Category: Main

Back in the Blues

When I was discharged from the Corps 24 years ago I set out to stay in Dress Blues shape figuring I’d be healthy so long as I was able to fit in them. The notoriously unforgiving form fitting wool coat would not allow an inch of excess flab and in order to get that cruel metal neck clasp fastened, I’d have to remain lean and mean. read more

Sgt./E-5 over three

I earned the “Right” in ’81 out of high school. Never issued but had to buy ($200.00 plus). I purchased mine after I achieved E-4 and was able to wear the blood stripe. Never looked back. I wore them three times and always received looks and a “Thank you”. Was with H&S 1/6 out of Lejeune so I even had the white French Fortegiere on my shoulder. Sharp. I respect all branches…(with a sharp tongue). But we all can’t earn the right… Be safe, be vigilante, be you…and be a Marine!!!! read more

Staff Sgt.

Back from Nam, I was standing a “junk on the bunk” inspection at HQCO 2dBN 2d ITR MCB Camp Pendleton. The Captain spent what seemed to be a long time staring at my rack. Finally he turns to me and says , Sergeant, that is one of the worst boot camp photos he had ever seen. Even though I only had a couple of weeks before my discharge, he wanted an updated ID card. Now at 77, losing my hair, I look more like my old boot camp photo. SSgt. Doug Nicoll read more

Boot Camp Haircut

Being the young smart ass that I was, I figured I could out smart the barbers at MCRD, San Diego. Two days before I left for boot camp, I went into my local barbershop and got myself a really short butch haircut. Well, this didn’t faze the barber at all. He said “Well, we have a smart ass here” and proceeded to shave my head with a razor, no lather either. I didn’t need a hair cut the rest of the 16 weeks I was there. At age 87, I still wear my hair “high and tight”.
SEMPER FI to all the current Jarheads and those like myself, living the old Corps.
GySgt Hicks 1954-1974 read more

Lost Mine On Hill 37

My dad passed in 2004 and I was cleaning out his gun cabinet when I came across the Zippo lighter I had given him after returning home from boot camp and ITR in 1969. I had forgotten about it. I’m sure I bought it and one other identical one at the PX at MCRD in San Diego. He obviously never used it as it is new in the box. I had mine engraved at read more

Why I don’ go to the traveling wall … a memory poem

I was then just a boy …
Life to me was a toy …
Years do little to the sight …
Of brothers lost in worthless fight …
But if you choose come ’round each year …
Remind me ever of my fear …
Remind me of how I cried …
As in my arms he bleed and died …
Remind me of how close I came …
To my death in that game …
Like my friend from childhood …
Who disappeared from where he stood …
Leaving me in red rain …
With gray on me that was his brain …
If you choose come ’round each year …
I know your motives are sincere …
But don’t look for me I won’t be there …
I’m a one the wall did spare read more

Sgt (5) Marine Corp [disabled]

We will keep those 13 honorable soldiers who have sacrificed their life in Afghanistan for the extraction of both United States people in those Afghann’s. With an incompetence of a president (Joe Biden) who needs to be court-martialed. Or Biden should step down as president to avoid the negativity of his presidency. Everything he has touched that Donald Trump has put inplace. down on our southern boarders everything that was set-up so we can get more illegal aliens into this country.to increase the chances for democrats that would increase the chance for Democrats to win in the election. This loss of our Marines could have been avoided Biden botched that up by letting hundreds upon hundreds Of American citizens as well as those people from Afghanistan who stood with us and helped us during the war of 20 years of fighting. Leaving them there to be murdered by the Terrorist and took over Kabobol in Afghanistan! read more

Nam Vet 68-69

I’m an o331 USMC from nam…Tet offensive ,PH recipient now 74 and doing well…Married 50 years next month…I’ve been riding a Motorcycle since 1971 when I got out…I was a state rep for the CVMA motorcycle association…Today there are around 15,000 countrywide… A great org. and not an MC …Everyone in our group is a combat veteran from all theaters…Nam, Korea , Afghanistan at one time we had WWII vets in our group…I started riding for all that never made it back…It was and is my therapy…Even my Vet shrink thinks so…So this fiasco that just cost 13 military lives makes me sick…Leave the NCO’s in charge and get civilians and politicians out of it …That was the case in Nam and it’s the same now…History does repeat…This ,in my opinion is the worst high command we have ever had…God bless our troops and they’re families…. read more

Climbing the Corporate Ladder Does Not Belong in US Military

First and foremost I don’t have the honor of being a U.S. Marine, but I had the honor of working beside them being a worker for the DOD. We have to stop letting the U.S. politicians control our military. There was a meeting that took place in the Pentagon in the late 60’s with a certain General and Four Star fleet admirals of the US Navy and five star generals of the US Airforce. They stated in the meeting in exactly 18 months we could be done with the war in southeast Asia, Vietnam. The stupid arrogant men of congress insisted on taking the wheel and driving the bus hence the disaster of the fall of Saigon in 1975. The same thing has taken place again in this disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. We as a nation are better than this and if we continue in this line of thought and practice we will be carrying the caskets and remains of our comrades for years to come. In the words of General George S. Patton “Military leaders lead, follow, or move the hell out of the way.”. May the souls and bodies of 13 Marines and one Navy corpsmen rest in peace. May their families find true closure. read more