Category: General Info

Fisher House

We would like to thank all who have donated to the Fisher House
charity over the previous quarter. We are happy to announce that
the total donated came to a grand total of $5199.50.

Thanks for your selflessness and generosity in helping to
provide Fisher House with this monetary gift that will allow
them to continue to provide help to all of our military families
in need. read more

Fisher House

We would like to thank all who have donated to the Fisher House
charity over the previous quarter. We are happy to announce that
the total donated came to a grand total of $5199.50.

Thanks for your selflessness and generosity in helping to
provide Fisher House with this monetary gift that will allow
them to continue to provide help to all of our military families
in need. read more

Great Reminder

Sgt Grit:

Several issues of the newsletter have mentioned swagger
sticks. I've enclosed a few shots of the kind that vendors
would come aboard the ships and sell while hitting the ports
in the Med while deployed for a Med Cruise. This one
indicates the ship, USS Rockbridge, APA 228. Note the
scrolls denote the ports hit on that cruise and the islands
for amphibious exercises and landings. A great reminder of
that cruise. Maybe others that have them can send photos. read more

Blue Blades

Dear Sgt Grit,

As a reader of your outstanding newsletter for the last few years I have read a few articles that reference Gillette blue blade razors, sometimes used dry under a bucket while double timing or other such motivating activity. Being a young devil dog (only seeing those yellow footprints in 1983) I did not have the pleasure of using these razors, just the newfangled disposable ones (shave once down, once up).   While on business in Nanjing, China, recently I ran out of juice on my electric razor and had to go to the local convenience store to buy a razor. Imagine my surprise when I saw a brand new Gillette Blue Blade razor for sale for about $1.50. I bought it, but also bought a Mach 3 and shaving cream as I had no intention of disfiguring myself with the blue blade. It is indeed a small world. (Also went to Shanghai and visited Soochow Creek while there).    Best regards, Mike Winnie Corporal of Marines 1983-1988 USMCR B/1/24

BEING A D.I. AT P.I.

I just read the 3 May News Letter and am replying to "FORMER HAT..  August 1979 to Nov 1980, I was at PISC on my second tour as a Drill Instructor with "B" Co, 1st Bn (1st Tour was in "A" Co 1st Bn)  I was honored to have been on the same Island as Lieutenant Colonels Livingston and Barnum, both being holders of the MOH.  However, in 1st Bn we had LtCol Ron Christmas who was a Navy Cross holder for service at Hue.  When we would have a Friday Parade Col Christmas would march us out on the Parade deck  and leave us at Attention and go and salute the other two Bn Co's, return and give us At Ease.  read more

Treasure Island

After boot camp,itr at Geiger, and scool at Memphis i had orders to Okinawa. First stop was Treasure is. to wait on a flight on a MATS to Japan. This was in june of 1962. i I n transit barrackks there wasn't much to do but wait for your flight. You're right the food was bad but i was a boot and did'nt know any better. One night we got woken up and told to go on gaurd duty. It seemed some prisoners had escaped Alcatrz and we were to guard the shoreline of T.I. The CPL, of the guard gave us M1s full clip and told to lock and load. He said if we saw anyone come out of the water to shoot them.Now it was cold and foggy and S.f. bay was choppy it was the only time i ever wore my horse blanket. Now i'm thinking if these guys can swim all the way to T.I. they deserve a medal not a bullet. Anyway as you all know they were never seen again,and I was called to Travis AFB to the land of milk and honey. read more