"You, you, and you . . . Panic.
The rest of you, come with me."
-U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt.
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KHE SANH VETS REUNION
I was invited for the second year to set up a booth at the Khe Sanh Vets Reunion. This year in Charleston, SC. I sent Shaunna and Sarah from my office. I figured they would rather deal with two 21 year old ladies than another 50+ yr old Nam vet. There is a related story below and 37 pictures on the BullSh!t page at http://www.grunt.com/reunionsbs.htm
You know.....this thing takes some time to put together and sometimes I don't feel like doing it. But by the time I
finish I am amazed at the fresh, funny, historical, timeless, touching stories you Marines come up with.
This is a great job. Thank you! Simply put, Marines are the best. No exceptions, no qualifications.
Thank you for you contributions to this newsletter.
Semper fi
Sgt Grit
Results of the C-Rat Survey
Your favorite (most tolerable) C-Rat meal?
Beans & Franks (Beans & Baby D!cks) 42%
Spagetti and Meatballs 21%
Beef Slices & Potatoes (Beef & Rocks) 14%
Meatballs & Beans 9%
Pork and Beans 9%
Turkey Loaf 9%
My personal favorite was Spagetti and Meatballs.
There are some outstanding C-Rat stories below.
MRE's
....vote now at http://www.grunt.com/survey.htm
This week and next week, then run-off of the top six the third week.
4 FRIGGIN DOLLARS
My father rarely talks about his time in Korea, Sgt., USMC..
But the few he tells are priceless and funny as hell....
as told to me: ' We were pulled of the line for RnR and sent
to Japan for a little while, when we were returning all the
other guys had gotten samurai swords . knives , nip flags and
kimonos etc etc ....Well, your father not looking forward to
spending more time in this god-forsaken place decided to be
different.....All the other guys were off loading with their
sea-bags stuffed with their loot, all of which I totally
useless now because A) you couldn't ship anything like swords
and knives back and B) you really don't need anything else
on your back when your on the 'front'...so, I had noticed
the cheap price of booze, you could get a 5th of Canadian
club for like 4 friggin dollars...so your father of course
loaded up...when disembarking the ship, the other guys are
carrying their stuff off, much to the dismay of the gunny
checking things at the bottom of the plank....well, here I
come, bottles clinging and clanging, thinking sure I'm gonna
get reamed for bringing the hootch back with me"...the gunny
hears the noises coming from my sea-bag looks behind him at
the now huge pile of discarded swords and crap, looks at me
and smirks and says, "Go ahead Marine, your the only smart
son of a b$%ch in the whole battalion" and away I went..
"That night the Chinese couldda danced across the front
lines, we wouldn't have noticed!!
Jack Hussey USMC
RR TRACKS
All the talk on C's brought back a lot of memories. At Khe
Sanh the Marine Corps had the worst mess hall I have ever seen.
This was in Nov-Dec 67. In Jan 1968 they started us on 2
packs of C's a day.
I have always and still can eat any food put in front of me.
2 pks of C's did not fill me up. I was with A-1-13. One night
one of the Pvts in my section (COMM), who was about 6' 3" and
200# was complaining about the lack of food. He pulled out a
pair of RR Tracks and said lets go get a couple of cases of Cs.
Being a Cpl I was supposed to "know better", but I said o k.
The Cs were in the 26th Marines HQs area.
The plan was: After dark I would tell the 1st Sgt that we
had a land line down and would have to leave the compound to
check it. I would take the Pvt with the RR tracks with me as
shotgun. He would keep the armed guard busy by pretending to
be a CAPT. I would slip under the 2 rolls of concertina wire
and get a couple of cases of Cs.
We reached the area where the Cs were stored with no problems.
The Pvt (Capt) put on the RR tracks. He went straight to the
entrance to the small compound and started talking to the guard.
In the dark I slipped around to the back, under the wire and
into the tent. I got 2 cases of Cs and reversed my line of travel.
The Pvt (Capt) was giving the guard a royal butt chewing. Seeing
me leave the area, he ended the butt chewing and headed back to
A-1-13. By the time we reached the compound we were laughing so
hard we could hardly walk. We ate good for several days.
I refused to go on the next raid and the raiders were caught.
I was 20 at the time and the Pvt was 18. We were running
around Khe Sanh after dark at a time when Marines shot first
and asked questions later. Every time I hear someone complain
about food I think about that raid.
Walter E. Seneff Sgt
65-69 VN 67-68-69
LEATHERNECK MOTORCYCLE CLUB
I was wondering if any of the Oklahoma Marines would be interested in
the Leathernecks Motorcycle Club....we are nationwide and have a
couple of chapters in foreign countries...we are active, retired and
honorably discharged Marines and Fleet Marine Force Corpsmen....I have
recently decided to start up the Oklahoma chapter...we will be called
the Indian Territory Chapter of the Leathernecks...so far I only have
two other members and can not have an official chapter until we get
ten members...If you know of any ole Marines who ride, please give them
the web site for me:
http://www.leathernecksmc.org for national
http://www.okieleathernecks.com for Oklahoma Dennis 'Jamey' Jamison
email: jamison2@oklatel.net
Semper Fi,
RIFLEMAN FIRST
Sgt. Grit. Your news letters are out standing and anytime I talk to
another Marine I always ask if they subscribe. To get to the point
can you or any of our readers clear up a concern for me. I heard on
the news today that all the POWs from this conflict received the
Bronze Star. I've was always under the impressions you received the
medal for combat as in saving lives under heavy fire risking you own
life. These folks were in combat, they were lost, and they were captured.
It took the Marines to rescue these Army supply troops. The one Sgt.
even said he was in supply not into guard duty. Everyone should now
understand why every Marine in a Rifleman first and there MOS second
so if this would happen to a Maine unit (which it never would) they
would fight there way out and make the other poor fool die for his
country. I'm I wrong on the thought process of the Bronze Star. I don't
mean to put these down but I do feel it is an insult to those who died
or wounded and receive this medal. Thanks for the time and any
information you can pass on. JCS
USMC 62-7
100% BETTER NOW
Hi,
I wrote the title like that to draw people into
thinking I did something bad. Many people jump at a
good confession.
I'm extremely proud of my Vietnam service and
being a Vietnam Veteran. Living in a peasant-farming
village I got to see what America was really fighting for.
(It had nothing to do with politics. The people just
wanted a good, safe life for their families.)
Although the PTSD crap still causes me problems, my
life is 100% better now than just two years ago.
I have a great, loving wife, who makes all the
difference. However, at times, she earns my disability
checks more than I do.
Semper Fi
Jack
Please visit the belong link to learn the truthful experiences
of a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Vietnam Veteran.
http://home.earthlink.net/~caproductions/avietnamveteransexperiences/
NO DRILL SGTS
This is in response to D.P. Brennan's (PI 52-53) comments
about Drill Sgts. I agree that there are no Drill Sgts
in the Marine Corps. They are called that in the Army.
In the Marine Corps you have Drill Instructors (DIs).
Drill Sgt would be a misnomer for the Marine Corps anyway
as in 1964, when I went through MCRD in San Diego, I had
3 DIs - one of them was a Cpl. You couldn't call
him a Drill Sgt. Semper Fi.
Robert Barnhill USMC
Cpl. 2113117 2533
1964 - 1968
THAT WAS THE FIRST
ENJOYED YOUR "C" RATS SURVEY.
I HAVE A SHORT STORY, ONE WHICH I HAVE NEVER FIGURED OUT
REGARDING "C" RATS. WHILE AT TENT CAMP 2 AT CAMP PENDLETON
IN JULY '52 WHILE GOING INFANTRY TRAINING WHILE TAD FROM AN
ANTI AIRCRAFT BN IN THE 15 AREA, I WAS ISSUED A 3 MEAL BOX
(ABOUT THE SIZE OF A LARGE SHOE BOX LEFT OVER FROM WW2.
IN THAT BOX WAS A CAN OF BOSTON BAKED BEANS. JUST BOSTON BAKED
BEANS. THAT WAS THE FIRST I HAD ENCOUNTERED AND THE LAST.
I STILL WONDER, WAS IT A DREAM?
THANKS,
MSGT (RETIRED) WALTER M. CARTWRIGHT, USMC
1164589
KHE SANH VETS REUNION
Yo Grit, just a little note to say thanks for sending a
lovely little lady to take care of us guys in Charleston SC
for the Khe Sanh Vets Reunion. I tried my best to get her
into a poker game but she said her dad wouldn't like it.
We took a tour of Parris Island and boy has it changed.
The mess hall is almost like a Burger King, and the people
that work there are not nearly as salty as the guys that
caught mess duty in the 60's. And believe it or not the
food is not bad. I still ate fast and did not speak but
no one yelled at us.
We had a gentleman name of Jon Caviani, who won the Medal
of Honor in the Nam with us. There was a Corporal and a
female lst Lt and they could not show enough respect for
this man. I honestly thought the Lady Lt was going to
cry when she saw the Medal. Salutes and Sirs, she could
not do enough. Then there was this Capt female. She wanted
everyone to know that she was good looking, that she was
an officer and so what if there was a Medal of Honor winner
in the midst. She did not want her picture made and acted
as if the MOH was something that you see every day. I was
embarrassed at her attitude. The others asked if we would
send a picture and even offered to pay for them, These were
the ISO people. I was very impressed with the Lady Lt and
the Corporal but I was ashamed of the Lady Capt. I am sure
that there were a lot of other guys that saw what I did.
There was a lady DI and I told her that when I was there
in 66 our DI had bad breath and no one wanted him to get
in their face. I told her she could get in my face whenever
she wanted. I even got a kiss from her. Made my day.
Man how times have changed.
I also killed a sand flea. All the Hollywoods got a real
chuckle out of that. That has to be the only animal on
this planet that has only teeth and no body. I told them
that this bug had waited for 37 years to get even with me
for killing his grand father. Oh well, his grand son can
get me 37 years from now. Really proud of what our little
brothers did in Iraq, I guess before it is over we will
have to go back.
Semper Fi Guys and God Bless America
Ron Shouse The Nam class of 67 and 68
WOULD ALMOST GO HUNGRY
The 'best' C-rats in 1966-70 was the cans of Ham and Lima beans.
If they were not available, the Beans and Weenies. Being a boy
from Texas, they were close enough to almost tolerable. The
Marines and Corpsmen from the northern states would almost go
hungry before eating one of those 'nasty' meals. Without any
questions, the most horrible can of filth packed into a can
was the Eggs and Ham. I once found a box of c-rat eggs marked
1952. Something about eating a 15 year old egg spoiled
eggs for me until many, many years later.
MNV USMC
CORPS VALUES
Enjoy reading the newsletters and thanks for the opportunity
to comment. This is the first time I've written so please
bear with me while I get to my point.
I believe imbedded in the Corps values of courage, honor and
faithfulness are the principles of integrity and accountability.
I recently retired from a civilian job after 33 years of
service from a company with a 150 year old history. It was
only within the last decade the company decided to "instill"
a set of its own core values in its employees. A lack of
leadership and commitment to those values was evident
from the git go.
Maybe its just that I'm older or have more time to reflect
since retirement but it seems like our company isn't alone as
the news provided a daily reminders of the decline or total
absence of these values. I'll mention a few as I'm sure you
can recall your own (these are only examples) .... a former
first lady who in a recent TV interview insisted that private
behavior (perhaps however inappropriate) of an elected public
official's private life should not be linked to the
performance of their public duty....CEO's and other corporate
officials of large public company's who pleaded "I didn't know"
as their companies were being investigated for accounting
fraud and other wrongdoing under their watch....even high
school students and parents who not only refused to accept
accountability but chose to blame school officials during
the recent hazing incident in Chicago.
Then while watching CNBC I heard an interviewer asking a
question about William H. Donaldson who was then recently
appointed as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
When questioned about how Mr. Donaldson would be able to
restore confidence and integrity to Wall Street the person
being interviewed didn't respond with the fact that he
(Donaldson) was well respected or the former CEO of an
investment company he founded or that he headed the nation's
largest health insurance provider or that he was the former
Chairman and CEO of the New York Stock Exchange or a graduate
of Yale and founder of Yale University's Graduate School of
Management or even that he was a former United States
Undersecretary of State. Instead the interviewer went back
a half century in Donaldson's career and responded with a
wry smile (I can only paraphrase here) "He (Donaldson)
won't have any trouble with the integrity issue despite
his close ties to Wall Street...he's a former Marine"
(Earlier in his career, from 1953 to 1955, Mr. Donaldson
served in the United States Marine Corps in the Far Eastern
Theatre, first as a rifle platoon commander and later as
aide-de-camp to the Commanding General of the 1st Provisional
Marine Air Ground Task Force.)
I was struck by the fact that of all the accomplishments
which could have been used to describe how he would restore
integrity and confidence it was his after all the values
instilled in him as a Marine a half century earlier.
And so to the point....it's not about Mr. Donaldson and his
distinguished career but it is about how the use of a single
word, "Marine" is used to characterize those values. With all
due respect to all the other services (and I certainly don't
mean to diminish their accomplishments, contributions or
heritage)....No word more completely sums up all of those
values and qualities like the word "Marine" (try it with
soldier, sailor, airman...it just doesn't have the same meaning).
So while you may no longer wear the most recognizable, best
looking uniform, the service ribbons, medals, badges and other
awards which distinguished you on active duty but you do "wear"
those values (IF you choose to) and that distinguishes you forever.
So.....to the discussion about discharges other than honorable
(and not to come across as "holier than thou"). If you received
less than an honorable discharge it was for something you did,
even if your reason starts with "all I did was..." It's the
price for maintaining a high standard and the word Marine can
continue to be used as the benchmark. I believe the Corps is
firm but fair in administering discipline but if you believe
you were inappropriately disciplined there were remedies
and as a Marine I believe you would (and should) fight like
hell to clear it up.
And to the writer who established the web page of famous Marines.
While it is impressive to list all the movie stars, politicians,
and other well known Marines I would add the name of every Drill
Instructor who instilled these values and every Marine who
died living up to them.
R. Luciani
SSgt '66-'70
JUST TO GET A RISE
Dear Sgt. Grit,
One day I was the oncoming guard here in hell (Djibouti, Africa)
and the SOG was a female Army SSgt. Keep in mind I am a lowly
LCpl. Well, we had finished counting the rounds and reloading
the magazines. I inserted the magazine into my trusty M16 and
sent the bolt home. "God I love that sound!" I said in a semi loud
voice. Well, the Army SSgt's eyes opened wide and she looked
at me like I was crazy. she asked if I needed anything before
she left. Just to get a rise out of her, I said, "well, I would
like for someone to try and hop the fence so I could shoot them,
can you arrange that?" She said she didn't think she could and
then left. A few days later, I overheard her talking to a
colleague in the chow hall at the table next to me. She told the
story to her friend and then said how sorry she feels about
anybody trying to sneak on base, "cuz the Marines would unleash hell!"
Semper Fi,
LCpl Brobst
Brotherhood is what it's all about..we are all brother's to the end.
COLLECTED ALL THE CONTRABAND
Here's a quick story about C Rats from October 1975 when I
was in boot camp at PI. When we spent our week or so in
the bush, I remember that we used to line up at the back
of a truck and they'd toss us our 3 meals for the day.
Naturally, your 3 would come from the same case so you'd
get 3 of the same meals. As a result, you might be eating
ham and eggs for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Or spaghetti.
Our DIs introduced us to nicknames for the meals.
For example, beans and franks were called beans and baby
d--ks; the round candy was called a s--t disc (for reasons
which became quickly apparent). Anyway, some of the
recruits used to squirrel away the sugar packets and
then at some point have a sugar party in their tents
at night. Since we hadn't had much in the way of sweets
for weeks, a packet of sugar gave you quite a glucose
high. When we were packing up for main side, the DIs told
us not to take any C Rat leftovers with us and they
collected all the contraband. We were back at main side
for a few days when a recruit reported that some of his
money was missing. The DIs, of course, went bananas
since Marines can steal tanks from the Army and Navy but
not a penny from other Marines (even though we had yet
to earn the title). So, we hadda dump the entire contents
of our footlockers in front of us and the DIs went up
and down the squad bay rifling through our gear and kicking
it all over the place as we stood on line at attention.
They were going through the gear of one recruit - Private
Eng - who was directly across from me on the other side
of the squad bay when one DI said, "Ohhhhhhh, what do we
have here, Private Eng?" The DIs had found some leftover
C Rats. Specifically, it was packets of powdered coffee
and cream (or milk, I can't remember exactly) and sugar.
They tilted Private Eng's head back and proceeded to open
the packets and pour the contents down his throat. First
the coffee, then the cream and then the sugar. Then they
got a canteen of water and poured it down his throat.
Next, one DI stood near his right side and another on
his left. Then they picked him up and shook him as
another DI rubbed his belly and said, "Ummmmmm, good,
Private Eng." I was holding back laughter so much that
I almost passed out. Good thing that I didn't laugh cuz
I'd probably still be down there doing bends-and-muthers.
Matt Brzycki
Sergeant (1975-1979)
IT WAS A WEIRD EXPERIENCE
A few years ago, I walked into a small clothing store to look
at a hat for golf. The man in store had an accent and said,
"Good morning, Marine." I was in civilians and was retired
so my hair was normal length as most civilians and there were
no decals on my car. I was not sure he had said "Marine" so
I started to look at the hat. He said, "Go ahead and try it
on, Marine." Now I knew he had called me Marine. I had never
seen this man before or had no Marine Corps insignia such
as a key chain on me.
Finally I said, " Are you calling me a Marine?" He replied,
" Yes, I am sure you are one, am I wrong?
I told him that I was a retired Lt.Col. but asked how he
knew. He said he spent most of his life in Lebanon and had
been Marines all his life. He said he could tell I was a Marine
by the way I walked and held my self as well as how I greeted
him by looking him in the eye and shaking his hand. It was a
weird experience as I was not conscious at all of projecting
any Marine presence at the time. I guess 24 years in the
regulars and reserves influences us in ways we do not see
ourselves. It was a strange experience but one that many
Marine may relate to.
Lt. Col. Bill Kroen
USMCR retired
FINDING EMIRAU
This is for Sgt. Bob Ross VMB 443 and others having a difficult
time finding Emirau on a map. I agree it's difficult to
find because of its size.
Emirau is at the most northern end of the Solomon's chain.
Start looking at the north end of New Ireland, go north but
do not cross the equator. Find the St. Mathias group of which
Emirau is the smallest island. Directly west of this group
are the Admiralty Islands. Emirau was secured by the 4th
Marines on 3-20-44. My squadron VMF 313 arrived about June
1944. There were several thousand aviation type Marines on
the island, mostly VMF and VMB. Also present was a company
or two of Australian troops, a PT boat squadron, Seabees and
the natives. The fighter squadrons personnel left Emirau
for the Philippines on Marine R4D's late Nov. and early Dec.
via Biak island and Peleliu, where Marines were still hitting
Bloody Nose Ridge with napalm bombs. Rank had no privilege
there in the chow lines. We then landed and operated from
Tacloban, Leyte and hit the beach a couple of months
later at Zamboanga, Mindanao.
A couple of good references for further search include
"Marine Aviation in the Philippines" by Major Charles W.
Boggs, Jr. for maps and a good low altitude photo of Emirau
and "USMC a Complete History." These books may be available
from Sgt. Grit or the MC Association bookstore at Quantico.
If you receive Leatherneck, the July 2003 issue has a photo
of Marine aces, Majors Joe Foss and Marion Carl on Emirau
with Charles Lindbergh. Hope this helps.
Former Sgt. Stan Rzemieniewski
Semper Fi
DROPPED HIM ON THE BEACH
Hey-I have yet to see anything about those Wonderful "Assault
Rations" from the "Big War' that we were issued in Korea!!
I remember the "Pork & Applesauce" YUK!! I always thought
some "Jilted Gal" had been responsible for making that one
and we were the ones destined to pay the price!! I clearly
remember "Marine Wallace Franson getting seasick on a "peter
boat" landing and some old WW 2 Gunny getting down in his
face with a can of Pork and applesauce and making Franson
"anything, But Well--A couple of us got him by the shoulders
and pulled him off and dropped him on the beach until he
could recover--Strange how those things are remembered!!
Semper-Fi "A MARINE FOREVER'" Sgt. Jerry L. Henson
JOKE
This Marine drill instructor, completely frazzled by the ineptitude of his recruits, burst into a blue streak of swearing hot enough to blister paint. He broke off suddenly when he noticed one of the recruits had been talking in ranks. "WHAT WAS THAT YOU SAID, RECRUIT??" the drill sergeant hollered. In a quivering voice, the recruit replied, "I said, to myself, Drill Sergeant Sir, 'if that sucker thinks I'm going to stand here and take his crap . . . well, he's certainly an uncanny judge of character.
THIS MORNING I AWOKE AND SWITCHED ON
Sgt Grit,
Love the newsletter, keep it up. This morning I awoke and
switched on the Today show like I always do. All of a sudden
I'm looking at members of the 3rdID complaining about being
extended. What is this crap. During the Vietnam war 13 months
was the minimum in country, out of country 13 months at an
isolated base, 15 months at a remote and longer at the
garden spots was the rule. These guys are bitchin about
8 months. Is this what the new Army is like? I don't hear
Marines griping. We didn't hear the crew of the Abe Lincoln
bellyaching. I'm sorry, but I am really surprised at this.
I really hope that it is only a small group whiners and
not the rule.
John Domurat USAFSS Sgt.
RECRUITING ASSOC
I am proud to report that on June 21st and 22nd the Marine
Corps Recruiting Association was formed at a meeting in
Dallas, Tx. The Association is dedicated to assist with
current recruiting policies and to promote Corps values.
WE ARE SEEKING MEMBERS. Those who successfully completed
Recruiters School, all current and former Recruiters and
support staff are encouraged to apply.
As a board-member you may contact me for information and applications.
Semper Fi,
Jim Simmons Sgt. 1/55-1/64
Rt. 1 Box 153C
Milo, Mo. 64767
jimandsally@sofnet.com
TED WILLIAMS
WONDERING IF ANYONE REMEMBERS (TED WILLIAMS) IN KOREA DURING
THE CONFLICT? I WAS AT K-3 (POHANG ) FIRST MARINE AIR WING
AFTER THE CONFLICT AND THE STORIES WERE AROUND ABOUT TED
CRASH LANDING 2 SHOT UP JETS THERE AND AFTER THE SECOND
TIME WAS SHIPPED BACK HOME. IF SO WAS THIS EVER ACKNOWLEDGED
AND WAS HE A HERO OR NOT? GUNG-HO
Bill Wyant
BITE MY TONGUE
Every time I see D.I. instead of Drill Instructor used, I
have to bite my tongue. I feel that it shows disrespect for
all the Marines that became Drill Instructors. Drill
Instructors made Marines out of little boys as they did me.
I still remember the Drill Instructors of Platoon 3047,
August 1956 MCRD San Diego , CA. Thanks to SSgt. Fisk ,
Sgt. Holley and Cpl. Owens for turning me, a 245 pound slob
into a 175 pound lean mean fighting machine, that is Proud
to be a Marine. I love the Marine Corps and I will go to
my grave as a Marine. "Once a Marine always a Marine. " "Semper Fi"
K.A. Miller
GUNNY LOGIC
(for all you Gunny's and future Gunny's)
The Gunny ordered one of his Marines to dig a hole eight feet deep. After the job was completed the Gunny returned and explained an error had been made and the hole wouldn't be needed. "Fill 'er up," he ordered.
The Marine did as he'd been told. But he ran into a problem. He couldn't get all the dirt packed back into the hole without leaving a mound on top. He went to the Gunny and explained his problem.
The Gunny snorted, "Honestly! The kind of Marines you get these days! There's obviously only one thing to do. You'll have to dig that hole deeper!"
Cyber Fi,
T-BAJ
"Coming soon to a Third World Country near you! "
COMBAT MODE
SGT. GRIT
I GOT A BONE TO PICK WITH THE NEWS REPORTING AGENCIES,
YEP ALL OF THEM. I WAS WATCHING CNN AND HEARD OF THIS
GUY WHO RAN OFF WITH A UNDER AGED GIRL. IN REPORTING
THIS STORY THEY MADE MENTION THIS GUY WAS A FORMER
MARINE. THIS IS POINT OF MY BITCH. IT SEEMS WHENEVER
THEY HAVE A BIG STORY TO REPORT AND THEY FIND OUT THE
GUY WAS IN THE MARINE CORP. THEY MAKE SURE THEY
MENTION THAT FACT. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON SEVERAL
OCCASIONS AND THIS TIME IT GOT ME P***** OFF. SO I
CONTACTED THEM BY E-MAIL AND EXPRESSED MY OPINION. I
ALSO SUGGESTED WHY IS IT NOT MENTIONED WHEN A GUY IS
ACCUSED OF A CRIME IT IS NOT MENTIONED IF HE BELONGED
TO THE ARMY, NAVY OR ANY OTHER BRANCH OF THE SERVICE
ONLY THE MARINES. I TOLD THEM I CONSIDERED THIS A SLAP
IN THE FACE TO ALL WHO SERVED IN THE MARINE CORP. IT
MADE US ALL LOOK LIKE A BUNCH OF PHYSCO'S. WELL I MAY
BE BUT ITS BECAUSE SOMEONE P**** ME OFF AND PUT ME IN
COMBAT MODE, THAN I AM PHYSCO. SO I CHALLENGE ALL
MARINES TO E-MAIL CNN OR ANY OTHER NEWS AGENCY AND
BITCH. THANKS FOR THE SOAP BOX TIME.
SEMPER-FI
JOHN KOVAC
MCRD SAN DIEGO
Sgt Grit, I've been reading and enjoying (contributing a couple of
times) to the newsletter and thought I'd share some info found
in a report about FUTURE (next round) base closings.
On the list is MCRD SDIEGO (those that hunger for the 350+
acres say that RTR can move to Camp Pendleton), and Miramar.
It wasn't enough to grab MCAS El Toro (MABS-33 - MAG-33) but
now, the reasoning as presented in the report, is that the
base at Miramar is not going to be needed because with the
cost of jet aircraft, the government plan is to reduce the
number allocated to the Corps and thereby justify the
elimination of multiple squadrons.
SEMPER FI,
geojaye
RETURN TO VIETNAM
Sgt. Grit: Made a return trip to Vietnam in February. Visited
Harvest Moon battle site. Members of L 3/3 might be interested
in my story with photos at www.3rdmarines.net/Vietnam_War_stories.htm.
Click on Harvest Moon.
Thanks, Lt. Col. Jack Swallows USMC (Ret) Arty FO L.Co. 965-1966
10+ CHINESE ARMY DIVISIONS
Gentlemen,
Sincere thanks to Chosin Few Director Jean White for
forwarding the following message.
As we are all aware it was LtGen. Alpha Bowser (then Col.)
who formulated the plan under which we of the 1STMARDIV
and the accompanying Army troops successfully withdrew
from Chosin Reservoir. Because of General Bowser's meticulous
plan and the superb leadership of Major General Oliver P.
Smith, Commanding General 1STMARDIV we not only fought our
way through and destroyed 10+ Chinese Army Divisions, we
lived to fight another day and later many of us returned
to our families and loved ones.
God Speed General Bowser as you ascend to the pearly gates of
heaven and join the multitudes of Marines guarding the streets of heaven. SAEPE EXPERTUS, SEMPER FIDELIS, FRATRES AETERNI
"Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever"
Howard Mason, Weapons/1/7, USMC
The Chosin Few
STATIONED THERE 1944
Sgt... Grit
I'm sorry to hear about closing of El Toro. I was station
there 1944 with the Guard Detachment. Tustin, Calif. was
just a small village. The drive to Santa Ana was a beautiful
drive with orange groves on both sides of the highway. After
V J Day the Guard Detachment form a soft ball team. We played
ball with teams from surrounding towns. We were well received
at the ball games and had a great time.
Sgt. A J Samo 1940-1946
APRICOTS---UUMMMMM YUM
What were all 12 C-rations in the case? My favorite was the
Spiced Beef, which came with a can of Apricots--uummmmm Yum.
In 'Nam, since most people didn't like them, I traded for
them for nearly a month.
The C-rat cases could even be used. With the wire binder and
cardboard I made a killer fly swatter, with which I could
wait 2 seconds for the second fly to land and kill two at once!
Once we captured NVA rice and were short of C's so we boiled
the rice in my steel helmet cover. It tasted so sandy we all
decided to just starve until we got our C's by chopper.
Larry Tooley
OUR OLD UNIFORMS ARE GONE
All the interest in the closing of El Toro MCAS has stirred up mixed
feelings and has brought me to writing this.
I arrived at MCRD San Diego on 12 July 1952 for Boot Camp. While there we
went to Camp Mathews for rifle training etc. After completing what was
then called "individual combat training" at Camp Pendleton I was sent to
Treasure Island Naval Base for basic electronics and then back to MCRD for
Radio Repair School. From there I received orders to report to El Toro
"for further assignment overseas" (Korea). After a few weeks at El Toro we
were sent over to LTA (Lighter Than Air) for staging. LTA was later called
Tustin MCAF but at that time the Navy still had one squadron of blimps
there being flown by reservists on week ends, and the Marine Corps was in
the process of moving in and taking over with the helicopters. Upon return
from Korea we came through Treasure Island again. I then finished my tour
assigned to Station Electronics at El Toro MCAS. During my last month at
El Toro before separation, we noticed the Marines returning from Korea were
brought by air into El Toro, or at least those in the Air Wing.
Today (I believe) Camp Mathews is the campus for the University of
California San Diego, Treasure Island Naval Base has been sold off, Tustin
MCAF has been sold off and El Toro MCAS has been sold off.
And not that long ago, before the recent war activities, we were hearing in
your column about the movement to eliminate MCRD San Diego. The old Naval
Training Center next door was sold off long ago.
And for that matter, I'm told that K3 in Korea where I was stationed is now
a local civilian airport. I know there are commercial flights scheduled in
and out of there. But that was no big loss. I can't imagine anyone but
Marines being able to land and take off from that place anyway. Even the
occasional Air Force plane that came in usually had all kinds of problems
with our very short runway, etc. Maybe the Seabees have again extended and
improved the runway.
If MCRD in San Diego is ever eliminated, it would mean the only one of my
old duty stations left would be Camp Pendleton, and I was there for only a
very brief time (about six weeks). Although during the last six months of
my tour, we used to have to make weekly trips from El Toro to the Camp
Pendleton airfield to perform preventative maintenance on the radio gear at
the tower.
I understand some of the properties were not as good a deal as the
buyers(?) thought they were. I read where the three very large wooden
blimp hangers at Tustin are on the national historical list so they have to
be maintained etc. And being wooden they were in real need of repair by
the time of the final turnover. The military always maintained them but
during the lengthy turnover process they fell behind. Something the new
owners didn't expect and weren't very happy about.
On the other hand I also understand the Navy built a brand new brig on
Treasure Island about two years before it was sold off. It really bailed
out the Sheriff in San Francisco who was in bad need of new jail facilities
and was in hot water with the feds over his old jail's crowded and
deteriorating conditions.
Some old Marine pilots who now fly commercial airliners testified that El
Toro has some inherent problems with the surrounding terrain (mountains or
something) which should preclude it from becoming a commercial air
terminal. The hope was to make it a commercial terminal to alleviate the
traffic at LAX and Orange County's John Wayne airport. In other words, it
was great for the Marines but not safe enough to handle commercial
passenger traffic.
Our old uniforms are gone (for the most part), our old weapons have been
replaced, the old rank has been changed, and many of our old duty stations
are gone but the Marines Corps keeps right on going and is still the finest
there is and always will be.
Semper Fi,
T. Stewart, Sgt. (E-4) USMC 1952 - 1955
THIS IRVINE RESIDENT SLEEP BETTER
In response to Cpl., Boll's letter about El Toro being closed... Having lived in Irvine for many years I have to tell you I was sad as well when it closed. My father's first and last duty station was El Toro and when we lived there we often "visited" the base - mostly at the amazing air shows; and my dad would tell me where he did this and what he did there. I have to say though, I loved hearing the noise from El Toro - it helped this Irvine resident sleep better, because I knew just a few streets away were Marines, protecting my way of life. Now I hear the helicopters are gone from Tustin as well... I wonder if I still lived there how I would deal with all of that quiet!
IN MY OPINION
Dear Sgt Grit,
After reading one of the stories in this last news letter, I felt compelled to write. The story, "Revenge Marine Style" is total BS if you asked me. First off, it is totally unbelievable. Bringing a sheep into the barracks? Where was this at? A Gunnery Sergeant conspiring with a junior enlisted? There is no way that any professional Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant, would risk his/her career over a childish prank, even if this story had any merit. Which to me, it doesn't. This story is a total fabrication, in my opinion. I know that you except all the stories written into you, but this one should have been thrown in the sh*tcan.
Christopher Andrews Gunnery Sergeant of Marines (Retired) 1980-2002
OLE GUNNY IS STARING ME DOWN
With all that is going on I thought I tell you a funny story
that happened to me at PLC in 1982. My name is Mike Gonzales
and we had another Hispanic in my platoon named Vazquez. Will
our platoon sergeant who was from Tennessee kept getting us mixed up. He would call me Vazquez and Vazquez Gonzales
and so on and so on.
One day we were on the parade deck at Brown field and
were practicing opening ranks for inspection. As with a bunch
of college boys, you know he had to practice incessantly and
well, I was in the second squad and Plt.sgt face our rank and
yelled "Vasquez back!", No movement. "Vazquez back!" Well,
ole gunny is staring me down and glowering at me and yells
one more time "Vasquez back!!!! I don't know what to do,
but held my position fearing the worst...
Well, somewhere from behind me I heard "I am platoon
sergeant!" poor old Vasquez must have been moving from
the third rank out to oblivion. Well, needless to say
Gunny was embarrassed and yelled "I knew that, good
candidates (we had not yet graduated)you did exactly
what you were told to do.!" Gunny tells Vazquez to
recover, then marches down the rank, faces me and
whispers " I hate you"..
At our graduation picnic we all got a huge laugh out of
it and gunny told me he was kidding. I knew that. I ran
into him a few years later in Pendleton and we
laughed again.
Mike Gonzales, Maj. USMCR
83-87. 90-91 Desert Storm 2/23
PISS DRIZZLE DOWN MY LEG
Sgt. Grit,
I was stationed at MCAS El Toro when I returned to CONUS
in 1967, and I was thankful to return to southern California,
having been stationed at Camp Pendleton before I out posted.
Orange County was developing quickly, but the crush of
houses and condos hadn't encroached too closely on the
perimeter of the base. After my EAS in 1968, I returned
to New York City and wondered what in hell I was doing
there. I'd been "Californicated" and decided I had to
return to the sunshine.
I lived 12 miles from MCAS El Toro, visited the base
occasionally as a reservist or simply to revisit the
areas I knew.
One of my neighbors often complained about the sound of
aircraft over our homes in Mission Viejo. Apparently it
interfered with a climactic moment in the soap opera he
enjoyed, since flight operations were restricted primarily
to daylight hours. As I was discarding the trash one
afternoon, he stopped to chat and four F18's formed up
thousands of feet overhead. As I gazed upward, he shook
his head and commented, "They seem to be flying so low.
What do you think of that?"
I smiled and answered, "That is the sound of freedom,
and it's music to my ears. That is Marine air power, and
it terrifies the enemies of my country. Those are Marine
pilots. They are expert at close air support and they can
scream in low enough to part your hair without scratching
your scalp. They redefine 'air superiority' by dominating
the skies whenever they fly. You ask what do I think about
that? I'm not an emotional guy but it makes the piss
drizzle down my leg."
I lived there for several more years, he always smiled
politely but he never asked that silly question again.
I now live near Portland, Oregon. For half of the year
the hills are green, the sky is a brilliant blue. For the
rest of the year, I feel like I'm living under a cow and
I'm a flat rock. It's a fine place to live, but something
is missing. I miss the pulse of Marine helicopters out of
the Tustin air facility, and the throaty roar of Marine
aircraft reaching for the sky. Once in a while, I can hear
the aircraft from the Oregon Air National Guard,
God bless 'em, but it's really not quite the same.
From the furor I witnessed over 25+ years as an Orange
County resident, I'd say MCAS El Toro was closed by an
influx of new arrivals who whined about the noise (in spite
of the base's effort to keep it to a minimum), and to
political pressures from elected officials (the best that
money could buy) who cooperated with the developers that
contributed significantly to their campaigns. The land
that the base sits upon is superbly located. When the
assessment was made on what it would take to turn El
Toro's acreage into another series of expensive communities,
the requirement to transport the 27-foot thick reinforced
runways to nearby landfills was staggeringly expensive.
The developers were unwilling to absorb it. They wanted
the county or state to absorb as much of that cost as
possible, but the economic reality is there aren't enough
cookies in the jar to afford that.
I candidly don't know what will become of that acreage.
Once the base relocated, I really didn't care. The
community had changed over the years, and it was time
to move on. MCAS El Toro and MCAF Tustin meant a great
deal to those who'd served aboard those bases, but the
general public was (not surprisingly) on the outside
looking in - in more ways than the obvious. MCAS El Toro
was a chapter in Marine Corps air history, but it was
also the answer to this Marine's prayer when I looked
for a better place to live, after I returned from Viet Nam.
The last time I looked at the area from the air, the
strawberry fields and citrus groves had largely been
replaced by the new "cash crop" of houses and condos.
Miramar's gain is Orange County's loss.
Sgt. Grit, I enjoy your e-mails, and I enjoy your products.
To our Corps...now and forever.
Ed Palumbo
2030368
VETERANS OF THE PACIFIC
From a book titled Court-Martial at Parris Island, by by John C.
Stevens, III, that recounts the full story of the recruits lost
in Ribbon Creek in April, 1956 comes the following excerpt from pg 156:
"Richard Hudson, a 1948 Parris Island recruit and later a Drill
Instructor in the mid-1950's, remembers,
During the time I was in boot camp there were incidents of
"thumping" ....A lot of DIs were veterans of the Pacific and
seemed to be an unforgiving group. I received a hard kick in
the butt when I moved my foot a couple of inches after the
platoon was called to a halt.
One senior DI had a routine that he felt was good for instilling
discipline. He would place a very young looking DI in his platoon
with new dungarees (utilities), hat pulled down to his ears,
and blend him in with the others; this would be in the first
couple of days before they knew each other. Once on the drill
field the "shill" would start screwing up. The DI would then go
into his act of beating and screaming at the individual causing
him so much grief. After a period of time the PLANT would start
yelling that he could take no more, "No, I can't take it.
I Can't take it," drop his rifle and start running across the
drill field. In the meantime, the DI had picked up his rifle
and was yelling, "Get back here you son-of-a-bitch." The PLANT,
yelling, "No Sir," continues to run, whereupon the DI chambered
a round (blank, of course) in the rifle and fired.
The 'planted' recruit would scream and fall. The DI would then
turn toward a couple of other DIs awaiting their cue and (say,)
"Carry that worthless bastard off of my drill field."
O.K. Sarge, we'll take care of it."
The plant was carried off the field, and the awestruck recruits'
terror and fear of their drill instructor were instantly elevated
to a new plateau.The routine continued with other platoons in
their formative stages until an officer happened to spot the
charade and, suppressing his mirth, suggested that it
not be repeated.
Personal note: I was in Platoon 351 (September, 1956) in 1st
Battalion which served as the role model for the movie starring
Jack Webb called The D.I. In fact, the cadence of one of my
junior DIs named Cpl (E-3) John R. Brown caused him to be
selected by Jack Webb to play a role in the movie as Sgt
O'Neill and to be a technical advisor in the movie. Despite
the fallout from the court-martial, there was no appreciable
transformation by our DIs to a more kind and gentle mode with us.
Semper Fidelis,
Joe Featherston
SHORT ROUNDS
DAN DAILY...DID NOT SERVE IN THE MEXICAN WAR..
KEITH R COFFMAN
We old timers cannot participate in your C Rat survey because
we never had the choice of the delectable menu of c rations
you show.
Tom Schicker - 44-46 50--52 Serial No. 528318
I just did your pole now I would like for you to add the best they had, Ham & Eggs if you never had these you never
had C-Rations
Thanks for you site, I enjoy
If you kill someone in the military do you think you would really go to hell? If so, do you think that we've taken over it yet?
Major P.
Yes, the Marine Corps did get kicked out of El Toro and moved
to Miramar, and that's cool. Tell me, where did those Marine
Corps Pilots get their education and training?
Corpsman with H/3/5 Korea 1951-52
I remember the "C" rations well. Pork & beans was my favorite.
Do any of you out there remember the Assault Rations? The were
in small packs that were very good. They tasted like regular
food with a lot of calories packed in small cans etc.
Joe Carpenter 0341 1958-62
I still have my John Wayne C-rat can opener I carried in Nam on my key ring today!! Best piece of equipment the military ever had!!!
Gunny Dave 68-92
Sgt Grit:
Maybe the Devil did create the Marines, yet we turned out to be a blessed gift to America and the world from God!
God Bless America and her military!
Michael Young
LCPL '90-'94 USMC
Restore Hope Vet
"When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend."
-U.S. Marine Corps
Gung Ho!!
OOOHRAA!!
Sgt Grit
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