Two stripes up..crossed rifles.
Author: SgtGrit
Extending In Nam
Just a note to respond to Robert Bliss' question in the 14 May Newsletter on extended tours in Vietnam. Someone had told Robert that he had extended his tour in VN for up to two years ('68 to'70) which raised the question whether a Marine could stay that long in the field.
Platoon 321, 1966
I am attaching the Platoon 321, Parris Island Photo taken 10 March 1966. Many of the 0300 mos went direct to ITR. I was in the first group with orders to WesPac scheduled to depart June 1, 1966, but I was sent to DLIWC and did not leave until about Aug 25th. Notice only some have rifle qualification badges.
Marine Wreath
This wonderful customer, Cynthia, sent these pictures in of her Marine Wreath. She took some of our items to make this wreath for a Marine due home soon.
Teresa Bolhuis
Customer Service
1st Medical Battalion – Da Nang
I was one of 10 6×6 trucks from Motor-T, 1st Med Bn. We were the first at the blast to remove military and civilian personnel from the blast. The blast was so severe it almost blew our trucks over. I made many trips from there to 1st Med on the other side of Freedom Hill. Everything was leveled to the ground. PX at Freedom Hill…Sea bees base gone… driving back and forth. Ordnance was blowing onto the road… some of which exploded… there for 36 hours… one hell of a time.
Schooled At 8th and I
My wife of 32 years attended the first parade of this year at 8th and I. As always it was a top notch show. While we were sitting in the front row, 3 young ladies were behind us commenting as to why the official Marine Corps mascot was named "Chesty". My wife turned around and "schooled" them about how the English Bulldog was so named in honor of "Chesty Puller". Later when the Marines Hymn was played, I was quick to stand. My wife had to tell the youngsters to sit down, that only Marines should be standing. Red faced and "schooled" again they sat down. Of course I was proud to be wearing my red "Semper Fi" hat that my wife bought from your fine store!
Hill 200 or 250
I was the the officer in charge of Hill 250 from January 1969 until September 1970. 1st Recon was sent to the hill to provide security for the IOD and my men and I, in that order. We had thermite (sp?) grenades strapped to the IOD. Our job was to destroy it should we get over run. The IOD (Integrated Observation Device) was my responsibility. I remember the dozer being brought to level some high ground adjacent to our hill.
Amputee Outdoors
Left to right, Matt Thrape (Tuff Trucks sponsor) Michael Boucher (co-founder of Amputee Outdoors) and Tony Mullis (co-founder Amputee Outdoors). Dirt track race car was sponsored for AO by vets and supporters. Driver / owner is Cameron Hall.
Check them out at Amputee Outdoors.
Round Dog Tags
I read the postings on round dog tags and wanted to send along a photo of my dad's army dog tags. He died in 1993 and my older brother (a squid) and I split his military belongings. I got his dog tags, good conduct medal and what I believe might be an 8th Field Artillery lapel pin, but not sure if it was a part of his dress uniform or something he got when he was discharged. Anyway, Below see two pictures of my dad's dog tags. On the front is his name and USA and on the six is his service number or at that time his SSN. But I can't make out any finger prints. As a kid I think I recall him saying that a greenish ribbon wove through the two holes of each tag but not sure about that. My dad was a cannon cocker and stationed at Scofield Barracks and enlisted in 1939, so maybe the finger prints were post 1939?
I Got It In Beirut
I took the liberty of adding a few devices to the ribbons on your Vietnam cap. Before anyone gives me a ration of cr-p about the star on the Combat Action Ribbon, I got it in Beirut. The second photo is in response to your last posting with the young Marines performing the same detail in Iraq. I am on the right of that photo. This would be in Vietnam about May/June '68.