My story, on the flight to Nam in Dec 67 were three of us from
the same boot platoon who went to the same battalion of 7th
Marines.
We each were assigned to A, B &, C Companies. We saw each other
maybe twice during out tour. A few interesting stories could be
told some sick funny and others more to it's who we are. Getting
to my point. We each got orders to rotate back home on Christmas
Eve. Too late to check out and get to air base transit area.
Dec 24 my hill got mortared Not sure of other two. Dec 25 all
checked out no weapon and on duce and ½ on my way to transit at
DaNang. Checking in who would be there but these two boot
buddies. Hugs and back slaps later We are assigned a hooch to
sleep in along with twenty or so new replacements. We three
stayed in our own corner radio on , C-rat coffee and talk. We
talked some with newbees. After dinner and getting dark, siren
went off, Sergeant runs in yelling get to bunkers . Newbies
follow him, he comes back you guys are setting a bad example
for newbies. Come on get to bunker .No! we replied, they are not
even close they are hitting other end of base. He pleads again
and reluctantly we go to bunker. As we finally go the all clear
sounds .my buddy says see they were making last attempt to get
us. Missed us last night too. Some ask what we mean .Go to
sleep. Dec 26 we are on C130 to Kadena AF B Okinawa the most
beautiful air port I have ever seen. Dec 27 0400 hrs we leave
for El Toro on LULLABY flight. Arrive Dec 27 2200 hrs
Here comes good part. We were prepared for being cursed, called
baby killers and garbage thrown at us. We three arrived at LAX
0200 wait for flights home no flight until 0700. We look for out
of way place to sleep and a darkened concourse looked good. I
said I would take first watch and wake one of you in two hours.
Back in Nam mentality.
This old man, a custodian of African heritage comes over having
never met us before. He said this terminal will open about 0400
and wake you. We told him out departure times. He showed us a
not used area and said we all three could sleep, because this
was his area and no one would bother us there. He would watch
over us. 0600 he comes and gently wakes us, your flights will
be soon I have hot coffee and doughnuts for you. He started to
clean the floor and walk away.
We all thanked him as he walked away waving his hand to us and
said something about his son.
We got to our planes and home.
Tears come to me every time I tell this.
Semper Fi
Al Granados
Suicide Charley 1/7
Dec 67-Dec 68 RVN
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Long Enough
Dear Grit
After reading a few stories about Pilots and how things work.
Especially after reading that the system doesn't work in the
"off" position. And signing off the MAF....A799.
I remember one time, when the pilot wrote up a gripe that
"the pilot's relief tube was too short. Well needless to say it
was signed off A799. Long enough for me. Even the CO had a
chuckle when he read it. I won't mention the boot Captain to save
him the embarrassment.
He might be a General by now?
Gary F Lewis
GySgt. USMC
VMAQ-2
11th Motors
Sgt. Grit
11th Motor Transport Bn., Da-Nang. I found these photos in one
of my albums over the weekend. Hope they bring back some fond
memories
Semper Fi - til I die
Mike Quinn Sgt. USMC 69-73
Buttons 12 Inches Thick
Sgt. Grit,
I went through MCRD San Diego in the late summer and early fall
of 1957. Platoon 279. My assignment was at E Battery, 2nd Bn,
11th Regiment. My MOS assignment was 2511 (Wire Chief) or some
such thing. That was on my DD-214 upon discharge although I
never worked that job after going to school for it. Actually I
was given an 0846 MOS (Artillery Scout Sgt, i.e., forward
observer) for all the time after boot camp. Most of the time I
was attached to a company in 2nd Bn, 5th Regiment as artillery
support. Usually Fox Company. Now for my unusual type story
that seems to show up regularly on this news letter.
It was sometime in 1960 and General David M. Shoup, the
twenty-second Commandant of the Marine Corps, decided he had to
see a live fire exercise. This event took place at Camp
Pendleton just East of what was called "Cone Hill" in those
days. There were 4 of us artillery types attached to F,2,5.
A fresh out of OCS 2nd Lt, a couple of PFC or Private types and
me, a LCpl. The infantry set up a base of fire and started
firing at the "objective" real-estate, the maneuvering element
maneuvered. The infantry CO, a Captain, wanted his artillery
support close, so we stuck close to him. A jet flew over and
dropped a 500 lb. bomb, an Ontos, with its six 106mm recoilless
rifles, did its thing, some 81mm mortars dropped their stuff and
I peppered the objective with a bunch of HE and a few WPs. The
ceasefire flare went up, the maneuvering element proceeded to
approach the object. The 81s did not see the ceasefire flare.
They kept firing. The mortar rounds fell all over the place
among the now "hug the ground" element. I was in a creek bed
laying flat on my chest with buttons that felt like they were
12 inches thick. The 81s finally got the word and stopped
firing. Everybody stood up and not one Marine was hit by the
81 stuff. Until this day, I don't believe you can kill anything
with an 81mm mortar. Everyone went back to an assembly point
for debriefing.
Our four man forward observer team got together and the Lt. had
lost his helmet dodging 81mm stuff. He got us all to one side
and said, "OK men, I want you to spread out and get me a helmet
if you have to get the Commandant's" I looked for a while in
the impact area and could not find a helmet anywhere. The
Commandant still had his, so that was out. The company CO had
placed his helmet in the right seat of his jeep and put on his
soft cover and went to visit with the Commandant. I picked up
the Captain's helmet and presented it to my Lt. He saw the
Captains bars and said, "I can't take that." I took the helmet
in my left hand and the Captain bars in my right hand, pulled
them off and threw them in the bushes. I said, "Now you can
sir." He did. The Captain threw an absolute fit when he found
it gone. About 2 weeks later I lost my LCpl stripes and had to
wear Cpl stripes. The Lt. had put my name in the promotion
machine. I would like to apologize to you Captain if you read
this and remember the event. But you have to admit that I was
only following a direct order from your fellow officer.
Cpl. F. Dave Odom....1685348
Abilene, TX
PS Anybody ever get sent somewhere to get a 292 battery?
By the way, my younger son was in the Marines and went to PI.
He was scheduled to go to Iraq in Sept of 2005, but some illegal
alien crossed the median and ran into him head on June 1, 2005.
He was declared dead at the scene, but being a Marine he did
not stop fighting for his life. The medical bill was just a
few bucks short of 2 million. Had great insurance and co-pay
was only a few bucks short of $1000. He is just fine now and is
a professional grade drummer. By the way, he beat me every
way possible in boot camp.
VMF-VMA-311 WW2 to Present
2008 Reunion 10-14 SEPTEMBER 2008 The Inn at Chester Springs
near PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Visit the website for more details.
Contact Jim Galchick 1290 E. 12th St. Salem, OH 44460
(330)337-9383 jgalchick @ neo . rr . com or Fred Townsley at
Oldsargfred @ gmail . com
"Old Salts"?
Don Ehrgott 1385418
AV8b
I am currently deployed to Iraq. We have a jet painted with 1st
Mar Div on it, it looks real cool. I noticed the 1st Mar Div on
your home page.
Thanks for your Support
GySgt Eddie Puente
VMA-311 Ordnance Division SNCOIC
Al Asad, Iraq
Al Anbar Province
Semper Fi
The Next 24 Years
Dear Sgt Grit;
This has not been a good week for me. While reading Leatherneck,
I saw the name of a SNCO/Officer I served with in the 60's. Then
while reading Semper Fi, two more friends were listed as having
left us to assume their posts on high. All were career Marines.
So far this year that makes four that I know of and I wonder who
has passed that were not reported to Leatherneck or on the
retired list. I'm 71 and I don't know how much longer I have
before I joint the ranks with my friends. I've heard we were
heroes, but for some reason I don't feel heroic. I'm sure my
friends from the Corps feel the same way. We were just doing our
job because we love our country, our flag and our Marine Corps
and the adventure and pride of being a United States Marine. I
miss those guys, and even though I haven't seen or talked to
them for years. I know when we meet again, we'll pick up where
we left off just as if things had never
changed.
A couple of weeks I related an incident from the coffee shop
where the barista said serving in the Marine Corps wasn't a job,
it was a calling. There is more truth to that than most of us
realize. I don't remember when I became interested in the Marine
Corps. I think I was around 9 years old and my brother had just
joined the Marine Corps. I began to read about the Marine Corps
and by the time I was 17 and joined the Corps, on my birthday,
I could have taught history and traditions to the recruits in
boot camp.
The next 24 years were filled with excitement, pride, fear,
boredom and friendships. Sometimes for whatever reason, I
alternatively loved, hated, respected and grew tired of my
assignment, my leaders, my station. I was never disillusioned
nor did I ever hate the Marine Corps. I stand tall when I hear
the Hymn, chills run up my spine and I can't help but get choked
up. I think about the Corps and the men that made it what it is
today. I feel pride when I read about the Marines of today. I
think about what they must feel being away from home and their
loved ones doing those things that Marines do. No matter the
time, place or mission, I know the Marine Corps will prevail
and all will be right in our beloved Corps.
Goodnight Chesty wherever you are.
Semper Fi
Jerry R. Hattox
GySgt USMC
1954-Rip.
Re: Major General John Kelly And A Fallen Warrior
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Seamus,
On the way back from Iraq right after Baghdad fell and I'd
returned from Tikrit the Division was supposed to return home
immediately. As the assistant division commander I returned to
Pendleton (via Bethesda) in Late May. Little did I know I would
return to Iraq immediately and be there until November. In any
event, I got a hotel room in Bethesda and all I had with me were
my utilities that I'd worn nonstop since I'd deployed to Kuwait
the January before we invaded (March 20th). I bought a can of
Lysol spray, hung my utilities in the hotel room closet and used
the entire can letting it soak in during the night. Even then
it was best if I stood down wind of the ladies. I went to the
hospital to see the 1st Marine Division boys the next day and
met Mr. Nixon, his wife and daughter. They'd just buried Pat
in Arlington.
His son was wounded and in spite of that he was helping more
seriously wounded Marines into an Amtrac along the so called
Nasiriyah "gauntlet." The gauntlet was an arrow straight 2.5
mile road that ran from the Euphrates River just outside the
city and the same piece of road that the Army 157th (Jessica
Lynch's outfit) was hit. I remember when I dashed along that
piece of unsecured road in my HMMWV driven by my driver Cpl
Dave Hardin, from Dallas, TX, in the early morning (0500?) of
25 or 26 23 March I saw the still burning and totally destroyed
hulk of the Amtrac in which Pat Nixon died a few hours before.
I didn't know what happened to it at the time as the fight in
Nasiriyah was not the 1st Division's, but I did cross myself and
said a prayer for those who must have died in that vehicle.
Only when I ran into the Nixon's in the Naval Hospital did I
know the rest of the story. Mr. Nixon gave me a picture of his
son taken when he was home on pre-deployment leave. He was a
mortar man and by all reports knew how to work a tube. The
Nixon's had magnetic backings put on the picture and gave them
to friends as keepsakes. I was touched to get one. There was
a little anomaly shadow or something above Pat's head that
looked like a little dark bird or bat. The Nixon's joked that
Pat was a little bit of a devil at times, and it came out in the
picture. Jesus Christ it was sad Seamus. When my own two boys
were in Iraq I used to wonder all the time if I could be as
brave as the Nixons if one of mine went down. The next day, it
was a Sunday, I went to Mass in uniform (still ripe) at the Ft
Myer Chapel then walked down to see Pat's grave in Arlington
before I flew home to see my family in Pendleton. No stone yet,
just a simple marker over the still turned up earth. I think
there were less than ten graves from Iraq at the time - now
there are row upon row.
When I returned to Iraq in June the division now "owned"
Nasiriyah and the first thing I did was to ensure the hulk was
removed. Our dozen or so heroes were long gone and buried in
America's good earth, but I didn't want the Trac just sitting
there.
Anyway, Seamus, wonderful people who lost almost all they had
in their son Pat. His picture is still on my refrigerator at
home along with my own kids.
Semper Fi,
Kelly
Jarhead
Sgt Grit;
Just wanted to share a photo of my devil dog. His name is
'Jarhead', and he's earned the name. He's currently an E-3, but
that's after spending at least 6 months as a boot and being
busted at least three times. He comes by his moniker and
behavior honestly - he's in a proud Marine Corps family: My
father was a Marine before WWII (Pvt Harold Somers), my brother
retired after 23 years (MSgt Mike Williams), I did my 4 years,
my son served his 4 (LCpl Peter Williams - part with the first
outbreak of hostilities in Iraq with the 2/10), and my daughter
was a Corpsman (HM3 Mallory Williams). We bleed crimson and
gold. Love your newsletter and eagerly await every issue. Let's
see some other "Devil-Pets" and/or mascots - would also like to
see some Marine Corps motorcycles.
"Thanks" to my Brother and Sisters who went through all the sh*t
I didn't have to. Special remembrance to those who paid the
ultimate price.
As the old toast kinda' goes (and I always use whenever two or
more Marines are gathered); To those Marines that are here with
us, to those Marines who could not be with us, and to those
Marines who are no longer amongst us. Semper Fi!"
Semper Fi!
-Sgt. Ken Williams
Jan 1975- Jan 1979
Savage, MN
Motor-T
Motor Pool, you call, we'll haul and if we can't truck it f##k
it.
Motor Pool, we've got 2X's, 4X's and 6X's and those big Mother's
that bend in the middle go choo..choo..choo..choo..
And when we became a short timer in Country, we would tell the
FNG that we had more time in the air jumping out of the truck
than they had in the Corps.
Great reading and gear, thanks Grit.
Cpl of Marines
Hamilton, Doc
Viet Nam '66-'67
Sgt Grit,
This is in response to your request for Motor-T stories and
phrases...
"Better On Rubber Wheels, Than Rubber Heels!"
While serving as an ammunition/explosives driver, I was attached
to an infantry company (Fox 2/8) for deployment to the
Mediterranean. It was great duty if for nothing else because
when we landed for exercises we took the LCAC's in, instead of
those ever so slow landing crafts that the USS Saipan used.
(The Saipan was quickly renamed the "Bedpan" after our first
field op, during the work-up exercises for pre-deployment.)
I think that we may have been an afterthought in the planning
process, because the ship didn't have any berthing for us, we
weren't on the pre-deployment exercises when most of those
details got worked out. Because of this, a kind sailor found
us an unused recreation room, and helped us convert it into
berthing. It wasn't until four months later, during a
ship-wide inspection of the Marine quarters, that we were
"discovered". Our ranking officer was a second lieutenant
and up to that point had been more than happy to help us
disappear, but I'm pretty sure that he walked out of the CO's
cabin with less of a backside than he went in with. The first
four months we were living on easy street, but the last two
months of deployment we were put on every detail and assignment
that they could throw at us. Still, I wouldn't have traded
those first four months of doing nothing more than sitting in
the cab of my truck, overlooking the ocean, than another week
on the Saipan playing games to keep us occupied. Looking back,
I think that if we had just stayed inside of the door labeled,
"Recreation Room" we would have been able to keep completely
off the radar for the rest of the deployment. None of our
detachment ever complained about our extra work that last two
months, which goes to show that Marines may look for an easier
way of doing things, but when given an assignment they may not
enjoy, they put their heads down, don't complain, and get the
work done.
Semper Fi!
Former Sergeant of Marines,
C. Leese
2nd MarDiv
Sgt. Grit,
Semper Fi Devil Dogs. I was a 3533 at MCAS El Toro 90-92, MWSS
373. MK48-14,15,16,18 - Logistic vehicle Systems. It was always
a treat being in southern California just after Desert Shield/
Desert Storm and all the young ladies loved Marines. As you
drove by, they were more than willing to show their
appreciation.
I remember a sister unit at MCAS Tustin, called themselves
"Rolling Thunder" with their logo as an elephant on steroids.
We would send the FNG's for lubrication fluid for the
frozinator relief valve, or for them to locate - then drain
said relief valve and replace the frozinator fluid. The Gunny
in maintenance has the fluid in the gear locker. Once the
Gunny got done with said FNG, he would be scraping 5th wheel
plates until his cammies were waterproof for life.
Love the news letter, makes my week every Thursday morning.
Fulps M.D.
Lance Corporal of Marines
MWSS 373 - El Toro
Platoon 1056-D - MCRD Parris Island
Motor T for life.
Sgt. Grit: I was a First Lieutenant and platoon leader with
Truck Co., 1st FSR/FLC, Camp Books near Hill 262 to the West and
Namo Bridge to the north near the base of the Hai Van Pass,
RVN. We proudly called ourselves the "Mother Truckers". On
each convoy, we typically had five to six "guntrucks" as we
called them which were sandbagged 5 ton trucks with ring mounts
and 50 cal. machine guns above the cab. I had the privilege of
leading some fine Marines on convoys in 1969-70 as far south as
Chu Lai and as far north as Dong Ha. Mostly, however, we hauled
our usual 30 to 40 five ton trucks carrying 60 and 81 MM, 105
rounds, 106 canisters, and 155 and 8 inch rounds plus 50 cal.
and M-16 ammo (and volatile JP-4 fuel tankers for choppers) to
the 7th Marines at L.Z. Baldy and L.Z. Ross, occasionally to the
5th Marines at An Hoa, and even made some trips to your pos on
Hill 55. And, one of the stories, Sgt. Grit, you may recall.
As we were unloading artillery and mortar rounds, there was a
Philippino band playing on a flat bed trailer at Hill 55 one day
(late ’69), but there were some VC bad guys in some bunkers
opposite of and facing Hill 55. Someone called in some F-4s,
and as the band leader started singing the Beatles’ "It’s going
to be a hard days night. (with a Philippino accent), and as if
on cue, two Phantoms rolled in hot and in succession dropped
some 250 pounders on the VC position. I looked at a staff
sergeant sitting beside me, and I asked him if he was going to
write home about what we just saw and heard? In a Salty wry
voice, he said, "Lieutenant, we may be in "The Twilight Zone",
but I ain’t Rod Serling."
Another time, a young Marine had hitched a ride with us out of
Da Nang where he had been at the Naval hospital recovering from
wounds on Freedom Hill. As we were heading down Hwy 1, I asked
him where he got hit, and he pointed to nearby hills and said
out there in Operation "Oklahoma Hills". Riding in the back of
a 5 ton, I asked where he was from and he said, "Bartlesville,
Oklahoma". For a stranger, that may sound like a unique
coincidence in terms of the name of the Op and where he was
from, but I nearly fell out of the truck because I also grew up
in Bartlesville, Oklahoma - population: 35,000. I graduated
in 1964, and he was a few years younger, so I didn’t know him
growing up. But, the irony was that we had both traveled
10,000 miles from a town where we were raised, and met for the
first time in the Nam, but only after operation Oklahoma Hills.
We had a good laugh, and then got serious and went back to the
war.
One of the most poignant stories I can relate was one night
sitting in a small rain-soaked tent on L.Z. Ross with another
lieutenant and a Marine corporal from Canada. It was during the
monsoon around Christmas 1969. We were muddy and wet and cold,
using ammo pallets for a "floor", as another Marine came in and
handed a letter to the young Corporal. The letter stated that
he had just become an American citizen. He tried not to show
his eyes watering up, so we just sort of quietly congratulated
him and patted him on the shoulder. It was one of the most
moving experiences of my life. That Marine earned his
citizenship like few others, and it made us all proud.
As to the Mother Truckers, our convoys were quite literally a
rolling ammo dump on wheels, and the JP-4 tankers were
unbelievably explosive. Truck Company lost a Marine three days
before he was due to rotate home when a mine blew up and
exploded his fuel tanker. God rest his soul. Even though we
had some M-48 tanks in front on the most dangerous stretches,
mines were a constant along that 9 mile stretch of water boo
tracks that someone in a flight of fancy decided to call a
"road" - leading out the back gate of L.Z. Baldy headed west to
L.Z. Ross on that small saddle at the base of the Que Sons. I
would be remiss, however, if I did not express my eternal
gratitude to our Marine brothers in the grunts and some hot
Cobra and Huey gunships who blew Charlie out of some ambush
sites before they could hit us.
Snipers and mortars were mostly a nuisance while we were
rolling, but on one occasion NVA/VC dropped three 82 mortars
among civilians as they targeted our convoy entering the ville
on the southside of the Ba Ren River bridge on Hwy 1. There was
a CAP unit in the ville, and my corpsman and I and the CAP
Marines tried to patch them up, but it was a terrible mess with
blood and gore all over the place. I will never forget a papasan
laying near me waiting for care, not crying or moaning, just
propped up slightly-holding his intestines in his hands. The
worst that day was a small toddler about the age of my son (now
a Marine Lt. Col.). The boy had his leg blown off and died from
loss of blood and shock. In July 1970, the NVA/VC came back,
and because there were ARVN families there, on orders from
Communist cadre in the unit, they murdered over 100 civilians,
and wounded about 150 more. When I returned in 2000, I tried to
get people to talk to me about it, but with the Communist cadre
in the ville (as they are now in every other ville), no one
would talk. They remember the "Re-education Camps" after the
war. I also tried to get onto Baldy and that road to Ross when
I returned in 2000, but a Communist commander ran us off because
it is now a base. The Vietnamese people may love Americans now
on a personal level, but the Communists are still firmly in
control. Catholic and Buddhist leaders have been routinely
imprisoned in solitary for years, and anyone asking for freedom
or democracy is imprisoned. Not that Jane Fonda and Tom
Hayden, et al., and the anti-war Left cared about Vietnamese
Communist Re-education Camps any more than they thought about
the Khmer Rouge slaughtering its population. Sound familiar
today?
From an old Mother Trucker to all my Marine brothers and their
families,
Semper Fi.
Hey Sarge,
I really enjoy your newsletter ! I was in Motor T from 1980 to
1984 and served at Camp Lejeune and on two Med cruises
including 7 months in Beirut Lebanon from August 82 to March
of 83. I remember some of our phrases for us and our equipment:
Gamma Goat
Deuce and a half
Water Buffalo
Mule
Night Riders
Mechanics were referred to as "Wrenches" or "Gearheads"
T.T (referred to ten ton vehicles or tractor trailers)
APC (Armed Personnel Carrier)
Semper Fi.
Ken Lange
I have a couple sayings from our old platoon (support platoon,
"C" company, 6th ESB out of Arizona)...we even made some
t-shirts...
-You know how we roll!
-Support till it hurts
-Come and roll with the big dogs
-Finest courier service in the world! We take the fight to you!
As for stories, I guess one of the funniest comes courtesy of
our own Captain America (whose real name has been omitted, but
all the boys know who). While in waiting for the word to pass
through the berm at BPW at the kickoff of OIF1, H.E. was doing
some work with the tractors and kicked up a couple of rocks
which pinged off another truck. Well, our fearless Captain
runs out of his tent with his 9mm pistol waving in the air
screaming "We're taking fire! Follow me, Marines!" Everyone
there couldn't help but laugh. The poor H.E. drivers didn't
know what to think when they saw this crazy Captain charging
at them with his weapon drawn. Needless to say, no one was
hurt in the process.
Cpl Joel "Coondog" Cooney
USMCR
Two good Motor T stories from a Supply Guy:
While stationed at Camp Pendleton in 83-84, I pulled up into
the 22 Area barracks parking lot driving my '73 Chevelle that
had started to make a constant "hiss". After briefly looking
under the vehicle, I realized that it wasn't a hose, but rather
it was coming from the back of the engine. My two roommates
where both Motor T, and they informed me it was most likely a
freeze plug. That weekend, we all pitched in and dropped the
cross member, driveline, tranny, torque converter and replaced
both freeze plugs - one of which had corroded through. We then
put it all back together. 6 hours and $1.50 in parts later it
was all done - right in the barracks parking lot...
Better story:
While stationed at then 4th LAAMBN Fresno CA in 84-86, we
received the new 5 Ton vehicles. As a supply guy, we drove
about once a month to Barstow CA to make a parts run. On one
trip during our return from Barstow, we crested the mountain
pass and began to hear a loud banging from under the vehicle
which shook the whole truck. After pulling over to the side
of the road, we realized that the bolts on the "knuckle" that
was attached to the frame had all sheared off! The rear
drive line was actually two sections, both of which joined
at this knuckle. The whole thing had been left to flop
around like a broken elbow. Long story short, we used the
tire winch to lower the drive line after disconnecting it
from the tranny and rear differential and tossed it into the
back of the truck. We then repaired a blown air line (the
windshield wipers and front differential locking switch are
both air activated) and then proceeded to drive back to base
in "front wheel drive", albeit at a slightly slower pace.
Good way to earn points with the Motor T folks who didn't
have to drive a wrecker down to pick up our truck...
The only Motor T phrases that I remember is
1. "If you can't Truck it, F#$k it!".
2. "You either drive with the best, or walk with the rest".
Semper Fi,
R/S Gy Somerville sends
81-01, 3043
now on to motor-t I own plank as it were to motor-t school on
the west coast in Pendleton we lived in a Quonset hut and our
gunny was short one time on the hydrostatic key, a boot came
to me and asked me for the key, now I had another brother in
the field and I was a wrench, so after the boot asked me I
sent him to the gunny, and the gunny gave me look and you
could see a smile, but when your short on your retirement and
a old dog it was hard too get a smile form him, so he sent the
boot to the caption who was pregnant and ready too pop, she of
course took a bit to figure out what he wanted and told the
gunny too get the boot a KEY for the hydrostatic lock and a bit
hot under the collar or should I say skirt, and the gunny set
the boot too me, and said get the boot a KEY so I spent the
hour and had too actually make a KEY for hydrostatic lock and
put it on a 3/4 cable and put it around his neck and go see
the gunny, the caption and my bro out in the field and there
should be a KEY still at the school, now we used too run the
boots around for awhile on that one but you could say that we
pulled that one a little bit too long,
Semper Fi
T D ALDRICH
While stationed in Iwakuni, our Motor Pool had a Cpl who
answered the phone one time with the statement of, "Motor Pool,
we got Jeeps, gamagoats, deuce and a halfs and them BIG Mothers
that bend in the middle, can I help you?" They also had a sign
out front that said " The Grunts may be the pride of the Corps,
but without us the Pride Don't Ride!"
Dennis Thomas
Sgt 73-79
WES-17, MWSG-17
Iwakuni, Japan
"If you can't find it, grind it!"
referring to shifting a deuce.
bustin nuts and knuckles
Sgt Grit,
I just got out of the Marine Corps after serving with the AT
Tow Unit in Broken Arrow, OKLA
I went to Fallujah, Iraq with 1st BN 24th MAR I was a 3521
Diesel Mechanic
Thanks for the newsletter
Once A Marine Always A Marine!
John Arnold
Sgt Grit , One saying I remember is "We have 2 X's , 4 X's &
6X's & then we have those great big mothers that bend in the
middle & go "phish" "phuh" when you step on the brakes.
Semper - Fi Marine,
Ron Gray L/Cpl "60-64" (Truck Co. Camp Pendleton)
Sgt.Grit;Summer of 1967 1st Motor Transport Bn. was Moving
Elements of The 1st.Marine Regiment, and Division N.to Quang
Tri.I was getting bored with the pace of this huge Convoy,
This "Rough Rider'' was long, The lead Trucks were going
Through Phu Bai,and the'' tail" had not yet left Danang .After
getting to the top of Hai Vanh Pass we had to set in for the
nite. Nothing Happened that nite, but this gave the ''Gooks''
Plenty of time to set their Road Mines. As we finally got
rollin the next morning, we were again delayed, it was a
pontoon bridge Engineers had put across this stream, We would
have to wait as it was "Granny Gear'' Crossing. I had switched
Places with my 'Gunner' He was now driving. As the truck
directly in front would get across, they would Haul A-- to
catch the last truck, As we got back on the highway I Turned
in time to see the Deuce in a half behind us disappear in the
dust. Out of this dust flew its motor wheels and front fenders
flying over my Head, I was thinking Wow! when I was yanked by
my ''stackin swivel'' off the ''Gun''As I rolled to my feet,
there was 20 year ''Lifer" Sgt. firing the 50 into the ground
at these Peoples feet, He then leaped off the gun and yelling
''Cease Fire'' pulled his 45 and Ran across the ditch, He
knocked a teenaged kid to the Ground,2 flashlight batteries he
had used to detonate the mine fell out of his hands, This all
happened in 5-10 seconds. We who were on the truck, our mouths
hanging open, looked at each other, How DID HE KNOW? That night
Sgt. Schefield got us all together, and said ''We were lucky
that wasn't a ambush'' We would be Dead! Whenever you are
passing through a "ville" watch the people, keep moving your
eyes don't stare at some "Scivy House Girly" Thats why she's
there for to distract you. Thanks Sgt. Schefield wherever you
are! I went back to driving!
Ray Earley
1962 I was at Camp LeJeune, a PFC and new to motor-t with 8th
MTBN. My first solo assignment I was given a jeep and directed
to pick up a Marine Recon officer who was to be transported to
the field to review his troops making a jump. Upon my arrival
the officer rained down all kind of "real Marines Recon" stuff
and proceeded to inform me that I had better pay attention to
his commands and react immediately and with-out question. We
began our journey to the destination with him giving directions
the whole way. I had no idea where we were but as I was driving
along the highway I noticed to the right there was a steep
embankment that went down about fifty feet or so and leveled off
into a huge field and overhead the planes were dropping
paratroops. All of a sudden the officer started yelling "turn
here Marine" I figured he meant the road coming up, but then, he
did say "act immediately and without question" So over the
embankment I went, how that jeep stayed on four wheels is beyond
me but it must have been a h&ll of a sight for the troops
standing down below. We pulled up to the cattle-cars and the
officer jumped out and ran around the jeep yelling and cursing.
I could see some troops behind the cattle-cars laughing and
standing in front of the jeep was, I believe a 1st/Sgt. He was
standing very rigid, but he had a look on his face of suppressed
laughter and little tears in his eyes. By now I was out of the
jeep standing at attention, I didn't think I had done anything
wrong. The officer asked me if I was crazy, I looked at him and
said "no Sir, I was only following your orders. You said act
immediately without question, you commanded "turn here" this
Marine turned, will there be any further orders Sir? He said a
few other choice things and told me to take that ***** jeep and
get the ****** out of here. Riding back, alone, I was beginning
to get worried, maybe I screwed up royally. But I honestly felt
that I was as much a Marine as him or his troops. I have a
different job, was a boot and all that, but I'm a Marine too.
When I got back to the motor pool my Sgt. walked up and asked if
I had a good run. I said yes Sgt., he looked at me smiled and
said "good job Marine" and walked away laughing.
Russell Murphy
3531 (sloperator as it was known from time to time) I remember
back (not far back) in 2004 I was stationed with HQBN motor t
on camp courtney Okinawa (although you had to walk off base to
get to it) during typhoon season our cwo would make us take all
of the tarps off the hummers 5 tons and 7 tons and then park
them in a wagon wheel with trailers around the main building
when the Typhoon Condition reaches TC-2, well one day we went
from TC-4 to TC-1C in about fifteen minutes, and there was no
time to take off all of the tarps. luckily none were lost, but
the next day we had fun with the FNG's (I was just merit.
promoted to LCPL at the time) I had 2 or 3 newbies with me, and
I would tell them make sure the canvas isn't ripped on the sides,
and ill check it from the inside, and id hop in and push off
about 4 or 5 gallons of water off the tarp onto the poor
newbies! but it was all in fun and it even happened to me a few
times! boy I sure do moss those days... CPL trigila
Two, both involving MSGT 'Hook' Bender and the commercial pool
at 29 Palms. (can't recall if we've done these before or
not....your call)
As the OIC of the EAP at MCAGCTC, 29 Palms, I put a lot of miles
on commercial four-wheel drive vehicles from the commercial
vehicle motor pool, drove all of them myself (a tad unusual,
considering my rank, but it worked.....). Since the vehicles
belonged to 'everybody', the usual tender loving care rendered
as operator preventive maintenance, was done by 'everybody' s
cousin, 'nobody'. MSGT 'Hook' Bender was the MT Chief, and I
learned a lot from him........happened to be at the motor pool
one afternoon, having a cup of 30-weight, non-detergent coffee
about the time vehicles started rolling back in at the end of
the day. As each sedan, van, jeep, etc. would stop at the gate,
Hook would ask to see the drivers' trip ticket.....these had
three sections on the bottom for the operator to fill out. 'pre-
operation', 'during operation' and 'after operation'......an
official document, and a way for the dispatcher to identify
vehicles that might need to visit the repair shop. One of the
critical parts of the 'pre-operation' section was verifying the
engine oil level. That block, of course, was always checked as
completed. Hook would ask the driver if that was so, and then
would reach back inside the dispatch shack and bring out his
cardboard box full of engine dipsticks, each with a tag bearing
the number of the vehicle from which it came......Hook would
then enquire of the driver if he had used a rather personal part
of his anatomy to probe the oil pan, since he (MSGT Bender) had
amassed his dipstick collection the night before. For a while
there, if you were in search of a cooling desert breeze in the
early morning, all you had to do was visit the C-pool, as the
hoods flying open kept the air moving........
The Commercial Pool at the Stumps had quite a number of 4X4
vehicles, all painted green with white tops, and included in the
mix were International Harvester Scouts. Some of these had a
V-8 engine, others had a 'slant' four-cylinder. The dispatchers
usually saved a V-8 for my daily perambulations around the
various training areas (from memory, the stumps is something
like 430,000 square miles in area). On the day in question, I
got my trip ticket, did a quick pre-op check (including checking
the oil), and lit out. The performance of the Scout that day
just wasn't up to what I had come to expect (with a speed limit
of 35MPH off-road, no less!), so when I turned the vehicle in
that evening, there was a note on the trip ticket to the effect
that this POS needed to be pulled into the shop and tuned up (or
shot), as it was about the sickest V-8 Scout I had ever had the
misfortune to be cursed with...... The next morning, I received
a phone call from MSGT Bender at the motor pool, requesting my
presence at my convenience, as he had something to show me that
would be of professional interest to a fitshister (some
reference to a greasy hands type there.....). When I got there,
he took me into the shop, where sat the vehicle I had the day
before..........he said "We found the problem, Major."...flipped
open the hood, and said "See......somebody's done stole half yer
engine!"...........in my defense, the dipstick on the V-8, and
the slant-4 were both on the same side of the vehicle.........
Dear Sgt. Grit;
Here's a Motor Transport recall from when I was a Refueler
attached to a motor pool with MABS-13 in Hawaii back in 1958. We
were sitting around the dispatch shack drinking coffee and
shooting the breeze on a Saturday when the phone rang. A
Corporal answered the phone, "MABS-13 Motor Transport. We got 2-
bys, 4-bys, 6-bys, and those big motherf**kers that bend in the
middle and go chush-chush; if we can't truck it, f**k it." The
caller asked, "Who's this?" The Corporal responded, "Who's
this?" The caller said, "This is Colonel Jantzen; who's this?"
The Corporal replied, "Colonel Jantzen?" The Colonel said,
"Yes. Who is this?" The Corporal responded, "You don't know who
this is? Bye Colonel Jantzen!" The Corporal hung up and we all
left the dispatch shack.
Blessings,
R. Eugene Hill Corporal of Marines
Third Tour
Sgt. Grit,
My son recently returned home from his third tour in Iraq.
Two years left to retirement. I am so proud of him. I just
wanted to share my most recent tattoo that is a tribute to
all the ones that gave all. Also, thanks for the news letter
- I really look forward to it.
Sgt. Briglin / 69-71 (3-4) Semper Fi
Only Two Brownings
RE: Mention by an older brother; circa WWII of the Browning
1919A1
Mmmmmmmmm I am pretty sure he meant the Browning 1919A4 or
possibly the A6.
These were the only two Brownings manufactured for WWII. The
1919 A4 was a pit or parapet mounted 'sit behind' and the A6
had a long barrel, hence a higher cyclic rate ( 650 vs 450 ) and
an attached shoulder stock for use in the prone position ( My
fav ) . The only 1919A1 that comes to mind was the bolt action
Springfield rifle that was replaced by the Garand M1 rifle, .30
caliber that I went through ITR with after being in the first
full series in San Diego MCRD with M-14's. ( 317, Feb, 62 )
My best regards to anyone that survived 'The Big One' whether
or not I think they got the model number wrong... :)
Kent Yates
1989310
2-62 to 3-68
Tarawa
I am attaching a picture which is a piece of history. Most
Marines (me included) do not know that the Navy Seabee Frogmen
hit the beach before we made our landing. This is a picture of
my cousins (also a Marine) father-n-law (Navy) who was on the
beach at Tarawa (Gilbert Islands) before we landed. This was the
beginning of what the Navy calls the Seals.
Cpl. of Marines 81-85
David Wells
Marine Barracks 8th & I
What I am
I am the legendary U.S. Marine. I am 19 years old, like many
have said, too young to by a drink, to young to be a man, and
to old to be just a boy. Yet old enough to fight, bleed, and die
for my country, my god, and my family. Old enough to be sent to
foreign shores and shed my blood for others I wont know. To
carry a weapon and fend every day, for my life... and your
freedom.
I have a "High and Tight" haircut, so I'm often called a
Jarhead. I am just a number on a wall, in the computer, and just
another body in the field. I chose this sacrifice of being away
from my family at home, friends and other loved ones. I chose to
bear these long cold nights with nothing but pictures, letters
from home and the not so often phone call. The pain of not
knowing what happens until its already been taken care of or is
well into the situation. The pain of feeling useless, helpless,
knowing there's nothing I can do to help, as if my hands were
tied. A million things that could go wrong at any moment, and
knowing this really does hurt. As if my heart were wrapped in
barbed wire, and each beat tears deeper and painfully kills me
a little bit each time. But I chose this for a reason....
I am independent, I get up every morning and do more before
0800hrs than most will do all week. I find amusement in the
smallest, simplest of things. I talk with my fellow Marines, my
brothers and sisters of my new "extended" family. We together
cushion the sharp blows of reality. Mostly the bad news. And
together we celebrate the good news. We care for one another,
we will share our food rations and MREs when hunger strikes, our
water with thirst. Our clothes and body heat when cold attacks,
and our ammo for when the enemy does. Always thinking " I am my
brothers keeper" and having the mind set that I will gladly give
my life just so he can go home and see his. Fully knowing that
every Marine to my left and right are thinking the same thing.
Our strategy is one against ten, but our tactics are ten against
one. We train, eat, sleep, pt, learn, and live together as a
family. So you see that I am away from home but I have made new
family and friends. Whose blood is shed with mine. Although we
are still "wet behind the ears" we can effectively engage and
neutralize any threat that presents its self.
There are times when we sit alone, away from the pack and relax,
or at least try too. We think about many things, home, family,
friends, even "Suzie" back home. Here at base, stateside, the
atmosphere allows us to learn. We sit on libo at the end of the
day and things, I realize my pain from hurting and missing home.
I get the chance to realize for what and why I've made the
decisions I've made.
Something so simple as a bird running around on the top of a
picnic table, looking around. Peacefully I can reflect how my
little sister playing at home in the pool. Going horse back
riding, and just seeing here so happy. Not only her but
hundreds, their joy makes my pain go away. My body goes numb and
my intentions remain clear I know my goals and what I've set my
sights on.
I like many others realize this. It's never been about us. Never.
That's why we chose to be Americas 911. The Elite. That is why I
chose to be that " F**king Jarhead!" Hundreds of thousands
before us roamed down this path of life, off the beaten trail
that the other 98% of America lives on. And millions more after
our generation is long gone. WE ARE THE MARINE CORPS.
We will always be around to claim your fears,
Your insecurities, your doubts and troubles,
We will always be there for you when you need us
and even when you don't...
PFC Schottmiller, Thomas A
CLR-37 3rdMLG LS Co.
Well I Finally
Since the day I joined the Corps all I could think about was
that NCO sword. Well I finally got mine in January of '08 and
in August of '08 I decided to have the "United States Marines"
text forever etched into my leg...
Oorah! SemperFi!
CPL GLASS
USMC 7051
Ballet
One of the most interesting guys I met was a former Marine in
California. We took scuba diving lessons together and had an
outstanding friendship. Prior to joining the Marines, he was a
Ballet Dancer. He had majored in theater and dance in college.
After arriving at PI,his fellow recruits really razzed him about
being a Ballet Dancer. But when it came to physical fitness, he
was way ahead of them! He was still a victim of abuse, however.
He complained to the DI and the CO and he told them that he
would like to take those "red necks" to the gym and have them
try ballet exercises. The DI and the CO agreed. None of those
"red necks" could hack it! He went on to be an outstanding
recruit and later got accepted for OCS and earned his commission
as a 2d Lt. He was discharged as a Captain and then he opened
up a Ballet studio and taught Ballet "Marine Corps style" :-)!
How's that for you? P.S. I'm a former Doggie"! I have a high
respect for the Marines, though!
Wayne F. Frese
Scrounging Parts
I'm not sure if this is the type of motor T story you were
looking for, but it's one I tell often. I was in Transport Co,
7th MT Bn. in the early 80's. This was the end of the Carter
era and equipment had to be scrounged- Items such as crank
handles for the landing gear of the trailers. We were having an
inspection and some resourceful Marines from my platoon
scrounged items from other platoons to make a complete
tractor-trailer. One of the "victims" of the scrounging was Sgt.
Cappola. When he discovered this, he burst through the ranks
yelling, "Has anyone seen my CRANK?" One devil dog suggested he
show it, much to the delight of everyone!
I'm also attaching the patch of a little known Marine team. We
were active in the 80's
Cpl. Keith Grisham, 3534 82-86
Forethought
A marine corps aircraft in flight, if something is
(1) RED,
(2) YELLOW, OR
(3) DUSTY,
never touch it without a lot of forethought.
A marine aircraft can land anywhere...........Once.
MSgt Benjo Spotts U.S.M.C. Retired
Up To The Task
Sgt. Grit:
Once a Marine, Always a Marine.
Here is a picture of ret. S/Sgt Mike Portella, 303040, taken
July 2008. Mike became a Drill Instructor in 1946, after serving
on Guadalcanal, in 1941. Mike was a member of the WWII DI’s,
until it disbanded several years ago. Mike’s old DI uniform is
on display at the DI school on Parris Island, which didn’t even
exist when Mike was a DI. Mike wants’ all Marines everywhere to
know our young Marines are as good, and up to the task as
Marines have always been His message is we can all be proud of
the DI’s and officers training these young men and woman. And
that we should not forget the job being done by our Marine
recruiters, who do such a great job finding young men and woman
who will carry on the great tradition of our Marine Corps Honor
and Values, and great fighting spirit I was honored to tour the
base, with this WWII Marine.
Cpl. T. E. Hetland USMC 1661545, Plt. 23 1957
Her One Request
Dear Sgt. Grit,
My Mother, Cpl. Virginia Ruth Nowack (Wiltfang) was a Lady
Marine stationed at Henderson Hall in Washington, DC during
WWII. I would occasionally travel on business to Washington, DC
and would always bring my Mother along.
During our last trip in 2006, her one request was that we drive
by all of her favorite USMC places. She was brimming with pride
as we drove around the base so she could show me where she used
to work and she loved being escorted to her seat by a young
Marine as we waited to see the awesome Friday night parade. She
told the young Marine that she was a WWII veteran and he gave
her an "8th and I" coin.
I never had a problem finding something to give my Mother for a
gift. I'd just look at the Sgt. Grit catalog and order
something!
My Mother lost her 13 year battle with cancer and two strokes on
March 31,2008 at the age of 89. I had prepared a special
memorabilia table at the visitation with many of her favorite
Marine Corps (Sgt. Grit) items from our home along with other
things that she loved. She was buried with her favorite Sgt.
Grit earrings and necklace! It was always her wish to have a
military funeral because she saw so many while stationed at
Henderson Hall, across from Arlington cemetery. The local
detachment of the Marine Corps League in Kankakee, IL (in which
she was a charter member) came through for us. She had a
flagged draped coffin guarded by 2 Marine Corps League members
during visitation and had Marine Corps League pall bearers. I
decided that I wanted her funeral service to be in our beautiful
old church sanctuary. The organist decided that it would be an
appropriate final tribute to play a rousing version of
"The Marine's Hymn" on our massive pipe organ as her casket was
carried out of the church. Full military rites were accorded at
her final resting place, complete with young Marines in their
full dress uniforms saluting as the casket passed into the
mausoleum and performing the rifle salute, taps and the folding
of the flag. The weather was beautiful and it was exactly the
type of funeral that my Mother would have loved. She always
loved her Marine Corps and lived by "Once a Marine, Always a
Marine!"
Semper Fi!
Jewel Ann Wiltfang
Kankakee, IL
I Was Amazed
Back in June of this year I was rushed to the hospital after
blacking out while watching TV. I spent the rest of the week in
intensive care Friday morning June 13th I was given a single
stage pace maker, It was also my 44th wedding anniversary,
And I was released the next day. When I got home I decided to
stop putting off my plans to see the Marine Museum in Quantico
Va. So on August 1st. my wife and I. And One of our PT Cruiser
clubs "RT 66" Was having a car show just down the road from the
Base. So we killed two birds at one shot. I was amazed, Not so
much with the Museum but with the young Marine's there. There
were at least two companies of Marines getting awards, I was so
glad and proud to be there with them. I took a lot of pictures
that day. I couldn't get over how young and sharp looking they
are. When I got home I had to get my old platoon 318 book out
from PI. I went in Feb. 1964.Those were the best four years
of my life. I was in the 3rd Bn. 8th Marines, It sure did
bring back some good memories. Keep the peace Marines.
Jim Lowell
Maggie's Drawers
1940s: said to be in reference to a song entitled Those Old Red
Flannel Drawers That Maggie Wore.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
1/9
Sgt Grit
Over a year ago you put me on to the 1/9 Website, and I just
went to my first Reunion. The best bunch of Marines I could
have ever met. I just want to say thank you, and to let any
Marines out there that are from the 1ST Battalion 9TH Marines
3RD Marine Division, that may not know there is a Website for
them it is there and we are looking for you Marines. I am the
NW Regional Membership, so if there are any of you out there,
you can contact me at fourfinger49 @ hotmail. com. If I don't have
an answer for you I will find one.
By the way thank you for a the Marine Gear you have and the
1/9 gear also.
Leonard (Len) Simmons
Delta Co. 1/9 3rd Platoon 67 Nov 68 pr 68
Semper FI.
I Was Summoned
Sgt. Grit,
I was a Navy Corpsman with 4th Amtracks, Jax, Fla. 81 - 84.
We were doing our 17 day ACDUTRA in "29 Palms". Myself and 5
Marines went to Vegas for our R&R. On the way back to base,
one of the Marines jumped out of the car in Palm Springs. The
Sgt. & I stayed behind while the other Marines Hightailed it
back before Curfew @ 2200. By the time we arrived with our
Marine in tow we were two hrs. late. My Sgt. told me to keep
my mouth shut when we arrived at the gate. Top Weil lit into
both of us with a vengeance. He stated we were A-Wall and would
be delt with him in the AM. Now you know a Corpsman can't keep
his mouth shut! And I was no exception! I stated that he had
impressed upon us never to leave a Marine behind. "We are only
as strong as the weakest link." My Top called me out of the
darkness and asked, "Who in the H&ll is speaking when I'm
speaking?" As I emerged he said, "Oh my God, it's the Doc!"
Top told my Sgt. he was dismissed. I think I got the worst
chewing out of my entire life. He reamed me out unmercifully
for at least 5 min. Top got in my face and told me he NEVER
wanted to here my opinion in front of the men again. He then
stated quietly, "Doc, I would have done the same thing." So, I
thought I had a free ride in the AM. Ha, Ha! During formation
I was summoned, "Doc, front and center." Top told the men I
was to be dropped for one-thousand push-ups because I wanted to
do things my way. Every time a Marine passed me they would
apologize and drop me. I loved the USMC then and still do. I
recently retired with the Navy and have great memories with a
great bunch of guys.
Semper Fi,
Doc Smith
Favorite Marine
Sgt Grit: Rarely do I e-mail anyone to complain but this is
pretty lame. My favorite Marine? How can you limit the list?
Where's Ira Hayes, Mike Strank, Leonard Sousley, Rene Gagnon,
Harlan Block and the hundreds of thousands of us who came before
and after?
My favorite Marine is my son, Sgt. Mike Ruttenber, E Co., 4th
Recon, formerly of 2nd Recon with tours in both Iraq and
Afghanistan. And if I were to name another it would be my Dad,
Pfc. Howard Ruttenber, who went through Parris Island at the age
of 37 in January of 1942 because his country had been attacked
by the Japanese.
I think your "favorite Marine" idea is at best ill-conceived.
At worst, just plain "cheesy".
D.M. Ruttenber
Sgt. USMC
2253882
Warrior Fund
This organization is headed by retired Major Bill Donohue, USMC,
and is dedicated to supporting service personnel who are on
trial for alleged criminal acts during the course of combat.
I met Major Donohue several years ago when I first started
supporting this organization. They are 501 (c) 3 qualified,
which means that donations are tax deductible, and over 90% of
money raised goes to the cost of defending the service member.
Check out their website, and pass the word to others who are willing to
help.
Love, D
Social Security for Vets
Please share this with anyone who's had active duty service
prior to January 2002 and planning for retirement. In a nutshell
it boils down to this: You qualify for a higher social security
payment because of your military service, for active duty any
time from 1940 through 2001 (the program was done away with in
January 2002). Up to $1200 per year of earnings credit credited
at time of application - which can make a substantial
difference in social security monthly payments upon your
retirement. You must bring your DD-214 to the Social Security
Office - and you must ask for this benefit to receive it!
Soc Sec website
This is something to put in your files for when you apply for
Social Security down the road. It is NOT just for retirees, BUT
anyone who has served on active duty prior to January 2002.
FYI - this benefit is not automatic, you must ask for it!
John Wear
Joke
A Soldier, a Sailor, an Airman, and a Marine got into an
argument about which service was "THE BEST". The arguing
became so intense the four servicemen failed to see the oncoming
truck. They were struck, and killed instantly. Soon, the
servicemen found themselves at the Pearly Gates, where they met
St Peter. They decided only he could be the ultimate source of
truth and honesty. So, the four asked him: "St.Peter, which
branch of the United States Armed Forces is THE BEST"? After a
few minutes, he replied that he could not answer their question,
and that he would have to kick the question up to GOD for an
answer the next time that he saw him... Meanwhile, thank you for
your services on earth, and... Welcome to HEAVEN.
Some time later, the four servicemen see St Peter, and remind
him of the question that they had asked him earlier.
Suddenly, a sparkling white dove lands on St. Peter's shoulder.
There is a note, glistening with gold dust, in the dove's beak.
"This must be the answer from the BOSS. Let's see what it
says?"
He opens the note.... trumpets blare... harps play crescendos...
and St Peter reads aloud to the servicemen:
MEMORANDUM;
From: The desk of THE ALMIGHTY.
To: Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines.
Subject: Which military service is "THE BEST".
Gentlemen, all branches of the United States Armed Forces are
honorable, and noble. Each serves America well, and with
distinction. Being servicemen in the United States Military
represents a special calling warranting special respect,
tribute, and dedication.
Be Proud of That.
Sincerely,
GOD.....(USMC - Ret.)
Sgt Denny Krause
Special Room
I went through MCRD San Diego with platoon 1027 in 1954. One
day I happened to get picked to clean up a "special room". I
remember that it was in the basement of a building adjacent to
the "grinder". I was told that it belonged to a retired Marine
that had spent many years in the Corps and had no place to go
when he was discharged so the Corps gave him this room for life.
This guy, if he even existed, had more Corps stuff in his room
than I have ever seen in my entire life. He would put a
recruiting office to shame. Everything in that room, except the
NCO Saber, was crimson and gold.
I have asked several ex-Marines if they ever heard of this
mysterious person and none had. Does anyone out there know if
this story is the "straight scoop" or just "scuttlebutt"?
Sincerely,
Sid C. Gerling
1406162
Sgt of Marines
USMC Song
Sgt. Grit,
I read your email every week, and find it interesting to hear
about all the Marines that pass through. I thought this "USMC
Song" might be interesting to your readers. I joined the 1st
MarDiv at Camp Pendleton in June55, just after they returned
from Korea, and this song was very popular at the time. It’s
sung to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic’, and goes
like this:
My eyes have seen the Devil on the Shores of Tripoli, and he
wore the Globe & Anchor, just the same as you and me. He also
had had a Guide Book and a Hash mark on his sleeve and a bottle
in his hand. Glory Glory what a h&llava way to die, Glory Glory
what a h&llava way to die, Glory Glory what a h&llava way to
die, as a Ragged A$$ Marine!
I too remember Camp Matthews. When we went to the shooting
range, we marched over hill & dale from MCRD, SDiego (Platoon
108 from Milwaukee, Wisc) to Camp Matthews. This was in
Feb/Mar55, and slept 4 Marines to a tent with an Oil Burning
stove in the middle, but, no Oil to burn. It was so cold; we
slept with our towels wrapped around our head, and our socks on
our hands. We used to DUCK Walk with our Sea Bags up Mount Agony
in the mud, and after it was over, our DI’s ran us to a hole in
the fence, and dared us to leave at night (no one did). Those
that didn’t qualify at the range went through some humbling
experiences (we had 5 in our platoon). They had to put all
their utilities on backwards (skives too), shoes on wrong feet,
and skip holding hands running around the Platoon singing "I’m
a Sh$tbird, I’m a Sh$tbird".
I went from the rank of Sergeant, got promoted to Sergeant again
(this is when the ranks were restructured) it was a frustrating
time.
Semper Fi, and God Bless all who are in Harms way!
Bob Winecki, Sgt/E-5, USMC
55-56 1st MarDiv Cp Pendleton, 56-58 MCRD SDiego, 58-61 HQMC,
Henderson Hall
CAC/CAP Marines
Enjoy the news letter, lots of great reading for sure about
Marines, Old Marines and others. Have to say that without
Motor T, engineers, supply folks and such, the system would
not work and I am proud of those Marines for sure. Now! I am
going to ask you if you know what it is like to walk out of a
Marine Compound with only 10 or 12 Marines, thru the barb wire
enroute to an ambush site. You only have maybe, and that's
just maybe two Marines behind you with 2 or 3 Viet's(PF'S)
behind you and that means the compound only has 8 or so Marines
to man the radio's, stand watch in the corner bunkers and be
ready to come to you in case the Chit hits the fan. It is
normally so dark you can't see your hand in front of your face,
but from memory, you know how many steps to take slowly, very
slowly to the trail turnoff to get where you need to go for the
ambush site. The location is in I Corp, near Phu Bai which is
only X number of miles from the DMZ. Would you be nervous,
scared, of course just as we were for the day recons and night
ambushes occurred every day, 7 days a week. We are CAC
Marines who lived in Viet. villages 7 days a week for the
entire tour of Nam. The name was later changed to CAP Marines
and I have no idea why. These men walked into the dark
constantly to stop the enemy from attacking the villages or
the main bases such as the Phu Bai airstrip and base camp.
Just ask men like JS SHYLO, William Lafrance, Mg Majesky or
Mike Vallee what it was like to nearly be on your own out in
the brush with the only thing connecting you with the world
was a PRC 10 radio and a prayer. The contact rate with the
enemy was very high, and the number of KIA or WIA Marines was
very high for CaC Marines, but we did the job the best that we
could. Some of us survived, many others did not, but that is
war. Why am I saying all of this? Easy, without Motor T,
engineer's, supply folks and such, we could not have done the
job that we did. The time frame for all this that I have
talked about is 1966 to 1968. After I was shot on night ambush
in Feb. 68, I have no personal knowledge of what occurred, but
no doubt from 1968 to 1973 or so, Marines did their job, doing
what was needed and protecting each other as we always did and
will always do, even now in the Sands of the middle east!
Jim "TEX" Lyles Tiger Alpha 2, Nam 67-68.
What Does OFF Spell
Hey Don, Semper Fi Bro.
Just finished reading the latest newsletter and as usual, it
was AWESOME! Thanks for all you are doing for us all. Read
Hank Merritt's letter regarding NOISE LIKE LITTLE MAN and it
brought back many happy memories. Like Hank I was an Airwinger.
As we all know, our Corps has a big habit of using abbreviations
and acronyms to label switches and knobs on any military vehicle
and aircraft. I'll follow Hank with a few similar anecdotes.
Following some aircraft flights, the Seat Shop I was assigned
to at MCAS Beaufort was called on the squawk box that there were
some Yellow Sheet Gripes. When I got to the Flight Line Shack,
I read "OXYGEN DOES NOT WORK IN THE OFF POSITION." As in Hank's
case it was a newbie 1stLt. I checked the system and found it
to work ok so I signed it off, COULD NOT DUPLICATE GRIPE, ALL
OK." Three more times this happened, the same aircraft, same Lt.
Finally I rechecked it and again found it OK. I wrote, System ok
, could not duplicate gripe. Refer to flight equipment to check
for short between headset."
Well to say the least, I got called into the Maintenance Chief's
Office and the Gunny chewed out my butt up one side and down
the other. When he asked me what I had to say for myself, I told
him that the Oxygen System isn't supposed to work in the OFF
position. He no sooner started to ask me why not when he
realized what the alleged deficiency was and we both broke out
laughing. At this time, the Lt walked into the Office from his
flight and was furious and wanted to know what was being done
about the gripe. The Gunny asked the LT what OFF spelled and
then a light must have lit in his head because he turned red as
a beet and stormed out. He really did turn out to be one h&ll of
an Officer who was well liked.
Roman "Ski" Milanowicz 2255299
Sgt of Marines
24JUN68 - 23JUN72
Plt 386 PI
Always Short On Supplies
I was stationed at Portsmouth Naval Base, N.H., and my MOS was
2114(small arms repair). While stationed there 57/58 the
civilian employee in charge of supplies retired and I became in
charge of all of supplies as well as the armory. Since there
were two Marine Detachments there, ours being the main
detachment of the base and the other at the prison called the
"Castle", my duty became rather busy securing supplies. While
there, a new second Lieutenant came to duty as the guard
officer. Since I was the armor and in charge of supply' my
commanding officer was a Captain, but this new Lieutenant didn't
like the free will I had to secure the supplies needed. As you
know the Marines were always short on supplies. So one Thursday
while I was out securing supplies this Lieutenant scheduled an
unannounced inspection of my armory for first thing Friday
morning. That evening one of the Marines of the guard unit
informed me of this scheduled inspection, so I got up early
Friday morning, went into supply and secured paint and began
painting the floor so the Lieutenant could not enter, as my
weapons had not been cleaned for a week and I new that if I
didn't do this he was going to win, at least until my Captain
found out about the inspection. I won and was complimented by
the Lieutenant for my initiative in keeping the armory in such
good condition. In 1993 we had a reunion of our fellow Marines
at Portsmouth and the Lieutenant was present, at which time I
informed him of what I had done on that Friday morning. We both
had a big laugh over this and we stayed in touch until his death
in 2007.
Cpl Norman G.Marks
USMC 1956/1958
You Made it
On the eve of our Vietnam mini reunion I wanted to share a quick
story.
Back in 1969 and fresh from the mud in Vietnam - I took the time
after we had dropped off our prisoners at the airfield out at
San Diego airport to the Camp Pendleton Brig Marines to revisit
MCRD.
We were cross country chasers back then based out of Marine Bks
- Great Lakes, NTC of Illinois.
In looking over at boot camp - I said to myself "its time to
stop over and say hello" since those boot camp days and my
graduation in Sept 1966.
I was dressed in our approved modified blues and walked up to
the grinder - without stepping out and onto that sacred ground.
Out there I could see the many faces of those young Marines -
working hard at "getting it right" on the drill field.
It made me feel that I had really made it! I'm back and the
compliment that I received from a passing staff NCO made it
worth it. He said "I almost saluted you - you look very
squared away Marine!" and kept walking.
All that hard work and up to that point made me realized that -
you made it and earned the title ....Marine!
Gene T. Spanos
Sergeant
U.S. Marines 66/71
M-16
To L/Cpl Michael Smith,
I went through Boot Camp at Parris Island in Dec 1973. Our drill
instructors told us that we were the first series to use the
M-16 for the whole time of training.
Of course you never know for sure if they were telling sea
stories or not. From time to time there would be a couple of
different ways to hold it during drill so the DI's would get
further info from RTR and come back and straighten us out. So
maybe we were the first series.
Mike Riley
1973 to 1994
About That Time
Sgt Grit,
I was with the 6TH Motor T Bn during the war in Iraq driving
bulk fuel. We had just dropped off a bunch of fuel right before
the final drive into Baghdad, and since we our convoy was small,
we joined up with another transporting EPWs (enemy prisoners of
war) to southern Iraq. The trucks with the EPWs were first, and
then I was the next truck in line. The truck right in front of
me had around 25 EPWs in the back of a 7-ton with no bed cover.
We had been driving around 2 hours and stopped to take a short
break. I had to pee bad and jumped out as soon as we stopped.
As I was finishing up, in the corner of my eye I noticed about
half of the EPWs in the truck ahead of me rush to the side. It
was like they all moved on a command so my first thought was
they were about to rush the Marines inside the truck. With my
heart pounding hard up in my throat, I sighted the EPWs in on
my M-16, and I was going to start laying down rounds if they
got near the driver. About that time, they started peeing off
the side of the truck. Guess even Iraqi EPWs are human, too.
Cpl Jeremy D. Booker
6th Motor T Bn Co B(-)
1998-2004
Marine Lance Corporal Saves Admiral's Life
Recently, just outside of Quantico, a Navy Admiral was horseback
riding when he began to lose control. The galloping of the
horse became so severe that he lost control of the reins and
they dropped from his hands. His next move was to grab the
horse's neck and try to hold on for dear life. Slowly but
surely, however, he began to slip out of the saddle and was
losing his grip on this fast-moving steed. Fortunately, there
was an alert Marine Lance Corporal nearby who, alertly assessing
the situation, ran over and unplugged the horse.
Can Do Marine Spirit
I was with the 1st Division band in Vietnam in '68-'69. One day
we were on our way in 6 X's to play a Change of Command and
passed a Marine Combat Engineer's camp-they were living in tents
anchored in deep sand-a spartan life, no doubt.
However, they definitely had that 'can do' Marine spirit because
their Headquarters sign, freshly painted in Marine Corps colors
read: "We have done so much with so little for so long, we can
now do anything with nothing, except weld the crack of dawn...
and we're working on that!"
Semper Fi, fellow Marines.
Jesse Sunderland
Marine Corps musician-17 years.
Promotional Cruise
Sgt. Grit,
In response to the query made by B. Otis 57/60 (below) in your
7 Aug.08 newsletter, I am submitting the following.
I served from Mar. 17, 1958 to Mar. 16, 1964, with active duty
from July 7, 1958 to July 6, 1961. Upon completing Naval Radioman
Class 'A' School at NOB Norfolk, Va. and reporting to Hqs. Co.
2/6 at Camp Lejeune towards the end of April 1959, I was
informed that the 2nd Bn. 6th Marines would be making what they
called 'The Inland Seas Cruise" on the Great Lakes in July of
that year. (1959) What Marine Otis is questioning below, to my
knowledge, is more than likely true.
At the time, we were told basically the same type story, that
the Marine Corps was in danger (again) of being disbanded
because of a movement to get rid of 'Such an Aggressive Force".
We were told that it would be a 'Promotional Cruise' and that we
must put our best feet forward to 'Save the Corps'. Again, this
could have been propaganda, but it may have not been.
The cruise was built up in all the cities newspapers that
surrounded the Great Lakes and along the Saint Lawrence Seaway
months in advance saying that it was the first time since the
War of 1812 that U.S. Naval Ships, with a Marine Landing Force
aboard, would have been on the Great Lakes. I was told that
the widening of the locks in the St. Lawrence Seaway, leading
to the Great Lakes from the Sea, had been completed and would
accommodate 'some what larger ships' and it was a joint effort
between Canada and the U.S. to celebrate this event. The Queen
of England's "yacht" came thru the locks and was on the Lakes
with us. (so we were told) I was aboard the USS Cambria
(APA-36) (correct spelling of ship?) and have many picture
slides of that cruise. It was the best cruise I was ever on in
the Corps. After returning to Camp Lejeune I was sent to
Little Creek, Va. for 'other training' and had orders for 2nd
ANGLICO upon my return. Had many other cruises aboard the USS
BOXER (LPH-4), and other assorted smaller craft, with my
ANGLICO unit but can't say I enjoyed them as much as I did on
the Great Lakes in 1959 with the 6th Marines.
I hope this helps Marine Otis put this to rest in his mind now
knowing that it wasn't just 'scuttlebutt' at the time and that
it more than likely could have been true. As the saying goes,
"Last to Know, First to GO !"
Semper Fidelis,
Centofanti, J D 1693353 2533/0849 USMC
The Difference
I have to question exactly how knowledgeable my brother Marine
(Botch) is regarding Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock and or
his service to the Corps. I feel honored to have been able to
call Gunny Hathcock my friend. Botch your statement that the
Gunny was only doing his job is correct, but you do not
acknowledge that every Marine ever awarded the MOH was also only
doing his or her job as well. The difference as you should be
aware is how well and how far above and beyond the job gets
done. You can not deny that Marines have received the MOH for
lesser accomplishments than the multiple accomplishments of
Carlos Hathcock. Sgt Botch, perhaps you can tell us about the
last time that you were inserted into North Vietnam and assigned
the task of assassinating an NVA General that was guarded by
hundreds of NVA soldiers, achieved the task single handedly,
escaped through all of that back to your extraction point,
lived to tell about it and considered it just your job. Botch
you are as wrong as I have ever known anyone to have ever been.
I will however defend to the death your right as a free man to
be wrong.
Semper Fi my uniformed friend
Dellarocco
Cpl.
USMC
2nd bn.,4th Marines,3rd Mar. Div.
Vietnam 68-69
Is Enough For Me
"Botch",
I won't disagree that Gunny Hathcock doesn't rate a Medal of
Honor for his work in Vietnam. A serious sniper program in the
Corps is what he strived for and helped obtain. It was his job
and he loved it.
His actions on the day his amtrac hit a land mine should at
least be sufficient for him to be considered for the MH.
Deciding to go into a burning tuna boat, in the middle of an
ambush, with ammo cooking off inside the troop compartment, in
an effort to save the other Marines trapped inside, while your
own clothes have burned off, you are on fire, and your burning
skin is hanging off of you in sheets, is enough for me to think
it was kind of above and beyond.
Semper Fidelis
Mike Damigo
Sgt. USMC, 1979-1988
WOG
This really isn't about a "New Guy" but it is still one for the
books.
While attached to 2/9 in 92-93 we went into Somalia for
Operation Restore Hope. When we finally left there we headed
east for a short Liberty port and then home. On the way from
Mogodisco to Pearl our group dropped down and crossed the
equator. Even though I had almost 4 years of "haze gray and
underway" time I was still a "Wog". As the senior Navy
enlisted with the Marine unit you can understand that I knew
that I was in for a bad day (Lucky for me the Master at Arms
Master Chief on the ship was also a Wog, so I was spared that
ordeal). We were all sitting on the bow of the ship awaiting
our fate when one of the FAOs with us nudged me and pointed to
the hatch leading inside the ship. There came the Ship's CO
with our Commanding Officer behind him on a dog leash. It was
one of the greatest sights I had ever seen. We all went through
the fun of crossing the line and had a great time. Seeing our
Boss doing the same thing made it even more special.
v
As a PS the Corps had sent three Family advisors onboard to work
with the returning troops to help them integrate back into
family life. All three of them (including the one young lady)
went through the ceremony and became Shellbacks. OohRah!
In medical we had them looking for 10' of sterile fallopian
tubes, handling the tracing dots from the EKG machine (emptying
the box under the machine that caught the dots when they dropped
off the screen)
Doc Higgins 75-97
Stop The Seizure
I was working on 7 South (Neurology/Neurosurgery) Great Lakes
Naval Hospital during the summer of 1967 after finishing Med
School at Camp Lejeune. We had paraplegics and head injuries.
One of the young Marine Paraplegics was quite a card. Every
new Corpsman that came on the ward he tried to prank with while
undergoing an eleptic type seizure. In going up to him, I asked
him if he was okay. He told me the only thing that would stop
the seizure was a sterile fallopian tube. I asked him again
thinking that I had misunderstood him. When he repeated "The
only thing that can stop this is a sterile fallopian tube. I
looked him straight in the eye and asked him, "When did he have
the operation and do your buddies here know about it." He asked
me, Which operation was I talking about since he had several
after he got hit. I told him, The one that gave you the $ex
change since that the sterile fallopian tube was part of the
female anatomy." His buddies started giving him the raze about
coming over to pay him a visit at night since they just found
out that he was a male but a female grunt now. Talk about
turning the tables.
A few weeks later a friend of mine, JM, junior to me was taking
care of this same Marine. He got sucked in when he saw the fit
the Marine had. He came up and asked me, "Chuck, where do I go
to get a sterile fallopian tube?" I looked him straight in the
eye while keeping a straight face and told him, "Central
Supply." He went running off the ward and down the stairs to
Central Supply which was 8 stories below us in the basement.
When the door to the stairwell slammed shut the laughter started
and subsided after about 10- 15 minutes. 30 minutes later, JM,
a red headed Irish lad, came back to floor with his face very
well reddened almost the same colored as his hair. He cam up
to me and asked me, "Why did you let me make a fool out of
myself?" I told him then that that guy tries that with every
new Corpsman. Morale had been low on the floor and since he
had fallen with it I decided that the guy deserved to get a
really good charge out of it. I also told him what I had done
to turn the tables on him when he had tried it with me. I told
him that the only way that he can deal with it is to go out and
admit that he had been had and to plot his revenge on him.
the guys I took care of during my time there always warned the
new ones coming to the ward about practical jokes and to watch
out for me. If they think they could pull one on the Corpsman,
"Do not, reappear, Do not mess with Doc Bunny."
Charles D. Bunner aka Doc Bunner or more importantly to my 1st
Platoon comrades from Alpha Company, 1st Mar Div "Doc Bunny"
A Case Of Beer
While at in Hq. Co, H&S Bn, 4th Marines @MCAS Kaneohe, my radio
relay team was attached to “Horrible Hog Co, 2/4. The CO was
Capt. A.J. (Tony) Palonis. Also known as Pineapple One. Some
time in early 1961 we were sent to Molokai to field test new
weapons and 782 gear. My team furnished 24/7 communications to
another team at MCAS. This “new” equipment was the M-14, M-60,
the 40mm grenade launcher and what, Probably, turned out to be
the Alice Packs. This was the first field test of the new
quick release barrel for the M-60. There were no grenade
launchers available so a cut off wooden dowel was attached to
a rifle stock as this was a test of new tactics as well as
equipment. Our base camp was across the road from the airport
but my team was on a hill near the rock quarry. Several times
a week I had to make a supply run to them and we announced our
presence by throwing an M80 in the quarry to tell them to come
down to get their supplies. Once a week Capt. Tony would
dispatch a jeep with a case of beer for them. I heard that he,
later, was assigned to the war college. There wasn’t a Marine
in his unit that wouldn’t go through H&ll for him.
Does anyone remember Kane’s bar in Kuanakakai?
J.R. Lape
S/Sgt 1957-69
Short Rounds
as usual a very outstanding issue of news did not vote for
favorite MARINE because you did not have Gen. Raymond G. Davis
listed. he was my C. G. twice. as for the CAPT wondering about
the Generals Krulak they were father & son keep up the good
work SEMPER FI rbs
My first mission in the FMF was to feed the gamma goats. 18
hours I looked for this beast Up and down the hills of
SouthernCalif. Full pack, and 30 pounds of oats. You know who
you are and I will find you! Payback is a medavac, GY SGT Thomas
E Hancock.
Last news letter contained several references to Motor T school
at Ft. Leonard Wood. I went through Motor T school at Camp
Johnson (Montford Point NC) Aug - Nov 77 Thomas C. Bogan MOS
3522
All I can say is I love this "Sgt Grit News...I can't write any
more...my hands won't close around a pen or pencil...but I can
hit the keys...until my hands star hurting to bad...keep up the
excellent work...djb Semper-Fi
While enjoying the letter about "flight line" I remembered one
morning at Camp Courtney, Okinawa circa 1976 when our platoon
commander came in and told me to "get the guy of the roof".
Apparently the previous fire watch failed to inform me of the
rookie on the roof who was pulling "typhoon watch". (Chrome
dome, skivvies, binoculars, you get the picture)
Bob Ehrle MUX Plt, CommCo, HQ Bn, HQ 3rd MarDiv
Sgt. Grit: When I was in Boot Camp at P.I. we all had to walk
guard duty. Just wondering if the recruits are still required
to? There was a PX at the triangle, First battalion, near the
parade field. I drew that post one night. It was a challenge
post, and I had the Corporal of the Guard visit me. Of course,
I challenged him, and when he responded, I said the "approach to
be recognized", which he did. He asked me some of my general
orders, which I knew, and left with the order "carry on".
Scared the #*** out of me. Just wondering if anyone remembers
the scuttlebutt about the "Captain Marble" who was officer of
the day and was challenged by a recruit, while inspecting the
guard posts? If anyone who served during this time and knows the
whole story, I'd like to hear from them. I know it, and it was
funny. Could be true!
David E. Tyre.....Sgt. of Marines-1511856..........1954-57
.............Semper Fi!
Fear is not an Option Decal
Grey Eagle Globe and Anchor Decal
Semper Fi
Welcome Home Marine, Job Well Done!
Sgt Grit
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