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A good Marine goes home every night with two important things in
tact, his Honor and his Integrity.
Semper Fi
Donald Yoder
Sgt USMC Ret. Old Fart
Where It Starts
The Yellow Footprints
Scuttlebutt
Sgt. Grit:
I always wondered why the term "scuttlebutt" was used for both a
water cooler and for "rumor control". (Or maybe it was explained
in boot camp and I was "skylarking", another odd term)
Recently,
my wife and I visited Boston for the first time and toured the
U.S.S. Constitution. During the tour, we were shown the object
in the attached photo which was located on the gun deck.
It was
explained that sailors and Marines were given their daily water
ration scooped out of this cask which was called the
scuttlebutt. Since they had nothing to do while waiting in
line, they traded rumors. A great tour of a the oldest
commissioned ship in the Navy.
Tom Mahoney
('67 - '71)
Unclaimed Marine Honored
On July 22nd Marines from Bravo Co. and NH Marine Corps League
presented full Military Honors to an unclaimed Marine. L/Cpl
William Lawrence
The Detail consisted of A Marine Officer, two Flag Folders, a
Chaplain, Two Buglers and Firing Detail.
Michael Horne, Cemetery Administrator received the folded flag.
CO Noticed
Dear Cpl. Williams,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your
prayers. My name is Cpl. Karl A.Tober. I was with Delta Company
on Operation Dewey Canyon. I remember the 18 of March 1969 well.
It was the last day of the worst operation I was ever on. I was
on the last Chopper out of that h&ll hole. Our CO noticed that
we had left a machine gun team behind. He ordered that chopper
pilot to go back for them. We did so and we all made it back to
Stud safely. Thank God and thank you for your prayers.
Karl A.Tober
His DI Is Smiling
When the bee stings-----
LCpl C.R. Dehn says it was personal pride that kept him standing
at attention as a bee buzzed about his face during the birthday
pageant. However, when Dehn opened his mouth to take a deep
breath to blow the bee away he sucked it in instead. The bee
stung the inside of Dehn's mouth several times and then he
swallowed it when an attempt to cough it up was to no avail.
Dehn maintained his attention stance throughout it all
commenting later, "I knew all my buddies at OCS were watching."
Great To Recall
Sgt. Grit, it's great to recall so many years of Marine Corps
history, w/o your help I don't feel some us old timers would
ever remember some of the things we would probably wouldn't want
to recall, yet every time I read them it's like going back in a
time zone.
So thanks for sharing all past, current feelings of the Corps
that will live forever'!
Semper Fi!
RamTwo
Note:
And yes, flattery will get you in the newsletter.
Semper Fi
Sgt Grit
Reunion Marine Barracks, NAS, Quonset Point, Rhode Island
from 1966-1968
Sgt. Grit,
Recently we have tried to contact as many Marines from our old
outfit. We are planning a reunion in March of 2010 at the
Marine Museum. So far we have got about 15 guys we served with.
We are from Marine Barracks, NAS, Quonset Point, Rhode Island
from 1966-1968. Don't know if it can be done, but could you
help get the word out to former Marines from Quonset to get in
touch with myself, Bob, or my buddy, Travis. Thanks for your
time and keep up the great Marine tradition of great Marine
"stuff".
Semper Fi!
Bob Longabardi (Cpl)
1584 Gary Street
East Meadow, NY 11554
516 489-7081
Travis Fryzowicz (Cpl)
98 Richmond Ave
Spotswood, New Jersey 08884
723 251-5518
Rope Hole
While on a Training mission on Tiawan, As the Ships Plt, "81 MM
Mortars" We returned to the ship to reload the Bn.
Before the rest of the Bn. came aboard, Our Plt. Sgt. had a
Rifle Inspection on the top deck of the APE. Well we all know
how large a Rope hole is on the ship.. Well Staff Sgt. Berton
snatched the Rifle from a Marine and inspected it. Stated
disgrace, and flung the Rifle across the deck, and would you
believe it went right though the hole and into the Sea.
SSgt had to pay for the rifle.
This was in 1959 I think.
Old Memories
M/Sgt French/Ret.
w/1/5, Korea 1953-1954, Okinawa 1959-60, 81's 3/8 Lejeune,
DI at Pi 1965/1967 the on to Vietnam.
Empty Clips
In 1966, each Seabee battalion had a Gunnery Sergeant attached.
MCB-9 had Gunny Miley. Gunny Miley had lost an eye in Korea.
His bad eye was ice blue. The whole battalion took great pride
in "our" Marine. I was a LTJG then and myself and the other
JO's really liked to hear the stories the Gunny could tell. One
he relayed to us was of a night in Korea when (in his words)
"the entire Chinese Army was charging at his fighting hole."
Gunny said that in addition to all the ammo he could carry, he
also had a good supply of empty clips for his Garand. The
Chinese also knew about "pling" which meant that the Garand in
front of them was empty and now was the time to rush the
position. Gunny Miley explained the reason for the empty clips
was to load a full clip in your rifle and then throw an empty
clip at a rock. The enemy would rise up and charge into fully-
loaded M1's. I lost track of Gunny Miley when I was med-evacced
from Viet Nam. Does anyone remember him?
Steve Schady, US Navy Retired
Marine with Mom Photo Contest
Marine - Do you have an old or recent pic of you with your Mom?
Get details on the photo contest!
Lt. Col. Edward L. Barker
Lt. Col. Edward L. Barker, United States Marines, Retired, died
August 4, 2009, after a prolonged illness in Temple, Texas. He
was born on December 8, 1920, in Houston, Texas. He entered
service from Crockett, Texas. He was 88 years old.
Barker was a veteran of the United States Marines and served in
the South Pacific in WW II. In the Korean War in 1951-1952, he
served with Marine Observation Squadron Six (VMO-6) and HMR-161.
In 1941, he left Texas A&M and volunteered for service in the
Royal Canadian Air Force to become an enlisted flight
instructor. Following Pearl Harbor, he was commissioned in the
United States Marines after returning to the United States and
trained as a Naval Aviator at Pensacola, Florida.
While in Canada, he met and later married Geraldine Beatrice
Frances Brown of Regina, Saskatchewan, April 17, 1943, in
Regina. They are survived by two sons, Edward L. Barker, Jr, and
Harold R. Barker, of Dallas, Texas.
His last billet in the Marines was as Executive Officer of H&HS
Squadron, MCAF, New River, North Carolina, in 1965.
In Korea, he was awarded the Silver Star for an attempted
helicopter rescue of a downed Marine pilot on the Hill 851 -
Hill 520 ridgeline at Heartbreak Ridge on October 7, 1951. He
was also credited with the Air Medal w/8, Distinguished Flying
Cross w/1, Navy Letter of Commendation w/V, Presidential Unit
Citation, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign
Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with w/3, Victory Medal WW
II, China Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, United
Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal w/3, and Korean
Presidential Unit Citation.
In 1980, after a lifetime of total silence about his career, Lt.
Col. Barker consented to talk for one hour with his youngest
son, Harold R. Barker, about his military career. After that one
hour, he refused to talk more and until his death remained
silent.
That one hour conversation later resulted in the Korean War
Veterans Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C., and the
founding of the Korean War Project on the Internet.
According to his wishes, his ashes will be released over the
Pacific Ocean off California.
The story of Lt. Colonel Barker's heroism and influence in
honoring all Korean War Veterans throughout the world can be
found at: koreanwar.org
Shows The Dedication
Sgt Grit,
Attached is a picture of my USMC tattoo. I sat thru a lot of
hours to get this completed.
Well worth it as it shows the dedication to the Corps most of us
will always have.
Semper Fi,
Scott R, Neff Sr.
I Welcomed Him Home
I had the pleasure to stop at Sgt Grit's main store and get a
picture of Don and I standing at the back of my motor home along
with two other old Marines. Sorry I don't remember the other
two's names. I'm sure if they see this on the web site, they
will write in and let us know their names and dates of service.
I did meet another old Marine that was a bit bitter about the
happier homecoming that the current military is getting. He was
a tad upset after 40 years of returning home from Viet Nam that
he never received a welcome home. I welcomed him home as I do
all old vets who survived any past wars. I can only remember why
I served my country not for the accolades that so many seem to
be looking for or wanting. I have and will always stand tall for
being a Marine and a veteran of the Viet Nam conflict.
Sgt Grit, your prices are below average from what I've seen
across the U.S. I would also like to thank your staff at the
office for their courtesy and assistance with ordering items.
Stand tall Marines, you've done your duty, never hang your heads
for anyone.
Sgt Fritz McDowell
1967/1970
RVN 68/70
One Was Not Good Enough
Sgt Grit: Well it took me ten years after my retirement but I
mustered the strength to display a rebellious attitude and get
my first Marine tattoo. I found that one was not good enough so
I got a second tattoo to balance things out. I am proud of my
service and am now proud of the ink that constantly reaffirms
that commitment. The first was traditional with an EGA while my
second displayed a stronger commitment to insuring the tattoo
met the high standards expected of all Marines. I received the
first in Yuma while the second came from a thorough review of
tattoo artists in Orlando. The reality is that one more is
upcoming as a tribute to my father's service. Semper Fi to
all.
Chuck Forrester
Pvt - CWO - Maj
1978 - 1998
Chesty Has Crawled Out
Marines,
Did you see the CBS Evening News Friday PM? CBS reporter Laura
Logan (or similar) has been doing nightly reports on 'E' Co/2nd
Bn/8th Marines. She has been doing a fine job reporting on
Marines recently after starting off a bit rough a few years ago
(another victim of one of my 'MARINES NOT SOLDIERS' rants!). In
this latest series of news reports she has been quite accurate
and informative.
However, in Friday's report she allowed a young Marine from 2/8
to stand up and say something along the lines of, "Marines from
Iwo Jima and Chosin Reservoir have nothing on me. I'll have my
stories to tell my children. I'll have my stories to tell."
Now, I'm just tossing this out there and am open for discussion.
2/8 has served EIGHT tours in Iraq and this #9 in Afghanistan.
They've seen a lot of action and I'm not saying it's not tough
for them there. Hot, dusty, primitive living conditions and
people shooting at them from behind every rock or tree.
But to compare them to the Marines at Iwo Jima? Or the Chosin
Reservoir? H&ll, I bet 'Chesty' has crawled out of his grave
and is heading over there right now to teach this youngster some
respect! 2/8 isn't suffering 60-70% casualties. It's not -20
degrees.
Yeah, it's hot and he's got a few Taliban shooting at him, but
that's nothing like having 30,000 suicidal Japs coming after him
or 100,000 screaming Chinese h&ll bent on killing everyone, is
it? How would he be behaving if 5000 to 6000 Marines were
killed in a month long battle or if 8,000+ were wounded?
I think this kid's Gunny ought to kick his azs then send him to
the First Sergeant, let him kick his azs some more then pass him
on to the Sergeant Major for even more azs kicking.
Just my opinion.
Tony Glass
USMC Sgt
1974-78
Aszes Whipped By One Lone Old Man
Girl friend and I went to Vets Rally in WinterPark, Colorado
last weekend. Several pictures are included hope you can use
them for the newsletter. Two stories though.
On way down we had to stop for last minute forgotten items.
Stopped at a Super Walmart. While browsing, saw an older
gentleman with a cane and a 1st Marine Division Jacket. Some
kids (18-20 year old) were around him (4 of them). I was a
little ways away and thought they were just talking. But
suddenly one of them shoved him backwards into one of the
others.
Ok, I got your back, and started to hurry towards them. Figuring
four youngster against one old man with a cane just isn't right.
I took maybe three steps, and that quick I saw the older man
didn't need any help. Using his cane, he had three of them on
the ground in a blink of an eye, the 4th was making distance.
I continued over to offer any assistance I could.
Security showed up and then later the cops. We visited while
waiting. Turns out he is a Korean War vet. When cops got there
he politely told them, he did not want them arrested, but turned
over to their parents. He gave each a business card. All it said
was United States Marines at top, Korean War Vet in the Middle
And Semper Fi at bottom.
He told the cops, they will never live down among their peers
having their aszes whipped by one lone old man. More punishment
than what jail would ever do. I got one of his cards with name,
but somewhere on the trip I lost it.
Now to the Vets Rally.
2007 it was cold and rainy.
2008 I am told it snowed (I was in Sunny Calif, MCRD and Camp
Pendleton 40th anniversary my graduation).
2009 it was again cold and rainy, but we had a good turn out.
Choo Choo
Sgt of Marines (NLA)
1968-1974
RVN 1970 - 1971
Here are some pics of the time there.
POW / MIA flag on bike in parade
USMC flag on bike in parade.
Marine Color Guard in Parade and what I believe are new
recruits waiting to go active
Notice the Staff is about a 1/2 step ahead of the group
They all appear to be slouching a little
With all the Sgt's in the group, must be pretty easy rank to get
these days
And the traveling Vietnam War memorial Wall
Middle Of The Sahara Desert
Sgt Grit, I guess this qualifies as a sea-going Marine story. I
was a member of Marine Communications Detachment stationed
aboard the USS Pocono AGC-16 in 1957-1959. Crossing the Atlantic
ocean during one of our cruises to the Mediterranean the navy
scheduled a live firing exercise for their twin 40mm guns.
A couple of empty 55 gallon drums were thrown overboard as
targets. After the ship sailed approximately 250-300 yards away
firing was to commence. The navy also invited 3 Marines to the
shoot to fire our M1's. Our 1stSgt, sergeant Verdeyen and myself
were selected because we were expert riflemen.
The navy shot first, came close but did not hit the targets.
Then it was our turn. Our 1stSgt was in the offhand position
while Sgt Verdeyen and myself used the sitting position. Don't
remember how many rounds we fired but we hit and sank both
targets. This is not to slight the navy gunners, just telling it
like it was.
Another story aboard the USS Pocono. While sailing in the
Mediterranean Sea, the ship was caught in a terrible storm. Our
ship was rocking and rolling but we still had communications
with the Naval comm station in Port Lyautey, Morocco. They
wanted to know our position. So we in Radio 1 buzzed Flag Plot
over the intercom to get our coordinates. After giving our
coordinates to Port Lyautey they came back over the radio-
teletype with, "Congratulations, you're in the middle of the
Sahara desert."
So for a while I guess we didn't know where we were or a newbie
was on watch in Flag Plot. The storm also flattened the steel
gun tub that surrounded the 5 inch gun at the bow of the ship.
Memories. S/F
GySgt Archuleta, Ret.
1955-1975
No Matter How Tired
Me, an old Marine from Viet Nam days! Was in Nam 67-68 with
Combined Action Company Alpha 2 near Phu Bai and Hue. I learned
a lot in those long ago days and nights when our unit with only
10 or 12 Marines and about 20 PF(Popular Forces) Viets did our
job. You take 18 to 25 year old Young Marines and place them
into a Viet Village and their standing order is to protect the
village and keep the enemy out.
When you walk outside the barb wire front gate and can't really
see anything since it is so dark, with only 2 or 3 Marines
behind you, and two or three PF's and knowing that you have to
walk into danger, on jungle trails to get to the ambush site,
all of a sudden, you realize that you are not a kid anymore.
You get a big dose of reality that you now deal with, a life and
death situation and the last thing you want to do is endanger
the men slowly walking behind you, for they are trusting you, a
fellow Marine to get them to the site safe.
What do you do? You take a deep breath, and move out slowly, so
slowly as it is so dark, you can't see anything, only shades of
very dark to complete dark, but from memory you walk, listen,
breathe slow, quiet, and move. Knowing you have a job to do,
you move forward, but no matter what, you never more any faster
than you feel you need to for even thought you need to get to
certain check points at assigned times, you never, ever do
anything that will put your BROTHER MARINES in danger. Finally
over hours, you get to your assigned location to set up the
ambush, relieved that you got to the site without any chit storm
occurring and your men are safe.
Why am I reliving the above that occurred over 40 plus years
ago? Well folks, it is so old Marines from the old Viet Nam
days, and yes, some of us still alive and in our 60's and more,
can pass on to the new generation of Marines that are dealing
with the enemy now. Our units had 50 % loss rates back then for
we were such small units, 10 or 12 Marines out in the middle of
nowhere, and when the Tet Offensive occurred in early 68, we got
hurt bad, but we did our jobs just as the young Marines now are
expected to do.
Ask Old Marines like John Shylo, Mageski, and Soupy who was
assigned to Alpha 3, several miles away from me, and they went
thru the same as I did. We all did the job, did as assigned to
do, but we all knew this basic fact, you cover your brother
Marines back, you kick azs, kill the enemy, and get back home
safe along with your brother Marines. No matter how tired, how
sleepy you are, you never, ever do anything that will endanger
your brother Marines. PERIOD!
Now, all these years later, I am 62 years old, retired from 37
years in Law Enforcement in Houston, Texas and I find myself
worrying my azs off for the health and welfare of today's young
Marines, doing the job which once again, it seems for an
American public that does not support our men in combat.
STOP HERE! For going to tell you that no matter what you hear,
that most of the AMERICANS in this country do support you and
will stand behind you regardless of what you hear on the news
and read in the newspapers. AMERICA is behind you MARINES, so
do the job, kick azs!
Jim Lyles, US MARINES- 1966 to 1970. Viet Nam- 67-68,
Assigned to CaC Alpha 2, and Military # is 2251765.
"Horn" Back
Greetings & Semper Fi:
Ignore the hour, for starts! I have purchased a "Musical Horn"
from you folks a couple of years ago and, sadly, I have yet to
hear it back!
*
I have called the manufacturer and I shared with them that it
was my personal opinion that the "chip" that I received with my
horn was playing this sacred hymn way too fast. I likened it to
how fast we sang it after removing our gas masks in the gas
chamber at Camp Geiger (1959) and were told we cannot leave till
we sing the Marine Corps Hymn! Trust me - under those
circumstances it gets sung in half the time normally required.
The woman at the other end played the hymn at normal speed and I
was able to tell her that that was the correct way, the correct
speed. They sent me the new chip and I immediately installed
it!
*
I also went on to tell them that this is the most fun that one
can legally have these days with their clothes on. From the
smiles of children parked next to me in traffic in a car bearing
the smallest of Marine Corps stickers (which my eyes can pick
out at 100 yards); to the old hands who fiddle with their dash
radios and their cell phones trying to figure out where the heck
this "tune" is coming from; to the Marine on N. Main St. in
fatigues who gets the treatment as I pass and pull into the
nearby gas station (last seen screaming at me for "making his
day"); to the cop directing traffic who spots my "SEMPRFY" Plate
(I can spell, "SEMPRFI" was spoken for) on my van and gives me
the thumbs up and gets the "horn" back; to my "civilian" friends
who are spotted walking about town knowing that I am somewhere
within sight; to the Marine who THINKS that he has every
possible sticker known to man on his chariot when he realizes
that he has been trumped by another Marine with a musical horn,
the joys of owning this device are endless.
*
The reason for my writing at this time, at this hour, is to
complain that I have NEVER gotten to hear "The Hymn" back!
Isn't there another Marine here in the 03301 zip code who owns
this same horn? Let's meet! ;-)))))
*
Denis J. O'Connell, Sr.(1841, CPL E-4, 1958 - 1962)
Concord, NH 03301
The Old Preacher
If your a Marine or you know a Marine, you will love this
story... Good one for the Sgt Grit Newsletter....
Semper Fi,
Don
OOHRAH
An old southern country preacher from Georgia had a teenage son,
and it was getting time the boy should give some thought to
choosing a profession. Like many young men, the boy didn't have
a clue what he wanted to do, and didn't seem too concerned about
it.
One day, while the boy was away at school, his father decided to
try an experiment. He went into the boy's room and placed four
objects on his desk: - A Bible - A silver dollar - A bottle of
Jack Daniels whisky - A Playboy magazine The old preacher then
says to himself "I'll just hide behind the door, and when he
comes home from school this afternoon, I'll see which object he
picks up. If it's the Bible, he's going to be a preacher like
me, and what a blessing that would be! If he picks up the
dollar, he's going to be a businessman, and that would be OK;
but If picks up the bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunkard,
and, Lord, what a shame that would be. And worst of all, if he
picks up that horrible magazine he's gonna be A skirt-chasin'
bum."
The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's footsteps
entering the house and whistling and he headed for his room. The
boy tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leave
spotted the objects on the desk. With curiosity in his eye, he
walked over to inspect them. He picked up the Bible and placed
it under his arm, dropped the silver dollar into his pocket,
Uncorked the bottle, and chugged a big long drink while he
studied the details of this month's centerfold.
"Lord have mercy," the old preacher disgustedly whispered, "he's
gonna be a Marine!"
Reenacting Vietnam
Dear Sgt. Grit,
The enclosed link will lead you to an Associated Press release
of about ten hours ago.
The article is both an enjoyable & "Positive" statement
regarding those of us who served in the Nam... And toward those
who have supported us. Both now & in the past...
Could be that attitudes have finally begun to change for the
better...Hope you enjoy
Reenacting Vietnam War
"Semper Fi",
Mike
Locked In The Freezer
Hi Sgt Grit,
I look forward to your news letters and often purchase items
from your store. I was thinking about how today our troops can
call home on cell phones and use e-mail to contact family.
Well Sgt.Grit as you know all we had was U.S.Mail and some times
that was slow.
In 68 I was with 2/4 Golf Co,3rd Plt.3rd Mar Div.RVN I got a
letter from mom that had the usual home news (we miss you,
weather is great or crappy can't wait for you to come home and
so on.
This letter had gone on to say that my little sister and baby
brother had gone to the neighborhood convenience store for candy
etc when men came in and robbed the store, she went on to say
that my sister and brother and some other customers were locked
in the freezer at the rear of the store, the letter just stopped
no more pages ?
I started to panic and others around me asked what was wrong and
I told them the story, of course they said don't worry it's
probably nothing.
Well now I get out the letter gear and write home and in the
letter I said mom where was the rest of the letter and what
happened to my sister and brother ?
As you know we move from hill to hill daily and when weather
gets socked in it's going to be awhile before mail catches up
with you.
Another letter comes from mom and nothing about my sister and
brother. Well now I finally get the letter from mom that says
Oh my gosh Honey I'm sorry about that and don't worry as when
the Police arrived they got your sister and brother out of the
locked freezer.
Boy Sgt.Grit it would have been so nice to have had a cell
phone or e-mail. I do not recall how many days or weeks it had
been until mail caught up with us.
I look back and laugh at those crazy times we had and would like
to say thanks for the news letters and all the stories that
bring back so many memories of long ago.
I carry my 2/4 Magnificent Bast*rds coin I got from Sgt. Grit's
and consider it my lucky coin.
Thanks again brother and Semper Fidelis
At that time Sgt.Burns Stoughton Mass
A Fellow Marine
Nick was my best friend, he was a fellow Marine and was like a
brother to me. In fact I would say that we were closer than most
brothers could ever be. We'd experienced things together that no
one else could ever relate to unless they were there at that
moment in time.
For the last four years of my life after high school everything
I've done or experienced has been with nick. I've had some of
the best times of my life with nick and I think a lot of that
had to do with the love and appreciation we both shared for life
due to the hardships and bitterness we shared that in the end
can only make you do just that, love life.
I can remember times when nick and I would just sit in the
barracks and drink a whole bottle of vodka or jack daniels and
just talk and laugh and be happy we could both be sitting there
and not in the d*mn desert. I can still remember the day we
arrived at parris island, it seems like a lifetime ago, and how
in the first week we got separated and nick went to 2nd BN while
I stayed in 1st BN because he needed to be evaluated for his
allergy to bees.
I remember with a week left to go I broke my right hip and had
to have surgery and stay in the hospital for two months. As soon
as nick's graduation ceremony was over he came right to the
hospital to visit me. It's things like that I think that made us
closer than any friends could ever be. Once we both got to the
fleet it was every single weekend from Friday to Sunday that we
would party non-stop, and that's the way it should have been for
two kids our age dealing with the things we were.
Then we both went to Iraq in march of 2008, myself with 2nd LAR
BN and nick with 1st BN 9th Marines. I heard about a suicide
bomber that hit a combat out post with 1/9 about a month into
the deployment and I prayed to god that nick was all right.
Luckily at that time we had internet access so I got a hold of
him pretty quickly and my mind was put at ease. We both came
home in October and picked up right where we left off both
better and wiser from the experience we had shared.
As soon as we got back, there was already talk of 2nd LAR
deploying to Afghanistan before the summer came. That turned out
to be only Charlie company going out and I got picked to go with
them. So of course after I told nick he wasn't going to let me
go alone and he transferred to 2nd BN 8th Marines who were
slated to leave at the same time frame we were. We met up at
camp leatherneck in Afghanistan where we saw each other on a
regular basis and talked about colleges we were going to go to,
a house we were going to rent for the summer, and how much life
just sucked out there in general.
We pushed south on june 27th and that was the last I saw or
heard from nick. I don't think either of us really knew what to
expect coming down here. The first week down here in the helmand
province was the craziest thing I have ever experienced . I
don't think I can count on both hands the number of times I
thought myself or one of my guys was going to die. I knew nick
had to be going through the same thing and every chance I got
I'd call my mom and ask if she had heard from nick's mom to make
sure he was still all right. As casualties increased all across
the helmand province, including my own battalion, I couldn't
help but constantly worry.
On the evening of july 27th I called home to put my mind at
ease again after hearing another Marine in 2/8 was killed. My
mom answered the phone and asked if anyone had contacted me and
I instantly knew what had happened, that my worst possible fear
had come true. I felt sick to my stomach and I still do. How
could this happen to nick? I thought we were both invincible
through all of this, that all of this would just be another
drunk story to tell when we got home. How could my friend who
I'd shared so much with and had so many future plans with after
the Marine Corps be gone just like that?
As I sit here in a city called Khan-Neshan in the Helmand
province of Afghanistan I keep asking myself these questions
and I'm finding it very hard to sleep at night now and I feel
like that light I always saw at the end of the tunnel is dimming
away for me knowing all of the grief and mourning going on back
home for my best friend and fellow Marine. I wish more than
anything in the world that I could be there for the service and
to see my friend off but it is impossible now and there is
nothing I can do to change it.
I hope that by everyone hearing these words read can some way
help put everyone's hearts and minds at ease . I will end this
with a quote that has stuck with me for a long time and has
inspired me when I have been in my lowest and darkest moments.
"we must never allow ourselves to forget or dishonor the few men
who went and would go again to h&ll and back to preserve and
defend what this country truly believes to be right and
descent." I feel like half of me has been taken away here in
Afghanistan and the better half at that.
I miss you and love you nick and I will never forget the things
you and I have been through for the rest of my life.
CPL. Andrew W. Coville
USMC
Cape Cod News Story
He Came Unglued
Sgt Grit
I come from a long list of Marines, My father, four Uncles two
brothers, My son joined in nineteen seventy four and spent fours
in My father was a China Marine.
To get back to Yemassee & Parris Island...While in boot camp and
the Platoon had finished the rifle range, We went on mess duty
at the rifle range, There were 80 of use in the platoon 16 went
to the BAM Mess, I stayed at the rifle range, the evening before
we were to start Mess, the Drill Instructor come to me and told
me he would be gone for a while and I was to make a fire watch
list for the troops, in the am I was to March them up to the
mess Hall at 5am and than go back at 7pm and march them back to
the huts we were staying in,
The thing about this...I was only Fifteen Years old and there
were men in their late twenties and had previous military
service in the army. In the two weeks no one questioned me.
Then on the last day before going back to main side. The CO
came out to see the troops He asked me where the Sgt was. I told
him I had not seen him in two weeks from day one of mess duty,
Well to say he came unglued is an understatement, The platoon
Number was two fifteen. in 1954. I wonder if there is any one
out there who remembers this. I also caught h&ll for my final
few weeks till graduation. I was also the right Guidon and first
squad leader.
Cpl. Iver C Steele USMC When a Cpl meant something
Let The DI On The Bus
Sgt Grit
I was one of the first boots to get trained under that new
policy, only we spent just Little over 6 weeks on the island and
got there when they still let the DI on the bus, and yes most of
us had a great buzz going, at about 0300, I was from Ma and flew
to an airport which I believe was beaufort, then a bus to the
foot prints to get the new world order going.
Well the capt told the story exactly like it happened, we drug
are tired aszes around until maybe the next night when we
picked up by are training DIs and then finally bed us down.
After a few hours sleep the garbage cans and yelling started,
that's when you first knew your world changed.
By the way I was in Plt 301 and the dates we were there, I have
my book here were from Dec 28th 1965 till Feb 17th 1966, then to
Camp Geiger Y Co for infantry training.
Another funny story about 301 maybe not so funny but it happened
and I'm sure our DIs took crap over this for years, when we were
on the rifle range the guide or who was in charge of the 301
flag left it on the 200 yard line and nobody noticed it till we
got to the 500 yard line, well the staff had 3 or 4 holes in it
and we had to march or walk backwards to are barracks and you
all can imagine what happened next in push up position.
If that story has been here before I'm sorry to bore you but the
SD ended up making 2nd Lt, so I guess it did not hurt his career
to much
R Afton 2542 RVN 1968 1st MarDiv hqs comm (puzsy aircond comm
cen and flush toilet)
I'll Eat That
Sgt Grit, Gotta share another funny boot camp story.
I was in platoon 2063 at Parris Island (graduated 10/27/1981)
and our DI's were Senior DI
SSGT Krause, and Sgt's Ishmail and Mazenko who were all rough,
tough DIs, but there were times when we did such stupid stuff,
that Mazenko (who was the youngest) had to turn his face away
from us to keep from cracking up laughing. I don't know if, as
a group we were dumber than the average platoon (we did win
several series awards), but if nothing else we did give those
three Marines some great stories to tell their grand-kids over
the years!
Anyway, one day in the chow hall very early in first phase, I
went through the chow line and took 3 or 4 pieces of corn bread
thinking it was sheet cake without icing. When I finally got
around to eating it (about 2 minutes after sitting down) after
ramming everything else down the pie-hole, I realized it was not
cake, but very dry corn bread! I must have made a gagging sound
when my buddy Jimmy Cornell said, "Man, I'll eat that, I love
corn bread".
I told him to take it knowing I would have been ripped to pieces
by a DI if he saw that I did not eat all that was on my tray,
but when Jimmy reached over to take them, Mazenko saw him with
his hawk-eye and came flying over to our table. "Why, you
thieving piece of %#@&*^% sh_t, who the %$#@ told you to take
that %$^&*%$ corn bread of off that %&^*$%# recruit's tray?"
Jimmy stammered something and Mazenko screamed back, "You better
come up with a good %^&$#@$ excuse or your stinking a$$ is going
to the ^&*%$#$ brig, you thieving piece of pond scum!" I felt
so bad for Jimmy, but there was nothing I could do. Mazenko
PT'd Jimmy out in the formation and then again after we marched
back to the squad-bay, but that was not the end of it. At the
noon meal, Mazenko walked over to Cornell and said, "Now
sh_thead, since you want to steal food from recruits, I am going
to take your %$^&*$# food every meal" (Mazenko knew Jimmy did
not steal the cornbread from me - and you Marines reading this
know d*mn right well that Mazenko was just having fun), but the
next few days after Jimmy would load up his tray, Mazenko (if he
was on duty at that time) would walk over and take something off
Cornell's tray!
Looking back now, it was hilarious, but back then it was not
funny. Mazenko would walk over and say, "hhmmnnn, I'll, take
this and that and this and that.....now, go away sh_thead!" But
looking back now, I know Mazenko must have been laughing his
butt off at how terrified we were of him! No one ever ate any
food off of another recruit's tray again as far as I knew! I
never ran into any of our DI's in the FMF, but I would love to
have had a chance to thank all three of them. They were all
great Drill Instructors and did a great job of making us into
Marines! I still respect them immensely to this day! God bless
all Marines and all service men and woman and know that we are
praying for all of you. Freedom is not free!
Incidentally, I love corn bread, but every time I eat it, I
think of that day all those years ago!
Semper Fi
Mike Kunkel
Cpl - 0331
Weapons Plt, Lima 3/8
1981-1985
As We Scrambled
Sgt. Grit,
The 8/14/09 edition of Sgt. Grit had a letter from "Capt. T.
PISC" about Receiving barracks, yellow foot prints, etc. It
brought back many fond memories. He talked about the little old
lady who was on the bus as it arrived at Receiving Barracks and
her reaction to the DIs. I have a similar story to relate.
In June 1966, I arrived at Receiving Barracks along with four
others, destined for 2nd Recruit Bn. On that bus were the five
of us, the bus driver, and seated just behind the driver was a
little old lady, probably in her 80's and weighing 95 pounds,
soaking wet. Before the bus came to a complete stop, a huge
gorilla in a Smokey Bear cover stormed on the bus screaming more
trash and filth than these 17-year old ears had ever heard.
Somewhere in all that noise, I remember hearing something about
"Unasz the H&ll off my M***F**** Marine Corps bus" and something
else about some G***D***M***F*** footprints". As we scrambled
and clawed our way over each other to get out, my last memory of
that bus as we "unaszed" was the grin on the driver's face and
the absolute horror on the face of that little old lady. She
was cowering in the corner of her seat as far from that green
Monster as she could.
Undoubtedly that was her first trip to Parris Island as it was
ours.
I would love to have heard the story she told to her friends the
next day!
Oh, how I miss it!
Semper Fidelis
S.C. Beaman
Sgt. USMC
1966 - 1972
Why There Is No "J" Company
In the August 13 Sgt Grit newsletter a Viet Nam era Marine asked
why the phonetic company designators passed over Juliet going
from India to Kilo (in my day India, Kilo, Lima, and Mike would
be 3rd Battalion line companies). While Juliet (spelling is
disputed but there was no "e" on the end and only one "t" at the
changeover in 1957) is used as part of the phonetic alphabet
(replacing the original Able, Baker, Charlie, etc from WWII and
Korea) it is not used to identify line (infantry, grunt, animal)
companies because back in the day when the codes changed, field
messages were written by hand (we also did not have NVG or
plastic rifles, and we still had "thump call" on The Island) and
there was a real possibility of a message scribbled by a sweaty
comm guy being misread because a "J" could be mistaken for an
"I' or an "L" Besides, what 0300 MOS would want to be in a
company named after a 13-year-old Shakespearean ingénue'. Btw,
the "J" during the Able, Baker era was Jig. There were a lot of
Scot-Irish in the "Old Corps."
RTO and Corporal of Marines
3/6/2; 22nd SLT
To know, learn. To be, do.
In answer to "why there is no "J" company. Back in the dark
recesses of my brain housing somebody told me it had to do with
Custer getting his butt shot off at the little big horn.
Possibly "J" company? I personally thought there were three
companies under Custer.
David
Once upon a time there was a Jig Company. And once upon a time
it was a racial slur. That is why it was dropped. Why they
didn't use Juliet or Justice. or Jag, we'll never know. This is
from a 1948/53 memory time.
Ray Walker
In response to Charlie Newell, Alpha to India. I heard some
other stores about why no J Company but this one make the best
sense. There was no J company. [The letter J was traditionally
not used because in 18th and 19th century old style type the
capital letters I and J looked alike and were therefore too
easily confused with one another.] It was common for a battalion
to become temporarily attached to a different regiment. For
example, during the confusion and high casualty rates of both
the Normandy landings and the Battle of the Bulge, in order to
bolster the strength of a depleted infantry regiment, battalions
and even companies were moved around as necessary. (taken from
Wikipedia).
Duane Kuykendall- USMC 1970-72
Sgt. Grit:
In response to Cpl. Charlie Newell's request as to why we have
no Juliette Company, I'd like to take a shot at a possible
answer.
I used to teach navigation topics for our local U.S. Power
Squadron boating organization, and those topics included
celestial navigation. In celestial navigation, it's vital that
you have some idea of actual time (so as to connect with
longitude) and also time zones. Nathaniel Bowditch is thought of
as the U.S. "guru" of navigation, and in his book, he described
the use of 25 lettered time zones, each one describing 15
degrees of longitude, and equal to one hour of time. (See "The
American Practical Navigator", 9th Edition, pp.290-291.)
The reason for 25 lettered time zones instead of 24 is that the
area around the International Date Line is split into two
separate 7.5 degree time zones to avoid confusion, since those
two separate time zones are in different days. There are 25
letter-designated time zones, but 26 letters in the English
alphabet. All the letters were used to designate specific time
zones, except for the letter "J" which was reserved for use in
whatever local time zone you happened to be in at the moment, so
we don't have a "J" designated time zone, either. Incidentally,
that usage has resulted in the phrase "in jig time" meaning
"right away" or "immediately."
A more complete explanation can be found in these three links:
http://www.maybeck.com/ztime/
http://www.timeanddate.com/library/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_phonetic_alphabet
I'm not sure that this is an adequate explanation as to why we
have no Juliette Company, but it may be a start.
Keep up the great work, Sgt. Grit!
Semper Fi,
Jim Doss
Sgt. of Marines, 1970-1976
Combat Engineer, 1371
You Won't Make It, Maggot!
Sarg:
The letter from Tony Glass, "Marine, Jarhead, Leatherneck.
Brother", in American Courage #207 made me think of my reaction
when I get down or feel I can't complete a task.
I graduated and earned the title of United States Marine on 13
May 1964, 2nd Battalion, Platoon 218, MCRD, San Diego. Even
today, at age 66, when I'm having a bad day, I think back to
those formative days in Boot Camp. I stop and remember Sgt.
Bridges, Cpl Stelling or Cpl Wright telling me, "You won't make
it, Maggott!" I repeat the words that became my motto back
then: "They can kill me, but they can't stop me!" This is
motivation enough to get me through whatever had been bothering
me. This motto, along with knowing that every Marine out there
is willing "watch my back" is enough for all Marines everywhere,
regardless of age and time in the Corps! This is the essence of
a Marine - watching out for each other!
Semper Fi, Marines! I've got your back!
Bob Lonn
Once a Marine, Always a Marine!
Short Rounds
It's a shame they stopped the receiving D.I.'s from boarding the
bus on arrival at P.I.
It was the first nightmare I ever witnessed while still awake !
Cpl. T.Rieger Plt. 374 16MAR66 Semper Fi !
To all Salts,
1956/1963, 1649003, Platoon 2061 Boot Camp, SD, CA. S/Sgt Swan,
Sgt Teasley, Sgt Fish and Sgt Gore. Drill instructors. When I
tell sea stories I use true and solid reference points to back
my BS. The only rank I saw out off boot camp were, expert
rifleman, and kiss-azs's, and a Cpl who had been in the Navy 4
yrs. Cpl Romeo who lost a stripe in the switch.
Semper Fi L/Cpl Tom Leigh-Kendall
While in Boot Camp latter part of 1953, there was scuttlebutt
going around about a sentry that challenged the officer of the
Day, who responded, "I am Captain Marvel," to which the sentry
responded, "Well no sh!t, and I am Superman." I think the kid
is still doing push ups.
Will Clifford
Capt., USMC (Ret)
This is the top dog in the Army's boot camp, that is some sad
stuff.......Tough Love for New Soldiers
received the weekly letter and am proud to say that Aug 20th
1969 I received the Eagle Globe and Anchor...Semper Fi
Brothers---40 years ago...g
The story from Pam Laucius in the August 20 newsletter caught my
interest. When I looked at the graduation photo attached, I
remembered the names printed on the bottom. It was my graduation
photo, too. I went on-line and was able to find Pam. It seems we
live about 50 miles apart, and I hope to get together with her
soon to remember old times. Keep up the good work.
Semper Fi!
PFC Sharon (Clark) Hill
W716958
1965-1967
Hello,
Just wanted to submit a memorable boot camp quote from my boot
camp days on Parris Island (back in 2001)
"I've got more games than Milton Bradley 40!" (platoon 4040) -
D.I. SSgt. Vetos
Platoon 4040, 4th BN P. Co, MCRD, PISC
Women Marines - The Fewer, The Prouder. OOHRAH!
Christy Jotte :)
I liked the article about Yemassee, SC. I had the pleasure of
spending the night there in August 1964. I actually went back
to visit in the mid 80'. I spoke with an older lady and told
her I was trying to locate the Barrack and she said "Look
around, you are standing in it" The Barrack had been moved down
the street and was an Antique Store.
Bill Martin
NAM Country Decal
IRQ Country Decal
Welcome Home Marine, Job Well Done!
Semper Fi
Sgt Grit
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