At the 500 yard line, the gas cylinder on my M14 would build up with carbon rendering the rifle useless. Whenever I fired a round, you could see dirt kick up in front of me. My Drill Instructor saw what was happening and fired the rifle himself. His solution was to clean out the carbon after each round. He said that if you were in combat that's what you would have to do or die trying. Not only was I under time restraints to qualify, now I had to clean the gas cylinder everey time I fired a round. To make matters worse, there was fog drifting across the target. In spite of the problems that I had to deal with, I became an expert that day. Thank God, I didn't have to take that rifle into combat. When I went to Sea Duty, I was issued an M1. What a relief. Instead of a gas cylinder, there was a spring. Front and rear sights were the same. Kept my Expert Badge.
Category: Era
Looking for K 3/5 Vietnam Veterans 1968
I'm looking for Vietnam Veterans that served in the RVN, specifically in An Hoa, Hai Van Pass, Claymore Pass with K 3/5 in 1968. Contact me at lilredvette13[at]hotmail.com.
Trying To Locate Some Brothers
Sir,
I am trying to locate some brothers from a long time ago… I
thought by putting this letter and picture in your newsletter
one of your readers just might recognize one or more of these
guys. This picture was taken in the Philippines during Operation
Strongback in 1957 while with Kilo Btry, 4th Battalion, 12th
Marines.
AN HOA 1970
To all those that spent time at AN Hoa. I was with 2/11 ,1970 until we left and gave it to the ARVN's in Aug. I went back in 2005 and their is not one piece of the base left except a few pieces of the tarmac. Liberty Bridge is also gone, I met a few people that lived in the ville, but An Hoa was destroyed and move a few miles away. It was a great trip and I'm glad I went but never again, twice was enough. China Beach has a 5 star hotel.
40 Years Ago and I Remember It Like It Was Yesterday
I had not been in country long around 3 months on this 1/21/1968. It was just past midnight and the word came down that we had NVA in the wire and there was a break in our lines. Every 3rd man turned and watched the back in case we got jumped from behind.
My Grandmother’s a BAM and Proud of It
Sgt. Grit,
My Grandmother, SGT. Patricia Shay, served in WWII helping to process the Marines coming back to Alameda, CA from the Pacific Theatre. I remember as a young boy seeing her Marine Corps pictures displayed proudly showing her in uniform. This ended up being my introduction to the Marine Corps. She grilled me with my studies so that I could graduate and fufill my commitment to enlist and become a Marine. She attended my graduation from MCRD San Diego (Hollywood), and has been there when I needed her to be. There have been two outstanding gifts that were presented to my Granny, first was the Flag from Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan flown on DEC. 7th 2011 sent by my Brother-In-Law, Maj. Kevin Bicking, (A Mustang, from SGT. through OCS and made it to Major in just over 20, Currently Retired) and second, the Award of the Two Medals… The American Campaign and WWII Victory medals that she had not received when she was in the service. These two small acts have moved my family and my Grandmother specifically with comraderie that is the Marine Corps. Semper Fidelis to all of our Veterans… old and new, and by the way Granny is 93 and will be 94 this year and is still as tough as nails.
“Pig”
In 1969 while serving in the 1st MAW in DaNang, I was at the airstrip waiting to catch a C-130 for Chu Lai when a little guy came out of nowhere… He jumped in my lap and looked hungry. I took him back to the compound and got him some chow & water. We became good buddies for the next 4 months. I named him "Pig" because he would eat anything! He was a great little guy!
Blast From the Past
While enjoyable to read stories of family members carrying on the
tradition and old friends reuniting, it's even more fantastic when
you get to experience this:
1985 in Korea, 2nd Lt. Taggart on the left, Cpl. Thornton, M.A. on
the right.
Fast forward 27 years…
Iwo Pictures
These are some photos that a reader of the newsletter sent in from the WWII era.
Vietnam Service Ribbon Knife
Sgt Grit,
I want to show you what a guy in Southern Missouri did for me. I sent a
plain Jane Kershaw Leek to him and this is what I got back. The handles
are Culpepper dyed bone and I'm sorry, I don't know how he applied them
to the knife other than the obvious screws. The Viet Nam Service Ribbon
design for the custom handles was inspired by some SFO (Special Factory
Order) Case knives Shepherd Hills Cutlery was selling.