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Sharp and Sober
November 7, 2017 Grunt.com Admin

Sharp and Sober

Iwakuni, Japan in the mid 1950’s, My good buddy Nick Dubovick and I returned to base after a pretty wild night on the town. The next morning I found a crumpled piece of paper in my pocket, entirely written in Japanese. Didn’t ring any bells with me so I asked Nick if he had a clue. He said that he found the same paper in his pocket so we showed them to our Japanese houseboy. He said that they were from a tailor shop and that we had bought a couple of sport coats.

That evening we went back in to town to see exactly what the h*** we had bought. They turned out to be bright red velvet coats with baby blue silk linings and our initials on the pocket in gold thread. After we got over the shock we wondered if we would have the b***s to wear these in public. We decided we would wear it, only if the other one wore his too. The enclosed picture was taken in the Miss Iwakuni Bar. Nick is the short one. We never did remember having these jackets made and/or paying for them. I think they cost us 3,000 Yen which was under $10 back then.

Nick is now serving in Post Everlasting and I often think of the years of absolutely crazy stuff that we did while in Japan. I could write a book but only a few would believe it.

Semper Fi

Sid Gerling
Sgt. of Marines

Filed in: Marine Corps Stories
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Comments

LCpl Richard Jenkins 1959-1965 - June 1, 2020

Where is the enclosed picture?

artymgysgt - June 1, 2020

I only passed through Iwakuni going to other places in Asia but the two sports coats got me remembering the 1930’s pin striped suit I had made in Danang in 1965 . The style was popular because of the TV show “The Untouchables”. When I got home Inever did wear the thing as that style was then untouchable.

S/Sgt Donald W. Hill - June 1, 2020

I was there in 73 74 and remember it was a trip Semper Fi

Chris Vail - June 1, 2020

Iwakuni I wasn’t at, but I spent two years at Camp Fisher in Kyoto from 1953 – 55. “Camp Wish” was the R&R center for the 1st MarDiv during the war and all I can say is that there are still many fond memories of those two years. Some of you may have even known my girlfriend, Suzy – small, slant eyes, etc., etc. It seems that Suzy got around a lot in those days. One of the “different” stories that still sticks in my mind is the day I walked out of a pool hall we had on the base. Just as soon as I stepped into the street, a 1st.Lt walked by and without thinking, I immediately bowed to him. The look on his face was startling to say the least and he said, “Corporal, just how long have you been over here?”

Cpl Mike Millican ‘Hollywood Marine Forever’ - June 1, 2020

MCAS IWAKUNI was my home in 1966-67 with H&MS-15, MAG-15. I remember ‘4 Corners’ and ‘Creep Street’, the queen of the avenue being the renowned ‘Pigtails’. I remember some guys pitching in, buying her a dress and taking her to the ’66 Marine Corps Birthday Ball! My tailor shop nemesis was Ned’s Fashion Shop; they never got the fit on the suit I ordered right! I still have pictures of Kintai Bridge and Iwakuni Castle and it’s sure different there now. 51 years pass so quickly…

Michael Hayes - June 1, 2020

Was in Iwakuni in 1972, H&MS-12, Out side the gates the bars and shops started. Never made to the end of the street if you hit every bar. Had a lot of fun trying. Cpl. Michael Hayes, H&MS-12 flight equipment. The unit picked me up in May of ’72 during the spring offensive in Danang RSVN, with then H&MS-12, Det-A. For those that remember TWA, Teeny Wienie Airlines. TA-4 Shyhawks.

James Phillips Sr - June 1, 2020

Thanks for the memory of Iwakuni, spent some time there after departing Vietnam. I also bought some dress shirts from one of the shops, but none where bright RED. Semper Fi, brother.

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