Author: Paul Lindner

It is my sad duty to inform the many readers of his stories over the years, that GySgt Frank Rousseau has passed away. He was a 3-war Marine, but I knew him as a Bermuda marine. We all enjoyed his stories and recollections over the years. He was
a weapons expert, and what most people don’t know is that after retiring from the Corps, Frank started a very successful
business supplying Hollywood with weapons, many of which he designed and built himself, including the rifle that Chuck Norris used in his “Braddock” movies. Also, in “Rambo 2”, he designed the machine gun used in the helicopter scene where Rambo and
the POW’s he rescued are abandoned by the rescue helicopter. Frank told me that nobody in the cast could handle the gun, so he fired it himself. He can be seen in the door of the helicopter firing the gun. His business was carried on by his son Chuck. If you take the time to watch all the credits at the end of “Rambo”, “Missing in Action”, and other films, you will see his name listed as
“weapons consultant”. If there are ever any weapons required behind the Pearly Gates, you can be sure Frank will handle it.
Cpl. Paul W. Lindner 1959-1963 read more

Prior to going on a med cruise as BLT-2/6. We made a demonstration landing at Onslow Beach N.C. for President Kennedy and the Shaw of Iran and after landing and marching along the sandy beach past the reviewing stand guess who carried that pole bag , me an 0811 cannon cocker not a 2531 radio operator. read more

I was assigned to the Fleet Marine Office on board the Flag Ship USS Little Rock back in July 1973-75. The Fleet Marine Officer at the time was Colonel Frank McLendon. Three of us worked in a small office office a top of the double ladder way on the second level. The Fleet Marine Operations Officer at the time was LtCol. P.L. Cacace. Col Mac used to have a Viking warrior hanging from his overhead lamp over his desk. The warrior had a horned helmet, a round shield and a broad sword and a scowl on it’s face. Beneath the warrior hung a small sign one had to squint to read, it said “If your 782 gear doesn’t look like this, don’t talk to me about the “old Corps.” Col Mac flew as an enlisted pilot in Korea and was one of President Kennedy’s “Marine One” pilots. He could be tough as nails or like your Dad and listen as needed. It was Marines like Col Mac and LtCol Cacace that led me to stay in the Corps as long as I did. They walked the talk every day! read more

In reference to GySgt. Howard and his 1st Recon team: I was at PI in June 1966 and our Sr. DI called us together in a “school circle” and read /told us about the fight that They were in. By the time he finished, we were some Gung Ho recruits. One year later after radio school I found myself checking in to the very same unit our DI told us about. 1st Recon was my home for the next 13 months. read more