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.
Category: Main
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)
“Who Replaced You?”
I’ve been writing poems ever since I returned from VN. Why? Beats me. They just show up in my head and I write. Some were written after I had a drink or two and I am sure I will never with the Nobel prize for literature and I almost never share them, I still write though rarely drink now. I thought I’d drop one off here. I suppose my poems are a way for me to express many things I’ve thought and felt about being in the U.S. Marine Corps and having spent ~13 months in VN; also, some poems described my experiences when I returned. Semper Fi! Who Replaced You?
PFC Dan Bullock
PFC Dan Bullock was born in Goldsboro ,NC His mother died when he was eleven years old and,he was sent to Brooklyn NY to live with his father.He always wanted to be a pilot,policeman or a Marine.He did not like New York so,when he was 14 he altered the birthdate on his birth certificate and enlisted in the Marine Corps.On Sept 18 1968 at 14 he was on his way to Parris Island He was a member of Plt.3039;Some of you reading this may have trained with him.On May 18 1969, at the age of 15, he arrived in Vietnam.He was assigned to Fox 2/5 and,on June 7 1969 he was KIA at or near An-Hoa. At 15 he became the youngest Serviceman killed in Vietnam .If anyone out there knew him please post a comment. SEMPER FI and RIP PFC BULLOCK. Harry
No Welcome Home!
When sent to Vietnam I lacked two months being 18. When leaving I was a man at the age of 20. Having the experience of Combat, Trusting another with your daily life, & having the ” power ” of life & death in Your Trigger Finger; with all that hostility & meanness inside of you; nothing can ” top ” that “. Being given 3 choices of Duty Stations when leaving Nam—one of which was returning Stateside, I had better since . Choosing to go to Pearl Harbor as an M.P. for nine months was a fabulous decision because there I was locked up for 6 out of the 9 months. By the time returning home, all that ” stuff ” was able to be tolerated as well as those things still within. Being able to, I’d join the CORPS again in a heartbeat. Three things in life have really helped me to grow up & be a man: The MARINES, Married Life, & Prison Life, though I do not recommend the last 2 to anyone. SEMPER FIDELIS BROTHERS ” Stew ”
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.
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.
Marines, Taking Care of Their own
Alzheimer’s is a terrible thing. My father-in-law lost the battle with Alzheimer’s and we cared for him for almost two years. It can be devastating. You might have seen in the news where a guy checked his wife out of a memory care facility for the day. He took her around back and shot her, killing her instantly. Married for forty years, she no longer recognized him. That guy was Master Sergeant Stephen Kruspe. He was the Operations Chief when I was the Commanding Officer of 4th ANGLICO. Top Kruspe was a very professional Marine – the kind of Marine you would want in your foxhole in a firefight. He has an attorney who will try to get the charge reduced from first degree murder. And though the attorney does not expect to get paid, the expert witnesses he will need to call to testify on Top Kruspe’s behalf will. If you want to help, send a check payable to “Attorney Jonathan Kaplan” and mail it to me at 5460 Old Mystic Court, Jupiter FL 33458-3470. When I get a pile of checks, I’ll send them together to the attorney. Marines always say “Marines take care of their own.” Let’s take care of Top Kruspe. Col Paul Loschiavo USMCR (Ret), former SALT Officer, 2nd ANGLICO, and former Commanding Officer, 4th ANGLICO.
Foxhole jumping
I posted a story a while back Sgt Grit liked so much he post it twice. lol When I saw Robert Mcload story jumping into foxhole it brought back memories that story I told about. It was on Hill 37 out side the village Dia Loc at The 4 corners. The story goes , we were getting incoming about 0545 , mortars were hitting all around us I was in the S4 hooch I grab my m16, helmet, flak jacket.The foxhole I’am referring to was just outside the back door of S4. I was doing about 60 miles an hour when I jumped feet first into the hole. Just as I went in a face appeared and both #10 ‘s met this face. Without hesitation I bounced out of their within a second. The reason I moved so quickly is their were captain bars on his helmet. Now, you say I could have stayed an apologize, I’am just a cpl. so at the time I just made myself scarce and went to the bunker underneath S4. That’s were the other story comes in about Gooood Morning Vietnam. Well the captain I met in the foxhole was Captain Robb of Lima co. 3/7, the President’s son-in-law. This is the first and last time I’ll mention this story and I’am sticking to it. My most sincere apology to the Captain. From what I saw and heard about the Captain, he was a damn fine Marine. Semper Fi my friends. Sid Crews ammo tech. 3/7, in country, Nov 66 to July 68 Oooorah!!!
Not a Great Welcome Home Feeling in 1967
I was honorably discharged in August 1967- enlisted from Florida- went to New York ( and reaped larger separation pay ) – stayed in Virginia for a few weeks- and applied for a job in area- went back to New York and a life of uncertainty- torn between family and friends left behind in Virginia. Found a job in a bank back office in Manhattan- hostile work environment as they pounced on me after they found out I was a United States Marine- had arguments and one clown reported me to senior management for being disrespectful. A white haired 60 something executive in an office as big as a lobby in some buildings- started to have me sit down and was nice to me- I saw a picture of an airplane with a young guy on a wing- it seems he was a World War fighter pilot ( Navy ) and after he heard my story- he gave me a business card with his home phone written on the back and told me to call anytime – and he promised to speak to my immediate superiors at my work area. A lot of hostility towards all military on returning stateside after Vietnam era. Mostly college kids and sorry to say malcontents too! Would not trade experience of the 4 years in the Corps if I had to do it over again. I still got the sometimes attitude that gets me into arguments today- different international atmosphere- different type of enemy- different life style- but still willing to interced