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Sgt,
As a Marine not every second of every day can be blissful.
Thanks for reminding me why I leave my family behind and put
myself in danger. Sometimes I lose motivation and forget why I
put my feet on those yellow footprints. It never fails that your
email will find me at those exact moments. Your email has been
with me in Iraq for 13 months, Kuwait for 1 month and all across
the US throughout the last 4 years. Thank you for services and
for all the Marines you motivate.
Semper Fi,
Sgt Daniel Green
Active Duty
5th Deployment...Merry Christmas
My husband is on his 5th deployment and he send me a pic of the
tree I sent him. His guys helped with decorating the tree. I
thought I would share with you what they did :)
Thanks and Enjoy!
Elizabeth Lynn
Our memories
Sgt Grit,
Just finished reading another great NEWSLETTER. I really had a
flashback when the outdoor theaters were mentioned. For younger
Marines that was like going to a Drive-In Movie but without
having to worry where you have to park your car or having to
disconnect the speakers. That brings also to my mind late night
trips in cattle cars and the other guys looking like ghosts, do
you remember how the shadows would go across the faces of your
fellow Marines? How about get in the rack, get out of the rack
until LIGHTS ON. Can you remember anyone Falling Out without
having their boots properly bloused? Can you remember anyone
going to sleep and letting their rifle fall through the
bleachers? Does anyone remember VD Only signs in the Head? How
about Green side out? Were you cold and tired at mountain
warfare school? Hot and tired while on vacation at 29 Palms?
Were you ever bitten by lava dogs while taking a stroll across
lava fields at Poakuloah Hawaii? Does anyone remember white
towels turned gray by volcano dust(eruption of Moana Kea) How
about slippery red clay at Schofield Barracks? How about a FIREX
using only blackout markers to position an artillery battalion
on the darkest night on planet earth since existence? What about
broken U-Joints on Gamma Goats in the middle of nowhere? How
about vehicle recovery of an M151A2C that had been attacked by
an outraged billy goat who rammed it's horns through the
radiator? That's like walking down a lava flow and encountering
a 300 lb. wild boar with tusks sharper than a K-bar and the
disposition of your senior DI. Our memories are what make us.
Always Marines
D.Womack
Good Job Sgt
Junk on the bunk during General Inspection at Camp Lejeune
1955, 2nd Shore Party Bn. 2nd MarDiv.He inspected my gear, asked
my name rank and serial. Then he looked me in the eye and said
"Good job,Sgt." I felt that was a compliment I would never
forget, and I haven't.
Sgt. Raymond L. Coburn 1368391 USMC
I Hope Her Life
Second Battalion Third Marines Hotel Company
Some where on patrol. We could barely see from what I was told
the ammo dump going up near Dong Ha. I was attached to Hotel as
a HST Team. We had encountered the enemy, area was taken, and we
had a casualty. Young Marine had been killed. He was brought to
the landing zone wrapped in a poncho carried by his fire team.
Some one handed me his personal effects in which included his
identification. Included was a picture of his wife, and a baby.
Baby in which he had never held. I remember thinking, this is
her last happy day. Hopefully it will be several days before she
knows. To this day I still see her face, and today the baby
should be 40 years old. I hope her life has been full, I have
never forgotten her face and hope she and her child found
happiness after the loss of her husband and her baby's father.
Carl Waters Cpl. 1966 / 1969
Tom & Sherrard Semper Fi Where ever you are.
Euphrates River Yacht Club
Sgt Grit,
I was going through my photos from OIF 2 and found one that I
had taken and wanted to share with your readers and any
potential former members that had the honor to be a part of
Small Craft Company, 2MARDIV. The picture was taken at Al
Taqqadum in the Anbar Province and had roughly 60 men to patrol
approximately 75% of the Euphrates.
The nick name of 'Euphrates River Yacht Club' came about during
our replacement's tour of duty over there so I'm not sure as to
how that came about.
Semper Fi Marines!
Cpl RJ Lenderman
2002 - till I stop having fun.
Going To Be Old Corps
Went out to MCRD in October to take part in the Boot Camp
Challenge - a three mile run around the Depot that went over,
under, and through many of the obstacles the recruits use. There
were about 3,000 people, most civilians, taking part. All along
the way DIs were strategically stationed to provide
encouragement to the runners. As you can see from the DI's body
posture in the picture, he was gently suggesting I pick up the
pace, just like in the old days! Most folks wore running shorts
and tennis shoes, but I figured if you're going to be Old Corps
you might as well dress like it. It's been 37 years since boot
camp, and I swear someone must have raised the height of the log
and wall obstacles since then! One note for next year - don't
wear white socks. They cost me about 50 bends and thrusts at
various obstacles when a DI would notice them and politely
inquire, "so when did we start wearing white socks in my Corps,
huh?". One nice change from running the "O" course as a recruit,
though - swapping sea stories and enjoying a cold one from the
beer tent afterwards.
Dwight Lada
Mustang
1971-91
Strength In Combat
Dear Grit,
I recently received a package from you and have received
numerous certificates from across the nation. I want to say
"thank you", for the support. I have been back here in Fallujah,
Iraq for over 8 months. I must admit this tour is much better
than my last. My last tour was in Ramadi and it happened to be
one of the most difficult times for us and the Iraqi people. Now
2 years later Al Anbar is a much better place for us and the
Iraqi people. Still a dangerous place but compared to the years
prior, its much better. Last tour I had to fire my weapon d*mn
near every day. Now I have to unload my mags weekly just to keep
the springs strong. Once again the Marines have proven their
strength in combat. Al Anbar was given back to the Marines in
2004 with an understanding that getting the province back into
order would nearly be impossible. Now it is turned back over to
the Iraqis and some of the worst cities of fighting are being
totally turned over to the Iraqi Army. We are starting to settle
back and over-watch the Iraqi Army and Police. Enjoying the fact
that we have trained them and they are capable to maintain good
order and discipline. I wish everyone could see the common
streets and how the Iraqi People feel safe to walk, play, open
stores and live a civilized life again.
Thank You again and Semper Fi,
MSgt Spanky Gibson
General Puller Inspected
Sgt. Grit,
I had the opportunity to meet General Puller on two different
occasions, once in 1966 when he inspected the troops at El Toro
& I was just out of boot & visiting an Uncle who was stationed
there & again in 1967 when he inspected us at Camp Lejeune.
We were on the parade deck for a couple of hours in the heat &
waiting his arrival. Fellow Marines were passing out from heat
exhaustion. General Puller inspected my platoon out of the
battalion waiting for him, then went up on the stage, saluted
our Commanding Officer & said," the troops look good
General...now take me to the brig so I can inspect the men". He
also stated before he died, "there will be a beer vending
machines in all barracks & a BAM issued to every Marine."
Probably a rumor, but I heard after I got out they had the
vending machines in the barracks.
I was also fortunate enough to date a M/Sgt. Tippis' Daughter
while in California,ne'er got to meet him, but from what I
understand, he was the last of nine enlisted pilots in the
Marines at that time.
Outside of actually being able to serve under him, I feel very
lucky to have been able to meet General Puller, to serve under
him had to be the ultimate.
Semper Fi
Joseph Hrejsa
Dumb $hit Award
Sgt. Grit:
At the Crash Crew at MCAS Camp Pendleton, back when it was a
MCAF, we had what was known as the Dumb $hit Award. To earn
this illustrious award you really had to screw up bad. Thus
enters Sgt. Dixon, a re-enlistee who had been a cook. Don’t get
me wrong, Sgt. Dixon tried hard to be good at what he did and he
was well liked, mainly for the laughs he provided. We use to do
off-station repelling drills from UH1Ns in case we had an off
station crash. We would spend half day at the repelling towers
up by San Onofre and half day repelling out of the UH1N.
It’s pretty simple stuff. Get hooked up, stand on the skid and
when the repel master gave you the signal you’d repel down
breaking along the way since we were 150-200 feet up. In the
distance we could see the section leader’s emergency vehicle
where he and the OIC would watch our progress. Sgt Dixon was on
the skid and got the signal to repel. The next thing we see is
the section leader’s vehicle move forward with the beacon lights
on. We looked over the side and Sgt. Dixon was laying flat on
his back. He didn’t break once going down. Broke his ankle and
had to have surgery at the NRMC Camp Pendleton. He was on 6
weeks light duty before he could man a crew again.
About a month after rejoining his crew, Sgt. Dixon was on
"hotspot" which is the first responding vehicle on the airfield
in case of an emergency. Every vehicle has a place to be in an
emergency. While Sgt. Dixon and his crew were on hotspot, an
emergency came up and the tower notified us that the helicopter
was going to set down at the head of the active (runway). All
vehicles have numbers and Sgt. Dixon and crew were on Rodeo 33.
While responding to the emergency we heard the tower call down
to Rodeo 33 as it was heading down the active, "Rodeo 33 be
advised you dropped some bunker gear... and it’s moving." As we
pulled up and rolled the bunker gear (protective clothing
firemen and crash crew wear while fighting fire) over, we found
that it was Sgt. Dixon. He had fallen off the back of the truck
while putting on his gear and, wait for it.... Broke The Other
Ankle. Needless to say his picture was taken and it was
enshrined on the Dumb $hit Award for months. I’ve always
wondered what happened to Sgt. Dixon yet was afraid to ask.
Semper Fi
SSgt Julian Etheridge
7051 Crash Fire Rescue Specialist
1974 - 1985
Farm And Livestock
Interesting that Gen. Krulak closed the Mess Hall. He knew a
little about USMC Food Services, as he had a friend who was the
first commissioned officer( Chesty pinned on his bars) in what
Food Services of the Corps is today. The Lt.Col. I am speaking
of, Peter Paul Yezerski, was a good friend , and at the time
the oldest living , having served the earliest of any known Old
Breed China Marine, before his passing. Went through boot at
Parris Island when they had a farm and livestock as did most
bases at the time to feed the troops. Ski was from Mass. also,
enlisted at 15 in 1931 and at 16 was in China. Gen. Krulak and
Ski were friends, when Ski asked the Gen. for anything he
usually got it as was the case with most Marines Ski served
with. Here's a photo of Gen. Krulak speaking at the Food
Services School at Camp Lejeune. Ski is to the left, with the
glasses, of Gen. Krulak. Another photo is Gen. Krulak cutting
one of the graduation cakes at the school and the third is
Chesty cutting one of Ski's ( to the right) USMC Birthday cakes,
Pearl 1949
Semper Fi,
Jim Donovan
Immediately Introduced Himself
I first met LCpl Gary Keller during ITR (advanced infantry
training) at Camp Pendleton in late 1966. All the Marines looked
alike in their utilities and short cropped hair. One stood out
from the others. He appeared to be more mature and with no
chevrons, I assumed he was an officer. He was a private.
It was our first day at the training facility and we were being
assigned billeting in Quonset huts. As I was putting my gear
away, a Marine tapped me on the shoulder. "My name is Gary
Keller and I am from Yakima, Washington." I introduced myself as
PFC John Foster. I was surprised that Keller had just completed
boot camp. I thought he was older but he was 18, just like me.
After we all got settled in, we were called out on the deck for
a promotion ceremony. About 6 Marines were being promoted to
LCpl. Gary was one of them but he was getting his first
promotion to PFC.
We became very good friends and spent most of our off-duty hours
together. One weekend we had a three-day pass and decided to
hitchhike to my hometown, Santa Cruz, California. We caught a
ride right away. Gary immediately introduced himself to the
driver, "My name is Gary Keller and I'm from Yakima." The driver
who was driving to San Francisco gave us a ride all the way to
Santa Cruz which was a seven hour drive. Gary kept me and the
driver entertained all the way with stories of life in Yakima.
When the driver dropped us off at my Mom's house, Gary gave the
driver a $100 bill. That was more than we made in a month. That
$100 could have paid for both of us to fly round trip.
After several weeks of intense infantry training, we were ready
to take on the entire Viet Cong and NVA. Gary wasn't scared at
all. He was more interested in visiting a lush tropical country
and getting to know their people.
We flew to Vietnam aboard a Flying Tiger DC-10. Gar began
introducing himself to the stewardesses and crew. "My name isa
Gary keller and I am from Yakima." We were on our way to war yet
Gary helped make the flight reasonably pleasant. He returned all
the money he won in poker games. And if he saw a Marine who
seemed nervous, he would start a conversation to cheer them up.
As we got off the plane in Da Nang, many of the Marines were
pleading with the stewardesses for a last goodbye kiss. They
only obliged with a hug. As Gary was leaving the plane, he said
goodbye to one of the ladies and then whispered something in her
ear. She replied with a kiss on his lips. I would have never
believed it if I hadn't seen it. Must have been his charm.
There was a staging area in Da Nang for all the new arrivals.
Unlike the War in Iraq, we never deployed over as a unit. We
went as a group and once there, we were individually assigned
units. I was immediately assigned to 2/9, 3rd MarDiv. I lost
contact with Gary and never knew what unit he went to.
We arrived in country during some of the fiercest fighting of
the Vietnam War. I often wondered how Gary was doing. I figured
he would use his charm to survive.
I was wounded during Tet of 68. The million dollar wound got me
back to the states. While I was recuperating in a military
hospital, someone gave me a copy of the May, 1968 issue of
Leatherneck Magazine. In it was an article about the Battle of
Hue. And there was a picture of Gary giving protection for his
men with his M-60 machine gun. I then learned that he had been
assigned to Hotel, 2/5. When I got out of the hospital I wrote
Gary a letter. I sent a picture of me, my new girlfriend and my
56 Chevy. I never got a response from Gary.
About a year later, while attending Marine Security Guard
School. I ran into a Marine by the name of Rooker. Rooker had
trained with us and was even on our flight to Vietnam. He then
told me that Gary had shown him the letter I sent. "Well the
dirty rat didn't write me back." I said. Rooker then told me
that Gary had been killed in July of 1968. He apparently tripped
an anti-personnel mine. I was devastated. I wanted to call his
family but didn't know who or how to call.
It had taken me 40 years to put this letter together and I am
appreciative that the Yakima Helad Republic newspaper allowed me
to include it in their Veterans Day issue.
One of the reasons I put the article in the paper was in hopes
that it would flush out a relative of Gary's. Sure enough it
did. At 10:00 am on Veteran's Day I received a call from Lynn
Keller Locke, Gary's sister. I had a lump in my throat the size
of a golf ball. I didn't quite know what to say. I didn't have
to say anything. She was so grateful and she expressed her
gratitude with tears of joy and sadness at the same time. She
had been awaken out of bed by her aunt who first read the
article. She then awaken her mother who is also Gary's mother.
Her name is Anna and she is still going strong at 90 years of
age. Lynn put her Mom on the phone and I now have two lumps in
my throat. I was so overwhelmed with the conversation. Anna
began thanking me for remembering her son. She was mostly
apologizing for crying. I told that it was perfectly okay. "If
it makes you feel better, I'm crying too." I also told her that
Gary was a hero. No, he was never awarded any medals for valor
but he was a hero just the same. His character made him loved by
all that knew him. He wasn't your stereotype Marine. He was too
charming. But I believe that Gary was also a hero on the
battlefield. He was proficient with his M-60 and it was that
proficiency that allowed many of his brothers in arms come home.
GySgt John D. Foster
USMC veteran
Echo 2/9 67-68
Numerous T Model
Sgt Grit
With respect to Mr Tonkin's former Army armorer acquaintance
there was never a M1A1 Garand rifle. From the early prototypes
to the last ones made in the 50's they all had an American style
stock with the pistol grip as scene in every WWII picture it's
featured in. There were numerous T model prototypes but I've
never run across one with an "English style" non-pistol grip
"straight stock". He may be thinking of the M1903 Springfield
which in it's original configuration had a non-pistol grip stock
and eventually in the M1903A3 had a pistol grip stock
introduced.
He also might be confusing the M1 carbine and M1A1 carbine with
the M1 Garand. The M1 Garand was only ever the M1 Garand. No
official submodels were ever created or designated. The M1A1
carbine did have a folding stock with a M16/M4 style pistol
grip. Just a thought.
Andrew Mathias
Cpl 97-01 and gun enthusiast 78-forever
P.S. Don't get me started on the M60. Thank lord for the
M240G...too bad the rest of the world had it since we started
with the M60...only took us 30+ years...
It Was Thought
To GySgt wasmund (ret.)
Interesting enough immediately after this newsletter came out I
received the following email from my dad who remembers this and
talks about it to this day. "Tina this is the march I told you
about that we made. That was the one there was no one dropped
out and each and every one that started the march finished on
their feet. Now they fly back and forth. That march was after we
had spent 30 days on a live fire training with a desert
environment when it was thought that we would go to the conflict
in Egypt."
Thanks GySgt wasmund for mentioning this.
For my dad...Sgt Ron Miles
From his very proud daughter Tina Minkkinen
35 Miles
Regarding the 150 mile hike from 29 Palms to Camp Margarita, I
was there. A/1/3/5, our Bn. Co. was Major Miller. We started
out in lead position, the Major decided to try a short-cut to
put us further ahead, we ended up bringing up the rear. I think
the most we did in one day was 35 miles. I remember a house we
went by out in the boonies about 100 yds. away from the line of
march, a woman standing on the porch waving at all of the
Marines. This hike was after Desert Training, immediately before
that was Cold Weather Training at Pickle Meadows. I was Plt.
Guide, Plt. Sgt. was GySgt. L.L. Lazan, Plt. Ldr. was Lt. Thomas
Swift Taylor. The story on the Lt. was that he was of the Swift
Packing Co. family and that he had spent his childhood on one of
the family beef ranches in Argentina.
Dennis R. Smith
Cpl. USMC 1957-1961
Those Five Days
To Gy/Sgt.Wasmund USMC Retired. H&ll yes, there are still a
few other old F--ts, around, who still have fond memories of
that March from the Desert to the Sea. I Can still recall, the
first day of that march started out with a 30 something Hike.
The second day we did something like 33 miles. If you remember,
it were up early at first light, eat breakfast, FILLED
Canteens, and moved out. March/hike for 50 minutes, 10 minute
break, and then on your feet, and head out towards the distant
Sea. Starting on the 2nd day, The Corpsmen, started to treat the
walking Wounded(blisters Galore) Many of our men had to be
ordered to board trucks, because of the sever damage to their
feet, and tried to disobey boarding the Trucks. Yes Gunny. I
remember those five days. I also remember, that At BARSTOW
California, after our evening Meal, there was a USO Unit, from
Hollywood, that came out to entertain us,. and one of those
young Ladies, who at the time, was Very Patriotic, and was none
other then Jane Fonda, .I also remember, that when we finally
marched upon our regimental Headquarters, we were greeted by our
Families and friends. ( The first thing my wife, asked me, was
"would I take her Dancing that evening ".)... Yes Gunny, I too
think of that Hike from time to time, and wonder how many of us
are still around to reminisce about that Long, Long walk to the
Sea. I sometimes even wonder, about how many pair of bone
docks, had to be cut up to allow the swollen feet and Blisters
to expand, so that some of our men could continue to "Stay the
Course" One can hardly believe, that that was over 47 years
ago.
Of all the men who made that Hike, I doubt, that there are
too many of us still around, any how, thanks for your Service to
the Corps., and to our Country,
Semper Fi
John Morash
SSgt USMC Retired
Without Warning
Sgt Grit;
Does anyone ever remember observing a Marine being drummed out
of the Corps? In the fall of 1957 I was in a detail to observe
this and it has stuck in my mind even after 50 some years. I
carried the BAR in ITR. The first experience I had with the BAR
was at Camp Mathews. One very foggy morning we where marched
out to the range with one hand on the Marine in front of you and
half of us where sent down to the butts to pull targets. We
where leaning against the wall with the smoking lamp lit waiting
for the fog to burn off. The Cpl in charge had his radio on and
Paul Anaka was singing Oh Dianna, the first time I herd that
song. Without warning they let loose and rounds where bouncing
everyway. You never seen a group of Marines hit the deck so
fast! It's funny I still remember the five steps to clear the
BAR. Push pull tap the mag aim and attempt to fire. That old
Marine Corps training still is in there ...
Semper Fi and Happy Holidays Cpl A D Johnson 1682330 1957-1961
Only One Thing Lower
Sgt. Grit:
The letter from Sgt. Rannie Hampton caught my attention. A
slight correction. When Sgt. Hampton was a toddler, crawling up
on the platform where Puller was speaking, Puller was at the
time a colonel, just forming the 1st Marines for the Korean War.
Just prior to that Col. Puller was C/O at Pearl Harbor, where I
served as a Pfc. on base patrol. I wrote a young Jg. a ticket
for speeding and noted he'd been drinking. He was assigned to
the USS Bumper at Sub Base. He and his boat C/O appeared before
Col. Puller for Mast. I stated the circumstances of the
incident, repeating some of the poorly thought out comments the
Jg. had made to me as a result of my temerity in stopping an
officer. The Jg. had nothing to say in his defense and his C/O
had a resigned look on his face.
Col. Puller than said, "Young man, there is only one thing lower
in this world than a LtJg in the United States Navy, and that is
whale sh!t, and it's on the bottom of the ocean. When you speak
to one of my Marines on duty, you are speaking directly to me!"
On occasion several of us were detailed to "watch the boy"
referring to his young son who would be riding his stick horse
outside the Admin. Bldg, while we'd be shining brass.
Col. Puller was an enlisted man's officer. I could relate long
stories of his taking care of his men and teaching lessons I
never forgot.
When Korea broke out most of us at Pearl volunteered and were
shipped out as the 1st replacement draft for the
1stProvMarBrigade, arriving in Pusan about 20 Aug.50. Col.
Puller went to Pendleton to organize the 1st Marines, which is
where Sgt. Hampton "met" the colonel, not yet a general officer.
Col. Puller and the 1st Marines joined us at Inchon. On the road
to Seoul he passed through our lines and we were waving and
yelling at him. He stopped and chatted for a minute, recognizing
several of us who had served with him at Pearl. And the rest is,
as they say, history.
Ray L. Walker
Franklin, TN
1948/53
Were All Sitting
The "Green Beret" movie reminded me of an incident up at Phu
Bai. We were all sitting on our 106 recoilless round crates
watching "The Bible" when the old man in robes comes on the
screen. Everyone knew what was coming next. In a booming
voice, God said "Noah!" and everyone in the crowd yelled in
unison "Saayyyy whaaatttt?" This was followed by everyone
falling off the crates, rolling in the sand and laughing. For
those younger Marines out there, it was from one of Bill Cosby's
earliest comedy albums.
Wayne Stafford
So I Stuck With Top
It has been almost 30 years since my departure from Parris
Island into a terminal leave status. I have often thought of
the Marines that I had the honor of learning from and serving
with both at the Provost Marshalls Office, and the rest of the
base. Since leaving in Jan 79, I have only run into one other
Marine that I served with, and we ended up both working for the
same state agency in Texas.
While at PISC, we called him Gentle Ben, after the bear in the
TV series starring Dennis Weaver as a Florida Game Warden.
Gentle Ben never seemed to get mad about anything. Those were
some great times and great people. I like to remember these as
the formative years.
This year, on the Marine Corps Birthday, I attempted to get in
touch with our former Provost Sergeant, MGySgt Jack Blyzes. I
was finally able to locate him, still living in the Beaufort
area. I located his number, but when I called, he was out, so I
left a message. The next day I answered my phone and heard a
voice I will never forget say "Semper Fi Marine". It was of
course Top Blyzes, but now it was Captain Blyzes, as he was
retired and upon retirement, his rank was changed to reflect the
Limited Duty Officer Status he held during the Vietnam War. Now
it just did not seem appropriate to me to call him an officer,
so I stuck with Top which I know was well earned, and a title he
would not mind.
At one point he was the second senior enlisted man in the Corps,
and his knowledge was at times unbelievable. What this man had
seen personally, and managed to live thru, and he was still in
the mix. When I reported to the PMO, PISC, and I initially met
Top, I feared the man that wore that many stripes on his sleeve,
me being a brand new Lance Corporal and junior in time in
service to everyone else assigned to the PMO except those who
had arrive from MP School with me. I was only blessed at being
a quick learner in some ways, but slow in others, like the time
I volunteered to stay over and help the Desk Sgt catch up with
his typing the blotter entries for the Commanding General's
Office. Well that got me kinda noticed, so thanks to that I was
assigned to other extracurricular duties. But in the long run,
that turned out OK.
It added me to the loop of people in the know about what was
going on around the entire base, and aided me in gaining more
respect than fear of Top Blyzes. In meetings he would talk, and
the entire room would listen, the officers included. Top placed
me on priority details that got me noticed even more, which I
took as a sign of trust. Top took me to meetings with the
Commanding General, where I was really nervous until the
conversations started. Then they talked like I was not even in
the room, even calling each other by first names. I was in
shock, and still standing at attention, till told to take a seat
by the General.
I came to respect Top not only for his rank, but also for the
man he was, and I could tell that many other Marines respected
him also, Officers especially, and a lot of the enlisted. Top
would call me in and talk with me about issues, sometimes
seeking my opinion, or giving instructions about some detail, or
talking to me about my life (mostly about getting it under
control cause I was 10 feet tall and bulletproof), and never
once did he ever raise his voice or become angry at me, even
when I inevitably screwed up.
Eventually I was moved into a shift supervisor position and I
would occasionally counsel with Top about problem personnel and
the best way to perform corrective action, while still
motivating them. Bottom Line I learned, Take Care Of Your
Personnel And They Will Take Care Of You. And I learned from
one of the best, and all Marines know that manner of learning
can only make you better.
Needless to say, Top Blyzes became a hero, a living legend, to
me. I never took the time to learn what all the ribbons on his
chest were for, but he had so many rows of them they were up
under the khaki collar of his shirt. Top taught me like a
father would teach a son, and I accepted him as an adopted
father. As I earned rank, I tried to impart his teachings and
philosophy to those who worked along side of me.
Now MGySgt Jack Blyzes may never be in a book about Marine
Heroes, but he should be. In all the time I served with him he
dedicated himself to the utmost qualities of a U.S. Marine. I
sincerely wish I had listened to Top when he spoke to me of
staying with my Marine Corps family instead of leaving to go
home to Law Enforcement. My big mistake. But I survived
civilian employment through what I learned in the Corps, and
from Top, and I will never be able to repay the debt I owe him
and the Corps, for making me a better person than I could have
ever hoped to be. And I do wish I could have become half the
Marine that Top Blyzes is, and has been, since I have known him.
Jack Blyzes, it has been an honor and privilege to know and
serve with you. Semper Fi, and may God Bless you, and the
United States Marine Corps.
Russell Weaver
USMC Recruit to Sgt, MCRDep, PISC, 1975-79
God, Country, Corps
God Bless America
One Nation Under God
Since The First Time
Wow! I was moved by these stories. I only wish I was in the
SgtMaj's shoes back then, I love my wife but, I would have taken
the SgtMaj of the Marine Corps (with my wife's support). I
enlisted in 1974 and yes I did miss the VietNam war but, I watch
TV about back then when I was a freshman in High School and what
got me going was movies of John Wayne. "Iwo Jima" made me join.
I was at MCRD and one thing I can say to this day is the
"Discipline" I learned then has been with me since the first
time I stepped on the yellow prints. I was 22 years old but,
one thing I did do while in boot camp is set a new record for
the PFT in the 3-miles run and it stood until February of 2006.
I ran a 14:32 back then and I was so proud and so were my Drill
Instructors. I learned that if you really want something really
bad, never quit. I got out in 1980 (because of a woman) went
back into the reserves in 1988 and have been ever since. Two
tours since then. Our last one we just got back from Iraq this
April and gone for 7-months is no comparison to want those
Marines did in your articles. I am now a MGySgt and proud to be
a Marine and will stay in until the Corps feels I've had enough.
Thank you for your time, Semper Fi
"Once a Marine, always a Marine."
R/S
MGySgt Garza
M-1
Dear Sgt Grit,
I'm reading today's Sgt Grit newsletter (Dec 4) and read the
letter, "Venerable M-1" from John Tonkin, and in the letter he
said the younger Marines had told him they wished they had an
M-1. Please advise them that they CAN have their own M-1Garand
-- and at a bargain price -- by logging into the CMP (Civilian
Marksmanship Program) website at ODCMP.com. I sent my order in
about a month ago, and am patiently waiting the 2-3 months until
my M-1 arrives at my front door. I can't wait!
Semper Fi,
Robb Manning
USMC 1990-2000, SSgt.
On A Coke Box
I was in Platoon 148 in 1956 at Parris Island when the recruits
were drown in the swamp. The base was in a turmoil for several
months. One of the highlights was when Gen Puller arrived to
testify about why, how and what we trained our comrades. SSgt
McKean (sp) was court-martialed and did quite well later at
Cherry Point MAS. There was a parade held for Gen Puller and I
remember him passing by in a jeep. He was standing on a coke box
in order to see over the hand rail. He might have been short but
he was impressive.
Jesse W, Shanks, SGT USMC1586290 1956-1961.
Way Before My Time
Sgt Grit,
A quick lesson on the terms "Poagee Bait" and "Geedunk".
Back in the day (way before my time) you got better service from
the "Admin Poog's" (as they were called back then) if you bribed
them with a candy bar from your C-RATS. Thus the term "Poagee
Bait" came to mean any type of food used to get that Admin Clerk
to process your paperwork a little quicker!
The term "Geedunk" evolved with the invent of soda/candy
machines that take coins (money). The sound that the machines
make when you drop your nickel in it is GEE--DUNK. Thus the
term Geedunk came to mean a place where you could drop your
coins to buy POAGEE BAIT.
Please study the lesson well, there will be a test on Monday!
Cyber Fi,
Brooks "Da' Cajun Gunny" Bergeron
The Other End
This photo depicts my life in the USMC. i've spent 6 yrs,
2002-2008, as a radio operator enlisted, and now i'm newly
commissioned and contracted to fly. the banner reads: "Death
Before Dishonor". there is an nco sword going through the top of
the globe with an officer's sword coming out the other end.
James Hale
Perpetual Grin
Sgt Grit
With all the stories of fighting Marines I thought I would
relate a short story about a Marine I served with and his
experiences at home on leave.
I got conked in the head while late in '98 and was on light duty
for a while afterward in early '99. Ended up doing admin work
in our Airfield Services section that my shop was part of.
There was a young Marine in our section who was recently out of
his tech school. Nice guy from Oklahoma who couldn't have
weighed 150lbs and was about 5'6" tall. He hadn't gone home on
leave since after boot camp so he took a week of leave and went
home during my admin time.
One afternoon I get a phone call from the Sheriff of a town in
Oklahoma. It seems this nameless Marine had gone home on leave
and one evening while going out to eat with his brother was
confronted by some of the local human debris. These folks were
apparently former High School classmates of his who remembered
when he was even smaller and had been a victim of a lot of
verbal and physical abuse. Thinking they'd start up where they
left off and beat up a Marine they got physical with him.
In not much time on a public sidewalk he had either beaten or
disabled all of them. Someone saw the fight and called the cops
and quickly all were carted off to the local cop shop, our
nameless Marine included.
The Sheriff just asked me if he was in fact a Marine in our unit
and I informed him he was. The Sheriff seemed pleased by this
and asked a few more questions, thanked me, said Semper Fi, and
a few days later the nameless Marine showed back up at the end
of his leave with a perpetual grin that lasted for months.
Andrew Mathias
Cpl 97-01
Join The Party
I just read about missing out on some valuable flying lessons
while I was in Okinawa in 1976. Where was I? We would have been
more than glad to join in the party.
I remember several Typhoons and several major drinking sessions
on the Beach, but sadly, no flying lessons.
One of our Battalion parties at the beach involved volleyball
(we needed a 6X6 to haul the booze). We did eat raw steaks that
day, but I just don't remember flying.
I think the only flying I remember was when our repair shop had
to repair a TSC-15 comm van that the Navy had dropped on the
pier. (It was about 6 inches shorter than originally
manufactured). Oddly, Repair school in 29 palms didn't show us
how to use bondo. Fortunately, we found it easy to adapt &
overcome.
Sincerely,
Rick Cassel, Sgt of Marines
USMC 1974-78
My Attitude
Sgt. Grit,
I graduated from Plt. 2067 in 1974 and at that time we were
being issued M-16A1s. My first impression of this plastic rifle
was "when do I get a real weapon?" After going through Edison
Range and putting 9 of 10 in the black at 500 meters, my
attitude was drastically altered. The M-16 may have started as a
lame duck but sure ended up as a beautiful bird. I carried one
from CamPen and Turkey to USCENTCOM at McDill AFB, Fla.
Thanks for the great newsletter. Makes me feel at home.
John D. Coughlin
Sgt. 1974-1978/1161
Tasted Much Better After
Yo, Sgt. Grit !
Not so long ago the newsletter contained a recipe for 'S O S'
(stuff on a shingle). Finally got around to making up a batch.
One taste and it sure brought back memories ! Seems like I
remember they occasionally used chipped beef (like you can buy
in little jars) instead of ground beef.
I also recall that it tasted MUCH better when eaten after the
morning half hour or so of jumping jacks, push-ups & stuff.
Anyway, once a month is plenty enough for me. Maybe next time
I'll try it using some venison.
Thanks again for the interesting newsletters. Keep up the good
work.
Semper Fi
Dave Roth, 1629181
(corporal), U.S.M.C., 1956-1961
Joke
A Marine is traveling home on Christmas leave in his blues and
the airline puts him in first class when he checks in.
He boards the plane and sits down next to a Catholic Priest -
also traveling in first class.
The stewardess comes over immediately and offers the young
Marine a drink. The young Marine asks "ma'am, may I have a glass
of scotch... Read More?" The flight attendant replies with a
smile "absolutely, sir."
She looks at the Priest and says "father would you like
something to drink as well." Very uncharacteristically for a
catholic priest, he replies with a scowl "young lady, I would
rather be r*ped by brazen whores than to have a drop of liquor
touch these lips!"
The Marine quickly raises a finger and says "Ma'am, I'm sorry,
I'd like to change my order; I didn't realize I had that kind of
a choice!"
Semper Fidelis.
Mike Hendrickson
"Hard is not hopeless." General David H. Petraeus, USA
But That One
Sgt Grit;
Having been a member of the 1st Motor-T in Korea I can relate to
being asked to fix a lot of things. The one that stopped me was
the day a new 2nd Lt cam in the mobile shop and asked to have a
Cam Shaft made for a Budda Diesel Generator. He said that Supply
did not have one and the generator was not running right. I had
quite a time explaining that we did not have the machinery to
make one. I'm still not sure he believed me, but after a while
he gave up and went away. Yes, we did repair a lot of equipment,
but that one stopped us.
Edwin H. Tate
Gysgt (Ret)
Nasty Chore
Sgt. Grit,
I served with 1st Platoon "Golf" Company 2/1 Marines in Vietnam
1966-67. One of the chores in those days was sanitizing the
outhouse. Now a days Marines in the field are usually blessed
with port-o-lets. These old structures were erected over a large
hole (8'x8'x 4' deep). The structure consisted of a 2x4 and
plywood floor with plywood 4' up the wall with the upper 4' of
the wall being screen wire. Over the top was a tin or plywood
roof. These structures were a luxury compared to digging a hole
with your e-tool in the rice paddies or jungle floor.
During the Fall of 1966 we got duty as security on the bridge
crossing the river on Hwy 1 just south of DaNang about 12 miles.
This was skating duty compared to the patrols, ambushes, &
operations that Marine grunts usually carry out. All we had to
do was check the Vietnamese civilians ID cards and check their
packages before they crossed to make sure they had no explosives
to blow the bridge. At night we guarded against attempts by the
NVA & Viet-Cong to blow the bridge. We even had hootches to
sleep in when we were off duty for the night. One morning just
as I woke in my hootch here come Sgt.Bonners yelling & screaming
for me to burn out the st-thouse (outhouse) that morning. Some
Marines are lucky enough to get mess duty, fill sandbags, or
stretch barbwire. But anytime there was a nasty chore to be done
Sgt.Bonners always made sure I got stuck with it. And burning
out the outhouse was as nasty as they come.
In combat, stress builds up in a Marine over a period of days or
weeks. At some point Marines would have to blow off this steam
or stress. This was one of those days. I quickly stood at
attention facing Sgt.Bonners and yelled back "Aye aye
Sgt.Bonners, I'll take care of your sh-thouse". I ask a Buddy of
mine named Hannah to give me a hand with this nasty chore.
Normally the procedure was to take a 5 gallon can of gas and
burn one gallon at a time in the hole under the outhouse until
all 5 gallons had burned. This procedure supposedly sanitizes
the out house. This particular morning Sgt.Bonners got on my bad
side. I was determined to put his precious outhouse into orbit.
This outhouse had eight holes with spring loaded plywood lids
over each hole. Usually you opened up all eight holes when you
burn the gallon of gas to keep it from exploding. Not this
morning though. I told Hannah to pour in all 5 gallons of gas at
once. And then to close all eight lids over the holes. Hannah
looked at me and said "Are you sure?" I said d*mn right, I'm
putting this thing into orbit today. This will be the last time
I ever have this nasty detail.
When we got this thing fueled up ready to go I ask Hannah to
just open one lid just enough that I could chunk a match in it.
I told Hannah to run like h&ll after throwing in the match. Man
this thing, when it went off, was like an F-4 Phantom with the
after burners kicked in. WHOOM< WHOOM< WHOOM< it went! And with
every WHOOM the lids would blow open belching out big balls of
fire. Why you could hear this thing trying to take off for a
mile away.
Unfortunately there were two Marines (Goodbalot & Sheridan) on
the roof putting down plastic to stop leaks when it rained.
Flames boiled out the screen walls all the way around the
structure and went another 4' or 5' up in the air over the roof.
Fearing this thing was about to leave earth, Goodbalot &
Sheridan jumped for the ground below. One of them twisted an
ankle. Needless to say all this got the attention of
Sgt.Bonners. He was right in my face yelling & screaming that he
was having me wrote up on Office Hours. So staying in step with
him all the way we marched to the CP bunker where S/Sgt.Daclison
was on duty. I had been in the Corps a little less than a year.
And my record was clean until now.
With me standing at attention in front of S/Sgt.Daclison,
Sgt.Bonners started telling about my dastardly deed. When he was
finally finished S/Sgt.Daclison told him to return to his duties
and that he would take care of it. Now with Sgt.Bonners gone I
was bracing for the worse. S/Sgt.Daclison sat there looking at
the smoldering outhouse. He had witnessed the whole event from
his field desk in the CP bunker. He ask me what the h&ll
happened? I told him that things kinda got out of hand. Soon he
started to smile and then started laughing real hard. I just
knew he was going to throw the book at me.
Now he looked at me and to my surprise said L/Cpl.Gatlin go on
about your duty. He continued to tell me that Sgt.Bonners could
not proceed with the Office Hours without his signature. That he
was not signing anything against me. As I was leaving the CP
bunker S/Sgt.Daclison said that was the funniest thing he had
saw since being in country. The outhouse didn't go into orbit.
But it did have the burn marks to prove I had been there. That
was the last time I ever had to burn out the outhouse.
S/Sgt.Daclison died in 1999 in Hawaii. I really miss him. And I
cherish his memory.
Semper Fidelis,
Sgt.Maddog Gatlin U.S.M.C.
Didn't Recognize A Thing
You have been kind enough to post a picture of my wife and my
motor home with the EGA and bulldog on the back of it. This
logo has been seen by many in the last six months of traveling
the western United States. I've had nothing but positive
responses from motorists and campers alike in the many
campgrounds we've stopped at. The number of Marines, young and
old, I've ran across has been mind staggering. I've had the
pleasure to meet 4 Viet Nam fighter and chopper
pilots(F-4's/Hueys) in our current travels. I thanked each one
for covering my backside while in Viet Nam. More than once, I
watched them fly over us doing bombing or scraping missions. I
didn't realize that you could read serial numbers on the bottom
of their wings at those speeds. I asked them why they flew that
low over us. All replied, When our boys were in trouble, we
would land on top of you guys to get you out of trouble. They
all went on to be commercial airline pilots and have since
retired. One even had a super 8mm movie camera attached to his
cockpit while doing bombing runs. He had it converted to a DVD
and I got to watch it, this was in an area I was on the ground.
Needless to say, I told him I didn't recognize a thing from air.
He laughed and said he wouldn't recognize a thing from the
ground.
I wish to extend a happy greeting to all current and former
Marines for the holidays.
The brotherhood lives on with Marines of all mos's and ages.
Former Sgt Fritz McDowell
#2349865
1967/1970
P.S. Maybe we could get a few stories from the Marine
flyboys.
Letting Me Vent
Dear SGT. GRIT,
It has been 10 years since I finished my enlistment in God’s
Corps, my father was a Green Beret in Vietnam. All I hear is
crap from him about how the Army is so much better then the
Corps. Usually I just ignore him, but he asked me if I knew what
sh!t sounded like when it hit the fan? Marine. Being the tactful
Marine that I am I had to answer him and say do you know what
Army stands for? Ain’t Ready For Marines Yet, so when you are
ready to play LETS GO!
Thanks for letting me vent a little,
SGT BARNES
USMC
SEMPER-FI
New Zealand
Dear Sgt Grit,
I read the letter commenting on the Marines in New Zealand, at
the same base as my father was, Pikockariki, and I asked my
father about it when he came over for coffee.
He sat for a moment, then he slowly smiled," Wonder if he was in
on the Great Train Robbery" he said, and proceeded to tell me
about the time that several hundred Marines, in a desire to get
back to their base before being marked UA, helped themselves to
a train, when the crew took time off for tea.
This comment, of course, brought out a load of memories that had
us all laughing, such as the use of Marines to unload ships when
the NZ longshoremen went on strike, and the sad loss of a great
deal of butter right off the end of the dock, along with the
equipment used to move it. When complaints were lodged, my
father said a gunny, with a very bald head and a handlebar
mustache stood up and bellowed, "H&ll son, we're fighters, you
got something that needs killing, no problem, but don't come
whining to us when we're doing your job, so we can do ours!"
My father said his time there was wonderful, but he did have a
few problems during the "Battle of Wellington" when some of the
natives came home to find that their girls were stepping out
with Marines, and the fight lasted for quite a while.
My father went on from there to several islands in the Pacific,
ending up in the Marianas where he spent nearly 29 months,
before moving on. He said those of his unit that survived,
were living textbooks for military doctors to learn about Dengue
Fever, Malaria, and several nasty forms of skin infections when
they got back stateside.
That letter brought up a great many good memories for my father,
who rarely talks about his experiences.
Glynis Sakowicz, retired Marine, daughter of same,
granddaughter, and great granddaughter of same as well.
Now Serving
I am a VietNam Marine veteran with a Bronze star and 2 Purple
Hearts. I was a scout sniper in VietNam. Nothing I did or could
do will ever match up to the brave men and women now serving. I
pray every night for them and their families. I know how much my
family missed me during my service. My kid brother also served
in VietNam. Our youngest brother served as a Naval officer on an
aircraft carrier. God Bless you all, Semper Fi!
Sgt. Mike Kelly, USMC
Was More Important
How many of you kept that C-rat opener around your neck on your
dog tag chain?
That little d*mn thing was more important than what was in the
rations.
I kept mine for several years after I got out in '56.
As far as my favorite ration...beans and franks by far. Plus,
those four-packs of butts that were in each of those old
packages.
Semper Fi,
Bob Rader Sgt '53-'56
It Was 0400
Our Marine, LCpl Adam Cole called from Maine on his way home
from Afghanistan. This was our warning order to get in the wind.
It was 1630 on Sunday. We drove from Phoenix to "The Stumps" in
4.5 hours and the waiting began. The band played, the coffee
kept coming and it grew colder as the evening and then the
morning came. Finally 2/7 Fox company, led by their Captain,
marched onto the field. We couldn't see Adam in the first pass,
but after they entered the field there he was; broad shouldered
and strong. I positioned my former sailor wife right behind our
son and when the "dismissed" command came and he about-faced he
was right in his mom's hug - it was 0400. The long wait was well
worth seeing all those great Marines come home. All the families
and friends gathered around to welcome them and hug them. I know
it's been said before, but this was a lot better than when we
came home from 'Nam . . . I love this stuff.
Our other son will be home shortly from MCAS Beaufort and we'll
have both our Marines home for Christmas -Thanks God!
Semper Fidelis and God bless all Marines!
MSgt Tom Cole, USMC, '69-'92
Training Went Out The Window
Sgt Grit,
I read some of the stories about Vietnam and it brought back
good and bad memories. My first tour was in December '66. I
had been in the Corps ten years by then and this was the first
time I was in combat. To most of us it was like landing on a
California beach. We moved in land and then motorcade down to a
place called Phu Bai (Camp Johnson) and all h&ll broke loose.
Operation Chinook was on. I was a section chief in C/1/13; gun 6
and it was the day before Christmas and the monsoon was upon us.
All the State side training went out the window and we wrote new
technical manuals on the spot. Our battery was laid in a five
point star formation and my howitzer was in the middle. I had to
provide illumination all around the compass. With rain and the
rain soaked ammunitions boxes and swollen fiber containers, my
crew maintain light for the forward observers and infantry all
night. Those Marines although only months out of boot camp and a
few months as artilleryman performed under conditions that were
never taught any Marine before Vietnam. I was transferred to a
new artillery unit being formed in country so I never knew what
happen to them, but they and I grew up that night. I hope they
survived and are with the loved ones and a Semper Fi to them and
to all Vietnam vets.
Albert Dixon, Gysgt, USMC,ret.
Vietnam 66-67
With Out Killing Yourselves
Here is my interpretation of USMC boot camp as I saw it..
USMC BOOT CAMP..
"Now without killing yourselves, GET OFF MY BUS."
These are the last four words you will hear prior to your life
changing forever. The change begins immediately when you first
mirror the yellow footprints. Whatever doubts you had if this is
real are quickly gone as yelling is heard from all directions
and your heart attempts to escape your body. The night is young
and so are you but you will quickly learn that you have
everything to learn once again. We have come from all points
throughout the USA. From the big cities to the rural farms.
Different social status, Black, White Hispanic, and Asian to
name a few. We begin our journey into an elite brotherhood very
different. But we will emerge as one, a United States Marine.
What little knowledge we bring with us is quickly forgotten as
we are deprived of what we bring with us both mentally and
physically. We are stripped of our character to begin the
crucial rebuilding process. Our heads are all similar as our
youth is shaved to the scalp. We are very wide eyed but we seem
to see nothing. Time seems to stand still as it rushes by at a
pace never before experienced by any of us. You are whisked away
from room to room not knowing what to expect next. Fear is
everywhere but there is no time to think about it. Every second
is being fulfilled to it's maximum use. A brief phone call home
to ensure your safe arrival is a lie. As no one feels safe at
this time. Dental, medical and psychological exams are done
without hesitation or approval. The longest two or three days of
you life are only a glimpse of what lies ahead.
Arriving in your permanent platoon is indeed a very freighting
experience for anyone. You will do nothing right and everything
wrong. You will quickly forget your left from your right. You
will think up is down and vice versa. The simplest of tasks will
now cause great confusion to your very confused young mind.
Stress at a very high intense level will confuse the brightest
and toughest of minds. It is nothing but a blur as it is
occurring and it seems to last forever.
Confusion is all around as drill instructors bark out their
orders. Some orders are impossible to complete but we still try
because we can not think that far ahead under these stressful
conditions. We will learn how to bathe, how to shave, how to
dress and how to speak and act by the numbers. From one through
ten we must not skip a single beat. To do so would earn us extra
time at pushing our bodies off the deck. It's all about learning
how to kill but we do not understand this at this time.
Soreness is an everyday issue as we run or march everywhere we
go. Everything is done with the sense of urgency. We move like
bees in a hive. Our focus is so great that a spaceship can whiz
by our heads and we would not even notice. It is not our job to
notice spaceships. We are here to follow orders and carry them
out. Drilling is an everyday thing. Our rifle is our best friend
as we march around the parade deck.
The only sound our ears are allowed to pick up is that of our
drill instructors barking out the most beautiful cadences. As
time goes by we begin to gel as a platoon but no one is giving
us praise. We are still worthless and are often reminded of this
by giving us some extra training in a giant dirt pit. This pit
builds character as the reason for being in it is usually false.
To do your best will never be good enough in their eyes. Nothing
is ever personal but it seems as if everything you do is
personal around these parts.
As the end nears you will have a brief moment to reflect on what
you have accomplished. From qualifying with the rifle, to
swimming with all of your gear.
From drilling to inspections and the countless miles ran and
humped. The transformation is near it's end but soon it will
begin once again. Our movements are crisp and our appearance is
clean. Our words have purpose and our reflection reflects
confidence. Hair is back on top as we now walk with tremendous
pride.
The drill instructors are still here to remind us of where we
are and where we have been. They have not flinched once during
their grueling task. They make KILLERS for a living and this is
not an easy task. To question their methods is wrong, to look at
the results is proof. They are at a level in which very few will
ever reach. Many try to become one and many fail, so this truly
is the best of the best.
We must never forget why we chose to become US Marines. We must
never forget those that made us Marines. And we must never
forget those that died for their country and the Eagle Globe and
Anchor. If everyone could be a Marine then we wouldn't be
Marines. When America dials 911 the Marines will always answer.
Always have and always will.
Semper Fi Jarheads!
G. Perez
USMC
One Year Missing
I joined the Marines in June 1950 and went to Boot Camp. I was a
Truck Driver when I joined. After Boot Camp and leave I was
shipped to Korea on the USS Breakenridge.
While in Korea I was assigned to a Mortar Squad, Co. A 1stBn
5thMar.I have several photos that I took while I was in Korea and have
been trying to find some of the Guys that I served with in
Korea.
When I returned to USA I returned on the same Ship that I went
over there on.
The reason I am trying to find some of the Guys I served with
is I have about one year missing in my life.
I am now 78 years young and have had a good life so far but I
need to find out about that missing year that I spent in the
hospital.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Bill Taylor
Worst Can Of Food
Worst can of food, in my opinion were the hamburg patties. Those
little unidentified meaty things, loaded in fat/lard. Yet,
another Flame Tanker would collect them from the troops. He
would take the silver colored wrapping from the cigarettes,
place the patty in it, wrap it tightly, and stick it in the
muffler of the tank. They would come out warm, cooked, and
according to him, "fit for a King".
Semper fi! Don Masztak/An Ole Flame Tanker
Favorite Cadence
This was written by a group of Marine reserves that were called
up in early 1950 that were pulling targets at Camp Mathews when
it was sung for me, I was a range instructor at the time, ready
to ship out to Korea. the names I have from my notes that
composed this are Pfc. Dick Pough from Chicago, ILL. Pfc. Bob
Scott, Pfc. Bill Pennington, Pfc. Ole Orstrom from Rock Island,
ILL. The Drill Instructors were SSgt. Toolin & Cpl. Losey . S
Sgt. Toolin later shipped out with our unit to Korea. The words
were a little different.
You can have your Army Khakis
You can have your Navy Blue
But there is a better fighter that
I will introduce to you
His uniform is different
The best you have ever seen
The enemy call him Devil Dog
His real name's Marine
He trained in San Diego
The land that God forgot
The sand is twenty inches deep
The sun is scorching hot
He peeled a million onions
and twice as many spuds
and in his extra time he policed
the area for duds
And when he goes to heaven
to St. Peter he will tell
another Marine reporting Sir
I've done my stretch in h&ll
Great news letters
brings back memories
some good some bad
Gung Ho,OOHra
and always
Semper FI
former MGYSGT
W. Schroeder
1/9
Sgt Grit, After serving with "C" Co. 1/9 During 1987, I was
surprised with the Walking Dead bumper sticker. Thanks for all
the Good Stuff.
Lou Mazza
Semper Fidelis & Merry Christmas
Golf Company 2/7 Vietnam Veterans Association Reunion
July 17-19 2009, St. Louis MO
Info at this website or rlmyers5 [at] comcast.net
Regarding LtGen Chesty Puller
Completing Basic School in May of 1966 as a new Warrant Officer,
I had the privilege of meeting Chesty Puller when he was "on
deck" to be honored as my class presented an oil painting of the
General to TBS as our parting gift. That’s not the story though.
It seems that, believe it or not, Chesty was persona non grata
at Quantico as the result of some ‘excessive’ celebrations the
preceding year at a lieutenant’s Mess Night resulting in a few
broken bones during a night run over the obstacle course (in
Dress Whites) and other similar exercises. Well, that just
wouldn’t do so we (the 7th WOBC) commissioned an artist to paint
a battlefield scene of Chesty Puller, a task which took several
months. With the guarded permission of Mrs. Puller, Chesty was
‘allowed’ to come back to Quantico with the caveat that there
could be no media present.
On the night of the presentation, two of our classmates traveled
to Saluda, Virginia to escort Chesty back to TBS. Chesty was
wearing a suit as was the CO and XO but the class was in Summer
Service Alpha (Trops with blouse). In retrospect, it might have
been handled differently had the bar not already been in
operation for an hour, and the class not had at least one drink
by that time. Keep in mind that the majority of the 250 plus
warrant officers had already completed at least one tour in
Vietnam at that point.
When Chesty entered the hatch next to the Hawkins Room area, he
paused and looked at the class arrayed around him in a semi-
circle and said, "You’re a fine looking group of officers! With
officers like you, the Marine Corps will go on another thousand
years." With that, a drink was offered and a toast to the Marine
Corps was proposed. Immediately following the toast, Chesty
looked at us again and said, "I’ll take that back and make it
two thousand years. That makes us older than Chri$t!" and it
went downhill from there as we were treated to his personal
observations about various issues. You could begin to understand
why Mrs. Puller didn’t want media aboard. This was a very
special night to be sure.
That oil painting moved around a few times and was (temporarily)
not on display until one of us raised the question to a
sympathetic CO who saw it our way. It’s now prominently placed
on a bulkhead in the lobby of O’Bannon Hall where every student
sees it numerous times during their instruction. Not too bad,
from 1966 to 2008, some 42 years ago.
Note: I also had the honor of knowing Lewis B. Puller, Chesty’s
son, while he was a patient at the Naval Hospital in
Philadelphia in the 1970’s when he was being cared for after
grievous wounds in Vietnam, a situation which brought much grief
and sorrow to his mother and father. God rest both of these fine
men.
Joe Featherston
Mustang Major of Marines, Ret.
Walked Out
Sgt. Grit,
A few words about my dear Friend CPO/GYSGT Lou LeGarie. Lou
served 30 years in the Navy as a Corpsman of Marines. Out of the
30 Years he served 29 of his 30 years with the Marine Corps.
When he retired he was wearing the uniform of a U.S. Marine. The
only time he wore a Navy uniform was in recruit training. He
Served in China, WWII, Korea and Vietnam, earning every thing
from the Silver Star down. Over the many time's that I have
talked to him I think that his proudest times were when he was
with his Marines. He was with Chesty at the frozen Chosen in
Korea, and yes he was one of the men who actually walked out.
Semper Fi!
Ray Westphal
Gunnery Sergeant of Marines (Ret)
To Fill Our Canteens
In 1958 during a major confrontation between Nationalist China
on Taiwan, and Red China on the Mainland, over the ownership and
occupation of the Quemoy Islands in the Taiwan Strait between
Taiwan and the Mainland, MAG-11 was deployed from Atsugi, Japan
to a Nationalist Chinese Air Force base at PingTung, Taiwan some
20 miles inland from the port city of Kaohsiung.
One noon while we were unloading ships and staging our equipment
on the dock at Kaohsiung, the Marines were all chowing down on
C-rations. As the local water hadn’t been tested and approved, a
buddy and I went aboard a nearby merchant ship to fill our
canteens. While we were at a scuttlebutt filling our canteens, a
steward appeared and asked if we would like some ice cream. As
this was August in the South Pacific, we eagerly assented. The
steward handed each of us a block of ice cream wrapped in foil.
As we walked down the pier eating our ice cream, other Marines
would ask where we got the ice cream.
We dead-panned it and asked, "Why, didn’t your C-rations have
any?"
E.C. "Goose" Gausman
S/Sgt. USMC '53-'63
We Made Contact
Thanks Sgt Grit for putting one of my trained recruit Marines
in touch with me. I wrote you last month about an article where
the Drill Instructor choked up whenever he saw his recruits
leaving training to take their place among the BEST. From this
letter one of the recruits I trained contacted your staff for
my address and it was sent to me. We made contact thru email
and on Thanksgiving Day I called the recruit, whom is now a
Ret'd Sgt. Major, and we talked for almost an hour on the phone.
It was very heartwarming to me to have been able to talk to him
and relive some of the memories of his training with him. I hope
the two of us can meet soon and have a very long conversation
over a couple glasses of Milk and get to know each better and
just relive some more of the "Good ole days".
Thanks again Sgt. Grit and keep up the good work you are doing
thru your newsletters.
As for you Sgt. Major Stamper, feel free to call me ANYTIME and
I hope you won't mind me calling you on occasion.
To all my Brothers and Sisters: Have a Merry Chriatmas and a
Happy New Year and remember that EVERY Day is a Holiday and
EVERY Meal a Feast
Semper FI,
MGySgt. Billy J. Russell Ret'd
1962-1985
Easier Discovery Process?
Sgt. Grit:
I have a few things on my mind. Who are really my brothers, and
what do I do once I've sorted this out. I consider any man that
walked across the parade deck during a graduation ceremony after
boot camp to be my brother. Ex-Marine and Former Marine, well.
I had the rare fortune of running into a sage old Jarhead one
day while walking around at a flea market. He instructed me
that Ex-Marines are the ones that disgraced their Service by
becoming a convict, or got a dishonorable, BCD or such. The
wanna-bees that didn't even make it through boot; never, ever,
ever earned the title and should be checked into their place by
a good warning or an a#$ whooping if they keep on with their
stupidity.
So, I work at a Corrections Facility and there are some Ex-
Marines that live there. Some Former Marines work there too. I
have met men that brag that they were Marines and I ask them
where they served. That usually sorts out the Wanna-bees from
the heard. I met a Wanna-be that wore an army cap rolled up
like a ranger roll, and he told me that his unit in 29 palms
taught him to roll his "hat" like that... I haven't heard of any
Marine wanting to roll down his preciously creased Octagon, just
to imitate the Army Rangers...I had a guy call me brother and
told me that he was a Marine, but found out he got booted from
boot for asthma. He is now a Brigadier General for a Militia
and he even got kicked out of ROTC. I guess I'm trying to ask
how to differentiate from the Ex-Marine, the Wanna-bee and the
Brothers that truly deserve my respect.
Is there an easier way than the "discovery" process? I
typically write someone off as a fraud and don't even associate
with them afterwards... It's funny though, because I meet a lot
of brothers wearing a hat or shirt and talk to them for 20
minutes or so. My wife has even gotten used to this
camaraderie, though she's in the Nasty Guard...
Corporal White
HQ CO. 5th Marines
Camp Pendleton, CA 92054
'91-'97
Short Rounds
Sgt Grit,
I was at Parris Island in Feb, 1957, Platoon 58 , and was issued
a battle jacket. At the time there were only a few left as they
had been discontinued, according to my D.I. I wore it home on my
boot leave and when I was discharged, gave it to a friend in the
U.S.M.C.R. who wore it as proudly as I did.
PFC Mike Henchey
1608832/ 3531
I participated in that jaunt. I was a young buck Sgt. and
carried the Bn. Exo's radio. Made the whole trip, too. Did I
learn anything from that? Yep. My new bride said that my feet
bled for weeks. By the way, I just celebrated our 49th wedding
anniversary with the lady. In closing, I'm not as mean, not as
lean, but still a Marine.
With pride,Sgt W.R. Morrison USMC
I would like to let Sgt Rodriguez know that, that cadence was
still being used at Parris Island in 1995 when I was in boot
camp.
Thanks and Semper Fi
Stephen Pray
Thanx for ruining my makeup a#$hole...
Erin
Note: I think that is a back door compliment.
Sgt Grit
Ooo-Rah! M1A1 Abrams Tank
Click on this site link and enjoy! (YouTube Video)
Sgt Grit,
All M1 rifles were issued with stocks made in the same
configuration. Although never described as having a "pistol
grip" they all had one.
Your Army ordinance man is a bit confused, the Model 1903 was
the rifle issued with a straight stock, sometime later the Model
1903 rifle was issued with a pistol grip stock and was
designated M1903A1.
Semper Fi.
Rich Gleason
Actually the Life Magazine picture mentioned in the newsletter
has Staff Sergeant Daniel F. Hall on the left. He is the
uncovered Marine with the mustache. Dan is currently the Judge
of the Quorum Court of Baxter County, Arkansas. I served with
Dan at the Station Brig at K-Bay after we both returned from
RVN. I don't know the identity of the others in the cover
photo, but Dan Hall is the one on the left.
Michael Hackett
Oceanside
I remember seeing Chesty's wife at church in J'Ville on Sundays
during his command at Camp Lejeune.
I would not have known who she was if the minister had not let
me know. I never remember seeing him
at a service. Guess he prayed at home.
Guy Goldsmith CPL
1954 to 1956
Leona and Chuck, during WWII it was reported that many
parachutes were packed at Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, NJ.
Each was tagged with the ID of the man who had packed it. To
keep them on their toes, occasionally a man who had packed a
chute had it handed to him and he was instructed put it on and
make a jump from a plane. Kind of makes one want to take care
of NUMBER ONE first.
Regards
Bob Gaston
Let's move to Iraq! (Flash Slideshow)
Surprisingly, I never server KP or sea duty. Air wing all the
way. But I have to say that reading RM's account of Missing Sea
Duty left me in tears of laughter as I identified with each
point. Love this site. I'll be sitting in the ED (work) at 3
am and burst out in laughter and everyone wants in on the humor.
"Sorry guys, you wouldn't understand" is all I can say.
D Ward, Sgt '71-75.
Marines Hymn. Does anyone remember singing the Marines Hymn in
boot camp at MCRD San Diego to the tune of Ghost Riders In The
Sky? Was a maggot in 1st Battalion platoon 164, August 1959
being trained by A/SSgt Osborne, A/Sgt Boring and A/Sgt Fletcher
and I think it was Fletcher who taught us. Sounded great then
and still sounds awesome today.
To Kenneth Retowski, Thanks for being my best man at my wedding
to Aura Lee.
L/Cpl C. A. Robertson 1886922 1959-1963
Sarge My favorite was beef and rocks, with a little Tabasco and
heated with a tab or on a chunk of c4 plastique it was not bad.
Another delicacy was ham and cheese powdered eggs with Tabasco
heated made a decent not good but decent omelet.
DOC HERDINA HM1 FMFPAC HAWAII AND CALIFORNIA
"'Tis well."
--George Washington, last words, 14 December 1799
Welcome Home Marine, Job Well Done!
Semper Fi
Sgt Grit
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