. All the sign age on the Base had been changed over night. Pretty slick trick.

One of my best and oldest friends will turn 60 years old in a few weeks. We joined the Corps on the same day when we were both just 17 years old. At that age you never think that someday you will turn 60 and be old. Cole and I served three of our four years in the Corps together. We separated with we went overseas. We have been friends all this time. About four years age he meet his soul mate and got married. He is very happy. And I wish the best always. On the occasion of his 60th birthday I had a plaque made with the Globe and Anchor.

Sgt. Michael James Smith
(1965 to 1969) USMC
Semper Fi

Worked Fine
I had a friend who was in the avionics shop at MAG32 at MCAS Beaufort in 1968 who told me this story of a young Lt.

In those days when a piece of equipment failed to operate normally, the operator had to fill out a Tactical Equipment Repair Order (TERO). In the planes there was (and probably still is) a transponder that 'flashes' a certain code called Identification Friend or Foe (IFF). The young Lieutenant flying this F4 had written up his TERO after a flight claiming that the equipment "worked fine in the IFF position but failed to perform in the OFF position" !

Even a grunt knows


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electronics won't work when you turn them off!

Keep up the good work.
Semper Fi--
Sgt. JT Curbow; 1967 -- 1971

I Would Caution
Sgt. Grit:

I have just completed reading this weeks news info

Of particular disturbing note was the pathetic story by Darryl NEWTON, who purports himself, as a former Marine, along with other Marines, to be abandoned within the vile California prison system.

Lets not get wrapped around the axle. NEWTON did something, got caught (Note: very very few get caught the 1st ti

24 May 2007
Printable Version Online Catalog
Sgt Grit Newsletter
Sgt. Grit,
Anyone wanting to 'watch' a Parris Island Sand Flea incident check out "The D.I." with Jack Webb.
This 1957 movie about Parris Island has several good scenes that depict Marine Recruit Training during the 1950s and some that are down right 'corny' ('Just Whistle...").
One has to keep in mind when this movie was filmed. The entire Sand Flea scene is a riot!
I also used this movie as an aid to remember my eleven General Orders. As one recruit yelled them out, I wrote them down. Since my memory isn't quite as good as it once was, I had to do this so I could recall them, just in case.
"The D.I." is in my VCR right now and I plan to enjoy my lunch watching this movie and recalling my days at 'The Island'. Semper Fi,

Tony Glass
Sgt USMC
1974-78


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Send me stories of jokes, pranks, practical jokes while on active duty.
Sgt Grit
info@grunt.com


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Chaplain's Corner
The Gyrostabilizer
by Bob Boardman

"The men who followed Him were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same."
— Billy Graham

After an accelerated wartime seven week Marine Boot Camp in early 1943, hundreds of us in our new green uniforms and our equipment packed in khaki-colored sea-bags were sent by ten- wheel trucks to Camp Elliott on the outskirts of San Diego for infantry training. Camp Pendleton had not opened yet.

In other chapters I've told how after initial infantry training, we were "volunteered" alphabetically for tank school. I sometimes wonder what would have happened to me if my last name was Zaring!

As new prospective tankers we were sent off to Jaques Farm, an old fruit orchard, for training. Never mind that some of us were well over six feet and could hardly squeeze into the 15-ton light tanks of that day.....
Read More

As I Was Growing Up
As a Former "Woman Marine" from the early 1970's and a Marine Mom, I look at the approaching Memorial Day, as I do EVERY year, with a Grateful heart for all the men and women that have given the "ultimate sacrifice" for our country! My father instilled in me patriotism for America as I was growing up.

My father's ashes are at the Houston VA Cemetery. He served in England as a bomber mechanic during WWII in the Army Air Corps from '41-'45 and was Darn Proud of his country and the Freedoms 7 Opportunities it has for its people! He was a 1st generation American born son of two Italian immigrants that came to this country in 1902 with just a few dollars in their pockets and the "American Dream" in their heads. My grandfather worked on the NY Central Railroad for 51 years and my grandmother worked in a vegetable canning factory with my dad on her knee as she worked long hours. They paid for and built 2 homes next to each other in a tiny town nestled in Western NY where they lived until they died in the early 1970's. When my grandmother returned to Italy in 1968 to visit her family after all of 66 yrs later, her family marveled at how she spoke English the whole time she spent with them. She told them "I am an American now and I speak and read & write English! I found out later that my 1st grade elementary school teacher taught her how to write and read English. She only got as far as the 2nd grade level but was proud of being able to read and write! Something that was NOT a priority to teach to females in Italy back when she was growing up there.

My grandfather fought in WWI and was gone for 3 years in Europe. He returned and worked hard and instilled in my father as he was growing up to be Grateful for the Freedoms and Opportunities America has for us. And be grateful for the Sacrifices of the men and women before us for protecting our great country and its freedoms!

I passed along to my son, who served as a U S Marine from May 2001-May 2006, the same principles. I will never forget 9-11 when he had just flown to California the night before. He was home on leave for 10 days and we talked him into going back a day early for good measure (Sometimes the airlines doesn't get you back in time to report back from your leave). He was in a hotel room outside of Camp Pendleton and was "wound up" watching the twin towers incident on TV and called me at work. He said that he knew he was going to make someone pay for what had happened and was "motivated"!

In Nov 2004, he was in the first group of Marines to go into the Battle of Fallujah. He was in Iraq from Sep 04 - Mar 05. It WAS the MOST INTENSE 7 mos of all my life! I hardly ever slept at night! BUT, I was so proud of him!

I KNEW that my Grandfather, and Father were WATCHING OVER HIM from the HEAVENS to help him come HOME SAFE!

I KNOW that prayer gets a Marine Mom through the trial of waiting for their son or daughter to come home from war! I will NEVER forget his homecoming! I was as Joyful that day as the day I delivered him into this world! It truly was special! I cried with so much happiness to be able to hug him and see that he was safe. He returned with a Purple Heart from wounds he received in the Battle of Hit. There is NOTHING LIKE THE DR's that are stationed in IRAQ! There ARE AMERICA'S FINEST DR'S! He was sewn up and back in battle in a day or so!

I am so GRATEFUL for the sacrifices of the men & women who are currently defending our freedoms at home & abroad! I pray that their efforts are NOT in vain! I pray that the leadership of this great country of ours "gets it together" and finishes the JOB they started!

This DOESN'T NEED to be a political war! I pray that the "Great Comforter" be with all the families to get through their trials of waiting for their loved ones to come home safe!

GOD BLESS AMERICA and all it STANDS FOR!
SEMPER FI!
J E Denton
Former Sgt, USMC
'75-'79

Memorial Day
( More than just a day off work )

M is for the memory we have of those who put their lives on the line to give us the freedom and privilege of living in this blessed nation...

E is for the enduring gratitude we have for the sacrifices these men and women make for those who stayed at home...

M is for the merit we recognize in those who serve our nation when such service comes at such a high price...

O is for the obedience we honor when those in uniform follow orders that may, and many times do, cost them their lives...

R is for the reverence we give to the thoughts we have on this day, or any day, when we remember those who give so much...

I is for the integrity we salute when those in uniform stand up for all of us even when some of us do not stand up for them...

A is for the allegiance we have to the nation that these brave warriors fight and die for...

L is for the love that goes with those who are in harms way, and who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for you and me...

Offered respectfully by,
W. Larry Chapman, Jr.
Capt. USMC - Vietnam Era

4th Annual GriTogether 2007
If you missed it this year, check out the pictures...


A Giant Died Today
(A Remembrance of Marine Fred Hanson)
By: Michael A. Crane

The late Stephen Ambrose wrote in his best selling history of the 101st Airborne, Band of Brothers:

AI was ten years old when the war ended. I thought the returning veterans were giants who had saved the world from barbarism. I still think so. I remain a hero worshiper.

Ambrose and I are the same age and about this verdict I agree with him entirely.

When I was a 17 year old Marine recruit, it was men like Fred Hanson who were the models for our emulation. In fact, Iwo and Tarawa Marines were the only men my Drill Instructor spoke about with a respect approaching awe. Himself a Navy Cross winner from Korea, my DI didn't think much of the human race to begin with and even less of recruits who he regarded as bearing no human attributes whatsoever. Make no mistake, these men of Iwo Jima were held in a reverence that's difficult to comprehend for anyone who hasn't experienced Marine Corps boot camp. Suffice it to say that in the pantheon of Marine gods those courageous veterans of Iwo Jima have an exalted place shared only with Tarawa Marines. Not that other Marine warriors were any less heroic but just that it was Iwo Jima that defined everything that the Marines had stood for since its founding in 1775. It's in the diamond hard simplicity of the Marine Corps Motto, Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful: to God, Country and Corps. Semper Fi motivated the selfless courage of the Iwo Marines that led Admiral Chester Nimitz to praise them in language that graces the Marine Memorial in Washington D.C., Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue.

In specific context, Fred was in the third assault wave of the first day of the invasion. That means that the enemy's guns hadn't been knocked out yet. Every square foot of the beach was in the Japanese gun registry. If you've never watched the old Movietone News reels of that event you have no idea how terrifying that experience had to be for the 20,000, mostly teenagers, who hit the beach on February 19, 1945 against some of the fiercest troops in the Japanese inventory. The absolute ferocity of battle is attested to by the statistics: during the 33 day contest 7,000 Marines were killed and another 19,000 wounded including 25 surgeons and 827 Corpsmen. Plus, 21,000 Japanese died there. One young Marine NCO wrote later: Life was never regular again. We were changed from the day we put our feet in that sand.

After 60 some years Fred is finally back with the buddies he left behind in the black volcanic ash. He remembered them often as we chatted. Near the end his mind was often fogged by the ravages of age and illness but he never lost the clarity of his memories of those Marines who fell on that stinking sulphuric island. As frail as he became, in my mind, Fred always bore the unmistakable stamp of Iwo Marine. Mystical? Perhaps. But a powerful emotion none the less. It's the reverence for their heroes that makes Marines positively unique and, more importantly, it's this reverence, not some corporate bottom line, that motivates them do the tough, deadly work that they are singularly qualified to do.

Interestingly, Fred often said that as bad as Iwo was, he was more frightened at the earlier battle of Saipan. I'm not sure I believed him. He did tell me that he never felt lonelier in his life than he had on Iwo Jima. Then he laughed and said, Surrounded by 50,000 Marines and shot at by 20,000 Japanese and I was lonely, how do you figure that? But I noticed that he talked more freely about Saipan even the horrific Japanese banzai charges that scared the h&ll out of the toughest veterans of the Pacific theater. So I suspect there was silent torrent of terror that ran through his unspoken thoughts about Iwo Jima that he couldn't or wouldn't express and I didn't probe. Plus, he had been wounded on Tinian and that necessarily makes a man more thoughtful and cautious. Men of Fred's generation, particularly Marines, didn't whine. B!tch all you want, that's OK, but absolutely no sniveling. It was unmanly, unseemly and un-American. You can't understand the gallantry of the American fighting man Marine, Sailor, Soldier, Airman unless you grasp that critical concept.

Iwo gave us the most defining icon of the war, the photograph of the American flag raising on Mt. Suribachi which took place on February 23rd. Fred said the men in his company didn't even know the flag had been raised mainly because they were busy trying not to get erased by heavy Japanese gun fire from the opposite end of the island.

Iwo Jima was also the defining event for every Marine, including Fred, who was able to walk off that rock. For those who had to remain behind, a stone marker at the cemetery said When you go home tell them for us and say for your tomorrow we gave our today. Poignantly, the Marine Corps Hymn gives us this stanza:

If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on heaven's scenes
They'll find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

I'm certain that Fred Hanson is at that Heavenly guard post along with the other brave men of the Corps who fought at Iwo Jima particularly those valiant warriors of 4th Division, 23rd Marines, Fred's Marine family.

Our nation and community are diminished by the loss of a valiant friend but the Marine Corps pantheon has added another star to its crown. I was blessed to have known him and proud to have him call me friend.

Until we pull liberty together in Paradise, Gung Ho, Good and Faithful Friend. You will be sorely missed.
-------------------------------------------
Michael A. Crane is a California attorney and Marine masquerading as a civilian.

The Bikini in Chu Lai
Mr. Jack Redmond of Les Brown and his "Band of Renown". Wow memories flood back. I was at the 1967 Bob Hope show in Chu Lai. Bob and Miss World, (a beautiful young lady from South America I recall), and the redoubtable Barbara McNair. Before the concert started a group of Marines, in the combat gear, straight from the bush, dirty and maybe a little tired because they were lugging their stuff, all were marched down to the front and sat on the ground in front of the stage.

The show commenced, Bob saying that we were so close to the Cong that he could smell their rice cooking, the same jokes from WWII and Korea, but now for a new age audience. We still laughed. Miss World showed some skin, but not enough as far as I was concerned. Some songs, the band played, it was fine.

Then Barbara McNair came out and started singing. In the middle of her song the grunts got up and began to move out. So Barbara stopped singing and said, "Wait a minute fellows, my act gets better." She then took her clothes off and sang in a bikini. We all cheered and the grunts sat back down. Don't know if that was staged or not, but it was great stuff. Ms McNair died not to long ago and I will never forget her.

Nor will I ever forget you Mr. Redmond or Bob Hope or any of the others who cared enough to take our minds off war for a while. Thanks for the memories.

Steve Eslin, Pvt to 1st Lt
RVN Oct 1966 to Jan 1969 (Couldn't get enough I guess)

THE Bomb
Hi Sgt. Grit,
The Bomb
My name is Gianni Marasco
I was stationed in Baghdad about eight months ago, when one of my Sgt. friends played a major prank on me.
I was lying on my cot, when my friend runs in screaming, "A bomb, a bomb is coming down from the sky!" I run outside of my tent and looked up. After scanning the sky for a moment I notice an object black, and round with a parachute slowly coming down from the sky. I immediately begin to panic. All I could think of was, "What are they going to tell my family?!"
After 13 minutes of waiting for immanent death, the "bomb comes down and I realize that the "bomb" is a black basket with a piece of paper saying, "Gotcha."

Later,
Sgt. Gianni Marasco

Marines And The Yankees
I don't know if you follow baseball - but here some interesting information on a real American hero.
Recently, Henry A. Bauer ( Hank ) a decorated Marine WW II veteran passed away.
He served in the PTO and later on would help the New York Yankees go onto win seven world series - he was 84.
Marine Bauer served three years in the pacific, was stricken with malaria in New Georgia, took shrapnel wound(s) on Guam, and then took a bullet through the left thigh on Okinawa.
He earned two bronze stars and two purple hearts.
Marine Bauer concluded the war with a lasting sense of his bitterness towards the Japanese.
Sometime after the war - when the team went to Japan - Marine Bauer refused to participate in a wreath - laying ceremony held at Hiroshima.
In the years that followed he wrote : The one thing the Marines and the Yankees have in common - its called "pride".
Semper Fi Marine
Rest In Peace
Gene

Operation Little Switch
I think Freedom Village as I knew it was later changed to 'OPERATION LITTLE SWITCH however, I stand to be corrected. I was a Cpl. at that time and was a member of the 1st. Marine Div. Inspector's office. Col. Nelson, who later took over one of the Regiment was the officer in charge of the area where the first sick and wounded were returned from the North Korea command. Most of them were returned by helicopter to the tent hospital there in the compound where they were examined and given whatever treatment necessary before being processed to Japan or Germany for further treatment.

I still have the arm band R A M P ( Repatriated American Military Personnel ) Home made from Marine Green Uniform material, perhaps by some of the native South Korean women.

Just wondering if some other Marine remembers that occasion in August 1953.

Would love to here from anyone.
Sgt. James M. Carter (Honor Platoon 60 Parris Island 1950)

Moments In This Marine's Life
Day I grew up more than any other;
The first Day of Boot Camp, MCRD San Diego.

Second day I grew up more than any other;
The first time I heard shots fired in anger, and I realized they were meant for me.

Proudest day;
My son's graduation from MCRD San Diego when I was asked to stand and be honored as a Marine no longer on active duty.

Day most grateful to the one who listens to my prayers;
Last week at 29 Palms, when my son stepped off the bus returning from his tour in Iraq. He followed my instructions to NOT bring home any Purple Hearts.

Happiest moment;
Taking the Blue Star off my car and giving it to my son's Gunny for bringing him home safely. Yes, we all know that the Gunnys run the Corps, don't tell the Commandant.

Olsa, M. A. Sergeant of Marines,
Released from active duty, August, 1969.
Proud Father of Olsa, J. W. Lance Corporal of Marines, TOW Platoon, 1st Tanks.

Gourmet Chef
Being the gourmet chef that I am I feel compelled to send you my favorite meal that I fixed in the Bush back in 1968 in the Nam. Take one 7.62 Ammo Box (empty) Add cans of Beans and Franks, and any other meat dish you can get into Ammo box.
Break up small pieces of C-4 lite them (carefully) stir till hot. Eat with pound cake wash down with Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. Burp,
Duke Humphrey Corporal Of The Marines 1968-69

Brothers
Sgt Grit,
My wife and I just spent 10 days in Hawaii in celebration of our 19th anniversary. We are a blended family and took our grown children with us since they didn't get to go on our honeymoon to Hawaii years ago. My stepson was there, he had followed in my footsteps becoming a Marine also. We stayed at my Marine Corps brothers house on Oahu. We had both served with C co. 1st Tanks in Vietnam and had RR in Hawaii together. Thirty-nine years later and we are still tight, that is the Marine Corps way. We talked about getting the Eagle, Globe and Anchor tattoo but just didn't have the time. We weren't concerned about the orders of none past the sleeves. When my wife and I were boarding our plane for the flight home we saw a young couple with tattoos. The young lady had some tastefully done that were truly beautiful and the young man had brilliantly exotic tattoos on both forearms. In small letters lost in the beautiful artwork were the letters USMC. I said" Where are you stationed Marine?" He said he was going on leave before going to training as a weapons instructor and had just left 2/3. My wife asked how I knew he was a Marine. He was squared away in civvies, had a high and tight, and carried himself like a Marine but she couldn't believe he was a Marine with all the tattoos. I said he has USMC inside the design and asked him how he got those tattoos with the new directive. He had heard it was coming and got them done before it was issued so they were grandfathered in. He still looked like a Marine.

Later, on the plane he was several isles back and when the stewardess came by I told her I would pay for whatever the young Marine and his wife ordered since we were brothers. She said there was no need for me to buy him anything because servicemen are her heroes especially Marines and she would take care of him. Then she asked how we could be brothers. I'm silver haired and overweight and we couldn't be siblings but I showed her my little USMC tattoo under my watch band and said I'm a Marine also. The blonde stewardess on American Airlines provided me free drinks too. When I fly again, it will be with American Airlines, they appreciate Marines with tattoos.

Phillip A. Morris, Sgt of Marines '67-'69

Yellow Footprints
Sgt Grit

I keep reading about the Yellow Footprints that the "young" Marines talk about but I don't recall ever seeing them. Where were they and were they there at Parris Island in 1948.?
Semper Fi !
Wallace Pfeifer

Old Corps
Sgt. Grit:

Mike Walsh may have stumbled on the answer to the controversy of who is "Old Corps" and who is not. If you had a Marine Corps enlisted or officers' service number assigned instead of just using your Social Security number for I.D., you are probably "Old Corps" at this point. And I bet that you remember your service number, too!

Don Kaag
2015828, Plt. 170, 1Bn, P.I., Sep-Dec 1962 LTC, Armor, AUS(Ret.) ...And former Sgt. & Capt., of Marines

All Three Ends
I am a long-time subscriber and commend you upon publishing a wonderful newsletter for Marines, their loved ones and anyone interested in the Corps.

Within the pages of your newsletters are the heart-felt love for our Corps, the memories of veterans and the excitement and concern of newly initiated families. One can feel the sincerity, the warmth and the devotion within the depths of each story.

I remember so well, of being the first man home from Korea to come aboard MCRD Parris island for duty. I arrived directly from USNH Philadelphia and still limped with a cane. I was assigned as a Special Instructor in the 1st Officer Candidate Course, which was held in PI. I was the bayonet-knife-judo instructor.

Parris Island was swarming with recruits (March 1950). There were tent cities all over the place.

I later became a SDI in the 2nd Recruit Bn. I have been on all three ends of boot camp. I have been a recruit, a Senior drill Instructor and a Recruiter.

God Bless All Marines and their loved ones.

Lee Bergee
USMC(ret)
One of the Chosin Few
Philippines WW2

Top Walks In
Summer 1970. I'm a LCPL on head detail in the hanger of HMM-261 MCAS New River. We fall out for formation. I receive my Cpl stripes. After formation back to head detail. In the process of cleaning the crappers Top walks in. Get my butt chewed out. NCO's DON'T clean heads. Valuable lesson learned. A Marine NCO doesn't have to take crap from anyone.

Rick Torrence
Sgt. '68-'72

Attached Fort Briggs
In this article of Grit does anyone remember the bet on march of 110 miles. My buddy in Stevensville, Montana does. He was on it. They then attacked Fort Briggs. His name is John Hockenbury HOSS

Draft
I had to laugh at the Marine from Canada who was in Quang Tri Province and was receiving letters to fill out the proper Alien forms. My twin brother, Dan and I enlisted at the same time at 17 years old. We celebrated our 18th birthday while in boot camp at P.I. That is another story. While both of us were in Vietnam, our mother received numerous threatening letters from the local draft board in Carmel, NY that bad things would happen if we did not register for the draft. She repeatedly wrote letters back telling the draft board that we were in the USMC and were fighting in Vietnam with HMM-262 (Dan) and HMM-265 (Dennis). After numerous letters back and forth, the draft board apparently believed mom and it all went away. Dan and I also told mom to call the draft board and tell them to come get us. I don't recall they ever did.

Cpl. Dennis V. Nix 2068570
Plt. 207 P.I. 1964-1968

How Small
To Dave Plt 1071 PI 1967:
I was also in 1st Bn in 1966 and in 2003 went back to PI and also commented on how small the grinder was. I was told that it had in fact been made smaller when they built the new barracks. So no, it is not our youthful awe and memory going, it actually was larger when we were there.

Nat Holmes
Plt 154 March 1966

THE BET
If my memory serves correctly, the Regiment was the 5th Marines out of Camp Margarita, MCB Camp Pendleton. They humped around the perimeter of Camp Pendleton with weapons, field packs, and ammunition. As anyone who has spent time at Camp Pendleton knows, the hills are true ball-breakers!

I'm sure there are former Marines out there who remember Camp Horno and the mock up of a small carrier's flight deck (can't remember its name) where "vertical envelopment" tactics were first R&D'd in the middle to late 1950s.

One bit of "indoctrination" that has stuck with me for 51 years, is the "Marine Corps Prayer" as drilled into my platoon at MCRD San Diego by SSGT Thurman "T.J." Johnson: "Now I lay me down to sleep/With my bag of emblems at my feet/If I should die before I wake/I pray my soul the Marine Corps to take/God Bless the Commandant, My Drill Instructor, and my M-1"

Semper Fi,
T. Duke Ogden
SGT, 1956-1961, 0311
1550484

Quickest to Boot Camp??????
I wanted to join the Navy while in High School, but I was only 17 years old, and my Dad and Mom wouldn't sign for me, so when I became 18 years old, I went to the Navy Recruiters and signed up, but I had a two week wait before being notified, so I went next door to the Marine Recruiter and joined up, this was a Saturday morning in July 1950, arriving at Parris Island from Orlando, Florida by cattle car on Wednesday morning, and the rest is history. ONCE a MARINE ALWAYS a MARINE
Al Simmons -- Morgan Hill, CA -- MCL Attachment 1122 San Jose, CA Parris Island 1st. Recruit Bn. Platoon 68 18 July 1950

Afterwards
Sgt. Grit,
one of my most enduring memories of the sand fleas was the last uniform inspection I stood. The entire unit was in formation outside in the Beaufort heat, and we were in alphas. The sand fleas discovered that they could fly up under our skirts and nail us through our nylons. The guys were lucky they had very little exposed skin, hands and heads, while we women were exhibiting the ultimate discipline of not showing how uncomfortable we were at being bitten in such a tender area.. Afterwards, there a number of women who were crowded into the heads to strip down as fast as we could rip that uniform off.
lol.
r/s
A. M. Grabill

America is not at war,
The Marine Corps is at war,
America is at the mall - and Congress is out to lunch.
-anon. Marine-

Temporarily Unassigned
It was 2 A.M. and it was Parris Island 1955. I was walking guard duty around an empty warehouse. On each rotation around the building I would meet another member of our platoon walking the other way guarding his empty warehouse. We would chat. briefly. As I approached him on one occasion he stage whispered to me "Someone just ran behind your warehouse!" I turned and ran backtracking to the far corner, and stopped out of breath, not sure what to do. There was a full moon and as I stood silently I saw the shadow of a man coming to the corner. D*mn, and I don't have any bullets! I grabbed my M-1 by the muzzle and held it high above my head as Staff Sergeant John Mulcany, my senior D.I. looked me straight in the eye (probably wondering why I didn't brain him), Calmly he said "Put that down!" I snapped to attention and he said "carry on", and left. The man never mentioned that incident to me or anyone as far as I know.
John Malone U.S.M.C. 1528675 L/Cpl temporarily unassigned.

Rifle Number
Dear SGT Grit
All those great letters about MCRD jolted me back to my short stay at P.I. (18 Weeks) Looking back it was more humorous than pain, NOW! The writer talking about the Marine Service Numbers has it correct, it was a great way to know who was the saltiest. With that I'll just say that I was in Platoon 232 and my M1 rifle number was 1065110 (I tried to find out if it was still around but someone told me it was scraped. D*mn!) My Serial number was 1688470.
Semper Fi
L/Cpl Robert Fournier 1957 - 1960

Racking Dirt
When I read the message by L. H. Marshall, Sgt Maj, USMC Ret. (59-89), in the 18 Jan 2007 newsletter, it really brought back memories.. My unit, MCRD, "The Arizona Platoon #354, was the last unit to qualify at Camp Matthews.
I to remember tents (with wooden floors) we were housed in. I think that is the 1st place I learned the importance of racking DIRT and the grooming if the all important Ice Plant.
I just wanted to thank the Sgt Maj for bringing back some good and bad memories. Semper FI..... I really believe the statement, :Once a Marine Always a Marine."

Robert D. Adams
1964-1972
Sgt USMC

Worked Within Hours
Sgt. Grit,
I truly enjoy your newsletter. Always pleased with any of my orders. Just had to add some info about the C rats peanut butter we had in Viet Nam. Yes, the peanut butter and the oil was separated. The oil sat in the middle of the lump of peanut butter in a puddle. We, in the Air Wing, found that if you were constipated, eat only the oil! Worked within hours. If you had the runs, eat only the peanut butter lump. Also, worked within hours! What a GOD send. Hope this enlightens Paul Trainer, 62-68.

John J. "JJ" Novotnak
Marble Mountain Air Facility
HML-167 69-70
Semper Fi

His First Platoon
On the cover of your spring catalog is one (at that time Sgt.) R.S. Sutis. He was one of 4 DI's I had at MCRD PI Platoon 1001 graduation February 1965. Senior DI was SSgt. A.L. Jachimowicz, Sgt. B.W. Davis was fresh out of DI school, he joined our other DI's several weeks into our training. We were his first Platoon. Of course they told us we were such screw-ups he was sent there to kick ^ss and take names. Cpl. York who is not shown in any of our official platoon pictures, but does appear several times in pictures of our training in my platoon 1001 book, was with us from the start. I reported to Parris Island on 10 November 64. Some birthday party... I did make PFC as a squad leader and qualified expert with my M-14, went on to the Air Wing as a helicopter electrician with VMO-1 at New River Air Facilities and then the air station at area 22 Camp Pendleton where I left the active life in the Corps and went home to South Florida and went to college.

Met my wife of 39 years in Jacksonville, NC while she was a senior in Jacksonville High School.
I have some great memories of the Corps and lost a cousin and some friends to Viet Nam.
Semper Fi...Once a Marine Always a Marine.
Ronald P. Petrey Cpl. 1964-1968 2114142 (MOS6615)

The Bet
I was there. It was the 5th Marines that had the "honor" of performing this action. Although it took us 4 days to do it. The first 2 days (day 1 and day 2) we marched 50-55 miles from Pendleton to someplace outside of San Diego (Camp Elliot?). Then on day 3 they brought in the tractor trailers filled with beer and we had a blast....not realizing we had to march back to Pendleton day 4 and 5.

Semper Fi
Sgt A. J. Steen
'55-'59

Equally Suited
I Received this letter and was ask to forward it to you.
Semper Fi, Jim Murrell

Sgt, Grit,
I am writing this on behalf of myself and other equally suited veterans. I am an Honorably Discharged US Marine who is currently incarcerated, of the later I am not proud. I did serve my country honorably and earned the title of Marine on the hallowed grounds of MCRD San Diego.

Many times I have contacted veterans organizations of various matters, either received no response or told I have no moral character. Of the worse is the Marine Corps League. Often many veterans I talk with wonder what's going on. Before we were imprisoned we were veterans, this does not change when we get ourselves locked behind bars. The Marines I live with ask in response to being shunned "What ever happened to 'Once a Marine always a Marine?'" So often their the remembrance of being a Marine helps us overcome the many adversities we deal with on a daily basis. Even the prevention of suicide.

We order pins from Sgt. Grit that bear this motivating legend, or "Marine Veteran", and other creeds of our Corps. Yet time and time again we are abandon by our brother Marines because of being in prison. Many of us work for .32 cents an hour, when we receive a donation request from a Marine or veterans association we donate. Yet when we request help from the same association we get their backs turned on us. We have issues getting our benefits like medical, educational, and disability. We are not asking for handouts only help in receiving what we have earned.

We are told that we do not have moral character, I would like to share the following with you. There is a Marine who is a survivor of the Bataan Death March, (Mr. Keech), he has since passed about a year ago. I was in awe of him and considered it an honor in being asked to sit at the same dinner table with him as he asked me the basic Marine questions, Boot Camp, Unit, years of service, etc. He lit up when I told him I was a 5Th Marine, he had served IN the 5Th Marines prior to Bataan. Though he could not walk very fast, some felt he held up traffic, not once did I walk past him on the stairs or on the sidewalk with out "by your leave".

I had the honor of Frank Soto who earned two purple hearts in Vietnam with the Lima 3/5 (68-69), he called me brother. He cried when I gave him a 3/5 pin purchased from Sgt. Grit by my friend and brother Marine Jim Murrell who submitted this letter for me. Frank cried and shined that 3/5 pin so it sparkled like a star.

There is a Marine who was awarded multiple Silver and Bronze Stars, Purple Hearts, and a Navy/MC Distinguished Service Medal from his tour of duty in Vietnam. His name is Russel Weisse. There is a Navy Seal who was equally decorated from Vietnam, if these men do not have "moral character" the do not lack "Valor".

I served during peace time but was treated like an equal among there combat vets, who gave me the pleasure of being the President of the Mess for 2006 Birthday Ball, which was a blast.

I was the Vice Chairman of Veterans In Prison, the Director of the Calif. Department of Correction has ordered a veterans group for each prison. I have been transferred to a new prison, the group here is still in the initial stages. We need help, We need information on benefits, up grading discharges, and other information of interest to veterans. We need visits to our group from the associations on the "Outside". If you are willing to help in any way please contact me, on The closest prison to see how you can be of service to your brother Marines. I Can be contacted at arryl Newton 2100 Peabody Road, #3-203, Vacaville, Ca. 95696.

I would like to thank Jim Murrell, who is a board member of the Fleet Reserve Association in Bakersfield, Ca. who has been the total embodiment of Marine and looking our for your own. He has went beyond the call of duty to help me and other Marines in prison. He has purchased every Marine publication for me over the past 7 years. He has met every need that I have, some of them more than once. It is not the material help, he has just simply been a friend when I needed one most. At times when it got rough, he barked at me like a drill instructor, reminding me not to give up, by the Marine that I am. It has been a blessing to have his friendship and it all started because we were Marines.

Please, not being forgotten reminds us of what we once were, and what we can once again be. May God Bless America, continued success to our Corps.

Semper Fi,
Sgt. Darryl Newton

Tender Parts
Sgt.Grit:
I entered boot training on October 22, 1954, at Parris Island. I was in platoon 437, A company, 1st battalion. One of 8 "rebels", as they called us. The rest of the platoon was from "up north", mainly Cleveland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.

I was raised only an hour and a half from Parris Island, and still get amused at the sand fly being called a sand flea. I first heard this when I got to P.I., and we were being given "extra added instruction" behind the barracks one evening!

A sand flea is a small animal that lives in the surf on the Atlantic seaboard. About the size of your thumb's first joint. They make pretty good fish bait!

The sand fly is what we are talking about. Never had to bury one, but can remember getting my "tender parts" chewed on while standing at attention many times at P.I.

I have tried to locate some of my buddies from Parris Island but have only found a few, all these years.

I got out in September, 1957, to reenter college. I was in 81 mortars, 2nd Marines at Camp Lejeune.

David Earl Tyre...Sgt. of Marines...Semper Fi!

Iwo Tattoo
Sgt Grit
It took me a while to do it, but I finally ended up getting my Marine Corps tattoo...

Sgt A. Julian Burgower, 1994-2001

Jill St John
I was in attendance to 4 of those tours. The first in Dec 64---Jill St John was the prime attraction and she had posed nude in the Cavalier Magazine--A CDR Rodgers had her autograph it. She was a little embarrassed but a good sport---I sat at the Bar in Nha Trang with Les Brown---We were the only two there- a nice visit. I really did appreciate what those USO Tours did for the troops.
Thanks - Franklin

I Explained
Last week I was part of a group that visited Washington, DC to see some of the WWII memorials. It was a brief trip so we had time to visit only the WWII Memorial, Arlington Cemetery and The Marine Memorial (Iwo Jima).

As a veteran of the 4th Division I very proudly wore my bright red "4th Division hat" At each of these sights I saw other Marine vets identified by hats or jackets they were wearing. When we spotted each other there was a great exchange of "Semper Fi" and a firm hand shake and sometimes a hug. As a survivor of Iwo Jima it was especially emotional to greet some buddies at that statue.

I was one of two Marines in the group I toured with. As we headed home, people on the bus asked "Did you know all those guys you saw there?" My reply was, "No, it's just that every Marine knows every other Marine in a special way". I explained that Semper Fi has meaning that is best understood only by a Marine.

Marine pride has no equal.

Semper Fi

Sgt. Jack Watson
1942-1946

Stop Or I'll Shoot
This is the tattoo that I had done in California right after I got home from Iraq in March 2005. The Arabic line below the Eagle, Globe and Anchor says "Stop or I'll Shoot".

Semper Fi,
Sgt. Maddox
E Co, 4th ATB

The Left Handed Salute
The color guard passed in review, the banners flying high... And the crowd stood silent in respect... Old Glory passing by.

There were no protests at the scene... Just Americans proud and true... to honor the colors of our nation, the red, the white, the blue.

Many were the veterans... Wearing medals of wars long past... And the young were wearing uniforms... As the colors moved slowly past.

There was in the crowd and old man standing... His legs were bent with years... But the sight of our proud flag... To his faded eyes brought tears.

His old form worn and trembling... His clothes tattered and not regal... But on his breast there shined an emblem...the Anchor, Globe and Eagle.

And as the colors passed on by... He stood there stern and mute... With tears streaming from his faded eyes... He raised his hand to salute.

Now his stance was not of what they teach ... In the military way... His feet misplaced and back was stooped... But he never once did sway.

Then a young lad wearing the uniform of a United States Marine... Came to the old man standing there... And said Sir you're causing a scene...

You see I must tell you now... And my words you may refute... But you must never to our flag... Give a left-handed salute.

I see you have the Globe, Anchor and Eagle there upon your chest... And I question if you ever served... With what is America's best.

We've fought in every American war since 1775... And Marines have always gave their all...and thousands fell and died.

The old man looked with shameful eyes at the young lad by his side... And said Marine I realize... You must think I have no pride.

But you see young Marine an old man here... One armed and barely alive... My other arm I left in the sand.... On Iwo Jima in '45.

Many were my buddies that fell on that hot black sand, and I made a vow I would never forget... The price they paid for our great land.

Yes, I too was a Marine young lad... Perhaps not as good as you... But we fought and died the same way then... For the Corps, and the red, white and blue.

So don't judge harshly I beg of you... This old man in his final day...but as a Marine of yesterday... Please let me my homage pay.

Yes, let me pay my respect to my buddies... Who fell so long ago... And as the colors pass us by...please try and understand ... The only way that I can salute is with my old left hand.

The young marine stood silent... Then with tears clouding his bright eyes... He came to attention proud and tall as the colors passed on by.

He stood there at attention beside the old man bent and stooped...but he whispered a soft "Semper Fi" as he slowly raised his left hand in salute.

Semper Fi to all Marines, Past Present and Future

from the pen of cd sliger, USMC 1957-1960

Rainy Day Brighter
I enjoy reading the newsletter every week,. It never ceases to amaze me the observations and thoughts shared by Marines and their families. Sgt Bob Imm made the observation that whenever he heard some guy say "yes sir" when in the middle of normal daily dialogue, it was always a Marine.

Last week on a rainy day, I was waiting for a ride outside the VA Hospital and experienced an MCM (Marine Corps Moment).

A young man approached someone and asked where the smoking area was, using the polite "sir" when he spoke. as he lit up I said "Hey Devil Dog." He turned and spied my USMC Veteran cap and we shook hands and talked for awhile.

Turns out he was back from his second Iraq tour and I was thrilled to see the quality of this young Marine.

As we spoke, a Korean War Marine vet came wheeling up in a wheelchair.

Without consulting each other or hesitating, we both turned, snapped to attention and saluted our wounded brother. It surprised the h*ll out of the elderly gent, but he returned the salute and gave us a big smile.

As we stood there and talked, at least a dozen veterans came out of the hospital and each one that passed had a Marine Corps patch or cover and gave us a "Semper Fi" on their way past us. It made the rainy day that much brighter.

Semper Fidelis and God Bless our young men and women in harm's way.
LCpl John Nihen 75-78

While Those Around Me
Sgt. Grit;
In the American Courage Newsletter #148 GySgt. R. James Martin wrote a follow up to Cpl. Worthington's challenge at college, where he spoke of how lessons learned in the Marine Corps helped him later in life.

Although 10 years younger than Gunny Martin when I re entered college in 1964, I vividly recall being looked upon as 'different' as I continued to sport my high and tight haircut while those around me grew their hair down to their shoulders. While others partied their brains out I completed 4 years of college in 2 (along with 3 summers), graduated with honors, and then volunteered to serve on active reserve duty with the Corps as a L/Cpl in the 81mm Mortar Platoon, 2nd Bn., 25th Marines.

One of the most gratifying experiences came later in life when I mentored a student of mine (I was a high school social studies teacher at the time) and convinced Andy Ciriaco to join the Corps. He did and became a career Marine distinguishing himself as a Recon Marine, DI, and Staff NCO with the Silent Drill Team. 30 years later I had the opportunity to sign Andy up once more- this time as a member of the Marine Corps League. Andy (who presently lives in Oceanside, CA) traveled to NY and presented me with his challenge coin. He told me that it had saved his life many times (jumping from planes and helicopters) and he wanted me to have it because I saved his life many years ago by having him join the Corps. Now I know why they say, "ONCE a MARINE, ALWAYS a MARINE!"

Respectfully submitted by
William Ober, Commandant
Huntington Detachment #792
Marine Corps League

Parris Island Sign
Grit,
In response to Larry Spohnholtz' request to know the exact wording of a particular sign in the last paragraph of his letter in the May 17, 2007 newsletter, I myself would like to ask a certain request. During my boot camp days at Parris Island from June 27-Sept 14, 1984. I was with 'H' Co. 3rd Bat. Series 30084. SDI SSgt Rozman. Bat. Cmdr. Lt. Col. Aymond, Bat. SgtMajor Fratterelli, Col. Van Riper and Maj.Gen. Ohlmstead as the CG. As I stood in formation during 1st phase training, I was in 1st squad and approx. 5th man. Every morning as Series Chief DI Gunnery Sergeant Panickowski ordered 'REPORT' to the SDI of each platoon, there was a red sign in front of me. It read something like this:
'When Lt. Col----- stepped on the footprints here at Parris Island, South Carolina June 27, 1958, he thought he was going to die here.'
I don't know if the wording is accurate. I'd like to know if the sign is still there after all these years.
Semper Fi
J.S. Elliott
0311 Basicinfantry 1984-1988

While On Saipan
My brother Warren served in the 4th Mar, Div. in WW-2 He was in 4th tank Bat. B-Co 14th Mar 4th Mar. Div.

While on Saipan Warren wrote a letter to our mom. We were making an attack on a ridge, and we hit them from the flank. WE were pretty well in Jap territory when we spotted a whole mess of them. I opened up with my .27 mm and my machine gun, and we sure chased them out of there. Our tank was the lead tank in a column and while still shooting at the Jap's we hit a shell hole and stopped. We couldn't get out of the hole, and with so many Jap's around us, it would have been suicide to try and get out of the tank

The Jap's tried to swarm us, but the tank in back of us got all but two of them. One of these jumped on our tank and with some kind of bomb blew a hole in our hatch cover. Then he drew his saber and tried to commit hari-kari, The other tank covering us got him first.

The second Jap got beside our tank where he was safe from fire of the other tanks, so I opened the hatch and dropped a couple of grenades, and that finished him.

The Captain and I took turns holding a thin piece of metal over the hole over our heads for two hours so that no Jap could drop a grenade threw there into our lap.

While the Jap's were jumping around the outside of our tank I saw the driver jump back from looking out the periscope. I asked him about it later and he said one of the Jap's had looked in at the same time and it surprised him. I t was kind of funny.

I am wondering if you could put that in the news letter. Warren is now in a Rehab Hospital in Ocala, Fl. Any one wishing to write to him may send messages to me at tampawhite@hotmail.com and I will see that he gets them.

Lost 4 Marines
Got this after returning from Iraq. Eight months patrolling the Hit-Haditha corridor in the Al Anbar Province. Lost 4 Marines from my platoon.

Semper Fi my brothers,
LCpl Williams, J.D.

Bob Hope
Dear Sgt. Grit,

In response to the letter written by Jack Redmond, a member of the Les Brown Band, I would like to offer my appreciation to him and all of the others who came to Vietnam to support the troops. From left to right, Bob Crosby, Raquel Welch, Barbara McNair, Bob Hope, Miss Peru, (I don't remember the name of the lady standing next to her) and Les Brown. The unique thing about these shows is that Bob Hope's staff always made it a point to find out something about each base or its commanders to make a joke about it. In our case, I remember him making a joke about "Chu Lai steak" which of course was roast beef. On a personal note Mr. Redmond, I salute you and all of the others who sacrificed their time to make us laugh, to remind us just how beautiful our American women are and in the midst of combat, giving us hope and a much needed boost to our morale. Thank you again.

Semper Fidelis,
Ronald E. (Gene) Hays II
MSgt, USMC, Retired

PI Graduation 1953
PI graduation, April 1953, with most scheduled for Korea, but since that ended a few months later, never knew what happened to anyone. A couple of us, reluctantly, sent to Montford Point, Supply School and then off to fight the paper wars. Got out at the end of my tour, and because of my training at Supply School----NOT!----I put 40 in Law Enforcement. See Pictures
J. E. M.

Short Rounds
Sgt Grit
What a great read, all stories from Marines again. The memories will last a lifetime.
Art C Sgt of Marines 59-65


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I recently ran/walked the 500 festival mini marathon in Indianapolis, may 5th, and had a real nice time. I was overwhelmed by All the Semper Fi's and ooh raahs I received during the run. It was amazing and I'm blessed to be a part of such A great family as the elite group of jar heads.
Michael


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Memorial Day Tribute Video


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Just a note to tell all that a member of Korean War Veterans of Alabama passed away in Russellville Alabama last week... PFC. Bobby N. Bray, a veteran of two wars and in Korea walked out from Haga-ru to Hungnam with First Marine Division. The Corps furnished flag detail and our chapter served as honor guard...
Submitted by George Ellis , S/Sgt. 780th FAB.....


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Dear Sgt. Grit,

I just read Sgt Purdy's letter about earning the title of Marine. I too volunteered in April of 1962 and graduated from Parris Island, 3rd. Bn.,Plt. 352 and earned the title. I just want to mention, that most of the Corps fine officers graduated from Quantico, and I'm sure that they too feel that they earned the title.

Charlie Ducar
Cpl. of Marines

Welcome Home Marine, Job Well Done!
Semper Fi
Sgt Grit