b1/13 , flew in on c 130 oct 1966 was special forces base on mars matting. they went to lang ve and the sea bees put in aluminum runway. we stayed through monsoon season. A 1/3 provided security. along with 6 105 howitsers they gave us 2 155 howitsers and 2 4.2 morters for illumination. The hill battles started after we left to go to con tien for the dmz sweep. in the 13 month tour we fired over 40,ooo rounds. one of the guns had a stamp of 1945. cpl. rich bottari radio operator.
Author: Ann or Richard Bottari
Stories as a Marine Corps Poolee?
One thing I haven’t heard from you guys is what you were doing before the Marine Corps or your thoughts and feelings a few weeks before leaving to boot camp.
Good Old Days
Just a note of Marines training to go ashore the Marine way, 1953. Going over the side with full packs, helmet and rifle was always tricky and dangerous. And, sometimes you had to wade for a long way to shore… Good Old Days…
Semper Fi,
Sgt. Bob Holmes
1359XXX, Plt. 16
Khe Sanh 1964
Here is a picture of myself taken during the period of April-May 1964 while doing my first (6 month at the time) TAD tour in Vietnam. I was with a small 30-man detachment of Marines under the leadership of, then Major Al Gray (future CMC). The picture was taken in the ville of Khe Sanh about four years before Tet of ’68.
MARINE OF THE WEEK:
GySgt. Tim Tardif
2nd Battalion, 5th Marines
Iraq, April 12, 2003
Award: Silver Star
During the Battle of At Tarmiyah in Iraq, then-Cpl. Tardif and his squad reinforced a U.S. Marine Corps platoon pinned down in a violent enemy crossfire ambush. Immediately assessing the situation, Tardif directed Marines to return fire into enemy positions in a town. He identified the location of the enemy and determined the precise point to assault them. Tardif charged across a road under intense small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire, inspiring his Marines to follow his example. Engaged in an intense close-quarters battle, he received significant shrapnel wounds from an enemy grenade. Refusing to be evacuated and disregarding his wounds, Tardif gallantly led his squad in an assault on an enemy-held compound. After securing the compound, Tardif received an order to egress and he led his reinforced squad in a fighting withdrawal. After moving 150 meters, Tardif collapsed from his wounds, unable to continue fighting. Tardif recovered from his wounds and was promoted up through the ranks to Gunnery Sgt. Give ’em one! (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matthew Bragg)
Happy New Years!
A bird in the library OR meeting the battalion commander
In 1979 I was an E-1 waiting to be picked up for electronic school at 29 Palms. Each morning after roll call we’d be released to the barracks to be picked up by working parties. I figured out that nobody cared about whether we made it back to the barracks or not, and the small base library was just a few streets down. SO I’d make my way down there and plunk myself in the comfortable seats and read. Books, magazines, and I really enjoyed the LA Times. It was a nice few weeks. I remember I got through Steven King’s “The Stand” which was a bible sized book. I’d read all morning, have chow, then back to the library until later on in the day when it was safe to return without being noticed and asked questions. In the library it was easy to nod off whether one was escaping the desert heat, or the winter cold which was biting there. So I did. With my reading material in my lap. When I felt a tapping on my shoulder I looked up and saw a silver eagle (or two) on the collars of a very big full colonel. “What are you doing?” he asked and all I could stammer was the truth. “I nodded off while reading sir.” “What unit are you with?” B Company Sir.” He then made his way to the marine (who had learned my routine somehow) and asked him the same questions. B Company again. And then he left without a word.
That one time in boot camp.
We want to hear your stories so let’s hear about that one time in boot camp.
MARINE OF THE WEEK // He refused to leave a fallen Marine behind…
Sgt. Eubaldo Lovato
1st Battalion, 8th marines
November 11, 2004
Operation Phantom Fury, Fallujah, Iraq
Award: Silver Star (upgraded from Bronze Star)
During the second battle for Fallujah, then-Corporal Lovato and his squad was ordered to clear a house. What the Marines did not know is that insurgents had barricaded themselves behind sandbags in one room.
When a fire team entered the room, Cpl. Travis Desiato was killed immediately by a barrage of AK-47 fire and fell to the floor. The insurgents put up such a volume of fire that the other Marines could not retrieve their comrade. The Marines fired blindly, unable to see the enemy fighters behind their barricade.
Lovato and the others in his squad could see Desiato on the ground. They tried calling out to him but he didn’t answer. A group of five Marines including Lovato made several attempts to reach Desiato ’s body. They threw C4 plastic explosives into the room, but it generated so much smoke that the Marines could not see anything. Then one Marine attached part of a shattered mirror to a stick, which allowed him to see where the insurgents were.
Pinned by enemy fire, Lovato manuvered to retrieve more grenades, with bullets passing through his pants pockets and sling.
Eventually Lovato was able to crawl to reach his Marines and asked a tank to blast the back of the building. The Marines stormed the building and killed the enemy inside. Lovato retrieved Desiato’s body.
Gunny Claus
U.S. Marine Corps Headquarters has issued orders to Master Gunnery Sergeant S. Claus, recalling him to active duty, with a RNLTD of 24 Dec 2021.
MGySgt. Claus, known to use the alias “Saint Nicholas”, “Kris Kringle”, “Father Christmas”, or simply “Santa”, is a reserve Marine with 1,743 years of service.
He specializes as a tactical operator of the next generation DEC-25B, Cargo Airborne Delivery (CAnDY) Carrier.
The DEC-25B is contractor-modified and fully equipped with Cargo Antlered Navigation Equipment Sensors (CANES).
It has also been retrofitted with eight high-powered, air-cooled Rangifer Tarandus carrot-fed generators.
As a single seat cargo delivery platform, it is capable of vertical delivery of high-value items, take-off and landing without pilot controlled lighting (PCL).
These unique specifications, coupled with the additional Public Affairs skill sets possessed by Master Gunny Claus, classify the entire deployable package as a low-density, high-demand (LD/HD) asset.
Also recalled, were MSgts Dasher and Dancer, GySgts Prancer and Vixen, SSgts Comet and Cupid, Cpl. Donner, and PFC Blitzen (recently selected for LCpl.)
PFC Rudolph is also authorized to report for duty; however, he must first successfully complete his Phase II SERE Training, which he has failed three times due to a medical condition related to his nose.
Although the above Marines are on orders for only 24 hours, it is anticipated that they will submit a travel claim for 24,901 miles at .56/mile, using a POV. Suitable Government transportation is not available.
As a special operations unit, each member is granted a high level of uniform flexibility, as well as relaxed grooming standards.
Per diem has been modified to include large quantities of hot cocoa and cookies.
Government travel card use has been authorized.
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