Category: Korea

Initial Phase 1

Dear Sgt Grit,   Enclosed is my Initial Phase I copy. I kept the original all these many years.  I joined on 15 Sept 1953.  Arrived at PISC MCRD the following day.  Check out those prices!   Within seven months me and my ‘band of brothers’ were in Korea. The armistice was in effect and we faced stragglers, houldouts, die hards and plain old bandits.  After spending a swell 13 month tour of duty in Frozen Chosen we boarded the ‘Go Home Boat’ and 18 days later we were back in the US of A. No one flew home in those days. I arrived in Vietnam in Jan of 1966, pulled 13 months of duty and left in Feb of 1967. That was my first tour there. From your catalog page it appears I was in country about three years before you. (you didn’t miss much: white tee shirts and spit shined boots etc etc”   Back in the day I was in Plt 343 Company I Second Bn. We had eleven battalions but that was paired down to nine when my platoon graduated 6 Dec 1953.  I still keep in touch with my DI who lives in Jacksonville NC he’s in his 80’s.  Upon retiring I can compare all the rifles I fired in combat: The M-1, M-14, M-16, M16A1.   Enjoy the list.   Bob Hughes USMC (53-79) 6511/8061/8511/9999   Santa Ana Ca 92706-3049

1950’s Marines

Sgt. Grit.

  I recently read two stories about two Marines that were in before 1959, one said he was a lance cpl. and the other said he was a cpl. E- 4 I try to study as much as I can about Marine Corps history and the rank of lance cpl. did not exist in 1959.  And the rank E-4 was a staff sergeant. I mean no offense to anyone, this is only a statement of interest. read more

Looking for my dad’s buddies.

Looking for anyone who knew my father, Gale J. Eyer USMC. He was at the Chosin Reservoir 1950-51,1st. Bn., 5th.Mar. weapons or mortors Co.? Thats about all I know, he never talked much about it until in his latter years when he received his medals after almost 50 years. He died in 2001. We've been unsuccessful in tring to get any of his records, something about a fire that destroyed the records of that time period. read more

Pointing Up

I thought it might be a good idea to send you a copy of the  plaque of our fighter squadron during our battle to kick the  sh-t out of the North Korean and Chinese troops trying to take  all of Korea to communism.   This plaque actually showed Sylvester's finger pointing up but  Eleanor Roosevelt didn't like it that way so it was switched  down. At least that was the story that was spread around.   Ed Hull

MCRD-SD Graduation, January 21, 2011

Some friends and I who served at the same time in Korea with the 1st Division recently attended graduation at MCRD-SD, and had a very wonderful day.  We ate lunch at the O club, visited the museum and then headed home.  I have enclosed a couple of the photos I took for your review and publication, if you like.  The marine in the middle received the Navy Cross, the ones on either side received the bronze star and they all received one of more purple hearts.   Semper fi.   S/Sgt  I. J. Oshana, (RET)