Author: SgtGrit

Sergeant Major Yanachi

In 1975, I was a Weapons Platoon Sergeant with Fox 2/7 at San Mateo, Camp Pendelton. All of the Battalion NCOs including myself were attending our monthly NCO meeting. Sgt.Maj. Yanachi was an Eskimo Indian, but to hear him tell it he was born at Tun Tavern. The Sgt.Maj. when answering a question would always start out with “Well I remember in the Old Corps when all you young kids were just a twinkle in your daddies eye” and we would all give a little laugh. read more

Marine Barracks Great Lakes Special Project

Marines:

Today we are proud of the hard work performed by my post as well as by myself in seeing this special project come true.

On November 10th 2015 ( date pending ) we are going to see the following Marine Barracks plaque become permanently affixed to the former MB bldg # 2. read more

EGA??

I was wondering if anybody out there has any info on this E.G.A. It appears to be off a garrison cover or maybe an old smokey, as you can see it has no fouled line nor a screw backing to attach it to the cover, it never has had a screw backing and the pin and clasp are original. I believe it to be pre W.W. Two. I have never seen one like this and I would like some help getting some history on it. It is the center piece of my Marine Corps memorabilia collection. Thank you. read more

My Dream

I have a little story that I have sent out over the last few years. The E-Mail starts with a picture of me as a recruit, then a picture of a veteran leaning against the wall which is called Wait For Me. The story goes:

M.S.Sgt. as a recruit and Wait For Me painting of veteran leaning against the wall.

There is a dream I have from time to time. I am walking over a small hill and there are shadows all around me. I see The Wall where all my friends are. There are lots of tears on this day. I turn and walk away. Then another day I walk over the small hill, and I can see all my friends in The Wall: Randy, Spanky, Jim, John, Jeff, Willie, Gunny Acton, Ski, and Doc. They all say, "C'mon Turk, the plt. is waiting, Saddle up and move out!" As I move into The Wall to join them there are no tears on this Day. read more

Ba Na in 1968

Sgt Grit, ref Jim Macken’s letter on the old French resort at Ba Na west of Danang, here are a couple of pictures taken in 1968. 1st Recon Bn used Ba Na as a radio relay site for teams operating in the western mountains. It was a beautiful site that gave a commanding view of the mountains and the coastal plains. It was a fairly secure site (tho’ it was hit periodically, mostly after my time) and was a sort of in-country R&R for the recon teams, after humping all those vertical hills where we usually operated. It was also a lot cooler and more pleasant than the lowlands or the elephant grass. In the years since 1975, Ba Na has been rebuilt and is now a major resort and tourist attraction – you can google it for pictures and info. It looks great now, but there was something about the ‘old’ Ba Na that had more character. I guess you had to be there. read more

50 Years Ago Walks In Your Door

George Erl and I (on left in both photos) were inseparable in Marine Corps radio school at MCRD San Diego in 1965. We went to different units in Vietnam right after this picture taken in Danang in 1966. We didn’t see each other again for 50 years until he walked into our restaurant last Thursday with an old photograph in his hand and asked the hostess, “Where’s Hite?” I guarantee that we won’t lose touch with each other again! read more

Charlie Company. 3rd Marines Quang Tri 1968

I'm not a Marine grunt, but an Army grunt finishing up 20 years, but bumped into Marine Infantrymen in Iraq off and on doing the same door to door operations in Baghdad as we were doing.

I've searched the internet and left messages at respective web sites trying to find out more information about my 4th cousin, whom I never knew. He was killed by fratricide in the Quang Tri Province, Vietnam December 8th, 1968. Jerry Lynn Owens. Born May 1st, 1948. read more