Category: Main

I’ve long known of the eternal discussion of the Springfield, M-1, M-14 and finally the M-16. Depending on the age of the Marine, each of these rifles has its supporters. I qualified Expert on the M-1, M-14, and the early M-16.

I personally lean toward the M-14 over the M-1 because of the increased capacity for rounds. The M-14 was a very robust design that was fairly easy to maintain. read more

No one ever did the island in June ? It was a bear hot as hell! I am from the older corps. Went in in 59 got out in time to miss the shot at all expense paid trip to Vietnam . Sorry I did but I salute all that have heard the shot in anger and those 58,000 others who paid the Full price ! read more

We aviation guys in the late 1940’s used to fire annual qualification at Camp Mathews as we did not have a range at El Toro. The summer of 1948 I was TADed to Mathews as a coach. and spent my time crunching the local hills. Still remember old “E” range with it’s 100 targets. Sure brought back memories when ever I drove down I5 in later years and saw how urbanization has taken it’s toll. read more

I too was in Vietnam in 1965-66 1/9 the walking dead we landed by LST on the beach at DaNang on June 16th 1965. We came to there from Okinawa. My unit was on Oki for about 6 months before going to Vietnam I came home in July of 1966. I transferred to the USAF in 1968 and Maintained C-130 Aircraft for many years. In April 1973 I was part of Operation Homecoming when we brought the first POW’s out of North Vietnam. It was at this time I was able to talk and remember all the time in VN without any stigmas. I was very proud to be a part of the POW release, I retired from the Air Force in 1985 never forgetting my time in the Marines it is the proudest time of my Military Career.
Once a Marine always a Marine. Semper Fi my brothers. read more

After reading recent pieces about the old rifle range at Camp Mathews I wanted to share one of my more memorable boot camp experiences which, in this case, occurred at Mathews. Comments and other funny boot camp stories welcome at bootcampstories2@gmail.com. This excerpt is from my book “SH*TBIRD! How I Learned To Love The Corps” read more

In august of 1964 I was in platoon 359 and we were the very last series to qualify at Camp Matthews.While at the rifle range in early august one of the instructors gathered our platoon around to tell us what had just taken place in the gulf of tonkin.He then stated that all of us had better learn how to shoot the m-14 with proficiency because in about a year from now we would be in Viet Nam.How prophetic his words were as in june of 1965 I arrived there with c-1-9.I was proud and slightly surprised that I qualified as an expert with the m-14. SEMPER FI read more

Dear Sgt. Grit,
A number of years ago you posted that Gen. Puller’s Home in Saluda Virginia was for sale. I responded to you on the Status and a long story. Well today, went to Saluda to return family items to the Middlesex County Museum because almost all had ties to “Chesty”. The Director of the Musuem has been trying to get me to visit “Chesty’s House and meet the couple whom bought it. Because of the lengthy drive from my house to there, I failed. Today, the couple was waiting for me. He is a Marine. He and his wife are spending alot of money trying to restore this 100 year old home to its orginal condition.
Mr. Sharpe make one H$ll of an offer to Marines, the Marine Corps League. Show up, bring a Marie Corps Flag….they will raise the flag, then lower it and issue a signed document that this flag was flown at “Chesty’s” house. And if one visits, “Chesty and Virginia” are buried 10 minutes away at Christ Church.
Thanks Don for your love and support of your beloved Marine Corps and keeps so much alive and infront of many.
As You Remember,
“Chesty’s Friend”
Steve Robertson
*Have proof of this statement.
Thought your Marines would be interested and know you are one strong supporter of the General. You and I have exchanged a number of mails through the years regarding “Chesty” and yes, have spoken/responded to some of the posts in the weekly newsletters. They are always interesting and at times challenging to say the least. But they are all good. read more

I joined in 1964 and received rifle training at Camp Mathews. I still remember hearing our PMI saying “Aw Ha (upward tone), Ah Ha (downward tone), Caught you M….. F…er” when we were doing something wrong. I think Camp Mathews in now part of UC San Diego – Third College (may have a better name now). I remember the nice hills we got to run in. I was in Platoon 128, known as the running platoon. One of our PMIs took us out with the intent to run us into the ground. This worked out just the opposite. I also remember Viet Nam being two words, not one. CPL Robert Coghill – Viet Nam 65-66 read more

In the early 1960’s, I took Marine Corps Military Science while in high school in El Cajon, Ca. Our Instructor was Lt Col Stidhan. His duty station was at Camp Mathews. He taught armor recon. During Spring Break and Summer camp, our high school detachment would receive our down and dirty instruction there. When I joined the Corps in 1966, Camp Mathews was no longer there & we had our rifle range at Edson Range, Camp Pendleton. It’s a real small world, especially in our beloved Corps read more