Author: SgtGrit

WWII VETERANS, GUESTS REMEMBER THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA

IWO TO, Japan — At the base of Mount Suribachi on Iwo To, among the most iconic places in Marine Corps history, U.S. Marine, Army and Air Force veterans, families alongside U.S. and Japanese leaders and other distinguished guests gathered to commemorate fallen service members during the 72nd Reunion of Honor ceremony, March 25, 2017. read more

Return from carrier quals

In the early sixties the aircraft carriers at Pearl Harbor docked at the old Battle Ship Row in front of the Arizona Memorial on Ford Island. I was a plane captain on A4Ds in VMA-212 based at Kaneohe Bay on the other side of Oahu from”61” to “63”.  On return from one of these qualification cruises and after 20 or 30 hours of constant flight quarters, without a break, we plane captains were tired and dirty and taking a break on the hangar deck in the number two elevator opening. The elevator being up gave a huge picture window to the passing scene as we passed down the “slot” around Ford Island.  Somebody broke out a deck of cards and several of us were playing eucre on an overturned box.  The ships’ crew had been ordered into dress whites and lined the flight deck, shoulder to shoulder.  As we passed outgoing ships the Captain would announce “Attention to Port”, or “Attention to Starboard” and all the swabbies rendered hand salutes to the outgoing ships, which did the same in response with their crews.  Needless to say, a bunch of dirty, tired Marines looking at these passing swabbies all spit shined and rested did not appreciate the tradition we were observing.  We had our own version of the hand salute that got passed to the outgoing vessels.  This made for very astonished expressions from one sub as I recall.  Sailors in a row, from fore to aft and up the conning tower, mouths agape at the dirty, green humanoids disrespecting their ship.  Anyway, as we rounded Ford Island preparing to dock, the captain announced, “Attention to Starboard” and there coming into view was the new (at the time) Arizona Memorial, flying the stars and stripes as a still commissioned ship of the Navy.  Every man jack one of us stood at attention and saluted that beautiful flag and as we passed slowly by and into the slip just in front of the memorial.  No way could we not honor those brave men. Still brings a tear to my eye remembering. Cpl. Norm Spilleth 1960 to 1964 Sgt Grit wants to hear from you! Leave your comments below or Submit your own Story !

Inspiration Before The Battle (GySgt Walgren)

Take yourself back almost three years to February of 2010.  What were you doing then?  Were you in school, or at your last job?  For the Marines of 1/3, 1/6, 3/6, and 3/10, they were about to begin what was dubbed as the most dangerous combat operation since Fallujah with the commencement of Operation Moshtarak.  Their mission: clear the Taliban-infested city of Marjah, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.  While I have never set foot in Marjah, I did deploy just next door in Nawa district, having gone on many a patrol just outside of Marjah in the “friendly” area of Trek Nawa.  Before you watch this legendary speech by Gunnery Sergeant Walgren of 1/6 (1st Battalion, 6th Marines), try and imagine yourself as one of these young Marines that’s about to climb into a CH-53 helicopter and begin the assault.  Can you imagine the mental preparation you have to do to really prepare yourself for a mission like that, especially with all of the intel/news reports on how heavy the enemy activity was?  That’s where good leadership comes into play, and the video speech you’re about to witness is spine-tingling good.  You don’t have to be a good public speaker to be a good leader, but it is a good quality to have, and Gunny Walgren possesses it in spades. read more

Godspeed, John Glenn

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert B. Neller presents the flag to Annie Glenn, wife of retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. John H. Glenn Jr., during his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., April 6, 2017. Glenn passed away Dec. 8, 2016. Glenn was a U.S. Marine Aviator who flew 149 combat missions during World War II and the Korean War. He later became a NASA astronaut and was the first man to orbit the earth aboard the “Friendship 7” in 1962. He was then elected to the U.S. Senate for the state of Ohio in 1974 and served four consecutive terms. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by CWO4 Jonathan C. Knauth) read more

A WWII VETERAN’S JOURNEY | THROUGH HELL AND BACK TO TELL ABOUT IT

At 4:30 p.m., April 6, 1945, the United States Ship John C. Colhoun II received a call for help from a ship under kamikaze attack. When the Colhoun sailed toward the vessel in distress, the kamikazes turned on the Colhoun, crashing into the bridge of the ship and sinking it. Navy veteran Donald Irwin survived, but lost 34 shipmates that day, off the coast of Okinawa. read more

Clash of Characters: Gunny Hartman takes title, R. Lee Ermey thanks his fans

After one last dominating performance, a single military movie character stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Head and shoulders and campaign cover, that is.

Gunnery Sgt. Hartman took out Capt. John Miller (“Saving Private Ryan”) in the final round of Battle Bracket: Clash of Characters voting to claim the title of best fictional military movie or television character ever. R. Lee Ermey’s “Full Metal Jacket” DI wasn’t seriously challenged in any of his six contests. read more

MARINES TAKE POSSESSION OF NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART RADAR

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, a global security company that provides systems, products, and solutions to government and commercial customers worldwide, presented its new AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar or G/ATOR at a receiving ceremony March 29, 2017, at its facility in Baltimore. read more

Warrior of the Week

Daly’s greatest moment in World War I came during the intense fighting at the Battle of Belleau Wood.  Daly’s Marines were in the middle of a goddamned shitstorm.  They were outnumbered two-to-one, outgunned, and facing down the barrel of a veritable assload of German machine gun nests.  They had been pinned down for hours by a non-stop hail of artillery and gunfire, and things were looking bleak as hell for our boys. read more

Cpl.Ron Pate

I was a 2841 in ELMACO with Pate we both were in Radio Relay section, we had not worked together much as I had problem with 1St Sgt. During move from Air Base by Dog Patch to FLC I had helped move Com stuff in Radio Relay to the Plywood Elephant, I think I only had a rack at FLC a couple days. Got to Nam in Nov. burner shitters and TAD  to conveys duty as Co. Camder did like my records  of M.O.S. from C&E. Batt San Diego  a another story!  Ronny and I walked to club that night a little late so we stood up leaning on the fence, round eyes on stage were great. Grenade went off Pate and I were knocked to ground when I woke up later, Marines were still leaving so I moved Ron and my self to wall so not to trip any one. All Marines inside club  thought the gooks were inside the wire so they were leaving for Defense. Ronny they say got a piece in the heart  , I was wounded from shoulders to ankles. Marines reasonable did not do  time. One got a Bad Conduct discharge but because of Drugs. I have never talked about this as of coarse I never received purple heart nor should have I but being in N.S.A. Guam Naval hospital Japan then Great Lakes till June 1970, I seen so many wounded Marines legs arms missing  burns Infection as I was on Ward 3 S. great lakes dirty ward. Plus I got to come home early Ronnie stood by me I lived he died. I am going to PTSD  meetings now for a year or so. I am telling this for others maybe me some. I now wear Marine Hats, put emblems on my trucks 10 or 15  years ago. I was always proud my being a Marine by volunteering to serve in Corp and Nam.  But being stationed at El. Tore from June to Oct. with all the Hippy Dippy spitting outside gate. Last time I was spit on was in Denver Airport by a mother of two children  Plus not many regular people supported us either Sgt Grit wants to hear from you! Leave your comments below or Submit your own Story !