Author: SgtGrit

LCpl Manny Dacosta

LCpl Manny Dacosta

Would anyone in the New England area happen to know or recognize this Marine from service at Quantico in the 1959-1962 timeframe? His name is Manuel (Manny) Dacosta or DeCosta. I believe he may have left active duty as a LCpl. One squared away young Marine! Notice the gold collar emblems and scarlet/gold ‘pogey rope’. He would now be in his late 60’s/ Let me know please. read more

Winston

Winston

Hey all you Marines, This is my dog Winston he will do anything for a treat. This is my brothers old hat from circa 68. Both my brothers were Marines one has passed away and the other is dealing with agent orange issues. I was just young enough to miss V/N. I wish you and all your brothers a safe Memorial Day and Thank you! Richard Burchiel read more

Interesting story

Interesting story

I enjoy reading your news letter and read it from end to end, especially anything to do with my era Marines (1959-1963). A few years ago I got in contact with another Marine on the internet that was stationed on Okinawa with me (1960-1961). That Marine is Tim O’Reilly. After we returned from Okinawa I never saw Tim again (48 years). We have had many recent discussions on the internet on clothing of the day, including Ike jackets,herringbone (sp?),etc. I was issued the old herringbone with the copper USMC buttons. I thought I still had some in my seabag still sitting in storage. Since I’m now 68 years old I’m learning, better get ‘er done while I still have a heartbeat. So I dumped out the seabag and much to my disappointment I only had ONE standard green utility shirt. So naturally I tried to put it on over my “disproportionately accented” body and it didn’t work. This is a picture of my shirt: read more

The old stuff box

The old stuff box

In the Sgt.Grit newsletter, of 7 May 2009, short piece by Paul Martell about the fouled anchor got me to looking in my stuff box from the Corps. Some of the things I remember, Dress Shoes were Ox Blood or Cordovan in color. No boots they were Boon Dockers just to the ankle, then canvas leggings that laced up in side, they were not polished. In my stuff box have one dark bronze hat device, not black. Have a bronze device that does not have the rope on the anchor,(pix.attached) for the Dress Blues. Also the last set of Dog Tags, P-38 can opener, a dark bronze tie bar, several awards, such as expert rifleman, sharpshooter pistol?the old 45 cal. Utilities was light green with a herringbone pattern And a few medals, nothing big just what everyone in that era had. Also the rank of Gunny Sgt. today was Technical Sgt. No Social Security Number, had Service Number. PISC boot camp we lived in tents ? can?t remember if five or six men per tent. SDI then was Sgt. John M Morse, JDI was Ralph L Lorenzo. I guess I can now call myself Old Corps ??? read more

Father and Son

Father and Son

To Sgt Grit,

Just wanted to share a picture with you. As you can see one is from the past and one is from the present. When I put them side by side everyone has commented on how we looked so much alike coming out of boot camp.There is 32 years difference between us.My son Justin is a Cpl. just back from Iraq and preparing to go to Afghanistan soon due to the shortage of Marines to rotate back over.Just wanted to share this and say ,”SEMPER FI”,to all the fellow Marines out there. read more