Author: SgtGrit

My Special Creation Passed Muster

My Marine has had to travel a lot over the years as he's pursued his high-tech career. Expert at traveling light, his ditty bag was a Delta Airline's promotional that he found so practical. Unzip it like a zippered Bible and open it flat to reveal two clear plastic zippered compartments. Kept everything neat and TSA always cleared it. But its years of use showed in all the ripped plastic making it unusable. read more

Grabasstic Patrol Up A Creek

The Gun Club, assembled in the gulch. (Actually, 106RR or "BAT" Platoon (Battalion Anti-Tank) and Flame Platoon, combined)… H&S 2/1/9 in the Northern Training Area of Okinawa, 1959). Since our recoilless rifles and Jeeps had not caught up with us yet, we were used as the Bn Aggressor Force. The rifle companies would come up to the NTA one at a time from Sukiran to find/engage us… and, since the boondocks were our 'home court', the second and later companies really didn't have a chance… This is kinda old Corps… M-1's, M1919A4 air-cooled .30 Cal Brownings, herringbone utilities, and in this picture, the old green woolen shirts, as aggressor uniform. Since no blanks had been invented for the Flame Thrower (M2), the Flame guys usually got to be machine gun crew… most of either team having the M1911A1 .45cal pistol as sidearms. We were camping out up there for multiple weeks… got hot chow once most days, and some kick-back time when between companies… I recall an all-NCO grabasstic patrol up a creek… or maybe it should have been called 'swim call'?, as we were all buck nekkid, doing the Tarzan bit with vines, etc… until one of us realized that if somebody got seriously hurt, we were all in deep kimchi… In this picture, over half a century later, I can identify, among other trades, a surgeon, a feddle gubmint landscape architect, a mortgage broker, several law enforcement officers, and more than one career Marine… (buncha dumb-ss grunts, anyway…) read more

Plt 1229, 1970 MCRD San Diego Reunite

Got together with 3 guys I was in Boot Camp with while on a business trip to Louisiana. I have not seen these Marines since March 7, 1970 when we left MCRD San Diego for ITR at Camp Pendelton. Myself and Pvt Randall Axelsen immediately went to Infantry training while the rest of Platoon 1229 enjoyed a couple of week of Mess and Maintenance duty. We got together in LaPlace, LA. read more

George Batten – re: Newsletter 16 Oct 2014

George's grave marker was highlighted in the Sgt Grit Newsletter – 16 OCT 2014

George B. Batten enlisted in the Marine Corps on September 16, 1914. He was accepted into the service at Philadelphia, and went through recruit training as a member of Company D, Recruit Depot, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Norfolk, Virginia. After recruit training, he served with the Marine Detachment aboard the U.S.S. New Jersey. While aboard the New Jersey, he visited ports along the East Coast and Carribean, including Navy Yard Boston; Hampton Roads, Virginia; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Guacanayabo Bay, Cuba; Culebra, Puerto Rico; Navy Yard, Philadelphia; Newport, Rhode Island; Provincetown, Massachusetts; Charleston, South Carolina; and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. In August 1916, Private Battan joined the 45th Company in the Dominican Republic, serving in La Cumbre and Canada Bonita. On November 8, 1916 George was promoted to Corporal. On June 8, 1917 the 45th Company became part of the 3rd Battallion, 5th Marines, and were assigned to the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF). The company sailed the Atlantic for duty in France in June, 1917. On April 5, 1918 George was sent to the Army Candidates School in France. On July 31, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutentant, and assigned to Marine Corps Reserve Class 4. He then was assigned to the 1st Corps Artillery Brigade in Hosieres, France, where he participated in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. On November 16, 1918, he assumed command of 1st Platoon, 45th Company (Company "L") and participated in the march of the allied armies towards the Rhine River via Belgium and Luxembourg, following the evacuation of the German Army. He then marched to Waldbreitbach, Germany. On April 7, 1919 he took the oath of office as a 1st Lietentant, with a date of rank of August 18, 1918. He served in 20th Company (Company "K") as part of the Army of the Occupation at Stopperich, Germany. On June 6, 1919, he returned to the 45th Company (Company "L") as a Platoon Commander. On July 25, 1919, they embarked on the U.S.S George Washington at Brest, France for the return trip home. The 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines were deactivated on August 13, 1919. read more

Letters From Home

After reading some of the stories about letters boots received in boot camp it brought back some memories for me, the dad of my best friend had a sick since of humor, the first time he sent me a letter, on the back he put please DI have TONY do 10 extra push ups before he gets to watch TV tonight. On another he put Sarg, make sure Tony gets his exercise today. On a few others he had written things that actually gave my drill instructor a chuckle but not me as you can guess I did a fair amount of extra push ups during mail call, I think after the first two letters the DI's looked for a letter to me first just so I could do push ups the whole time mail call was going on. I also had an uncle who earned me some extra push ups because he put his rank on the letters he sent (CAPT, USN) and I was accused of having political influence. I look back and laugh now at all the games and the imagination DI's have. My friends dad always put a $20.00 in his letters but that did not stop me from getting back at him in the years that followed. He was even with my mom and girlfriend at the airport when I went home on boot leave, the first thing he did was touch my brass, I told him to keep his d-ck strokers to himself and not to finger f-ck my brass, he laughed his azz off.  read more

Proudest Marine Moment

It's been 31 years since I first stepped onto the yellow footprints. My 4 years in the Corps were great. My greateset moment actually came 20 years after I earned the title. I am a 2nd generation Marine. My father, my hero growing up, was a career Marine. The grandson of one of my dad's friends had a grandson in boot camp. He didn't live to see his grandson graduate, so my dad decided to go in his place. He asked if I'd like to go. I jumped at the chance to road trip with my dad and visit the shrine of Parris Island. read more

1st. Lt. George B. Batten

While visiting a friends grave at the Wenonah, New Jersey cemetery recently, I happened upon this most amazing life size memorial statue on the grave of a long forgotten Marine of WWI. 1st. Lt. George B. Batten. Born in 1898, died 1926. He was a young man when he died. Was his death caused by his war experiences? Gassing or other wounds? Did he fight at Belleau Wood or The Somme? However or whatever the circumstances, his likeness on this memorial shows his pride in the Corps. He got my salute and will again next time I visit New Jersey. All of you South Jersey Marines, please visit Lt. Batten on the birthday, give him a proper salute, and lay a flower on his grave. read more

Marine Football Program

I bought this program at an antique store a few months ago. It is a very professionally done 88 page program. In addition to rosters of both teams it also includes photos of the players, coaches, base commanders as well as the Commandant and others. This looks like it is from the hayday of Marine football. If anyone wants more information let me know. read more