Sgt Grit is a place where Marines can come and meet other Marines, share tattoos and stories, keep up with Marine Corps news, or shop for USMC gear.
Sgt. Grit,
When I went on an Honor Flight to Washington, DC. out of Jacksonville, Florida (All in one day), I could not resist having my picture taken at our USMC Memorial Statue (since I am an IWO JIMA survivor) and paying tribute with a salute. I also have a miniature of said statue on a shelf above my desk at home. Once a Marine, always a Marine.
Sgt. Grit,
Enclosed are a couple of my lighters from the days on Okinawa. The Kadena Airmans Club lighter was given when you paid two dollar dues for a month. They would give you something. You can wind it up and it plays China Night. I have had it 54 years! The other lighter is my zippo. I had it engraved with places we had been. I also had that lighter for 54 years. The zippo lit a lot of Camels and Pall Mall. A carton of Camels costed 80 cents a carton on the rock in 1960.
In the April 25 issue of Sgt. Grit News, Joel McHoul asked if anyone else remembered that operation? Well I certainly do. I was with the 3/6 Headquarters Company attached to H Company as a wire man. When we went ashore I had so much cr-p on my pack board that I slipped coming off the landing craft and darn near drowned. With the help of my partner, I righted myself just in time to get my picture in the July 28, 1958 issue of Time magazine. I'm the one soaking wet without a helmet. A somewhat inglorious, but no less famous event in my Marine Corps career. BTW that is my partner in front carrying my helmet.
Hey Marines 🙂
After almost 50 yrs my feet were back on the Island! MasterSgt Taylor "wanted" pics with me for his blackberry. My church, St. Michaels, bought me a new uniform – one I could fit in! Ya'll ever get the chance, go back for a visit. These young Marines (just look at them) are ALL ABOUT having the chance to live the Corps with us old guys. You will be treated with so much respect you won't believe it! Ya can see they got a ton of "I been there" ribbons.
Sgt Grit,
This photo was probably taken in 1943. My uncle, John McQuade (with the salty seabend) had just returned from Guadalcanal. That's me (180xxxx) at age seven with my Mother.
Uncle John's gone now. He would never speak about Guadalcanal. As I got older, I sort of kept an eye on him, as he had a serious drinking problem. When drinking, he would tell me that he didn't deserve to be alive with so many "good friends" dead…
Artist Steve Junkins, Carlisle, PA.
This tattoo is invisible during the day, But glows under UV light as bright as a white T-shirt
Semper Fidelis with Eagle, Globe, & Anchor
Son’s 2nd tattoo
8 medals/ribbons earned from 1988 – 1992 in Operations Just Cause (Panama/Noriega) and Desert Shield/Storm as E-3. My SgtMaj was stunned I wasn’t reenlisting since he had been in since 1972 and only had 7 ribbons/medals.
