Author: SgtGrit

On Patrol

On Patrol

My son-in-law is just back from his second deployment to the middle east. His first tour was at Camp Fallujah in Iraq. He sent many interesting photos, but one in particular stood out. He said he came across these two cars broken down by the side of the highway one day as they were out on patrol – he said it was the way some of the Iraqi’s transported food from the market. I have enclosed it, and also a picture of Brent Brumfield in back of his trak. To all the Marines who are serving our country, I want to say thank you. You and your families are in our prayers daily. read more

LCpl Ramcharan

LCpl Ramcharan

My son is a 19 year old active duty Marine, deployed to Iraq. When he was in boot camp he got the Expert level in the Rifle Qualification, and the pin to wear that goes with it. When he came home on leave he found his grandfather’s Expert Rifleman pin, from WW II, the same exact one he was given. It’s in mint condition and he checked to see if he could wear it and was told “By All Means, Marine!”. His grandfather passed away, but when I think of how proud he’d be of his Grandson, well, there aren’t words to describe. read more

Back in Iraq!

Back in Iraq!

Don, David Tosh here the bug man from OKC. Greetings from Iraq Just dropping you a line, thought you might like hear about my ?TAD? to Iraq. I received a call from a DOD recruiter In dire need for licensed pest control professionals to support the troops in Iraq. I asked for and was assigned to a Marine base, the job is to easy other then just being in Iraq. Better then in ?90-?91, no weeks on end eating nothing but MRE?s. I have two helpers from Nepal who do all the heavy lifting. The terrain is rough sand dunes with a lot of 4×4 roads. On about 13000 acres. We run about 30 traps around the fence line mostly. So far a lot of foxes and wild dogs. There are 130lbs Hyenas that we trapped. Got a hedge hog and Hugh 10lbs lizard! We take care of rodents and flies at the 4 DEFACs (Dinning Facility) and everything else is service requests when someone has a problem in their area. A few hundred buildings! Some snakes and those Camel spiders which are big and nasty looking. First night here I spend in a leaky tent and it poured rain for 2 days and flooded and soaked my stuff. So we build a nice A/C hooch at our bunker where the Iraqis used to keep tanks and such. It is hardened so I don’t have to run for a bunker in case of a motor or rocket attack. Vector has their own bunker for chemical storage and such. As of yesterday I am the head Pest man on base. The other one headed back to Texas. So I’m left in charge with 5 days training. Not much to it except learning where everything is. I’m very glad to have been assigned to a Marine base. read more

SFC McSheffrey

SFC McSheffrey

Hey Sgt Grit,
Thanks for all the great stories and great quotes. I’ve posted some of those quotes in the connex box where my soldiers keep there weapons. The men love them. I am a former Marine currently serving in Baghdad with a deployed National Guard unit. We have several former Marines in the unit. The Marines in Baghdad have been great to my guys. I am a Sergeant First Class (E-7) but all the Marines call me, “Gunny”. Enclosed some pics of the Marine Corps Birthday Ball last year in Baghdad and a pic of me at work. read more