EGA – Once a Marine Always a Marine
Author: SgtGrit
C-Rat Creativity
We used to open the can of peanut butter and add the powdered cocoa. After kneading the mixture well you ended up with something like a turd that tasted much like a Reese’s Peanut Butter cup.
J. Strayer
VMFA-122
HML-771
'79-'87
U.S. MARINE RAIDER in WW11 my dad
This is to the man in this pic. Thank you for all you did. May you ALL R.I.P, Semper Fi, AND TO MY DAD IN THIS PIC. Miss you POPS. Semper Fi.
B/1/13/5 Vietnam Reunion
Bravo Battery, 1st Bn, 13th Mar, 5th MarDiv, Vietnam Reunion in Mancos, Colorado.
MGYSGT Terry Read 0811
'65-'91
Something Of An Anomaly
Gunny McCallum's letter allowed me to look back to when I had a Spec Number of 521, Basic Marine, later it became a 745 Rifleman Spec Number when I earned it. Then in 1946 we went from Spec Numbers to MOS and I became an 0311. Through my years of Service I have been A Rifleman, a Photographer, A Sentry, Prison Chaser at a Naval Prison, Chief Night Cook on a Troop Ship returning home, Recruiter, Weapons Tester, Recon, Small Arms Repair, Rifle Team Armorer, even a Nuclear Weapons Specialist, and even doing duty as Rifleman at Burials (when they returned the bodies at the end of WWII). I've always looked at my Career as something special because I was able to do what I was called on to do (not always to my liking).
Giant Amphibious Lizard
The stories on pinning stripes brought back memories. Not so much of being so honored myself or doing the honors. I think I made Corporal in 1963 and per tradition, I took some shots in the Chevrons from the resident "Old Corps" NCOs, but in H&S Company it wasn't strongly rooted. It brought to mind a somewhat related story about unit mascots. At the time I was in 2nd Amtracs in Camp Lejeune. And, at times we did do organized grab azs training maneuvers in the boonies of Lejeune.
Haven’t Used It Since Vietnam
There have been many articles through the years on the "Zippo" lighters that Vietnam Vets used for various things besides lighting cigarettes. I bought my Zippo in September 1965 about 10 miles south of DaNang from Vietnamese women villagers that sold us "Vietnam" berets, elephant soap, and other memorabilia. My Zippo was one of the very few things I came back with. I still have it in my drawer, but haven't used it since Vietnam.
Parris Island Reunion
I was at the Island June of 1962 and out posted Sep 13, 1962… I was in Plt 238… our series was 236-237-238 and 239. I was able to find 150 Marines from this series in the last couple of years. About 20 of them have passed away. I worked with 2 other Marine Brothers and we pulled off a reunion at the Island this past April. I would suggest not waiting like we did to do this. This was one of best things that has happened to us in a long time. We had a ball… We spent two days on P.I. and the last day saw a graduation from the other side of the parade deck next to the reviewing stands. The Marines at the Island treated us so good and couldn't do enough for us. It was just great. It had been about 50 years since we had seen each other and we bonded right away. It was one of the best times we could have ask for . We had 27 Marines and and 17 spouses that attented. As you can see we are wearing covers that I brought for our group from Sgt Grit. We bought 37 covers and they did a very nice job on the wording we had done on the back of the covers and treated up right . Thanks to Sgt Grit for all your help. By the way, there are 7 more Marines that missed this group picture due to being at Colors.
Yellow Footprints
I reported aboard MCRD San Diego, CA on July 20, 1956. We spent three weeks in the receiving barracks prior to starting our 12 week training cycle. The yellow footprints were there and a lot of time was spent standing on them between working parties, etc.
Home Again
It'd been 7 months since I'd seen my fiance. Now, seeing the faint lights in the distance, and wondering if it was them! I had a million butterflies all doing summersaults in my stomach. It was 3 in the morning when their buses drove up, led by tons of motorcycles reving their engines in celebration and to sound to the families that they had arrived! You cant imagine the joy and nerves until you've been there,"my man is home, my man is home"… is all you feel. I was alone with the crowd of strangers, all of us each looking for our loved one.The beating of my chest was going faster now even more than the day I first met Eric as I looked for him among the throngs of people in the darkness. It was like I was holding my breath. Inside me felt somewhat frantic, but on the outside I was calmy looking, walking, and peering through the dark and past the hats that shielded so many faces. I walked one way and turned around fearing he was getting off the bus behind me, so I'd stop and wait and search each face from a distance… I swear I was holding my breath until I saw him. I prayed, "help me find him, help me find him, God." He saw me first, he had been blocked about 20 to 30 people away from me. When I saw him, it was like adrenaline… after all this time I was seeing him again in the flesh. God had brought him home to me! I was not dreaming. Eric, pushed/manuevered his way past dudes and got to me. He found me. We hugged so tightly and again it is the most surreal and amazing experience to be holding my guy again, and feel his chest against me. A lady from the USO snagged this photo of us as soon as he got me. No one needs to be seen, but him. He is my hero, my best friend, and now my husband. I got to wait for him and don't you forget he waited just as long for me! My birthday is tomorrow and the only thing I wish is that I could've been there for his last year… but thats the sacrifice the other half makes. He is selfless and kind, and also tough as nails when he wants to be. But, he is perfect, and I am so glad to have him home again. Thanks for the best birthday and making my wish come true and coming home to me. I love you eternally.