Author: SgtGrit

WWII Marine Passes Away

Marines,

It is with great sadness that I write to inform you of the passing of another one of our brothers. Ray Vondracek was a young Corporal who found himself in the battles of Saipan, Okinawa, and Tinian and later made his way to Nagasaki, Japan after the bombing. He was a demolition man and saw a lot of combat in that theater, as did most. read more

Marine and the inflatable DI

My Name is Joseph Hodson and I'm from Glassboro NJ.  I took this picture while waiting for my son to compete in the Poolee Field Event on May 14, 2011 from all 15 recruiting centers in NJ which was held at the Earle Naval Weapons Station in Colts Neck NJ. I served in the Marine Corps from '82 – '86 in 3/6 and got out as a Lance Corporal. My son, Joseph Jr leaves for Parris Island on August 1, 2011. I thought this photo might show the colorful side of former Marines. read more

Wake Island Hero

Sgt. Grit,

In June of 1956 I was fortunate to join the Avionic shop of MAG-35 MCAS Cherry Point, NC. The group consisted of two squadrons, VMR-153 and VMR-252 of R3Q-2 “flying boxcars.” My shop supervisor was then Capt. Robert O. Arthur of Wake Island VMF-211 fame. He was the spitting image of “Smiling Jack” the cartoon character with the pencil thin mustache. The Captain was a big man full of  good humor and a great C.O. He drove a small Renault which was way too small for his large frame. When he wasn’t flying he always joined us at the noon time card game. We all knew the Capt. had spent most of WWll in a Japanese prison camp after the capture of Wake Island but none of us knew of his heroism. He never bragged nor did he talk much about his prison camp experience. One day we were visited by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Gen. Randolph McCall Pate. I was standing on top of an aircraft  in our hanger when the Commandant entered. I heard the Commandant yell “Bob” and the two walked swiftly toward each other and sharing greetings they embraced. I knew then there must be something special about our Capt. read more

Guadalcanal Marine

I would like to share something that happened today that was a first for me except when I was in the USMC.  While in the Corps, 65 to 69, I met a few Guadalcanal vets but none since.  Today while taking my wife for a radiation treatment I noticed an elderly gentleman leaving the hospital in a wheelchair boarding a nursing care center bus with the help of a young lady, probably a granddaughter, great-granddaughter or a nursing care employee.  He was wearing a hat and all I could read on it was WWII.  I went over to shake his hand and before I could say anything he said Semper Fi; I had on a hat with USMC on it.  Then I saw the Eagle Globe and Anchor on his  hat with the First Marine Division patch and Guadalcanal under the patch.  He told me he landed with the First Marines on August 7, 1942.  As he was in process of boarding the bus I didn't get his name but he smiled when he said Semper Fi and I am not ashamed to tell you all it put tears in my eyes.  He is certainly one of the very few left that served on that hell hole island and it was an honor and a treasured moment for me that I will not soon forget. read more

Marines Press Gains as Afghans Worry They’ll Leave

Shurab City, Afghanistan – They said it was 120 degrees as the patrol came to the wire and the big berm at one of the main gates to the sprawling Camp Leatherneck base in central Helmand province.

The Marines thought it was hotter but no matter. They locked and loaded, and nine of them plus their interpreter, Sami, climbed back aboard the two lumbering anti-mine vehicles mounted with 50-caliber machine guns and rumbled into a desert wasteland that stretched to the horizon. read more