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Sgt Grit,
I just finished reading the book "Chosin - Heroic Ordeal of the
Korean War" by Eric Hammel (for about the 3rd time), and each
time I read it I get a lump in my throat over the marvelous
teamwork between the Air and Ground forces of the Corps. This
account brings to light, about as well as anything, why Marine
boot camp is as tough as it is.
Drill Instructors have the
tremendous responsibility of getting one ready for the rigors our
magnificent Marines went through during the "Frozen Chosin"
campaign. The sense of duty, integrity, and interwoven
brotherhood that was so prevalent during that treacherous moment
in Marine history started in boot camp and was the basic reason
the majority of the Marines were able to survive.
Too, it brought out the stark realization why we have the
Infantry, the Air Arm, the Artillery, the Medical Corpsman, and
all the various specialties within those groups and the intricate
teamwork that exists between them, because without them who knows
what we would read of the history of that particular campaign.
Very little time elapses in my life but what I don't think about
my time in the Corps as setting the meter of my very existence.
God bless the Marine Corps, Marines everywhere, and all who wear
the uniforms of our beloved Country's military, especially those
in harm's way.
Stan Brangham, former Marine Cpl
In This Issue
... you have a heartfelt combat story. (I would like to get
more.) A great Korea story relating to the last letter.
An outstanding link to Fallujah, 2004 with gritty details. And of
course more sparring about PI vs. SD towards the end.
Take a look at the very active Facebook page, growing rapidly.
The new Sgt Grit blog will give you your DAILY Marine Corps fix
of quotes, current news about Marines in Afghanistan and other
Marine related stories.
Semper Fi
Sgt Grit
Herky Birds
To Sgt, Larry Dent, re: VMRG 152:
By God! It was good to see your post Sir. I proudly wear the
patch of that unit that I purchased from Sgt. Grit over 2 years
ago. I spent 15 months in country and flew on your big Ol' Herky
Birds. Our Small formation of riggers and loaders, 1st Air
Delivery Platoon, flew missions literally night and day with you.
From the grinding nonstop all night long flare drops above the
DMZ (ducking and dodging SAM's though rare was NOT unknown), to
pushing out 250,000 pounds of anything we could strap to a pallet
and fix a 'chute to, I know from up close and personal how we
supported out brothers in the field.
My experience in the months long resupply to Khe Sanh, the
landings at Dong Ha, Phu By and Chu Lai delivering loads and for
evacuation of wounded and dead, landing on those dusty red-dirt
runways barely long enough to get the bird in and out, I defy
anyone to say we weren't Marines supporting Marines and doing our
duty!
John Wagner, L/CPL 2298163
Am I the only AMTRACER
SSGT BROWN 1974-1982 Am I the only AMTRACER that reads Sgt Grit
letters? never see anything about them.
Brown
Named That Hill Properly
SGT. GRIT
Enjoyed the article on the Rockpile. I was with Fox 2/9 and in
1968 Fox Co 2/9 did their time on the Rockpile and when you
looked out, you could see Dong Ha Mountain. I remember in 68
when they had a B52 strike on the north side of that mountain,
when the smoke cleared we took a platoon and swept the side of
the mountain. Sure were some big asz bomb craters. They sure
named that hill properly. Took hours to dig a fighting hole.
SGT BILL MADDEN (aka MADDOG)
FOX 2/9
2nd plt 3rd. sqd (67-68)
Not A Good Day
If that was your story pertaining to tossing grenades that never
went off.. with tape wrapped around them I have a good story for
ya..
We got hit by a couple to 4 g--ks while on patrol one day over
there.. and I had a similar experience..
My point man got his safety shot off his M 16 so he was out of
commission and in a deadly spot for sure..
2nd and 3rd man back got hit by the g--ks machine gun
2nd man back got it thru the front of his helmet so bad that his
helmet was imbedded into his skull.. (killed immediately)
2rd man back got hit so many times the rounds actually kept his
body standing till he pointed the gun at me...
once that happened he flopped to the ground / no noise coming
from him at all... so I knew it wasn't good.
while they were hittn those guys up I managed to dive off the
path and got as close to the dirt as I could to avoid getting hit
by the g--k rounds which were now piercing the leaves all around
my head and body...
I stayed down and waited hoping to catch em changing belts or
something..
The second they stopped shootn / probably changing rounds I
ripped a grenade off me and thru the thing into where I saw the
rounds coming from.
I thru the thing so hard I heard a loud clang as if it hit their
gun.
the grenade never went off..
so I got up just far enough to spray 20 rounds into the same
bushes..
all went quiet... so I called a corpsman up for the guy hit just
in front of me not knowing if he was dead or alive...
corpsman comes running down / kneels down next to the guy that
got hit bad with his back to the bushes where the gook rounds
were coming from.
just about the time he kneeled down he took a single shot thru
the back of his head by the g--ks..
I'll never forget that day cuz I felt that his death was my fault
/ flat out / cuz I called him up...
I empted one more mag into the bushes and that was the end of the
firefight...thank God.
I later figured out that because of the fact that I was half
scared to death at the time I thru the grenade that I must have
forgotten to pull the pin.
I was lucky it wasn't tossed back at me.
All I can figure is that when I threw it into the bushes and
heard that loud 'clank' sound I'm thinking maybe it hit I must
have been dead on and it must of hit the machine gun they were
using and somehow made it inoperable.
all said and done that day..
2 USMC KIA
1 WIA
not a good day
matter of fact.. it wasn't a good month.
just about every patrol that went out that month / a couple 3
guys were gettn killed.
Respectfully,
Patrick Bonanno
Most everything
Most everything you see on my jeep and motorcycle came from Sgt.
Grits KEEP UP the GOOD WORK.
S/F Mel Meszaros
See All Biker Items from Sgt Grit
Rear Sight Assembly
Hi Sgt. Grit,
I got my Marines Magazine, The Corps Official Magazine, and
enjoyed every page of the mag. until I got to the back page, here
is the Marines Silent Drill Team all looking their best, I have a
great deal of respect for these skilled and true Marines. But if
you look at the first Corporal in line an check his M1 riffle you
will see that it is missing the rear sight assembly, it is a
great disappointment to me since I handled one while I was in the
Corps. I cannot understand how he could have passed an
inspection or how it even got past the person taking the photo or
the Managing Editor. This should have never happened or even
been published, it looks like more than one person was asleep on
their watch.
Jim Murrell, Cpl. USMC 1611002 (An old Marine)
Korea
As related in an email, I sent to the newspaper site, that was
returned, think that book you wrote, TO THE LAST ROUND, gives it
like it was and their remembrances. They gave the opposition all
they could handle, and more, & stood well for ALL the troops in
country. And kept Seoul out of their hands, for that time. And
to all, living & who paid the price, SEMPER FI !
I was in a unit Charlie Co., 1st. Batt., 1st. Reg., 1st. Marine
Division.
The day of the 22nd. April, we were in reserve and about 10:30
that night we saddled up and were put on trucks, driven all night
into the middle morning, about 15 miles North & West of Chunchon.
Disembarked and mounted hill 307, written in history as Horseshoe
ridge. Our casualty rate was between 15 & 20, KIA,s & 110 WIA,s
in the company, with about a 60% rate for the company alone, and
we had the whole 1st. Battalion with us in that encounter, but
the enemy, kept repeatedly attacking at the top of the hill for a
total of about 14 hours. It was said by a Major who flew over
the area from the 11th. Marines, (Artillery) in a spotter plane
the next day, that there were about 2,400, KIA,s in front of our
lines, This encounter is covered in Vol. 4, Marines in the Korean
War, by the Historical Division, of the Marine Corps.
Riding up toward the mountain, we saw during the night into the
next morning ROK's heading south, that had left their position,
and has been related they were the 6th ROK Division. And they
were subsequently, partially stopped on the road we went up on by
the Provost Marshall's unit and other Marine MP's as
approximately the bridge that crossed the river at the 38
parallel. And the portion of your writing that got my attention,
is on page 161 relating to the 6th collapsing, and 27th Brigade
plugging the gap. Not knowing the distance from where WE were to
Kapyong, It leaves the question of how long a front from west to
east, that the 6th ROK division had to cover?? As, related we
were in their midst from night to morning, and as has been
related in other places, they were not letting the grass grow
under their feet.
In April 2006, Yongok Ahn, and Tom took me direct to that hill,
as easy as if I could give someone directions to the nearest
7/11. They all went out to give me that opportunity, and the
words, 'Thank You' are not enough, and eloquent, I'm not.
If you have any info., concerning the distance the 6th had to
cover, that could probably enlighten me somewhat. And/or the
distance from Kapyong to N/W of Chunchon, that also would
enlighten, Even 'Tomas' could fill us in on that question.
THANK YOU, &
SF
NC
Note:
When you get a chance to talk to a Korea Marine, do it. Korea was
a nasty cold place. I have talked to many. Fascinating stories. I
wish more of you would send stories.
Semper Fi
Sgt Grit
Day at the Range
Sgt. Grit, Here's another Camp David photo. A day at the Range with President Bush taken June 1989. I'm the one holding the
shotgun shells for the President. Funny thing is then Secretary
of Defense Cheney was there also, glad I stood behind him!
Jim Rasanen
Would A S/Sgt. Lie To A Pvt?
Joseph O'Neill -- I/3/2/2 Aug & Sept of 1956
In the summer of '56 I/3/2/2 and H/3/2/2 boarded the APA36 to
head to the Med. I was a boot Pvt. in I Co. There was a S/Sgt in
H Co that was from my home town. We knew each others' family.
While we were at sea we ran into each other. We spoke of the
folks back home had quite a visit.
The next time I saw him we talked about my Sister, he wanted to
know if she still worked at Prudential Ins. Co. I said yes and
then asked if I knew what their Logo looked like. Sure it has a
picture of the Rock of Gibraltar in it. He then told me there was
a huge neon sign of Prudential on top of it that could be seen
out at sea at night for miles. I looked for it or days....
A few years later I joined the MCL and the S/Sgt was now a
Retired Gunny who belonged to the same Detachment I joined. We
kept the brothers at the club bar regaled with sea stories of our
time aboard ship and in port. Of course he told everyone about me
going topside at night to catch a glimpse of that "Large Sign".
Now I ask you "Would a S/Sgt lie to a Pvt.?"
I think of that Med Cruise and chuckle quite often....
Fallujah 2004
Sgt Grit,
I had the honor to serve with CSSBI, CSSC 113 during my 2nd tour
in Iraq. Most of us were Reservists from units around the
country. A former platoon mate of mine recently posted a link to
this article on his facebook page and I wanted to share it.
It's a very poignant article written by our company's XO, Captain
Sheppard. It pulls no punches and describes the battle of
Fallujah in November of 2004 in gritty detail. As a 1341 Heavy
Equipment Mechanic I was "in the rear with the gear" at Camp
Taqaddum while this battle raged, however I am HONORED to be able
to say that I served with and personally knew many of the Marines
mentioned here along with many, many others.
Greater men I have never, nor will ever know than those I served
with.
Article Link is as follows:
http://cronkitezine.asu.edu/fall2007/fallujah1.html
Semper Fidelis.
Sgt Heckroth
1341
1998 - 2006
Short Rounds
To the young Marine who quoted the dress code . I wore a
Handlebar moustache in Nam and so did my co Gunny . No one said
anything about it. GySgt Lou Diamond wore a full stach and goatee
for years. I belong to the Marine Corps league and a lot of the
guy's wear beards and goatees. So Semper Fi. and I proudly wore
my uniform then and now. Been almost 50 years since I first put
it on.
Doyle
ITR San Onofre, 1969 I must agree, that has got be the most
grueling experience of all times. While on the bivouac I remember
that myself and the other 2 Marines in my fighting hole fell
asleep. To my surprise what woke us up were tarantulas. Must have
been hundreds. Our memories are what make us ALWAYS MARINES.
D. Womack
thanks for the scuttlebutt, I'll be looking forward to it. cpl.
gp frakes , danang, chu lai, phu bai, and hue city. 1966-67
Had my boot in P.I. but first in the south Bronx in 44, so P.I.
like falling off a log. Then jejune, and winter gear for our trip
to a beautiful island with palm trees and dancing flame throwers.
Not to Alaska like we thought. World war 2 guys...were
dying everyday...soon we'll be history.
Semper Fi
Harold Kaufman
Sgt Grit I have to tell all of our Vietnam vets we did not lose
that war our politicians lost it. We signed the peace treaty
President Nixon pulled us out to early we won every battle we
kicked their butts every time we met them. I served in my Corps
from 1960-64 was in Nam in 63- 64 with the 1st maw it was my
best tour love my Corps.
cpl jim lindquist (1931501)
21 months ago ,, I lost my Marine grandson. I wear his Marine
memorial patch over my left breast on my motor cycle jacket. My
club was at a toys for tots run, and the president of the
Philadelphia, Pa. chapter of Leathernecks M.C. spotted it and
pinned the fallen heroes pin beside it. Thank you Nails, and
Leathernecks M.C. we truly do take care of our own.
Semper Fi,
Gunny
Sgt. GRIT, My young asz was saved by Medivac chopper 2 September
1967, WIA by an 82mm mortar round. And many times by fastmovers
and at "DANGER CLOSE." They are my "HEROS."
Semper Fi, A.
Sunny Sundberg
Iwo Jima, 65 Years Old
65 years ago this month, Marines assaulted a volcanic island
which would have passed through the ages, under normal
circumstances, unnoticed.
But on this day, these young men poured onto the beach to face
small arms fire, fixed machine gun fire coordinated into a grid
work which covered every square meter of ground and 320 mm spigot
mortars, the size of a 55 gallon steel drum time fused to ignite
before hitting ground. Nowhere to hide; the luck of the draw;
FUBAR. Sgt. John Basilone of Raritan N.J. CMH recipient would be
KIA along with thousands of his comrades.
It was incredible feats of courage, like this, that I was raised
hearing that caused me to enlist as soon as possible.
A few months after Iwo I was born (June 26th; same as "Chesty"
Puller). 17 years later I was one of "Culbertson's Turds" on P.I.
Footnote: I was most impressed by the "undress blues"; short
sleeve trop shirt, blue trousers. This is how "strac" captain
with gleaming "whitewalls" appeared at Whitehall St. to
administer oath of enlistment after warning us beforehand it
would be our last opportunity to back out. Simply Forgetus ha ha
ha.
L/cpl. Rapuano A.M.
Plt.150 Jul./Sept.1962 "Paradise Island" S.C.
service #1973677
19 FEBRUARY 65th ANNIVERSARY of the BATTLE of IWO JIMA
The Marine invasion of Iwo Jima (1st US attack on the Japanese
Home Islands) began on February 19, 1945. It was known as
Operation Detachment. The Marines were charged with the mission
of capturing the airfields on the island which up until that time
had harried U.S. bombing missions to Tokyo. Once the bases were
secured, they could then be used in the impending invasion of the
Japanese mainland.
B-24 Liberators flying from the Mariannas bombed the island for
74 days prior to the invasion. Naval ships consisting of 6
battleships, 5 cruisers and many destroyers of Task Force 54
provided a 3 day pre-landing bombardment. Intelligence sources
estimated that the island would fall in a week's time.
Unfortunately, no one knew at the time that island had been
heavily fortified. There were vast bunkers, hidden artillery and
11 miles of interconnecting tunnels.
The battle produced some of the fiercest fighting in the Pacific
Campaign of WWII. Besides the fortifications, the inhospitable
terrain consisting of volcanic ash made walking difficult and
building foxholes for protection impossible. Night raids by the
Japanese and hand-to-hand combat were common occurrences. The
bunkers were connected to the tunnels in such a way that even
after the use of flamethrowers and grenades, the Japanese
soldiers were able to return to the bunkers and resume their
fighting. The Marines literally won the 8 square mile island,
inch by bloody inch.
Of the approximate 20,000 Japanese troops on the island, less
than 1,000 were taken prisoner. Most Japanese fought to the
death or chose ritual suicide instead of surrendering.
Of the 110,000 Marines and Navy Corpsman who took part in the
battle, 6,821 were killed (this included over 300 Navy Corpsman)
and 19,217 were wounded. The number of American casualties were
greater than the total Allied casualties at the Battle of
Normandy on D-Day.
On March 26, 1945, the island of Iwo Jima was declared secure ...
37 days after the battle began. Henceforth, Iwo Jima would
appear on the list in Marine Corps history alongside such places
as Belleau Woods, Chosin Reservoir and Guadalcanal.
Twenty-seven Medal of Honor medals were awarded for actions
during the battle. Of these, 14 were awarded posthumously.
Marines earned 22 of the medals, Navy Corpsman earned 4 and a
Naval officer from the USS LCI won the other. Of the total
number of Medal of Honor medals awarded to Marines in WWII, 27%
of those were awarded to the Marines who fought on Iwo Jima.
By their victory, the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions and other
units of the Fifth Amphibious Corps have made an accounting to
their country which only history will be able to value fully.
Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was
a common virtue. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, U.S. Navy
19th Anniversary
I really like the ink page and seeing everyone's tattoos. I got
my first tat before heading to Desert Storm. While there, my tank
commander, Sgt JD Hawthorne, was KIA 27/Feb/1991 outside Kuwait
City. With our 19th anniversary fast upon us I finally got my
tribute tat done. I had the artist put a CVC helmet on the battlefield cross instead of a Kevlar since we were M1A1 tankers.
I hope you like them!
Sgt Chaney
86-97
Amarillo, Tx
After Flying All Day
Sgt Grit,
Having had the privilege to serve our country in RSVN in 1964 and
1965, I consider my tour as a helicopter crew chief on CH34s to
be an honor. Not only did we take the Grunts into places they
could not have gotten to otherwise, we resupplied them and
brought out their wounded and deceased brothers. After flying
all day we worked into the nights performing maintenance on our
H34s to have them flight ready at first light the next day so we
could do it all over again.
Most days, we lived off 'C' rations because we were not back at
DaNang for a hot meal. Our guys on the ground did a great job
and truly seemed to be glad to see our birds when we arrived to
pull them out! I'm sure for the most part, the Grunts who used
our services knew, without a doubt, that our jobs were just as
important (and dangerous) as theirs. I never once heard that I
was just an "Air Winger" from any of them.
Bill Alford
Cpl USMC 1961 - 1965
Chi Com POW
Sgt Grit,
I noticed with interest the newsletter item "Three Wars" where
GySgt John D. Foster mentions his association with MGySgt Len
Maffioli. If I'm not mistaken, this is the same "SSgt (E-5) Len
Maffioli" who I first met in '51 or '52 when he reported in to
the Marine Corps Guided Missile Test Unit, Naval Ordnance Test
Station, China Lake CA. The story of his escape from the Chi Com
POW Camp preceded him and I, among many other young Marines
there, looked up to him with awe and great respect.
If he or GySgt Foster reads this, please accept or pass on my
best regards. I noted also that he served with the 1st Tank Bn in
Vietnam. When I was commissioned in 1955, I became a tank officer
and served in the 3rd Tank Bn during the Vietnam era. Quite a
step down from the Terrier Anti-Aircraft Guided Missile ordnance
to the 90mm tank gun!
LtCol Everett Tunget
USMC (retired)
Couldn't Find It
Sgt. Grunt,
I served with the 1st Marines in Korea as a field telephone
linemen with the 4.2 Co. 1951-52. at the Punch Bowl. On Christmas
day I got word that my wife gave birth to a boy. Being a proud
father I gave out some cigars. I had a good friend that was a
cook so I gave one to him. The next time I talked to him he told
me that he was cooking stew while smoking the cigar and when he
was about 1/2 done with it he couldn't find it and he never did.
[ Where did it go?] All we could think of it made the stew
better. After we got home we only lived about a 100 miles apart
so we would get together from time to time, every time we did
something would be said about the cigar. Sorry to say George
passed away about a year ago but I will never forget him.
Sgt. Kenneth Cox U.S.M.C.
1065913
1948-1955
To Find Out Later
Like Bill McLean, I was also stationed in 1st Mar Div area, with
HQ Btty 11th Marines Motor T. Sgt Grit, I believe this was also
your T.A.O.R. I also worked with the army searchlight Btty
there. The army would sometimes come over to the motor pool and
ask if we could give them a hand moving equipment, or unloading
equipment for them, with our 5 ton wrecker, La La. One of your
LTs. gave me a bottle of Vodka, for helping him one day, as soon
as I finished up with him, I went back to motor pool, deadlined
my truck, and drank it, only to find out later, that I was
supposed to stand guard duty that night. SEMPER-FI David
Creighton
Note:
Yep, we were on the same compound. 11th Motors was across the hi-
way, 1st Recon the other direction across a few rice paddies,
Division HQ across the road and up the hill, medical battalion
and heavy lifting helicopters down the road. And of course "Dog
Patch" further down the road and Dai La pass the other direction.
Sgt Grit
That Is The Way
Sgt Grit,
RE: Air Wingers vs. Grunts
Just my two cents: My step-Father was an 81mm mortar platoon
commander in Korea. I remember him remarking once that as he
watched Marine aircraft strafe enemy positions he said to
himself, "Now, THAT is the way to fight a war." Subsequently, he
enrolled in the Marine flight program and spent the next 20 some
years flying jets. So, I would suggest that before someone look
down on Air Wingers, they might wonder if that particular Air
Winger has already "been there and done that".
Respectfully,
Mike
Around June
Ran cross country in high school four years. Stood on the yellow
foot prints at Parris Island April 5 1967. To Second Battalion,
Platoon 263. Senior Drill Instructor SSGT. Fish takes the herd
out for its first run. When the herd returned lots of recruits
were in really tough shape, throwing up etc. I was breathing a
little heavy but not sweating much, at least not enough for my
beloved senior DI.
"WHAT is your problem worm!?? WHY aint you sweatin maggot!?? DO
YOU have some bodily disfunction!??" Then I said it, ( Sir the
private likes running.) I don't have to tell any of my fellow
Marines what happened next. He let me stop sometime around June.
Cpl. Jim Z. 2357294 3/9 RVN 68-69
I Called Him Back
I had a customer that left a voicemail one morning before we were
open and expressed his "opinion" about the additional cost for
larger size clothing. He was upset that we charge more for XXL
sizes, as that was the size he needed.
I called him back the following morning, only to reach his
voicemail at his office. I left him a message telling him why we
have to charge more for larger sizes just like any other retailer
does & that vendors charge us more for the extra material put
into the larger sizes, etc. I left him all of my info incase he
wanted to call me back...and he did! He was very pleased and
excited that I had even returned his call! He said that when he
called, his day did not get off to a good start so he was kind of
venting when he left the message. He didn't think we would even
want to do business with him after that!
He could not believe that I (or we here at Sgt. Grit) would call
someone back after they complained about something we do on a
regular basis. He wanted me to tell Sgt. Grit that I should get a
meritorious promotion and become SSgt! He was very happy with the
way we run things here at Sgt. Grit and that every company should
take some advice from us! Once we were done with our
conversation, he didn't even mention any more about why we charge
more for the larger sizes...his "venting" was acknowledged and it
made him realize that there are companies that really care about
their customers!
Semper Fi
Christina Rodriguez
Customer Service
Team Lead
Sgt Grit Marine Corps Specialties
MACS-9 Reunion
Sgt Grit,
The time has rolled around again for MACS-9 to hold another
reunion. The reunion this year will be held at the Grand Plaza
Hotel in Branson, Missouri. The dates are 8 -12 September, 2010.
This will be our fifth reunion, and hopefully will be the best.
It is truly amazing how it seems as though it were just yesterday
or last week that we were in service to our country instead of
forty-five years ago. The guys just pick up as though those years
have disappeared. Conversations and memories are just like it was
just yesterday that we were together. I only wish that all
Marines will have the opportunity to attend a reunion to make
those contacts that we once took for granted. Too many are
leaving us to guard the Gates above, sometimes too early.
All former MACS-9ers are welcome. Our Squadron was formed in
October, 1963 - October, 65 after returning from Chu Lai, or more
accurately Ky Ha, Vietnam.
The contact person for the reunion is:
Thomas Boyle, Sgt of Marines
621 34th St NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402-4221
email: tboyle621 @ aol .com
phone: 319-366-0012
VMF/VMA-311 "TOMCATS" Reunion
Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel, Chattanooga, TN
8-12 September 2010
Contact: Jim Galchick, 330-337-9383,
1290 E. 12th st., Salem, OH 44460
jgalchick @ neo .rr .com
Web site: www.vmf-vma-311reunion.org
RIP
With regret I wish to report the passing of another 2 war Marine.
On January 1 of 2010, Colonel Ferdinand S. Aramovich, 88
(Rockford, Illinois) made his final beachhead. He served during
WWII and after surviving the Okinawa battle, was part of the
first/last contingent to return to China. He was proud of being
a 'China Marine". He was later recalled to Korea and took part
in the actions related to the breakout from the Chosin Reservoir.
Subsequent to his active service he became a member/supporter of
the USMC Reserve program and was personally responsible for the
recruitment of many past Marines.
Terry Moran
Sgt - 1954 - 1962
Girls Kept Asking
Back in 1956 I was an usher in my sister's wedding. I borrowed a
set of dress blues, had them altered and looked like a million
dollars. At the wedding everyone knew who I was even though it
was the first time in 7 years that I wore a uniform at home. At
the reception that evening I traded the "blues" for a tuxedo. A
big, big mistake. No one knew who I was and most of the single
girls kept asking my sister where the Marine was.
Looking back I wish I had worn the uniform more often. It was
not that I didn't care, but travelling to New York from Cherry
Point, NC by car took almost 11 hours. Uniforms were not
comfortable plus your uniforms looked like h&ll when you got
home.
Jack Nolan 1131869 Staff Sgt 1950-1957
PI vs. SD
Sgt. Grit, Sonny said the ones who went to San Diego were the
handsome ones. Tell him the ones who went to Parris Island were
the tough ones. He can call us "Devil Dogs". All in good
spirit. We are all Marines.
Mark Ryalls, 1968-1972, Sgt.
I have been told that P.I. is the "real Marine Corps". Both my
late wife and my 1st born son are/were P.I. trained.
Wayne63
Huh, I was told the soft skinned city boys went to the easy boot
camp and was issued sun glasses and tanning lotion and it was
located in San Diego,
SONNY HAYES 76-91
A Marine is a Marine no matter where he or she was trained, we
are a family and only a few can be part of this family!
But it was funny but only mixed up the good looking Marines came
from P.I.
Sgt PT Gruber
Select Your Quote- USA Eagle T-shirt
Select Your Quote- Worn Flag T-shirt
Welcome Home Marine, Job Well Done.
Semper Fi!
Sgt Grit
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