Sgt Grit's Marine Tattoo Page Volume 26

Emblem and Semper Fi Tattoos

Here are my submissions for the History Channel Series "Marked".

Theirs is not to make reply: Theirs is not to reason why: Theirs is but to do and die.
Lord Tennyson Alfred - The charge of the Light Brigade

Emblem and Devil Dog Head Tattoo

S/F Jerry Torres

DI Bulldog Tattoo

LCpl John Wilson 3/2

Marine Father and Son

Sgt Grit,

Attached are pics of tattoo's my son and I got on Dec 26th 2007 while he was home on leave.

My son, Nicholas Oinonen, is a Corporal MOS 6172 CH-46 Crew Chief, currently stationed in Okinawa.

I was a Staff Sergeant, MOS 6072 GSE Mechanic, and then as a re-tread as MOS 4063 COBOL Programmer/DataDink, serving from 1982 - 1994

Semper Fi!
Mark Oinonen

USMC tattoo

SGT. Lee Koropatnick

Comanche warrior and Vietnam-era soldier Tattoo

Sgt Grit,

In response to your message on the Sgt Grit e-newsletter, I have attached a picture of my military-inspired tattoo. The origin and creator of the tattoo design is from Enoch "Kelly" Haney, who is an Oklahoma National Guard veteran. Kelly was a State Senator in the Oklahoma Legislator from 1986 to 2002 and was a State Representative from 1980 to 1986. Kelly was the first full blood American Indian (Seminole) to serve in the Oklahoma Legislature. My grandgfather, Andy Bible (Creek), was a peer of his and a Marine who fought on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and was wounded on Saipan.

I am an Iraq veteran who wanted to dedicate a tattoo to my grandfather's legacy and the fighting tradition of the Marine Corps. The image in the tattoo is actually a Comanche warrior on the left and a Vietnam-era soldier on the right, but I can relate to the patriotism that has always been strong in Native men. Although I do not have any pictures of the tattoo being applied, I would be honored to be included in the MARKED program. If you would like more photos, please let me know.

1stLt K.F. Bible
USMCR
0402/0801

17 OCT 05

Jacob Dylon
Union City PA

USMC Tattoos

Here are pics of my USMC tatoos for the history channel.

Don McCourtney
Sgt
Btry F, 2/14
1986-1994

Semper Fi Devil Dog Tattoo

E. Enderli

Marine Tattoos

Being sent to you for the History Channel Team. Received notice in my Sgt Grit e-mail about Marine Tattoos. Hope to see them on the History Channel.

Maurice "Moe" Boudreau
Sgt USMC 67-71
Vietnam 68-69

Tillman's Tattoo

Here is my tattoo done 37 years after joining the Corps. Both are the same picture in different resolutions. Thank you.

Bratton
Tillman W
USMC 2371050
O Neg
Protestant

In honor of Yatesy

On 20 Jan 1968 I was a L/Cpl, serving as a Radio Operator with A Co., 1st AmTracs Bn. at Camp Kistler, located at the mouth of the Cua Viet River. I had been "in country" for 23 days. A Co. was supposed to go on a sweep of the DMZ that day, but got diverted to sweep the village of My Loc, a short distance upriver, on the North bank of the Cua Viet River.

The ensuing battle lasted several days, A Co. disengaged on the third day, after being relieved by BLT 3/1 on 22 Jan. The first day of the battle is immortalized in the movie, "Born on the 4th of July" as the day that Ron Kovic was wounded and medevaced, many others were also, including most of our 3rd Platoon and half of 4th Platoon. Too many Marines died in that battle, but we exacted a heavy toll on the NVA who had ambushed 3rd Platoon at "The Berm" at the northwest corner of the village.

However, on January 20th, S/Sgt John YATES greeted me when those of us from 4th Platoon who had survived the day's battle at the northwest corner of the village (the Berm) rejoined the rest of the Co. at the eastern edge of My Loc. He walked toward me, said, "Hey!", and with a nod, took his pen and printed his name, "YATES", on the left breast of my flak jacket. I took that as his personal "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval". He had been A Co.'s Communications Chief and had recently been transferred to B Co., but his reputation had already been established as a hero (Silver Star) and I had sized him up as a "great guy" during his frequent visits to A Co., when he would stop in to see how "his Radio Operators" were doing.

From that day forward, whenever I would get a "new" flak jacket, I would go find "Yatesy" and say, "Hey! Do the thing." He would print his name on the "new" flak jacket, and then, and only then, I would start wearing the "new" one.

S/Sgt YATES was killed on October 17, 1968 going into an Amtrac which had hit a mine and was burning, trying to save another Marine (who had actually already escaped). He was awarded the Navy Cross and posthumously commissioned a Second Lieutenant. That day I wept, the only day I shed a tear during my 13 month tour.

My son, Leif, is serving an apprenticeship in a tattoo parlor in Derry, NH. He is required to do a number of "free" tattoos before he can start actually tattooing paying customers. I asked to be the first person to whom he gave a tattoo and he agreed. I was honored to have him tattoo that simple "YATES" on my chest. It is in approximately the same location as "Yatesy" printed his name on that first flak jacket on 20 Jan 1968, and looks just as I remember it. Leif is a fine artist and I am certain that he will be creating a lot of beautiful "skin art", but it is hard for either of us to imagine that any will be more meaningful than that simple "YATES" on his father's chest, a Marine's tribute to one of the finest Marines to ever serve in our beloved Corps.

SEMPER FI

Ken "ANDY" Anderson
Gilford, NH

Emlbem and Devil Dog Tattoos

From former Sgt. Mike Walsh, Canton, GA. EGA and Sgt. Green Eyes. VietNam 67-68, 5th Comm Battalion. I got the EGA 44 years after joining and Sgt. Green Eyes 45 years after.

Honoring Cpl. Lawrence Watson

Dear Sgt Grit,
I wrote to you a while back about getting a tattoo honoring my brother. I finally decided on a fallen soldier. I wanted to share my pic with you and others that are undecided what to get.. This tattoo honors my brother and doesnt offend anyone else. i hope you like it.

Proud USMC Veteran

Solidarity,
John Pavy

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