Author: SgtGrit

Marine Toys

I have been collecting old toys for over 30 years and I thought I would start sharing some of my favorites with everyone. During the 1950s and early 1960s there were tons of cool military toys many of them were made by the REMCO toy company. Here is an example a Marine Communications system. You basically send morse code messages by means of either a click through the handsets or vial a light on top of the control unit. Supposedly you could actually talk through the handsets. As a former 2841 Ground Radio Repairman I can appreciate this device. Oddly enough the equipment I worked on in the Corps was not much more sophisticated. read more

Old Marines

OLD MARINES CAN’T RUN BUT WE CAN SHOOT.

Members of India Co, 1st Platoon, 3Rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Mar. Div.

December 7, 2009

Just this past October 24th members of India Co, 1st Platoon, 3Rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Mar. Div. got together (again) in Pennslyvania for our annual platoon reunion. This group is mostly comprised of Marines and many of our Navy Corpsman who served in India Co. 1st PLT. between 1967 and 1968 in our battalion base near Danang. Some also served aboard the USS Valley Forge during our Battalion Landing Team days when we were performing combat missions in the Province of Quang Tri. (near the DMZ) Our platoon has been getting since the late 90?s and it we do include our spouses. We have gotten together in places like Niagra Falls, NY – Columbus, OH – Tennessee and Virginia. This year?s reunion was held at Lt. Richard Anderson?s and his wife Lee?s place on the lake near Dubois. PA. Next year we are planning the reunion for Cape Cod, MA. read more

Sgt. Josh Desforges USMC 20 May 86 to 12 May 10

Dear Sgt Grit,

I received the most dreaded phone call a family member of a serving Marine can get, this past Wednesday night.

I got the call from my friend Ed(SgtMaj USMCR Ret) that our boy Josh, Sgt Josh Desforges USMC had been killed in action earlier that day! Anyways, one of his most prized possessions was his USMC K-Bar knife I had gotten from Sgt Grit, and was given to him before he left for Boot Camp! Anyways, I wanted to share these photo’s of him with those so if they see his name online, or on TV, they know who he is. He was a good kid, and was a very good Young Marine and U S Marine NCO. read more

The C.S. Marine Corps

We go places where Navy and Marines fought during the Civil War. We educate people on the C.S. Marines and try to describe what it was like for Marines and sailors during the Civil War. We set up displays with the weapons that Marines used during the war and we also show them the leather neck strap that the name Leathernecks came from. We also do living histories for schools and we also do what Marines do best Fight, we can provide sniper cover for advancing troops or we level any one on the quarterdeck of a warship,we also man artillery pieces on aboard ship and land. Amphibious landings deploy as skirmishers and boarding parties we are also the ship’s Captain’s personal guard and escort while aboard ship. We basically do the same thing that Marines do today. Here are some of the pictures that I do have already downloaded to my computer. read more

Holyoke Rally Greets Wounded Granby Marine

HOLYOKE, Mass. — An estimated 500 family, friends, public officials, including the lieutenant governor, fellow Marines, and veteran’s Saturday afternoon cheered at a rally at the former Anne H. McHugh School parking lot ast U.S. Marine Sergeant Joshua J. (Josh) Bouchard was given a hero’s welcome on his return home after suffering life threatening wounds in Afghanistan a year ago. read more

Hey Sgt Grit

Semper Fi indeed!

Was in from 1966 to 69 — married a Marine; started incubating our baby girl; rotated out … duty station was HQMC — Henderson Hall billet — Div of Info … 4312 DINFOS schooled …

loved every minute of being a Marine … herewith current me and former me … read more

Marine MP at Iwakuni

This was taken in 1969 at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.

Sgt. John Fleak. MP, H&HS, MCAS, Iwakuni, Japan.

Thank You
John Fleak

WE ARE THE MARINES

5 MARINES, ONE FAMILY MAKING UP THE USMC AIR GROUND COMBAT TEAM
12 TOURS IN EITHER IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN
WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE FAMILY MEMBER IN THESE WARS EVERY YEAR FOR 7 YEARS AND AT TIMES TWO OF US WERE DEPLOYED AT THE SAME TIME.

PROUD HUSBAND AND FATHER OF THIS FAMILY
VINCENT G. SUETOS RETIRED read more

Funeral LCpl Ross

Sgt. Grit
I already notified you of the Loss of another Marine in Afghanistan. Lcpl. Jacob Ross.

Today April 1, 2010 was his funeral in Gillette, Wyoming.
About 250 miles North of Cheyenne, Wy.

We were sure there would be at least two Marines present.
The escort and the Officer in charge.
We wanted to make sure a couple of us OLD Marines would also be there.
We left Cheyenne about 0400 and drove North. Hit snow about 75 miles south of Gillette but we persevered.
Services were held at 10:00 at the Family Life Church.
Governor Freudenthal and Senator Barasso (he’s an associate of the member the Marine Corp League) of Wyoming attended and presented plaques to the the family. Mother , father and his still new bride of only a few months. read more