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Sgt Grit Newsletter VS AmericanCourage Newsletter:
You receive both (alternating weeks)...so what's the difference?
In short...The AmericanCourage Newsletter has MORE family member
stories, "support the Corps" stories from Marines, and patriotic
quotes. It started after the events of Sept. 11, 2001 to give
supporters of the Marine Corps and American patriots a voice.
The Sgt Grit Newsletter is HARD CORPS Marine! If you are
interested in topics that delve into Marine Corps history, Corps
Stories, Boot Camp and other things that "only a Marine might
understand" - then be sure to read the Sgt Grit Newsletter
(every other week) - More about the newsletter |
This is a picture I took while serving as an Ordnance tech with
Mike Battery 3/11 during the invasion of Iraq. The city in the
background is Baghdad. This was taken right around the time we
transitioned from providing fire support to a provisional rifle
company.
Jason Samuels
Note:
Yes, Yes, Yes I am partial to Artillery.
Sgt Grit
11th Marines
Hey Sgt. Grit... you tell K. Markham, the handsome Marines were
sent to San Diego... and the ugly ones sent to PI call us...
Hollywood Marines... LOL.
PS - I am a Hollywood Marine... LOL
Thanks,
Sonny
Edition Notes from Sgt Grit
EOD has been in the news A LOT the last few years. How about some
stories from you?
I have started a Facebook page and a Sgt Grit Blog page. The
Facebook is growing nicely. The people there enjoy interacting. I
have been including a few of their posts in the newsletters, as
well as some of your postings there.
I post daily to the Blog. Some things that do not fit the
newsletter format along with more of the popular quotes from
founding fathers, famous Marines and others. So go to
www.grunt.com near the top of the page and take a look at both.
This edition you will find many pictures from many eras. Ordnance near
Bagdad to LZ Russell survivors at San Diego. Great story about chewing gum and hair in 1950 boot camp. An
outstanding oldie but a goodie "Specifically To Fight" and some excellent
Airwing stories.
Enjoy the outstanding stories you graciously share with each
other. I can't tell you what honor it is to be part of this.
Semper Fi
Sgt Grit
While The Rockpile
Sgt Grit, It is incomprehensible to me how any Marine could not
understand the importance of the Air Wing, be it fixed wing or
Helicopters. The attached photo is a typical resupply run to the
hand full of us who have the privilege of being called B.O.T.'s
(Been On Top) The Rockpile was manned by small 3-4 man Marine
teams from Recon, Forward Observers and Radio Communications
units.
While the Rockpile was the most photographed piece of real estate
in Vietnam, there are very few of us who were B.O.T.'s, and
without the Air Wing we could not have survived up there. Getting
a CH-34 up there was a feat in itself in good weather, but these
crews were there when we needed them, and put their lives and
aircraft at risk every time they set one wheel down on our LZ. To
us, they were our lifeline and our hero's, and we are here today
because of their efforts to support us. Anyone who questions
their role in any operation, must have sat behind a desk for the
whole war.
S/Sgt. T.B. Dudley RVN 1963-1966-1967
Three Wars
My second Birthday Ball took place at the Intercontinental Hotel
in Kabul, Afghanistan, 1969.
Embassy Duty in Kabul was considered a hardship post but at least
I wasn't getting shot at back then.
In the attached photo you can see myself and MGySgt Len Maffioli
welcoming Ambassador and Mrs. Robert Newman to the Ball. Many of
your readers may remember a book published approximately 10 years
ago titled "Grown Gray in War, The Len Maffioli Story."
While on Embassy Duty, Len was our NCOIC. and at the time, I had
no clue as to his Marine Corps background. He served during 3
wars. He is an Iwo Jima veteran. During the Korean War, Len had
the distinct honor of being the first American POW to orchestrate
a successful escape from a Chinese communist POW camp. MGySgt
Maffioli also served with the 1st Tank Battalion in Vietnam.
It's been awhile since I talked to Len and Donna. I need to stay
true to my New Year's resolution and keep in touch with my old
friends. I'll call them tonight.
GySgt John D. Foster
USMC 1966-1979
123 You Come With Me
Sgt Grit.
I was drafted into the Army in 1966. At the induction center We
were in line waiting to process in our skivvies when this guy
comes along counting 123 You come with Me, 123 You come with Me.
They were picking Every fourth guy for the Marines. Well here
comes this guy and We are all trying to count to see where We
land. I end up number 3 and the guy behind Me goes. Well I
thought I had really dodged a bullet and I might live through
this.
Went to basic at Fort Ord and reported directly to My new unit at
Fort Sill Ok. from there. It was a brand new unit G Btry 29th
Arty Searchlight. We jungle trained in the winter at Fort sill in
the snow. We knew We were going to Nam and got orders about
December to ship. A 3 week troop ship ride across the South China
Sea and We end up in Da Nang. That was when they told us We were
attached to the 11th Marines as an Army unit. They spread our
Jeep mounted searchlights from Chu Lai to Camp Carroll and every
LZ , Hill or bridge in between. We supported Marines all over I
Corps. Our Guys were taken in by Marines everywhere and welcomed
as one of their own. It is with great pride that I say I served
with the 1ST Marine Division and consider Myself more Marine than
Army.
I saw the post about the dogs and wanted to share a couple of
pictures of My dog Tippy. One advantage We had being Army is
nobody had any command over us. I was standing in the door of our
bunker one day on I think LZ Baldy when this 2nd Lt in some nice
clean utilities all starched up, looks like he just walked out of
OCS yesterday and about 13 years old. He comes over to the door
and wants to know who We are. I tell him who We are and We
provide light for night operations and We are Army. He then
proceeds to want to know what this white Shepherd dog is doing
laying at My feet, and why do I have a non issue 38 hanging off
My utility belt. He proceeded to tell Me He wanted My 38 and My
dog had to go. We had words and I kept both the 38 and the dog so
he could have light that night. Hope some of You Guys remember
our Army guys on those lights that lived, and worked, and bled
and died as Marines. I am proud to have spent My 14 mos in the
Nam with Marines and hope You guys won't mind if I consider
Myself more Marine than Army.
God bless those We lost as they will never be forgotten.
Bill McLean
G Btry 29th Arty Searchlight
RVN 67/68 I Corps
Semper Fi Proud to be an adopted Marine
Attend Together
I just wanted everyone to me MY Hero, MY Son, MY Marine, Sgt
Michael Gulley. These was the only MC Ball we got to attend
together. MC Ball 2006, MOBCOM, KCMO. He picked up Sgt shortly
after this ball.
Semper FI,
Gunnery Sergeant Debra A. Fortune. USMC (Retired)
Whup, Whup, Whup
I was an Artillery F.O. out of the Rock Pile 1967-1968..
Medivaced twice by chopper to Dong Ha, and then to Cam Ron Bay
Air Force hospital on the daily body bag run south.
The chopper pilots were some of the bravest and craziest Marines
I ever saw ! They would take us in and pick us up with continuous
enemy fire !
When we were pinned down the Huey gunships would come in, and the
enemy would disappear one way or the other ! The enemy was even
more scared of the Cobra ! We loved to hear the whup whup whup of
chopper blades.
I will never forget the courage and guts of Marine Vietnam
chopper pilots, and I know they are the same today. They will do
whatever it takes to help, or save any who need them.
Sgt. U.S.M.C 1967-1970
Hauled Grunts All Over
Hi Sgt.
I am a Winger 1967-1971, RVN 1969-1970 DaNang, VGR-152.
We had a saying in-country, the next time you need a Flair
mission, Air Drop, RE-Fuel mid-air don't call us we will call
you! NOT!
The Grunts got the point fast, but all in fun, as we all were
after each other to cut the stress. We hauled the Grunts all over
I Corps mostly North from DaNang and we used to stand outside the
ramp as it closed looking in at them looking at us and we would
cross ourselves, and the look on their faces, Priceless!
The Dog handlers were something too, their dogs were badasz on
the ground before they got on board, then all the strange noises
and the bird turning up and the dogs went nuts putting their
heads in their handlers laps and wetting all over the deck. Which
we got to clean up later. I guess that was a payback for our
picking at them.
But anytime those fast movers came in on target we were up there
pumping gas as fast as we could. We had to over fill the wing
tanks with a hose and nozzles so after all the fuel was give away
our bird could get back on fumes for a refill. In one operation
we empted our fuel farm 4 bladders more than 3 times. That is a
lot of birds, when each bladder holds 45,000 lbs of fuel.
Simper Fi! Grunts
Sgt, Larry Dent
VMGR-152
RVN 1969-1970
Old Glory
American Flag, B Co 1/23 Oct 2004 at Camp Habinyia or Manhattan
pending on who you ask. Don't quote me on the spelling its
funcking Iraq alright! Make shift flag pole a bit of 550 cord and
old glory, now stop reading my crap and enjoy the f-cking
picture.
Carl Kurtz
Little Brother Got To Iraq
Dear Sgt. Grit,
I thought I'd share a story of how interesting the Marine Corps
is sometimes. Growing up both myself and my brother had a
neighbor across the street that was a Vietnam Marine. He made
such an impression that right out of high school, he signed his
papers and was off the MCRD San Diego. After graduation and
School of Infantry he got stationed at Pendleton as a SMAW gunner
with 1st Marines.
Being from Oklahoma, and being a typical Oklahoma country boy he
liked to ride bulls. Right before 9/11 he got thrown off of one
and broke his collar bone and then when he was on float 9/11
happened. He was very upset because he had to stay on ship while
his unit commenced to kickin' Iraqi aszes while taking names. He
got out in 2004. Then in 2004 as my brother was getting out I was
going in. I took my turn signing the papers and went to MEPS and
saw the same Master Gunnery Sergeant Blancet that my brother saw.
After boot camp, I went to MCT then Ft Knox for training as a
tank mechanic. After all that I got stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC
with 2nd FSSG. I ended up going to Iraq twice. The first time I
was in Al Asad. One of the Motor-T guys that was there with us
was stationed with my brother. When I was there the 2nd time my
brother tried to get back into the Marine Corps, only to be
rejected because of some injuries. So he tried the ARMY and they
take anybody. Shortly thereafter, he was in Iraq. I always like
to tease him because his little brother got to go to Iraq twice
before he did, even though he was the first one to be a Marine.
LCpl R.C.Hambrick
2nd FSSG 2005-2008
CLB-2 Al Asad 2005-2006
CLB-6 Camp Fallujah 2007
Short Rounds
GySgt James T. Clark USMC (Ret.), drill instructor for Platoon
145 in 1962 at MCRD San Diego, began a tour of duty calling
cadence on that big grinder in the sky on January 17, 2010. Rest
in peace Marine.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
Look forward to your Newsletter! Really do enjoy it.
Dec. 67 -March 68 Honor Platoon 1132. 24305677
Red Beach and Camp Tien Sha Dec. 68-Dec.69.
Cpl. Bob Modeen
Hi Marine ...Just a note to let you know there's a few of us
"China Marines" still around...I was stationed at the French
Arsenal 1946-47...1st MAW... ice skated on the frozen
moat...standing guard duty in the cemetery...Long time
ago...found you on Google while researching the French
Arsenal...thanks for your web site...Semper Fidelis...
Paul H. Prestridge M/SGT USMC Ret. 1945-1967
Joined the Marines and landed at Parris Island in September
1957, along with my brother. My serial number is 1692114 and his
is 1692113 and he always refers to me as a "boot". Amazing at
this stage of my life where I tend to forget some details, the
time served in my beloved Corps remains vivid to this day.
SEMPER FI
BOB LAKE LCPL 1957-1963
Sgt. Grit,
I was very proud to be the Military Coordinator for SSgt.
Ingham's funeral in Altoona, PA. One never gets over these...
May the Good Lord bless his almighty soul. He now guards Heavens'
Scenes.
Semper Fi,
Lt. Col. Don Belsey (Ret.)
1964-1996
Dear Staff @ Sgt. Grit
I am very glad I found your site and very proud to be a Marine
(78)-(84) and love what you do for every Marine keep up the good
work....
Semper Fi...oooohra
John C. Salzman Sr.
Sgt Grit
At Christmas while picking up an international student from
college to send her home for Christmas as I put her bag in my
truck a young S.Korean student was helping me. He saw my hat USMC
-Korea - and asked "were you there?" I answered Yes. He took my
hand and shook it saying "thank you & my family thanks you for
defending our country."
I am both proud and humbled to be an American and a US Marine.
Jerry McCandless Sgt '53-'56
Dress Code
Sgt Grit,
I would first like to say I have enjoyed your articles on what is
happening with are Marines in and out of the Corps.
Dress Code: If I can remember the code stated that No Beards, No
long sideburns and Mustaches are to be No wider than the edge of
the mouth and trimly cut also the hair should be trimly cut and
close. If any Marine is to wear the Marine Uniform whether on
Active duty or Reserve or Retired and a Marine who would like to
wear the Uniform at Marine Ball should respect the Uniform and
The Dress Code for Appearance. If one has a Beard, handle bars at
the mustache etc He Should Not dress in our Uniform that we are
so proud of. That destroys our image and we do not need any more
Bad Images for our beloved Corps.
Semper Fi
Bob Neira, LCpl
HQ BN Delta Co MCS Quantico, Va
M-1
Sgt. I didn't see the letter Sgt. Baptist referred to in the
Jan.27 edition of your news letter.
The rapid fire course was 10 rounds sitting at 200yds and 10
rounds prone at the 300 yard position. This was accomplished by :
1. Put weapon on safe (lock)
2. Drop an empty clip into the magazine well.
3. Insert two 30-06 rounds in the clip and release the
bolt.(load)
4. After the first two rounds were fired, the empty clip would be
ejected and the Marine loads the weapon with a full "clip of
eight"
Cpl. Myers Shore party red patcher 58-62
As a side note, My company was issued M-14 's the day I got out.
We all turned in our Garand's, only they drew new M-14's
Just a note to clear up Sgt. P. Baaptiste wrong information on
rapid fire with the m-1 Garand rifle it was AS FOLLOWS:
"With a clip and 2 loose rounds lock and load. After the 2 rounds
were fired, you loaded a clip of eight rounds.
This was done to simulate rapid fire in combat
I can still remember the range at camp Mathews and firing the
course of fire 100 yards 10 rounds standing 10 rounds prone
rapid fire ,300 yards 10 rounds sitting and 10 rounds kneeling,
500 yard range 10 rounds slow fire prone, total of score of 250 .
If I remember it was 190 to 210 for marksmen. 215 to 225 for
sharpshooter and 225 to 250 for expert.
Semper F
Sgt. D. Vitek
1960 /1967
In response to Sgt. P. Baptiste letter 1/28/10. In 1959 at P.I.
we fired 10 rounds at each position on the range. Loaded clip
and two loose rounds, fired them and loaded full clip of 8
rounds. Fired from 200, 300 and 500 yards. Some slo fire and
some rapid fire. Each segment was 10 rds
Charles (corky) Walters 1867040
Plt. 215 I Co. 2nd bat.
Feb-May 1959
I went to P.I. in Dec 59.
Range quals were fired with the M-1 Garand using an 8-round en
bloc clip. To fire the 10 round rapid fires you took one empty
clip, dropped it in the receiver, inserted two rounds, and
chambered the first round. You could also twist the first round
slightly so that it would hold both rounds in the clip and make
it quicker to load, but you ran a risk of jamming too.
After firing the first two rounds, the empty clip would eject and
you would insert a full clip of 8 rounds, chamber the first one,
then continue to fire.
Before the M-1, the M-1903 Springfield, or M-1917 Eddystone used
a five round stripper clip. Since it was extremely difficult to
load 5 rounds in an M-1 clip quickly, the 2 and 8 method was
established.
Later with the M-14 we loaded 5 and 5 in two 20 round magazines
to shoot the same course of fire.
In National Match Competitions, you loaded two rounds in one mag
(in the M-14 or M-16), then 8 rounds in the next magazine.
Semper Fi!
SSgt Herbert E. Brown II (Ret)
Holder of the Distinguished Rifleman Badge and President's
Hundred Badge.
Specifically To Fight
This is from a man who served with me in Vietnam. He spent 4-1/2
years in the USMC and 20 years in Special Forces (Army Green
Beanies) and retired a Command Sgt Major but he considers himself
a USMC Vietnam Tanker first and foremost.
-John Wear
Subject: The Corps
(Courtesy of Sergeant Major Dougherty)
The Marine Corps is the only branch of the U.S. Armed Forces that
recruits people specifically to Fight.
The Army emphasizes personal development (an Army of One), the
Navy promises fun (let the journey begin), the Air Force offers
security (its a great way of life).
Missing from all the advertisements is the hard fact that a
soldier's life is to suffer and perhaps to die for his people and
take lives at the risk of his/her own.
Even the thematic music of the services reflects this evasion.
The Army's Caisson Song describes a pleasant country outing.
Over hill and dale, lacking only a picnic basket. Anchors Aweigh
the Navy's celebration of the joys of sailing could have been
penned by Jimmy Buffet.
The Air Force song is a lyric poem of blue skies and engine
thrust. All is joyful, and invigorating, and safe. There are no
land mines in the dales nor snipers behind the hills, no
submarines or cruise missiles threaten the ocean jaunt, no
bandits are lurking in the wild blue yonder.
The Marines' Hymn, by contrast, is all combat. "We fight our
Country's battles", "First to fight for right and freedom", "We
have fought in every clime and place where we could take a gun",
"In many a strife we have fought for life and never lost our
nerve".
The choice is made clear. You may join the Army to go to
adventure training, or join the Navy to go to Bangkok, or join
the Air Force to go to computer school. You join the Marine
Corps to go to War! But the mere act of signing the enlistment
contract confers no status in the Corps.
The Army recruit is told from his first minute in uniform that
"you're in the Army now, soldier". The Navy and Air Force
enlistees are sailors or airmen as soon as they get off the bus
at the training center.
The new arrival at Marine Corps boot camp is called a recruit, or
worse (a lot worse), but never a MARINE. Not yet, maybe never.
He or she must earn the right to claim the title of UNITED STATES
MARINE and failure returns you to civilian life without
hesitation or ceremony.
Recruit Platoon 2210 at San Diego, California trained from
October through December of 1968. In Viet Nam the Marines were
taking two hundred casualties a week and the major rainy season
and Operation Meade River had not even begun, yet Drill
Instructors had no qualms about winnowing out almost a quarter of
their 112 recruits, graduating 81. Note that this was post-
enlistment attrition. Every one of those 31 who were dropped had
been passed by the recruiters as fit for service. But they
failed the test of Boot Camp! Not necessarily for physical
reasons. At least two were outstanding high school athletes for
whom the calisthenics and running were child's play. The cause
of their failure was not in the biceps nor the legs, but in the
spirit. They had lacked the will to endure the mental and
emotional strain so they would not be Marines. Heavy commitments
and high casualties notwithstanding, the Corps reserves the right
to pick and choose.
History classes in boot camp? Stop a soldier on the street and
ask him to name a battle of World War One. Pick a sailor at
random and ask for a description of the epic fight of the Bon
Homme Richard. Ask an airman who Major Thomas McGuire was and
what is named after him. I am not carping and there is no sneer
in this criticism. All of the services have glorious traditions,
but no one teaches the young soldier, sailor or airman what his
uniform means and why he should be proud of it.
But...ask a Marine about World War One and you will hear of the
wheat field at Belleau Wood and the courage of the Fourth Marine
Brigade comprised of the Fifth and Sixth Marines. Faced with an
enemy of superior numbers entrenched in tangled forest
undergrowth the Marines received an order to attack that even the
charitable cannot call ill-advised. It was insane. Artillery
support was absent and air support hadn't been invented yet.
Even so the Brigade charged German machine guns with only
bayonets, grenades, and an indomitable fighting spirit. A
bandy-legged little barrel of a Gunnery Sergeant, Daniel J. Daly,
rallied his company with a shout, "Come on you sons a b-tches, do
you want to live forever?" He took out three machine guns
himself.
French liaison-officers hardened though they were by four years
of trench bound slaughter were shocked as the Marines charged
across the open wheat field under a blazing sun directly into the
teeth of enemy fire. Their action was so anachronistic on the
twentieth-century field of battle that they might as well have
been swinging cutlasses. But the enemy was only human. The
Boche could not stand up to the onslaught. So the Marines took
Belleau Wood. The Germans, those that survived, thereafter
referred to the Marines as "Teufel Hunden" (Devil Dogs) and the
French in tribute renamed the woods "Bois de la Brigade de
Marine" (Woods of the Brigade of Marines).
Every Marine knows this story and dozens more. We are taught
them in boot camp as a regular part of the curriculum. Every
Marine will always be taught them! You can learn to don a gas
mask anytime, even on the plane in route to the war zone, but
before you can wear the Eagle, Globe and Anchor and claim the
title United States Marine you must first know about the Marines
who made that emblem and title meaningful. So long as you can
march and shoot and revere the legacy of the Corps you can take
your place in line. And that line is as unified in spirit as in
purpose.
A soldier wears branch service insignia on his collar, metal
shoulder pins and cloth sleeve patches to identify his unit, and
far too many look like they belong in a band.
Sailors wear a rating badge that identifies what they do for the
Navy. Airmen have all kinds of badges and get medals for
finishing schools and showing up for work.
Marines wear only the Eagle, Globe and Anchor together with
personal ribbons and their CHERISHED marksmanship badges. They
know why the uniforms are the colors they are and what each
color means. There is nothing on a Marine's uniform to indicate
what he or she does nor what unit the Marine belongs to. You
cannot tell by looking at a Marine whether you are seeing a truck
driver, a computer programmer or a machine gunner or a cook or a
baker. The Marine is amorphous, even anonymous, by conscious
design.
The Marine is a Marine. Every Marine is a rifleman first and
foremost, a Marine first, last and Always! You may serve a four-
year enlistment or even a twenty plus year career without seeing
action, but if the word is given you'll charge across that
Wheatfield! Whether a Marine has been schooled in automated
supply or automotive mechanics or aviation electronics or
whatever is immaterial. Those things are secondary - the Corps
does them because it must. The modern battle requires the
technical appliances and since the enemy has them so do we. But
no Marine boasts mastery of them.
Our pride is in our marksmanship, our discipline, and our
membership in a fraternity of courage and sacrifice. "For the
honor of the fallen, for the glory of the dead", Edgar Guest
wrote of Belleau Wood. "The living line of courage kept the faith
and moved ahead." They are all gone now, those Marines who made
a French farmer's little Wheatfield into one of the most enduring
of Marine Corps legends. Many of them did not survive the day
and eight long decades have claimed the rest. But their actions
are immortal. The Corps remembers them and honors what they did
and so they live forever. Dan Daly's shouted challenge takes on
its true meaning - if you lie in the trenches you may survive for
now, but someday you may die and no one will care. If you charge
the guns you may die in the next two minutes, but you will be one
of the immortals.
All Marines die in either the red flash of battle or the white
cold of the nursing home. In the vigor of youth or the infirmity
of age all will eventually die, but the Marine Corps lives on.
Every Marine who ever lived is living still, in the Marines who
claim the title today.
It is that sense of belonging to something that will outlive our
own mortality, which gives people a light to live by, and a flame
to mark their passing.
V.C. Hit Us One Night
I was in the air wing all the time I was in the Corps I went in
April 27 1962 and I got out Aug 26 1966. Went to supply school in
Millington Tenn Oct 1962 till March 1963 Was transferred to El
Toro Calif. with MWHG-37 I was there for 18 months. I was sent to
MAG-16 Futame, Okinawa.
March 1965 was transferred to DaNang Vietnam with Air Wing
Supply. We were under attack several time, Had to defend the
flight line to protect all the air craft.
Was moved to China Beach (we were the first company there) We
were under attack two or three times while I was at China Beach.
The V.C. hit us one night and blew up all the Helicopters that
we had. I was with MAG-16. I left in December 1965. Went to
Beaufort S.C and was Release from Active Duty August 1966
William N. Buckles Jr. Cpl E-4
Typical Marine Answer
Sgt Grit and Fellow Marines:
I was also an "Air Winger". I served from June 1977 to June 1981
and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, serving with HML-267. I
originally wanted to be a grunt, but my Recruiter talked me out
of it due to my ASVAB scores. He was a grunt and urged me to go
into the Aviation branch of the Corps, so I did. My MOS was
7041, Aviation Operations Specialist.
Although I was originally supposed to be an Air Traffic
Controller, there were no openings in that MOS after graduating
boot camp so I was put in Air Ops. It wasn't what I had in mind
since it was a job that consisted of paperwork, paperwork and
more paperwork, which I hated. But I did learn so many things in
the Corps, self discipline, physical fitness and self respect
chief among them. Oh yeah, I also learned to type (which is
coming in handy now).
I was like a lot of teenaged Marines and wasn't in love with
getting up at the crack of dawn to go to work, so after my tour
was up, I got out of the Corps. Surprisingly, (to me at least) I
missed it. I thought I'd go back into military service and get
training in what I wanted to do which was to be an Air Traffic
Controller, so I talked to an Air Force Recruiter (my dad died on
active duty during Vietnam with 26 years in the Air Force).
After taking more tests for the Air Force, I was accepted as an
Air Traffic Controller. There was just one hitch: at that time
they had a 6 month waiting list to go into the Air Force. I went
next door and asked the Marine Recruiter how long it would take
to get back into the Corps and I got a typical Marine answer.
I'd be on the bus that night! So, I ended up re-enlisting in
1983 and was back as a 7041.
I served a total of 16 years before recurring back injuries
forced my retirement. I experienced so many things that were
great, some bad, some hilarious. A typical Marine Corps career.
I never had the opportunity to serve in combat, but I did serve
with many heroes. In my opinion, I served with some of the
finest individuals on God's green earth. I wouldn't trade a day
of it for anything. Semper Fi Marines!
James A. Howerton
SSgt USMC (Ret)
Rattlesnake In My Field Jacket
At Camp Pendleton for ICT while enroute to Westpac from Camp
Lejeune in 1967 as a 1st Lt (Mustang). We were participating in a
night exercise and had moved into an area to set up an ambush and
all was quiet for a couple of hours.
I was making rounds of the positions and came upon a Marine with
a look of absolute terror in his eyes. I asked him what was wrong
and he replied "There's a Rattlesnake in my Field Jacket" !
After speaking with him quietly for several minutes to calm him
down and asking him to do exactly what I said and nothing more, I
alerted several other Marines and got them into position in a
circle with their flashlights . I then reached down and unbuckled
his cartridge belt and carefully unzipped his field jacket.
My plan was to grasp his wrist with a double grip and quickly
pull him to his feet and away from his position thinking the
snake would fall to the ground. I had misjudged his weight as
when I pulled, he came flying off the ground and landed about six
feet away. There was no Snake !
Underneath the spot he had been laying was a Rabbit Burrow. The
rabbit had nudged him a couple of times wanting to get out and
when he felt it his immediate thought was "RATTLER!"
We all had a good laugh but most everyone kept their flashlights
on for some reason or another.
Capt. Joe England Retd.
1362xxx 1953-73
Call Home
I was in Plt 3013 June 68, while at Edson Range the rumor from
the third toilet seat to the left was that we might get a phone
call home, to strengthen the rumor we observed other Pvts using
the bank of 6 phones while making a very needed PX call.
On Sunday after the most grueling week at the snapping in range
and several trips duck walking up and down mount muther in the
rain and fog. We had just been allowed to blouse our trousers
and we were on the clouds. When Staff Sgt Trask called Platoon
3013 out on the road, and had ordered everyone to have a dime, we
just knew we were going to get a phone call home.
Staff Sgt Trask ordered the platoon to open ranks, then he told
us to face in the direction of our mothers home and call home.
We put the dime into the collar of the Pvt in front of us, then
dial the number on the make believe phone and talked to whoever
answered. Then as if not enough satisfaction to brake our
spirits he took us to the sand pit and make "rain."
Boot camp taught me how not to treat Marines, but of course I
must remember that while in boot camp I was not a Marine, but
after 21 years active duty and 21 years retired I am a Marine and
will always be a Marine (Gunny) where ever I go. I love meeting
other Marines Old Corps or young Corps, Marines are Marines.
GySgt Petersen
68-to forever
2452944
1st Bivouac
A long time ago, in another galaxy, far, far away, I went through
boot camp and, what was called back then, ITR. (infantry training
regiment) This was in 1964. Guys like Sgt. Grit and Jerry D, who
are from my era would remember this. My 4 fun filled weeks of ITR
were spent at Camp Pendleton, specifically at San Onofre. One of
the "events" during ITR was what was called the "1st bivouac."
Back then it sounded benign and I, like I'm sure everyone else in
my company, had nooooooooo idea what we were in for. I think the
1st bivouac took place in the 1st week of ITR, but I'm not sure
of that. We were marched out to the training area in company
formation, in full gear. On the way out there we encountered
another company coming from the opposite direction. As they
passed by I, and I'm sure everyone else in the company, were a
little more than disturbed by what we saw.
These guys, we would soon come to figure out, were coming back
from where we were going. They looked like they had been drug
through a knot hole, backwards, at about 150 miles an hour. They
were covered in caked on dirt, from head to toe, and they looked
like they had been through h&ll. One of the things I noticed, as
they passed us, was that many of them had the elbows and knees of
their utilities worn completely through, and many were bleeding
from the elbows and knees. I have often wondered if the timing of
this was intentional, to show the company going out to the
training area what they were in for. I don't know if this was a
common practice or not, but I know it was very, very effective.
From that point on in the march I think every guy in my company
became religious, if they weren't already.
When we got to the training area we all found out why so many
guys were bloody around the elbows and knees. One of the first
things we did to begin the 3 day and two night exercise was to
learn to "low crawl." In groups we were made to crawl, using your
elbows and knees, in a position as flat to the ground as you
could get, on a hard packed dirt grinder, in a circular pattern,
while troop handlers walked amongst us stepping on our backs to
emphasize staying low. That dirt grinder was harder than rock and
looked like it had been used for ever. I don't know how long we
crawled in a circle, but I do know it was for a long time and it
was agonizing. The sun was hot, the ground was hot, and you
sweated like there was no tomorrow as you crawled and crawled and
crawled. After a time your elbows and knees began to bruise and
it became quite painful to crawl, and after a while longer some
of us began to bleed as the bruises opened up. I remember
glancing at the faces of guys around me, and like me, they were
really suffering. The troop handlers just kept walking amongst us
yelling at guys to stay low and keep crawling. Of the 16 weeks of
boot camp and ITR this was maybe the toughest thing I went
through. At one point I didn't care if I died on that dirt
grinder. I can't say how everyone else around me felt, but that's
how I felt.
I don't know that today's Marines have to do this same thing, but
I suspect they do, or something just as diabolical and gruesome.
I, like I think everyone else that experienced the "1st bivouac",
found it to be a h&llish experience, non-stop tough training with
very little sleep. When it was over I'm sure we had all figured
out why those guys coming back, as we were marching out, looked
like death warmed over. I know we looked the same as we came
back. This is our Corps, this was, and is, how they make Marines.
For every one of you who has had to endure this training, and
every Marine has, I am proud to be a part of the same family.
Reading this news letter every week, brings back these memories
and I thank Sgt. Grit for this. Whether you are in your 80's,
70's, 60's or even still in your teens, those of us who
experienced this training should be proud of this and thankful to
those guys who trained us. Sgt. Grit, Jerry D, all of you Marines
out there.....Semper Fi.
John Vater, Vietnam vet.
Sgt. U.S.M.C.
Brothers Forever
Dear Sgt Grit,
I wanted to share a short story with you. From 1987-1990 I was
stationed at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. I was attached to H&HS OMD and
what we did was maintain and fly the Search and Rescue CH-46's
on the base. I think there is a time in everyone's career that
they look back and say that a certain time or a certain duty
station was the best in their career, and this was mine. Don't
get me wrong, I have served with many outstanding units and
Marines but some places just click, you know what I mean? We were
mechanics, hydraulics, sheet metal, avionics, pilots and admin,
but we were all OMD.
We had one Marine who was like the glue for the unit, MSgt
Englert, and in 2007 he started gluing OMD back together for a
2008 reunion at Quantico, Va. Most were retired and some sadly
couldn't make it for health reasons but we came from as far away
as Washington, California, Indiana and Georgia. All to attend a
picnic in the woods and tip a few beers with friends. The
conversations picked up like they were left off eighteen years
before, and if just for a few hours, we were again OMD. Those for
me were the best of times.
Semper Fi. to my Marine Brothers and the "glue" that brought us
back together. (FYI, the orange shirts were our softball teams
colors which was coincidentally named "Good Times")
Brothers Forever,
Martin V. Habecker III
USMC Retired
A True Geek
During my 20+ years serving in the beloved Marine Corps. I was
privileged enough to work on both sides of the Corps. and witness
the duality of the two parts of the Corps.
In 1970 I was going through jungle survival school at 500 Man
Camp Alongapo, PI. While there I was headed to town for an
afternoon of partying and I and some of my classmates got on the
liberty bus at the chow hall. There was a large contingent of
wingers there doing one of their exercises and the bus stopped
along the route and picked some of them up.
Now take into consideration the appearance of this individual was
that of a true geek. His birth control glasses and Polo shirt
made things humorous. As this guy gets on the bus and with the
agility of a bull in a china shop, stumbles as he is getting on
the bus and almost falls on his face. One of my class mates
piped up and said, "what grace you dumbazz air wingers have." We
all chuckled and as the laughter died down a GySgt in the every
back of the buss sounded off and replied to my classmate. "Your
right this guy doesn't appear to grace and agility of you grunts
but he works on and runs equipment worth millions of dollars and
because of his efforts grunt lives are save and resupplied every
day. He does all of this while qualifying with the same weapons
you use and learns as much as he can about grunts and their
tactics so that he can better aide said grunts in accomplishing
their duties and stay alive and come home."
Everyone on the bus never said another word all the way to town.
We just sat and thought about how the two separate inanities
depended on each other to work as a team. And I must say a team
that has proved over time has again and again proved that this
team is in it for the long haul and to win.
While we have not always accomplish our missions because D.C.
stops us, the world still fears and loves us. We really are the
few, the proud, the Marines. And I am proud to have served with
the best.
Harold Newell
Reunion: FMFPac Drum & Bugle Team (1953~1972)
Reunion to be held from June 7 to 12, 2010 in the Washington DC
Area
Contact Bob "Rip" Arvidson for more details.
Email: BobArvidson @ gmail .com or Phone: 916.725.8703
I Was The Smallest Worm
My name is Green, Michael L. E5 1st MarRecon Viet Nam 1966-1970
attached 1st SOG DaNang. I was one lucky Marine back then I left
with only a few pieces missing. I was the smallest worm in my
platoon. No one thought I would make it through Basic. Well I
did. My DI's were Sgt. Smith, Sgt Brown, Sgt. Holes and last but
not least Sgt. Butts.
When we went to the rifle range at Edison, we got to make up our
own guidon. It was the Marine Bull Dog Chesty and our platoon
name Smith's Brown Butt Holes..Anyhoo, as it turned out, contrary
to the beliefs of Ybarra, Williams, and the big black guy that
picked me up and dropped me on my head at Edison cause I told him
"when you get a DI cover and have stripes on your arm, I'll get
down and give you twenty for talking in ranks.
Well I did finish Boot and ITR at Pendleton. I then volunteered
for Recon. Of course I had to prove myself, when I got to PI
being the smallest guy in the platoon. I did that by gettin' 3
out of 3 on the range. All dead center at 300 yds. with an M14
and they couldn't believe it so the sarge made me lock and load
and do it again, which I did again. I got my expert badge. Which
unknown to me at the time would entitle me to be sent to VN under
the tutelage of Gunny Hathcock. But I digress. I would like to
find a copy of the yearbook for Platoon 2026 Honor Platoon MCRD
1967. And to all our Marines in country OORAH keep up the good
work. ONCE a MARINE ALWAYS a MARINE. And to all my drill
instructors SIR OORAH SIR
R.A.C
Sgt W.L Early
I was reading your latest "Grit" and came across something by Sgt
Early. Early is not a common sur name and was wondering if it was
the same Sgt. Early that had to put up with me at MCRD/SD in
1964. Sgt Early was the 1st Sgt or Gunny in charge of Marines on
mess duty and I had a slight run in with him. He was a fair but
tough old Marine.
Some of us on mess duty had managed to get out of Electronics
School and the penalty for doing that was 2 weeks on mess duty
(much better time than electronics school). about 4 of us decided
to go out one night to "Micky Finns" for some drinks. While there
I asked the band to play "On Wisconsin." I guess there were a lot
of customers in the audience that night because we had so much
beer in front of us that we got just a bit tipsy. Kind of like
skunks.
I bumped into Sgt. Early who worked as a bouncer there and got a
"look" from him. Upon closing I pilfered the drum sticks and we
headed back to MCRD drumming along the way. Needless to say, the
police cornered us in the residential area as we were drumming on
a mailbox. They came from 3 different sides which left me the 4th
to take off by. The found me after a few minutes and we all went
off to the "tank" for a few hours.
Upon returning to MCRD, Sgt. Early ordered me in and gave me a
"R.A.C." (royal a-- chewing). I don't know what my penalty was
but I never forgot Sgt. Early and have thought about him many
times since. If it is him, I'm happy to see he's still with us.
If it's not him, the memory was good.
Semper Fidelis,
Tom Miller - PFC (ret.)
I Still Wonder
Dear Sgt. Grit,
Greetings! On 21 Nov.2009 I placed an order with you consisting
of a 8 piece BBQ set, & an apron set to be shipped to the Marine
Security Guard Detachment, Wellington, New Zealand.
I am pleased to report that the Post Commander,[in my day,
N.C.O.I.C.] informed me upon meeting him in late December, 2009,
both items arrived in good order on 23 December 2009.
Interestingly, my birthday.
As you can see in the photos, both items were put on "duty"
immediately upon reporting on post by the Post Commander, as seen
in photo. The other gentleman holding/wearing the apron set, is
yours truly, not as lean, not as mean, but once a Marine, always
a Marine. I did a tour myself as a M.S.G. in Wellington, New
Zealand, from Dec.1971 to June 1974. Don't ask how I got so lucky
to spend my entire tour in New Zealand. I still wonder about that
myself.
My thoughts now are, what can I send this year? I am sure I will
find just the right item in your most interesting catalog. Many
thanks for getting items to our boys in such a timely manner.
Sincerely & with respect,
Harold Ruckdeschel
Semper Fidelis
Why Not
Sgt,
I read your article on Mr. Bounds and I have a suggestion. Since
he has encouraged those 44 young men to enlist and given his love
of the Corps, why not petition CMC to make him an honorary Marine
recruiter? I mean, if the Commandant can promote a old DI like
R. Lee Ermey to Gunny, I can't see why something couldn't be done
to honor this gentleman whose love of our beloved Corps is a
proven item. How bout it?
Capt. Lloyd H. Cole, Inf, Virginia Defense Force
S/Sgt, USMC 73-86
I Think He Knew
This was my Uncle's boot camp picture (Platoon 322 1951), He went
to Korea, was in the Motor Pool. My Uncle's name is Bill Turney,
to the end he could play the Marines Hymn on the piano. Also he
could not remember his birthday, but he knew every year when the
Marine Corps birthday was. He gifted his sister (my Mom) with a
set of USMC service ware, in which I grew up eating with. I think
he knew what he was doing. I found this Picture and the names in some of his things.
Harold L Ramer 2531 from 1978-1982
Marine Embassy Guard Association Reunion
MEGA Reunion will be held on April 22 - 25, 2010.
William McClure
352/746-5184
Bmcclure @ embassymarine.org
Bucket Issue
Good day Sgt. GRIT...I am looking for either a list of items, or
anyone who remembers the items that were issued to us in boot
camp at MCRD San Diego in 1965 in the "bucket issue". I actually
have a genuine USMC boot camp bucket from that era. I tested it
by placing it over my head and striking it to hear that familiar
sound you never forget! I want to duplicate the issue for
display purposes at our FMDA chapter functions. We also located
good ole angle iron bunks at Camp Pendleton (Cp Talega) which we
are also planning to acquire display with the bunk gear....towel,
laundry bag and the such...Any help re: the bucket issue items
would really help. I remember some, (old age) but not all.
Thanks and SEMPER FI
John Allen, Sgt. E-2-11, Vietnam
Rota Marines Reunion October 2010
All Marines who ever served at the Marine Barracks in Rota, Spain
are invited to join us for our 3rd Rota Marines Reunion to be
held on October 14-18, 2010, at the Palace Casino Hotel in
Biloxi, Mississippi!
For complete reunion details go to http://www.rotamarines.com/
Joke
A circus owner runs an ad for a lion tamer and two people show
up. One is a nice looking, older retired Marine in his late
sixties and the other is a gorgeous blond in her mid-twenties.
The circus owner tells them, "I'm not going to sugar coat it.
This is one ferocious lion. He ate my last tamer so you two had
better be good or you're history. Here's your equipment, chair,
whip and a gun. Who wants to try out first?"
The girl says, "I'll go first." She walks past the chair, the
whip and the gun and steps right into the lion's cage. The lion
starts to snarl and pant and begins to charge her. About halfway
there, she throws open her coat revealing her beautiful naked
body.
The lion stops dead in his tracks, sheepishly crawls up to her
and starts licking her feet and ankles. He continues to lick and
kiss her entire body for several minutes and then rests his head
at her feet.
The circus owner's jaw is on the floor. He says, "I've never seen
a display like that in my life." He then turns to the retired
Marine and asks, "Can you top that?"
The tough old Marine replies, "No problem, just get that d-mn
lion out of there."
4 Rolls Of Quarters
When my best friend and I were freshmen in High school we knew
for sure that we would join the Marine Corps and go to Korea as
soon as possible. We graduated in May 1952 and were in the Corps
on the following Monday. I passed the weight limit with the help
of the Recruiter and 4 rolls of quarters in my pocket. My friend
weighed enough. We were put on a troop train from Seattle to San
Diego. It took 3 days because we had to go on side tracks many
times to let other trains pass.
Finally we got to San Diego and were put on a "cattle car" for a
short ride to the Recruit Depot. That was where all
"friendliness" stopped. I was so tired from the train ride.
They put us in a building where we would stay until morning. It
had a bunch of racks with a folded up mattress. I unrolled one
and laid down to get some badly needed rest. All of a sudden I
was on the floor and the mattress was on top of me. I was really
mad and looked up at this big guy in uniform who said "What in
the h&ll do you think you're doing?" I stupidly replied "I'm
trying to get some rest. What the h&ll do you think you're
doing?" He didn't break any of my bones but I was very, very
sore for about a week.
But the story that I really want to write about is MAIL CALL! My
grandfather worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad and he and
my grandmother could go anywhere, anytime FREE. Our Platoon 428
was finally approaching graduation and we were at the rifle
range. Our senior drill Sergeant R. H. Latham and Pfc Metcalf
would always get the whole platoon together and call out our name
if we had any mail and we would run up to him. He would hand the
mail to us and we were to say "Thank you very much Sgt. Latham",
do a snappy about face and run back into platoon formation.
So, here we were at the range and Sgt. Latham decided to have a
little fun and threw our mail in the air and we had to run and
pick it up. Everything was going fine until one day my letter
did not "flutter" to the ground but rather did a wonderful
suicidal crash. I ran up and picked up my letter but Sgt. Latham
told me to stand at attention. He then continued to throw the
mail out to the troops. Finally he was done and we all just
stood there for a long time. Everyone was getting a little
nervous and I must admit I wasn't nervous, I was SCARED 3H1TL***.
All of us had a nice head of hair because Sgt. Latham allowed us
to have good haircuts so we would really look good at graduation
and when we got home. Sgt. Latham asked me who the letter was
from. I told him it was from my mother. He told me to open it
up. I very carefully opened it and very carefully took the
letter out INSURING THAT the STICKS of GUM did not FALL OUT. But
Sgt. Latham was not to be fooled. He ordered me to turn the
envelope upside down. I did and 2 sticks of gum fell out. He
then ordered me to take the gum, put it in my mouth, and chew. I
do not know how long I stood in front of the platoon and chewed
the gum but many times Sgt. Latham asked me if it was good and I
always answered YES SIR! He told me to take it out of my mouth
and put it in my hand. I complied. Then he said to rub it in a
circle in my hand. I complied. After a long time he said "Pvt
Doubleba1z, rub it in your hair! It took quite a few of my
Platoon mates to cut the gum out of my hair with nail clippers
and I was the only graduate from Boot Camp that had a hole in my
head.
I had foolishly told my mother what happened and immediately told
her to PLEASE, PLEASE NEVER do that again. Now for the scary
part. My mother told my Grandmother about the incident and
Grandma immediately said she was going to take the train to San
Diego and #$%^# with Sgt. Latham. NOW THAT'S SCARY! Fortunately
the following day was "Call Home" day and I told my mother to do
anything she could BUT DON'T let GRANDMA come down here! Semper
Fit to all.
R. K. Delabarre 1952-1977, Pvt to MGySgt 1343- - -, 2nd Lt to
Major, 096 - - -, USMC, Mustang, Retired
LZ Russell Survivors
Sgt. Grit.
The "PICS" MCRD .San Diego. I served with 2bn.4th Marines. Echo
Co.0331.I got wounded in Feb.25.1969.Check out the web..
www.lzrussell.org. I took these "PICS" on Feb.25. 2009.At San
Diego for Reunion of LZ Russell Survivors. I meet these DI for
photo shoot. I'm Mr. John Carranco. San Francisco. I was born in
San Antonio. Texas. These PICS where did boot camp training in
1967. The famous "yellow-foot-prints" a recruit symbol for 12
weeks as a "BOOT". Talk to Marines that remember "yellow foot-
prints' in MCRD Training in San Diego. Semper Fi..
DI DI....OOHRAH
Nobody Messed With Us Then
I served from 1983-1987 and then did a few years in the reserves.
I enjoyed every minute of it. I was in boot camp for the Beirut
bombing and Grenada. I was on deployment for Operation El Dorado
Canyon. That's when we bombed the h&ll out of Khadaffi. I
thought that was going to turn into something. When people ask
me if I ever served in combat, I tell them, "I was one of
Reagan's Marines. Nobody messed with us then."
I served as a landing support specialist, a red patcher.
Although not much happened, I had the opportunity to serve with
two Marines that are and were to become part of our lore. While
I was stationed in Kaneohe Bay HI, with BSSG-1,the SgtMaj of
Brigade Service Support Group-1 was Sgt.Maj. Allen J. Kellog.
For those who do not know, he is a Medal of Honor recipient. He
earned the medal in Vietnam while he was a staff sergeant. I
always remember Friday's group formations. The colonel, whom we
called Mad Jack Cunningham, an awesome leader, would walk out to
the formation and salute the Sgt. Maj. It always made me think
of the sacrifices made by other Marines. I actually have a
picture of the colonel and Sgt. Major Kellog pinning on my Good
Conduct Medal.
The other Marine I served with that would become well known was
my platoon sergeant, at the time Gunnery Sgt. Carlton W. Kent.
As you may know, he is the current Sgt. Major of the Marine
Corps. Gunny Kent, as I remember him, was one of the most fair
SNCO's I ever served under. He really took care of us. He also
trained us to exhaustion. He could run like an antelope.
After 4 years, I left active duty as a corporal. A few years
later, missing the Corps, I joined a reserve unit nearby. I
served six years with an air wing unit, VMGR-452. I met some of
the best Marines in the reserves. I got out to raise a family and
dedicate more time to my civilian career. I am a detective with
a police department. Everything I learned in the Corps has
served me well on the streets. Having given ten years to the
Corps means a lot to me. It was some of the best times of my
life. I got out as a sergeant, and miss it every day. I'm lucky
though, I work with four other Marines, so I always have someone
to B.S. with about the Corps. Also being the father of three
boys, I'm sure at least one will take up the challenge and become
a Marine. I can't wait, HOORAH!
Sgt. Ed DeVoe
Marine forever
Remember
Let us remember and say a prayer for ALL our Marines, young and
old.
Semper Fi
Sgt Grit
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Date: 1/29/2010
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Select Your Quote- Double Flag and Eagle T-shirt
Select Your Quote- Liberty Bell T-shirt
Welcome Home Marine, Job Well Done.
Semper Fi!
Sgt Grit
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