Category: Korea

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. read more

Japanese Sniper Rifle

Sgt Grit,

I thought you might like to see a couple of old photos, one picture is of me holding a Japanese sniper rifle from WWII that my older brother brought home with him. He sure made me proud and as the second picture shows me as soon as I turned 18, I was in Korea in 1953 in 4/2 Mortars. read more

Once A Marine Always A Marine building in Korea

This was sent me by an Army friend that recently visited Korea at the expense of the Korean Government. The visit sounded like an Honor flight that is offered in many states to the veterans of WW2. The Tower and Ambulance gives me no clue and I have not been able to phone my friend to gain any more information. I think the signs speak for them selves and the "Once a Marine Always a Marine" tells me we are remembered. read more

Capt. Lonnie Massey, WW2 & Korea

Sgt. Grit and Staff,

Thank you for your help and assistance with my recent order for replacement ribbons and the Gunner bursting bombs device for my father, Lonnie Massey.

He is a Marine and a veteran of the campaigns in the Pacific and one of the Chosin Few.  In the Pacific he was with the 3rd Marinie Amphib Corps and handled the radio repair and communications for the divisions.  He has some intersting stories about Guacalcanal and Boughanville, etc. and the radio relay and carrier platoons.  He was even one of the instructors for the original 29 Navajo Codetalkers read more

Korean Flame

Sgt. Grit:

The recent inquiry from Cpl. Steven Andre about Flame Tanks, struck home.

I am one of "the older tankers" he referred to, and proudly served in the original Flame Platoon, Headquarters Company, First Tank Battalion, First Marine Division FMF during the Korean War. I refer him, and anyone else interested in our unique Flame Tank, to www [dot] flamedragons [dot] info, is a website relative to the Flame Platoon in the Korean War. read more

Marine helicopter

Hi Skip,

I looked through some of my collection of HMR-161 memorabilia and found the attached photo.

A few weeks ago some one mentioned some barrels of something hanging under one of the Choppers in Korea. His memory was pretty darn good.

I have the picture because a Marine Photographer gave it to me after I told him that it was nice to see that my work was suitable. I sewed the sling holding the drums of fuel oil in the photo. My MOS was either 6413 or 6419 as I remember it. (Flight Equipment) Semper Fi, Oltopper ( Russ McCrimmon) read more

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my father's name is Lowell Leu. his tour of duty was from 1956 to 1961 and was stationed (i believe) on okinawa during  the earlier part of the tour with the 3rd division, 4th regiment, I(?) company, 60mm mortars. he went through boot at san diego. he currently has the onset of dementia, alzheimers, has gone through cancer (and survived!) and is on oxygen full time. i'm hoping that there may be someone who knows him or might have been stationed with him at one time that would like to correspond with him. please feel free to contact me so that i may put you in touch! thank you, from all his kids, brad (navy), lynn (air force), layne (marines), tim (army)   read more