Author: SgtGrit

Family Treasures

This is the picture I mentioned that is signed "To The Kemp Kids from John Wayne". We got it after the Intermountain Premiere of "Sands Of Iwo Jima" in Salt Lake City. My father was the senior SNCO (MSgt) for the intermountain recruiting district and was heavily involved in the whole deal. At the studio party, all of the Marines from the recruiting station were there in dress blues. Dad was matching the Duke drink for drink and asked for a good photo. This is the one we got. It is 11×14 and the only pose I have ever seen but the interesting thing is how the ink got smeared when the ball point pen didn't work at first. It is one of our family treasures. read more

Green Field Scarves

Ref. Sgt. Bob Rader asking if anyone remembers the Ascot-looking Green Field Scarves. Yes, I remember those awful looking things quite well. They were issued and still in use when I reported to MCRD, San Diego in Jan. 1958. Above is my graduation photo from Platoon 303 taken in March 1958 where we were required to wear these things. Don't know when they were phased out, but probably soon after as I don't recall ever wearing or seeing them worn after boot camp.  read more

A Bougainville Hunting Knife

I still have a "hunting knife" my father fashioned from a cut down 1905 bayonet with an interesting story attached.

While on Bougainville in November, 1943, my father was with the 3rd Special Weapons Battalion, 9th Regiment, 3rd Marines. When they were dug in, a Japanese plane (I don't remember him saying what type) flew over low and fast. The word was passed to not fire as it was probably a recon plane and they didn't want to give away their positions. The plane flew over the second time, slower and lower. No one fired. On the third pass, the plane flew over very slow and low. Dad said one could almost hear the camera whirring away, filming the Marine positions. At that moment two P-39 Bell Airacobras appeared and came in a vertical dive from above and opened fire on the Japanese plane with their 37MM cannons. Dad said the Japanese plane exploded and came down in "little-bitty pieces". Later, Dad retrieved some small pieces of the fuselage and fastened them onto an old K-Bar knife sheath. For a knife, he cut down an M1905 bayonet so it fit. Along with an EGA on the tip, he engraved "Eugene Wise", "Bougainville" and a small engraved palm tree. As you see from the photo, it is not a work of art, but a project no doubt borne of boredom when not in combat. read more