Search and Rescue Legacy

Here are two photos that are essentially 50 years apart. The more recent photo (color) was taken in July 2015 at MCAS Cherry Point. The two civilians in the photo are former Sgt. Kurt Helm (on the left) and former Cpl. Ed Barewich (on the right) standing with the crew of Cherry Point’s Search and Rescue unit. The black and white photo comprises then PFC Kurt Helm standing in the back row on the left, and then PFC Ed Barewich standing in the back row, middle, with Cherry Point’s Search and Rescue unit in December 1965. read more

Second Battalion 4th Marines Reunion

July 22-26 I had the honor along with two Marine buddies, from Hotel 2/4 the “Magnificent Bastards” (We reunited a few years back), to attend the Battalion Re-Union in Quantico Virginia. Our spouses wanted to attend. We were somewhat reluctant since this was our first re-union not knowing what to expect. After contacting a board member via e-mail with two follow up e-mails by board members we were welcomed and advised looking forward to meeting us. Wives, family members & guests were invited. read more

Camp Wilson, 29 Palms

Sgt. Grit,

Attached is a picture of me and a buddy named Max Lesko outside the old tin and wooden huts at Camp Wilson CAX 29 Palms, California in June 1982 before leaving for a Med Cruise and eventually Beirut. One day just after arriving, but before going on the actual training exercise a few of us decided to hump on over to the base of the mountain range. Needless to say, we never got there. We kept turning around and looking back at Camp Wilson and it kept getting smaller, but the base of the mountain never got closer and we just turned around and headed back. That Monday we were trucked out to the area where the live-fire operations were taking place, but I never did pay attention to how far the base of the mountain range was from the camp. Can any Jarhead or Doc who was ever at Camp Wilson tell me how far it actually is from Camp Wilson to the base of the mountain in the photo? read more

Current Ride

This is my current ride. Its a 1954 Ford F-100.

The first picture was taken at a local car show. The second picture is of the engine bay with the stainless steel firewall. The third picture is of the custom made wheel and the cap that Grit had made for me in his custom shop. The caps were made to accept the custom made one sided challenge coins and have the 11th Marines Cannon and name: "The Cannon Cockers." Under that is the engraved names of Goog, Hunts, Grit, and Fuller. read more