I arrived at MCRDSD on July 6th, 1966. We were organized into Platoon 3059 and started training almost immediately. After 3 weeks of boot camp, I was getting into the routine and I was accepting the fact that I probably would survive another 5 weeks of torture.
Category: Main
Set backs
Summer 1976 Plt 1073 we started with 80 recruits and graduated 78 however only 41 or 42 of us were the original 80 SSgt Viescus Sgt McNeal or Cpl Watson would have us welcome the new joins with a session in the pit. SSgt Viescus was the only person I know who could break you with 5 eight count push-ups. Course those 5 could sometimes take over 30 minutes to do. I also remember that the 7,8,1,2 count took 2 seconds but 3,4,5,6 were a lot longer. The only people who wanted to see a new recruit standing at the DI shack with a Seabag were the previous new pickups as there was a new focus of attention and they were now old salts
The origin of Oohrah
Sgt. Grit,
The origin of Oohrah . . .
1st Amphibious Recon is taking credit for introducing “Oohrah” into the Marine Corps greeting which is absolutely true, however “Aaroogah” goes back to the WW2 Marine Corps Raiders out of Camp Catlin, not after the Korean War. Lets not let this part of history be forgotten.
The submarine’s klaxon that sounded ‘Aaroogah’ in preparation to dive was the source of the Marine Raiders from Camp Catlin who went out on a submarine pulling their rubber boats up thru a hatch to make a shore landing. They imitated the sound saying Aaroogah greeting one another. It sounded ridiculous and never caught on. But 1st Amphib Recon heard the Raiders and made their own ‘Oohrah’ version which we use today.
Sgt. Max Sarazin
Reunions
2nd Battalion 9th Marines will be having their 38th reunion from November 8-12 @ Mariott Arlington/Rosslyn Va.
More info contact John Klemm @jklemm65@gmail.com
All 2/9 Marines welcomed.
USMC BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION & AUCTION !!!
THE “SEMPER-FI SOCIETY OF THE BRAZOS VALLEY” (SEMPERFIORGANIZATION.COM) WILL BE HOSTING THE 246TH. CELEBRATION @ “BECKENDORFF FARMS”, 28533 MORTON ROAD, KATY, TX. 77493. DOORS OPEN @ 17:00 HRS. & THE SHING-DIG KICKS OFF @ 18:00 HRS. SPECIAL GUEST: “MOH RECEPIENT” COL. JAMES P. FLEMING, USAF (RET.), VIETNAM, 1970 FROM PRES. RICHARD M. NIXON.
THE GENERAL PUBLIC MAY ATTEND, AS WELL AS ALL MIL-VETS FROM WHATEVER BRANCH YOU SERVED IN—OORAH & SEMPER FIDELIS !!!
Marine Birthday Celebration in Grapevine, Texas
Dateline: Grapevine, Texas
On November 10, 2021 in Grapevine, Texas we are having our 30th Celebration (give or take a year) at the Tap in Grill, 120 S. Main St. Grapevine, Texas 76051, aka TUN TAVERN (for the evening). Any MARINE in the area that wants to join us for the Commandants message and “possibly meet one of the last IWO JIMA MARINES left on this earth”, is invited to celebrate with us.
1st Aeronautics Company stationed in the Azores Islands in World War I.
My Great-Uncle Elmer O. Schmanke also served in this unit in the Azores islands in World War 1 and his younger brother (my other Great-Uncle) William T. Schmanke served in 2nd Marine Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (2/5) in France and fought in Belleau Wood and Sissions in World War 1 and was W.I.A on 10 April 1918.
IWO JIMA REVISITED.
March 23rd, 2021 marked the 76th anniversary of the end of the battle for Iwo Jima. In 2018 my wife and I made a tour of some of the WWII Pacific War islands – Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima and Peleliu. I share the photo collection of that tour with anyone who is interested. One of the old jarheads that bought my book responded to the photo collection with a small set of his own. His dad, Sgt. Arvel Dinwiddie, was a tank gunner during the Iwo invasion and had his personal camera (probably an old Kodak box type) with him when they went ashore. With the birthday of the Corps and Veterans Day at hand, I thought this was a good time to present these photos, some of which I’m sure have never been published. Sgt Dinwiddie’s photos are time worn and faded, best viewed on a large screen. The rest of the photos are more professional, combat photographer grade, and have stayed sharp. I have added my own photo taken from what looks to be the same approximate area of the Dinwiddie photo of the battle debris with Mt. Suribachi in the background (I attended the 73rd Reunion of Honor on Iwo). The picture of the “invasion fleet” is obviously taken after the battle and after the heavy hitters have departed for their next battle. Also, one of my photos, I’m sure, is of the same Japanese bunker in one of the Dinwiddie photos. All the Dinwiddie photos were taken in the aftermath of the battle, seeing as how he was pretty busy beforehand. Enjoy.
Semper Fi
Dress Blues for Marrying College Sweetheart
In December of 1964, while I was stationed in Quantico,Va., I married Emma, my college sweetheart .
One year later I was in Vietnam with the Second Battalion ,Third Marines. Emma was seven months pregnant. Before I left for Vietnam, I went to ask Colonel Jonas M.Platt if I could stay in Quantico just two more months to be with Emma when our first child was born. Col.Platt simply said,”Do you think you are the only Marine whose wife is pregnant?”
Today, we have four children and eleven grandchildren. Mike, our firstborn, is 55 years old.
The first time I picked him up was in November 1966. Today, we should never forget the commitment of Marines serving around the globe and their families who make a special sacrifice during times of separation. We are especially thankful and indebted to those who make the ultimate sacrifice and never have the chance to be reunited with their loved ones.
Dress Blues & Mess Dress
I know that the request was for dress blues pictures but I couldn’t resist also sending a picture of my favorite dress uniform.
The first picture in dress blues was taken at the 1980 Officers Commissioning Ceremony for RS Hartford Ct. With me is 2d Lt Lynn Adams, University of Connecticut, whom I had recruited. She was assigned as a Personnel Officer at Camp Pendleton.