A trip down memory lane to honor & pay homage to two incredible, and i do mean “incredible” friends, Jimmy Crysal & Gary Wilkins, who saved the lives of those of us in 1st platoon, Hotel company. And paid the supreme sacrifice while doing so. They manned a listening post about 100 yards outside the perimeter.
This photo makes things appear a bit peaceful, but a few nights later the north Vietnamese Regulars (NVA) attempted to overrun our platoon size perimeter, on an adjoining hill just east, at about 1:00 am, but we pushed them back. “Thanks” to Jimmy & Gary, who radioed to us that there was serious movement where they were positioned at the lp (listening post) about a hundred yards out. We immediately went on “full alert” and met a vicious attack about twenty minutes later.
The next morning, we found ourselves searching through the bodies of about two dozen NVA. No informative or significant documents to be found on the bodies but recovered a shit-load of opium on each & every NVA corpse. We put the drugs in a pile a burned them.
Four Marine Corps phantom jets arrived in the morning and bombed & napalmed the entire sector, east, west, north & south of our hill. The final jet zoomed over our perimeter, at about a hundred foot altitude, at the end of their mission and the pilot gave us a “thumbs up”. It was a reassuring site!!! We wouldn’t see action again for a couple of weeks.
Very sadly, we also recovered Jimmy Krysal’s and Gary’s Wilken’s bodies off in the distance. Immediately surrounding their bodies were the corpses of a half dozen NVA. Half died from Jim & Gary’s M-16 fire and the other half died from USMC K-bars.
Though Jimmy and Gary were our only losses, to those of us who wanted to thank them for their awesome courage it was like losing an entire platoon. They are the finest of the finest of Marines and I remember them in my prayers every night. Jim & Gary were from Wyoming and joined the Marine Corps on the “buddy system”, trained together and insisted on their request to be assigned to the same outfit in Vietnam.
I, and all of 1st platoon, literally, owe them both our lives. If you ever think that “survivors guilt” doesn’t affect those of us who have found ourselves in precarious positions in combat, think again. Damn, I miss those guys…!!! If you can, please remember Jim & Gary, at least for a night or two, in your prayers…
Thanks for listening.
Spirits be safe, happy, & secure
Jimmy Krysal & Gary Wilkins, and may your wonderful living spirits be safe, happy & secure as you await your re-crossing of the great divide. We’ll be standing by with “beaucoup” cases of ice cold coors. Gonna’ be great to both “shoot the shit & gamble money none of us had in poker games during all those many hours”. And that’s a promise…!!!
THANKS & GOD BLESS YOURSELVES, WIVES & FAMILIES
Semper Fidelis
(Always Faithful)
Mike
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98 comments
Semper Fi to all my lost brothers in Nam. 66-67 1st Marine Division. Phu Bai, Dong Ha, Khe Sanh, DaNang and Chu Lai. Been there and lost several brothers. Thank you for your very sincere letter and boy did it bring back memories. It’s been 50 years since I arrived at DaNang and started 13 months of Hell. Most Americans just dont know what we’ve been thru. Always appreciate that we that made it home should always honor and respect wgatciyr brothers gave for their brothers and God Bless.
Very dissatisfied with the last several newsletters, really, really enjoyed this site in the past!! Can’t recommend this site to other Viet Vets. Me thinks its tied into the marketing end, too bad.” Semper Fi, Do or Die, Hold ’em high, Eigth and I”.
Are you Jack Taylor from Ciscerro?
This new format stinks! Bring back the ‘Old Corps Format’! Semper Fi
After reading the story of the Marines that gave their lives while being Marines, it made me stop and ponder why it was them and not me. Then I read the comments and got caught up in the ruckus caused by the changes at Sgt. Grit. I feel a little ashamed that I didn’t comment about the Marines and responded about what I want from this business. “Sgt. Grit” is a business and they can operate in any way they please (this is America). Many of us have enjoyed the weekly newsletter and the opportunity to purchase Marine Corps items that express our brotherhood. There obviously has been changes at Sgt. Grit (new address, changed newsletter format, increased sales promotion) and it would be nice if we were given some update as to what is happening at this business. Thanks to the old “Sgt. Grit” for the years that we’ve enjoyed the newsletter, but I guess it’s time to change, whether we like it or not. Let’s all stop, pray and consider what is the best course of action (each dollar is one vote for our favorite business). God Bless and Semper Fi.
It seams that almost everyone wants the old format (I) included. Majority rules or at least it did.
Yep, please go back to old format. Agree with everyone else.
Yep, this format SUCKS……….
Old format PLEASE
They and many more are in my prayers every night. Thank you for sharing this historical story and giving life and light to our brother Marines. Semper Fi
UGH!! Have just unsubscribed. If you think this change is good. Best of luck. Grit should have stayed on as advisor at the very least.
I agree with Bill Weaver. This is about our Brothers who were at our backs and gave the last full measure of devotion. I will pray for all our Brothers who gave it all.
OOHRAH Marine….. outstanding
OOHRAH. Could’t agree more. Miss the old news letter lay out.
This new format is not good. I agree- return to the old format. I find myself not reading the posts like I once did.
I posted my comment October 23 @ 10:23pm. Looking at the the post time on the website (October 24 @ 2:23am), the server hosting this site must be in Iceland, Greenland, or West Africa.