Category: MAW

Tomcat

Tomcat

I appreciate the site that you have built. I am currently stationed at NAWS China Lake. It is hard to get anything Marine here, so anytime I get a chance to browse your catalog is nice. I am proud to be a Marine and am always looking for more ways to show that pride. I thank you and the veterans who retain the title Marine because without them I couldn’t have it. Semper Fidelis to all Marines who see this picture of my beloved aircraft. This picture was taken sometime during the 1998/1999 31st MEU deployment on the USS Belleau Wood. We painted the tail in 1997 on my first pump and the deployment previous to us painted the nose art. I hope all Harrier Mech’s like it and are proud of our aircraft as it is one of the most versatile and lethal in the US inventory. read more

MCB Camp Pendleton

MCB Camp Pendleton

This is a pic at MCB Camp Pendleton (right), circa 9/68 thru 5/69. the war was over for me: E-4 , less than a year, and returnee from RVN. I was with MP Co. MCB. I am an airwinger so this was a new experience. It took me a long way. I “shipped over” and went to MarBar Yokosuka, Japan. My oldest son was born there. He is a preacher now. Next was MCAS Futema. Okinawa. A year later back to MCAS Cherry Point. I heard that airwing Marines are the best DI’s so my last assignment, MCRD PISC! Semper Fi,
Ssgt Jerry Hillyer. read more

On a slow boat to Rabaul

On a slow boat to Rabaul

A brief memoir of VMF-215 missions in WWII

I received a copy of this E-mail the other day from my Uncle Fred, son of Capt. Donald Aldrich, USMCR of WWII fame (20 Zeroes shot down in the Pacific flying F-4U Corsairs). The letter was written by LtCol. Arthur Roger Conant, USMC Ret’d, to other surviving members of the VMF-215 “Fighting Corsairs” Association. read more

VMA-311

VMA-311-

Dear Sgt. Grit,
In your 28 Aug newsletter you ran two photos of an AV8b Harrier that were submitted by GySgt Eddie Puente with VMA-311 Ordnance Division, currently deployed to Al Asad, Anbar province, Iraq. My son, PFC Bryant Combs, is also with VMA-311 Ord. Div., and he had previously sent me a picture of the same bird with an honored guest. At least part of the reason the jet was painted in its current scheme was to commemorate the February ’08 visit to MCAS Yuma by (former) Marine/NASA Astronaut/Ohio Senator John Glenn and his wife Annie (notice the name painted beneath the canopy in this photo). Senator Glenn flew with VMA-311 in Korea. It’s comforting to know that the Marines are putting the Harrier to good use rather than saving it as a display piece. read more

Grunts and Wing Wipers

Grunts and Wing Wipers

In reference to some grunts having a lack of respect for wing wipers, they eventually grow out of it. In August 1968, I reported to Staging Battalion, Camp Pendleton and was assigned as squad leader to a group made up of young grunts straight from ITR/High School. Even though I gained respect by being a Cpl, holding my own during field training and pulling the ham & limas out of the C-Rats before they had to pick, they still ragged me a little about being from the Air Wing. (Saving them from the ham & limas carried the most weight.) Fast forward to October 1969 and I ran into 3 of them outside the Deli at Camp Butler, Okinawa on our way home. They had been humping mortars for 13 months and had a new appreciation for the Wing. Seeing the Marine Air-Ground Team work together with sacrifices on both sides does wonders for the attitude. Today www.popasmoke.com , the reunion organization for Marine Helo crews, receives emails from grunts offering thanks for saving their lives and the Wing Wipers have tremendous respect for those grunts who serve on the ground. MAGT is the ultimate team. read more

Formosa 1958

Formosa 1958

H.A. Mc Mahon sorry I’m sooo late with reply. (Sgt.Grit, 19 Oct.06) I was stationed at K-Bay, Hi. Mag 13. ’56 to ’58. I landed Nov. 1956 due to go stateside Nov. 1958. But Oct. ’58 MAG 13 was sent to Atsugi, NAS to replace your outfit. Like you can’t find much about this. Search MAG 13 history not there. Don’t understand why not history was made by MAG 13. See attach file. read more