Parris Inland in the summer of 1968—the summer of love for hippies on the west
coast. However, not so much for Platoon 296 on Parris Inland with Sgt.
Morris—not even close! We had completed about half of our training when recruits
started coming in from being recycled. That’s when we learned that the Drill
Instructor Sgt. Morris told us the truth about doing our entire enlistment at
Parris Inland if we couldn’t get our “sh-t together” and move on Camp Stone Bay
(for 03’s). I know there are Marines out there who can confirm the fear factor
we were feeling. I mean, I was barely 17 and wanted to see women again before I
got too old to appreciate them.
Category: Main
UBER for Marines
Found this picture while surfing the net and thought I would share it. For all those years I never realized we were important enough to have our own UBER connection. Semper Fi!!! Top Pro
River Crossing
I was a corporal in mid 1970 and was an instructor in counter guerilla warfare at the Northern Training Area of Okinawa. I taught the class on water crossings. My favorite Marine’s in each water crossing class was those 5’7″ Marines. Someone always forgot to tell them they can’t do that. Especially those that really didn’t know how to swim. But one Marine, PFC Raul Ruiz was the radioman. When his squad was tasked to build a raft using their ponchos and grass he got involved. But said “He didn’t need no stinkin raft. ” I paraphrased so this would be clean if you know what I mean. But he couldn’t swim. And he did cross, but put his radio on the raft. And pulled the raft using his teeth. No KIDDIN. The other Marines in the squad assisted by holding on and paddling. Mission accomplished. PFC Raul Ruiz where ever you are, Semper Fi and God Bless.
Belated “Weather and food in RVN for Grunts”
I was a bit under the weather last week and did not get to respond to “Weather and food in RVN for Grunts,” so here’s my contribution:
Every Marine’s assignment, reception and duties are different and often depend on the rank, attitude and motivation of the individual at the time. My first tour in ’66-67, as a Pfc/LCpl with H&S 2/26, in Happy & Elephant Vallieys and later on Chinook and at Phu Bai was vastly different from my second tour in ’69-70 as a Sgt/SSgt with Comm Co 1st FSR/FLC and Provisional Rifle Co at Camp Books, Red Beach. With each I was a different rank, age & maturity, in different areas doing different jobs. Actually, I’ve always felt like I was in two different wars between ’66 and ’70 and have confirmed this with many other multiple tour Marines.
Sgt Maj Spencer
I was in 9th Mar Hq Co Tow Plt back in ’86, ’87 and Sgt. Maj. Spencer and the Regt CO used to take the plt out in CTA on hikes. Which was no big deal except the little hikes happened to be on Saturday morning. Hung over and disgruntled young Marines don’t feel much like sounding off, which one morning pissed off the Sgt. Maj. and he said something I’ve never forgot. He was chewing everybody out and he said “Be somebody, get involved”
I just read the article titled Sergeant about the mobs and riots in some of our cities and how pathetic it is. And all the responses to the article basically were the same – a lot of shit talking but no suggestions for any actual action.
How about forming local veterans groups to stand up to those antifa communists? There already are base groups like The Marine Corps League, The Legion, The VFW to name a few. I read about a Marine Corps veteran being harassed by those scumbags in Portland and a squid vet who tried to help him get a good beating, I just wonder what the hell is wrong with us? Apparently politicians and law enforcement in some spots in our country are unwilling or unable to uphold and defend the constitution against domestic enemies, maybe it’s time for us vets to stop talking trash and get ourselves organized, get involved and do something.
Start a chain of communication (and command) of vets within your own community and then communicate with other cities etc.. You senior NCO’s can communicate within your own veterans groups.
Or we can sit back and whine about how things are and what should be done and talk trash until Portland or Seattle comes to your town. Then it may be too late.
0302, RVN 5/67-2/69
Enjoyed your story, Robert, and I’m surprised to see only two comments. Here are mine on this Monday morning: Actually there is a third season–COLD! Well, it’s really a part of the wet you mentioned. In I Corps, the monsoon season was in the winter and I remember so well the Tet Offensive and how COLD it was. The other comment is the fact that you mentioned lima beans and pork and, so far, no one has corrected you to call them what everyone who opened a can of ham and mf’s! Semper fidelis!
Making a river crossing
Making a river crossing
Talking about drown proofing, I remember the training about crossing a river. I
know how it should be done even after all these years, however; it seems like in
Viet Nam we got across as fast as possible. Which always made sense with all
those “things” in the water. I recall one time when we were getting ready to go
into the river. We lined up with me behind the Marine carrying the M-79 (the
blooper—the sound it made when fired) and that heavy bag of rounds. We called
this Marine Barney (Rubble) after the character on The Flintstones because
that’s who he looks like to us. He was one of the smallest men (about 5’6″) in
the platoon and was built like a square block of wood with a great easy laugh.
Anyways, Barney jumps into the river with his weapon and ammo bag over his head.
All anyone could see of him was his helmet going across the water like a turtle.
He made to the other side just in time to breath again. He explain that he
couldn’t actually touch the river bottom so he had to tiptoe his way across. We
all had a laugh at the sight of watching that helmet going through the water.
Barney was laughing the loudest of us all after we explain what he looked like.
Thankfully, he didn’t head in the wrong direction once he got into river
otherwise we
might not have seen him again due to how muddy the water was. I can’t wait until
Marines learn how to walk on water. That should make the process of river
crossings easier for those Marines who stand closer to Mother Earth.
The weather and food in Vietnam for grunts
I served in Vietnam in 1970 with 3rd. Platoon , Golf Company, 2 Battalion, 5th. Marine Regiment. There are two weathers in Vietnam—rain that comes down so hard, it can wash away your heart, your happiness, and your spirit. It causes mud that will raise higher than your boots. And it will hold on you and weight you down so bad that it almost hurt to move. Your clothes are always wet and would start to fall apart (anyways, mine did–once). Your gear is always wet. Your weapon and rounds are always wet. Your personal things,, that were so important to you that you would carry the extra weight in the bush, are always wet. And because I also hump a radio that had to stay dry, I was always wet. It would rain like a cow peeing on a flat rock (hard).
Great Thanks
At the age of 17 I left High School in my senior year to join the Marine Corps. I enlisted with my neighborhood friends. I was the only one to make it back and every day I thank God and my Drill Instructor Gysgt. Williams for making it back. If it weren’t for him and the Marine Corps I wouldn’t be what I am today. My whole life, focus, discipline and honor are based on what I was taught in Boot Camp. I thank God every day that I am a Marine and I will die a Marine. I served from 1969-1972.
Sgt.
Viet Nam Air Crew Marines, our bunch is between 70 and 73 now.
We live all over the country and our politics is all over the board.
Other than my wife, the Marines of our bunch are my closest friends.
I hike with one of our bunch every week. We hike like Marines.
We keep in touch and check in on one another.
Looking forward to post-covid reunions with those of our bunch.
Marines and Docs…Semper Fi.