Sgt Grit's Personal BS Page Volume 1

New Recruit

Marine Corps Recruiting Station, Oklahoma City, 30 May 1968, 5:30am. The following day I was standing tall on the yellow foot prints. This is the Journal Record building, located across from the Murrah Building, and was destroyed in the 1995 terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City.

Don Whitton (Sgt Grit)

Snuffy Country

I got to Vietnam in March 1969 as a 19 year old PFC. It is obviously monsoon season, you can see the pools of water and gray skies. Yes, that is my humble abode in the background and the perimeter farther back.

Don Whitton (Sgt Grit)

Grit and Buddies

Sgt Richard "Dirty Dick" Leyden in utility jacket, Cpl Larry Kelly, later to become SgtMaj Kelly. Cpl Don "Grit" Whitton, holding cup. Do not remember names of the guy to right or the guy kneeling

Don Whitton (Sgt Grit)

Rocket Crater

August 1969, the morning after we successfully repelled 'gooks' in the wire. This is a rocket crater, photo taken from the back door of our hootch. From left to right: Cpl John "Goog" Gugliotta, next three ??? LCpl. Wenny Pas in helmet and Sgt Lou Kurzmiller

Don Whitton (Sgt Grit)

Arlington Cemetery, 1999.

"Ma Grit" and Sgt Grit at Arlington Cemetery, 1999.

Don Whitton (Sgt Grit)

"The Wall"

11th Marines, Hqt Battery, Comm Plt Reunion, at "The Wall" in Washington DC, summer 1998. From L-R: SSgt Dan "Hunts" Huntsinger, Sgt Don "Grit" Whitton, Cpl John "Goog" Gugliotta, Sgt Dick "Dirty Dick" Leyden

Don Whitton (Sgt Grit)

CHIP OFF THE OLE BLOCK?

These are my daughters. One has finished college the other is still attending. I gave both a Ka-Bar as a high school graduation present.

They have cut and served pizza, as well as other food preparation and done crafts for dorms rooms with their Ka-Bars. One was in a group of girls talking about what their dads gave them as a graduation gift. As they went around the room there were watches, necklaces, bracelets, etc…. My daughter got up went to her dresser drawer and pulled out her Ka-Bar and proudly said this is what my dad gave me.

The other night the younger daughter called me at 01:30am and said there were some men outside her house knocking on the door and looking in the window. I told her to call the police, get her Ka-Bar then call me back.

I’d like to think I raised them right and having pride in a Ka-Bar and use of one is a reflection of that.

Semper fi
Sgt Grit

Early 1969

11th Marines Hqt Btty Early 1969. Sgt Lou Alston, PFC Dan Huntsinger, PFC Doug Norman

Sunset from the top of the 28 Bunker.

Water buffalo every morning and every afternoon.

Being lead and rode by tiny kids. Ever present kids.

DaNang

It was illegal for E5 and below to be in DaNang without a permit. LCpl Huntsinger and I did not have a permit. Hunt's was and is very "resourceful". We hitched a ride in a three wheeled motorized buggy owned and driven by an AP or UPI reporter. He asked if we had a permit, when we said no, he said get down, hide in the back of the vehicle. He was known by the MP's at the DaNang gate, so they just waved him through. Once through the gate the MP's noticed Hunt's and me crouched in the rear, the chase was on. After a spirited hide and seek race through DaNang the reporter takes us to his apartment. Says he has an appointment and to help our selves to a beer in the fridge, lay low for about 30 minutes, then hit the town, he leaves us in his apartment.

What faith and hospitality to two young Marines he did not know from squat.

Radio School

Radio School VR-17

MCRD SanDiego
Oct - Dec 1968

This is at staging back at Pendleton. Don't ask me how this picture got with the rest.

SUMMER VACATION

We took a Colorado vacation, summer 2000. The True Grit Cafe in Ridgway, CO. is dedicated to the movie "True Grit" which is how I got my nickname. Much of the movie was filmed in this area. Some of the movie were filmed at and near this cave, near Ouray, CO.

Sgt Grit's BS   Vol 1   Vol 2
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