Some Other Marine's Trophy Case

Comments

Mike Kunkel - July 7, 2020

Master Guns, No I did not know SgtMaj Douglass although his name does sound familiar. Maybe I read his name on a Beirut blog somewhere over the years. I was with 3/8 so we were in Beirut before the MAU headquarters bombing and then again afterwards so if the SgtMaj died in the bombing I probably never served with him, but again his name does sound familiar. Semper Fi Master Guns! Mike KUNKEL

Chilibreath - July 7, 2020

That gun is absolutely a keeper, and back in WWII you could have brought it back but certainly not now. The good news is (1) it didn’t blow up and you’re in one piece, (2) you made it back intact from your deployment, and (3) you have a hell of a war story to tell over a few beers. I was 3rd MAW in Yuma from 63-66, and the only war stories I have are centered around my frequent trips to San Luis, Mexico which was only 26 miles away. It was risky (risqué) business to be sure, but somebody had to keep up the USMC tradition of spirited liberty on forgein soil. Semper fi to all my Marine bros and sisters!

Mater Guns Bob - July 7, 2020

Cpl. Kunkel: Wondering if you were in Beirut with SgtMaj Fred Douglass. He was a close friend and I never was able to get many details of his KIA in the 23 Oct. 1983 barracks bombing. At the time, I was looking forward to attending his retirement ceremony, not his funeral. If you have any information, I would appreciate it. Semper Fi. Master Guns – 1953 – 1985

Mike Kunkel - July 7, 2020

Ed, Thanks for the reply. Yes, it was a bad choice. We looked it over very carefully before I picked it up, and saw no trip wires, but still it was not a smart move on my part and of course we were trained not to do so. However, I picked it up primarily not for a trophy but because I thought that leaving it behind might be giving the Sheite Muslims another weapon against us. Earlier, during that same patrol a farmer had brought a bull into town with its balls banded. We had stopped our patrol because it was a checkpoint. And while there the farmer yelled over, “hey Marines watch this”, as he lopped off the bull’s balls. The bull barely flinched but as we started moving out, the farmer yelled back, “tonight it’s your balls.” It scared the hell out of us I don’t mind telling you. That’s not why I picked the SMG up but I just felt at the time that it was the right move. Back then I was 19 maybe 20 and did not know of the federal laws governing weapons. But I was hoping to mail it home to my dad because I recalled reading stories of WW II, Korea and Viet Nam vets mailing home trophy weapons. I did not pick it up for this reason but I did want to send it home, but I knew the right thing was to turn it in to my Staff NCOs. Semper Fi bud! Mike

G E “Ed” Day - July 7, 2020

I agree with the others. It was a bad choice. I heard too many stories of booby trapped weapons in RVN that cussed injury & death to a lot of our Marine Brothers. Besides it’s so very hard to even obtain a Federal Permit, I know because after I got out of active duty I spent 41 years in Law Enforcement and had the unpleasant experience of dealing with a stolen Full Automatic weapon in the hands of a bad guy. It was a very nice weapon in your photo, but turning it in was the right thing to do. Glad you made it home safe and sound. SEMPER FI. Sgt. G E “Ed” Day, VMCJ-1 RVN 1972

S. C. Guibord - July 7, 2020

As far as I’m concerned one less firearm for the bad guys to kill our Marines with. You may think you made a bad decision, but you cleared it properly as far as that goes. You may have saved other Marines lives by taking it. Even if you were able to get it past Customs, it would have been a crime to posses it in the US because of Federal restrictions and laws. However, you may have gotten an ATF stamp to posses it! But, all in all Brother, you did the right thing by turning it in. And how many of us would have had the same thoughts of keeping it and trying to send it home, probably everyone who reads this! Gorgeous weapon. SEMPER FI!

Michael Kunkel - July 7, 2020

Cpl Tom B, yes you are absolutely correct. It was a bad choice. Very stupid on my part and we were trained better. Just a stupid move on my part. We looked it over very carefully and saw nothing attached. But it was very odd to say the least. We did have a British unit staying with us and my guess is they accidentally left it behind on one of their patrols, but that does not mean it could not have been boobie trapped in between when they left it behind and we passed through on our patrol.

Gene Carden - July 7, 2020

Way back then, with the lax security and such at the time, I would’ve mailed it, FedEx it, whatever, home. Far less of a crime when compared to our scumbag leadership and politicians.

Tom B Cpl - July 7, 2020

A other reason you should not pick it up. I myself was in Beirut had fellow Marine pick up a Ak it was wire to exploded killing to fellow Marines. Bad choice !!!

Doyle Sanders - July 7, 2020

BATF forbids the import of weapons capable of full automatic fire; and if it were “smuggled” into this country, someone could have faced some serious prison time. From the appearance of this submachine gun and its “newness”, I would guess this made its way to the G2 boys. The reason you could not keep it was because of the automatic fire capability.