Managed to find a nice lady to put up with my aging butt and got
married 30 Sept 2012. Had my brother and two back-to-back
buddies (one Marine and one civilian) come from out of state.
The Pastor, a former Marine don't you know, is a former work
buddy and great friend as well.
Category: Events and Memorials
Gravesite Of Chesty Puller
After taking my Grandson Vinny to visit a number of Civil War
battlefield sites this past summer here in the MD, VA area, he
asked me if we could visit the grave site of Chesty Puller, whom
he had heard me speak of a number of times. Vinny thought we'd
just take a short trip down the road to Arlington National
Cemetery to visit Chesty's grave site but I told him that Chesty
wasn't buried there, but instead just outside the town where he
retired in Saluda, Virginia in the Christ Church Parish
Cemetery, Christ Church, VA, right on Route 33, named the
General Puller Highway.
Honoring My Dad – MGySgt Vernon Tsoodle, 13MAY1931-13OCT2011
It is our Native American tradition to officially mourn for a year after the death of a family member, which means excluding ourselves from traditional ceremonies and festivities, and then we usually have a church service and dinner to mark the end of our mourning period. However, I wanted to do something different to honor my Dad, MGySgt Vernon Tsoodle, a Korean and Vietnam War Veteran and most of all, a proud Marine. Unfortunately, he died of complications from Alzheimer's on 13 OCT 2011.
Not Bad For
Sgt. Grit,
Thought I'd pass this along to brag about our rifle squad from the Marine Corps League "Sgt.Maj. Linehan" Detachment # 1034. We do the honors for most of the Veterans funerals in our area, which includes the folding of the flag, Taps, & the rifle salute.
Huddle Up For Heroes
Thursday, Nov. 1st, 2012, Christopher Edwards and his mother, the creators of the Huddle Up for Heroes organization, will be at the Sgt Grit headquarters to accept donated items that they can send to currently deployed troops around the world. Items that he is asking to be donated are: deodorant, sanitizer, canned goods, dried goods, candy, drink mixes, monetary gifts, etc.
American Idol
America's Idol is Phillip Phillips! Mine is LCpl Jeffrey C.
Burgess, KIA, Al-Fallujah, Iraq, March 25, 2004. Never
Forgotten.
Semper Fidelis.
5th Battalion, 11th Marines
Sgt. Grit,
Here is a pic from the Ceremony Program where "Q" Battery,
5/11 was activated and the new Unit Insignia for the
Battalion was displayed for the first time (3 Oct. 12). The
change is basically that two crossed HIMARS rockets were
added to the right upper quarter of the shield.
DI Reunion MCRDPI
This pic was taken at the DI Reunion at MCRDPI, SC. I believe in '08 or '09. I'm on the far left Chuck Taliano is on my left. I am Al Pasquale, CPL, 7041 Admin, S-2, S-3, Operations & Intel.
Loyal and faithful customer of Sgt Grit!
Al
Honor Guard
Saturday's newspaper dated 22 Sept 2012, myself (second with rifle, M1 Garand) with others from the Honor Guard. The forth is Terry Reams also a Marine, Marine Corps League, Mt St. Helens D889 and American Legion Post 175, Castle Rock, WA. This was at the VFW post, Toutle, WA. My 75 birthday was on Wed this week.
The Gunny Gets a Medal
Gunnery Sergeant George Garden has turned 91. Sometimes he needs a little assistance going up and down steps and has a problem with verbal expression, but his mind is clear and his memory almost pristine.
He received his Baptism of Fire in the Pacific during World War II. He vividly remembers the days and nights in Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa, and he can never forget the indescribable cold of the Chosin Reservoir Campaign during the Korean War.
He was my platoon Sergeant during those difficult days in Korea that have become Marine legend. Over the years the Gunny and I have kept in touch by phone. I have often wanted to travel to see him, but time and events did not allow for that.