Author: SgtGrit

WHERE TO START?

    I just found the Sgt. Grit site, and don't hardly know where to begin. Enlisted  August 1957 (#1800034), went to PI after 2 weeks of flu. 6'2", 127 lbs. The doc at the initial physical (Albany, NY, before the trip to PI) tried to send me home. I left PI in Dec at 185, after eating everything I could get my hands on (like "ice cream sandwiches; 2 slices of bread with a little ice cream smeared between them.) The food was great at PI (but then again I was always hungry). PT was no problem to a kid raised on a farm, who ran the woods hunting, fishing and trapping. Sgt. McKeon had just screwed up; the DI's were a little more careful, but nothing much changed. We had the "buckets". wash pads, little lengths of string to tie your clothes to lines, incredible heat dried your clothes by the time you had them hung. Was a 2771 (ground radio repair) and went TAD every chance I got (Camp Elmore and Little Creek, VA; USS Northampton (CLC-1), various LeJeune units) until I made corporal. Would not have missed the experience for anything. Got out and went to college (no GI Bill; it was passed after I graduated on my own dime.) After grad school had a chance to go back in at mid-officer rank, and sort of regret not doing so. It was mid-VietNam, though, and who knows how things might have gone……. read more

Third Eight Inch Howitzer

Sgt. Grit,   I'm a little behind in reading the newsletter, but thought I would briefly comment on the topic of the "PC" (personnel carrier). My fond memory of that particular vehicle has me sitting on one of the bench seats under the canvas cover in the back, and watching the "Third Eight Inch Howitzer" sign (photo attached) disappear in the distance, as I headed for the Danang Air Basic (a few miles to the east) on 17 December 1967, to catch my "Freedom Bird" flight back to "The World" the next day.   (Note in reference to the photo: Although I live only about sixty miles from the beach resorts on South Padre Island, Texas, I hate sand to this day, and seldom spend any more time there than my family can talk me into.)   Once a captain, USMCR; always a Marine. Tom Downey '63-'76 Vietnam 4Dec66-18Dec67

The Marine Corps

The grace of a guy is not his firm hand shake or the popularity; but his character and how he presents it to others. Many men and women have gone to war and have given their lives for us on the battle front; this we forget and the abuse is, many return with the hardship of war written all over them and they are ignored or written off. We can't forget these hard laboring souls who have given their lives for us. The popularity of battle means not much to me any more….what does is the guy out there and the woman who takes a tackle in a foriegn land with a heart in thought of his family, fighting for us, My husband faught in Vietnam and my father faught in 2 wars. I say to all men and women over seas we stand with you in prayer. Thats my Dad General John W Antonelli  read more