In 1975, I was a Weapons Platoon Sergeant with Fox 2/7 at San Mateo, Camp Pendelton. All of the Battalion NCO’s including myself were attending our monthly NCO meeting. Sgt.Maj. Yanachi was an Eskimo Indian, but to hear him tell it he was Born at Tun Tavern. The Sgt.Maj. when answering a question would always start out with “Well I remember in the Old Corps when all you young kids wer just a twinkle in your daddy’s eye,” and we would all give a little laugh. Being the Smart-Ass Comedian Sgt. that I was… I raised my hand and Sgt.Maj. pointed at me and said “Yes SGT. HAMMER.” I stood up and asked him if he had any pictures of himself polishing his Sword and Shield in the Old Corps? Some NCO’s were laughing and most were wide eyed going OOOOOH! He turned around to the podium (I thought he was ignoring me) and picked up the Battalion NCO Duty Roster, turning back to face me he said “NO, I’m sorry to say I don’t Sgt. Hammer, but I promise I’ll be here every weekend this month to take your picture at the battalion guard duty desk.” He then ripped the schedule in half and threw it over his shoulder and looking around the room at all the other NCO’s said “Is there any other questions?” “NO. Alright then, I want everybody here to thank Sgt. Hammer for volunteering for duty NCO this month so that his fellow Marine NCO’s can enjoy their weekends this month… Isn’t that right Sgt. Hammer?” I snapped to attention and yelled “Aye aye Sergeant Major!” Everybody snapped to attention and Sgt.Maj. yelled “DISMISSED” everybody was laughing so loud you wouldn’t have heard a grenade go off. Every NCO patting me on the back saying “Way to go Hammer, Thanks!”. I Loved the then and still do, I didn’t mind at all. My Wife and Kids all lived on Base at 633-A Puller Place a five bedroom 2-1/2 bath NEW home. And I Respected the Sgt.Maj. more than any man on the Base. I read Sgt.Maj. Yanachi’s Presidential Citation that on a mountain top in South Vietnam went outside the wire one night with no weapon other than his “Razor Sharp” E-tool to dig a “Cat-Hole” (out of Respect for his fellow Company Marines). On the way back to his position The Marines came under Attack. The Sgt.Maj. surrounded by Combat Armed NVA’s who not wanting to fire their weapons at one “Lone Marine” and alert the Company of Marines inside the wire attempted to bayonet the (then) 1st.Sgt. Yanachi, He just started swinging that E-tool in all Directions. It was later determined (after the battle) that THIRTEEN (13) Enemy Soldiers had been killed by an E-tool. Sergeant Major Yanachi told me he had to dig a second Cat-Hole inside the wire to clean out his shorts. I TREASURE the memories of every day I served in the Corps from 1972 to 1978 even the bad ones.
SEMPER FI Leathernecks, See you when we Regroup.
Hammer
A warning to our enemies. Never get in the way of a Marine attempting to take a dump! Great story Sgt. Hammer! Gives new meaning to the phrase “the shit hit the fan”! OOORAH!
I am a little confused by the reference to a “Presidential Citation” since I am only familiar with Presidential UNIT citations and not INDIVIDUAL citations. I have two Presidential Unit Citations from my tour in Vietnam. It is represented by the ribbon with bronze device. Perhaps the Sgt Major earned a commendation.
Did the SgtMaj relay the ‘old story’ of the young lad stopped in the Tun Tavern and saw a desk and found they were recruiting people for the ‘New’ Marine Corps.
The lad was interested, signed up and was told to go into the tavern and get himself a beer and was given two chits for free beer.
Little later another young lad came in, signed up and was directed to the bar to wait.
He spotted the first lad and introduced himself and said he had just enlisted and the nice guy even gave him a chit for a beer.
“Hell Man, in the Old Corps we got two chits for enlisting”
“HAMMER TIME ” …..
I was in Golf 2/5 Camp Pendelton in 1975.
Our battalion Sergeant Major who served in Korea was the same type as Hammer’s
We also had a Company Gunny who served with the Sergeant Major in Korea.
The Gunny had row and row of metals on his dress uniform. The only one missing was a Good Conduct ribbon. He was a true Hard Charging Gung Ho Marine I will always remember both of them along with my three Boot Camp NCO’s at Paris Island.
I was a Young Platoon Sgt/Training NCO with H&S 3/7, 1973 when 1stSgt Yanachi was promoted to SgtMaj. He kept an axe in his desk and would swing it at young troops who leaned on his desk. Not a good move! The Citation that was hanging on his wall was a Silver Star Award!!! He was a great leader and a Fine Marine!! We shared an office for 8 months and his stories were inspiring and exciting.!!!
Great story mr. hammer. If you don’t mind, and I’m only asking because I’m trying to be polite, I will use that one day when I am sufficiently inebreated, to show a doggie friend of mine how tough we are. Semper Fi…