Sgt Grit is a place where Marines can come and meet other Marines, share tattoos and stories, keep up with Marine Corps news, or shop for USMC gear.
Sgt,
Attached are photos of the Marine Christmas Tree my wife and I
put up this year, along with a photo of three of our adopted
Marines.
The Marines are from the left, Cpl Cole Dennis with VMU 3 in
Twenty Nine Palms, PFC Heather Bedonnih in Construction and
Utilities in Pendleton, and Pvt Matt Head, future MP in
Pendleton.
In the last newsletter someone mentioned 'forced marches'.
A number of months before JFK was killed he had this obsession with physical fitness. The end result was that every combat outfit was ordered to be able to march 50 miles in under 10 hours, in full battle gear. Can't be done? BS all the way, and yes, it can be done.
During my tour in Iraq 04'-05' my trusted driver, and friend was a former Marine. Richard "Dick" J. Forss was in the Wisconsin Air National Guard who volunteered to serve one last time for his Country. In order for Dick to accomplish this tour he transferred from Personnel Section as an E-7 MSgt to the Security Forces Section as an E-6 Technical Sergeant. Talkin about a patriot… Now Dick not only saved my life more than once, he had this sixth sense of incoming rounds and would either go to one knee or "flop" down on his belly. I asked him how he knew how close these rounds would be… He simply said, "Kevin, I spent 13 1/2 months in the bush of Vietnam from a few days before "Tet" Jan 1968 until March 1969. Whenever I would go over and get my hair cut at the barbershop by a TCN (Third County National), he would defer and have me cut his hair. Curious as to why he wouldn't let them cut his hair I asked. He said that during his tour in Vietnam his fire base was over ran and the Marines where pushed back to the Main Base on the hilltop. All night long the battle was fought with the outcome in the balance. The next morning the Marines had not only secured the Main Base but all overran fire bases. He walked over his barber's body laying at the maingate, wearing a NVC badge. His in country name was "Baby Huey" because of his size, easy going personality, and baby face complexion. I was amazed, not only was Dick a retired Milwaukee PD of the famous Motorcycle patrol after 31 years, here he was after entering the USMC in late 1967 and was here serving his country again at he age of 55 years old and saving lives (especially mine), with the same training he had learned all those years ago in the bush of Vietnam. Dick retired from the Wisconsin ANG in Nov 2009 at the age of 60 years old. What a comrade in arms he has been to this "Space Cadet". Dick I salute you and all those serving.
On December 22nd, 2012, Central Wisconsin Detachment 350 met at
Trigs Grocery in Stevens Point, WI to load and distribute Food
Baskets For Needy Veterans and Families. More than $3000 of food
and items were purchased to carry out our mission. Needed items
were distributed to Veterans, Operation Boot Strap and needy
families in Central Wisconsin. Marines assisting with food
baskets for the Needy Mission included L-R: Stan Potocki, Chris
Glodowski, Jerry Wojcik, Eric Hirzy, Ray Potocki, Julian
Sonnentag, Ron Borski, Hank Hughlett, Tom Lepkowski, Rollie
Johnson, Bob Stroik, Bob Pallen, Stan Olejniczak, and Dan
Johnson.
On December 22nd, 2012, Central Wisconsin Detachment 350 met at
Trigs Grocery in Stevens Point, WI to load and distribute Food
Baskets For Needy Veterans and Families. More than $3000 of food
and items were purchased to carry out our mission. Needed items
were distributed to Veterans, Operation Boot Strap and needy
families in Central Wisconsin. Marines assisting with food
baskets for the Needy Mission included L-R: Stan Potocki, Chris
Glodowski, Jerry Wojcik, Eric Hirzy, Ray Potocki, Julian
Sonnentag, Ron Borski, Hank Hughlett, Tom Lepkowski, Rollie
Johnson, Bob Stroik, Bob Pallen, Stan Olejniczak, and Dan
Johnson.
I was stationed at Phu Bai, 2/9, 81 Mortars. My older brother was with 1stReconBn at Chu Lai. When time would allow we would take turns and catch a hop back-n-forth to visit each other. Finally the scare of my life happened around Feb 1967. I recieved a letter from… with a return address from Gen Westmoreland. My first thought why am I getting a letter from the General. Opening the letter I read the words I dreaded to read. My brother was MIA. I freaked out. After getting myself to calm down I went to my CO and asked permission to go to Chu Lai and find out what happen to my brother. Permission was granted and I was advised not to start WW III. I said my farwell and loaded up my overnight bag with grenades and boxes of 45 ammo. I had all the intention of shooting every villager if necessary to find out what happened to my brother. Upon arrival at the helo pad at 1stReconBn I met the SgtMaj who did a double look at me thinking I was Sgt Jim Griffith and then realized I was his brother Sgt Don Griffith he smiled and inquired if I was here to find out about my brother's MIA status. The SgtMaj explained the screw up with the status lableling my brother as a MIA when it was suppose to be not due to action. The screw up was a C-130 landed at Chu Lai and my brother was due to rotate back to the good old USA. his flight went directly to Okinawa and by-passed Da Nang where he was suppose to check in. So the military had him AWOL/UA. My notification indicated MIA. I got on the HAM radio and called my Mother and explained the mistake and to assure her, her Son is safe. Then I heard a laughter in the back ground and I sensed my mother didn't seem to be very much alarmed about the whole screw up. Then I asked my Mother who is in the house? She replied; Do you want to speak with your brother Jim ? He's sitting here laughing. Talk about freaking out and angry at the same time I chewed his butt out with some choice words until the HAM radio operator had to calm me down and told me I couldn't use that kind of language on the radio. The end of this story turned out great. I didn't get to go to the village and terrorize the local and go to jail for murder… But I think I aged a few years faster then just being in Vietnam. Attached is a copy of the radio msg explaining the screw up. Semper Fi Brother,
I was assigned to 2nd ATs (Ontos) in Camp Lejeune, NC back around 1961… My question: Does anyone out there know of a website about 2nd ATs? Also is there a patch designed of the 2nd ATs? I would appreciate any feedback on my research. Thank you all. My e-mail is: griffithusmc[at]msn.com
Sgt Grit,
I want to show you what a guy in Southern Missouri did for me. I sent a
plain Jane Kershaw Leek to him and this is what I got back. The handles
are Culpepper dyed bone and I'm sorry, I don't know how he applied them
to the knife other than the obvious screws. The Viet Nam Service Ribbon
design for the custom handles was inspired by some SFO (Special Factory
Order) Case knives Shepherd Hills Cutlery was selling.
Regarding VMFA 334, MAG 13, 1st MAW information request
Name: Richard Augustine Deleidi
Branch/Rank: United States Marine Corps/O3
Unit: VFMA 334 MAG 13
Date of Birth: 30 January 1945
Home City of Record: El Cajon, CA
Date of Loss: 07 February 1969
Country of Loss: South Vietnam/Over Water
Loss Coordinates: 155450 North 1082411 East
Status (in 1973): Killed In Action/Body Not Recovered
Category: 5
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4J #155762
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident: Charles W. Maxwell, 1st.LT, RIO; rescued
Refno: 1373
Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following:
raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews and CACCF (Combined
Action Combat Casualty File). Updated 2004 with information from John
Pagel.
REMARKS: No further information available at this time.
My wife bought a Commemorative Ka-Bar from Sgt. Grit on the occasion of the 225th Anniversary of the Corps produced by Ka-Bar exclusively for OPERATION: ARLINGTON RIDGE. These Commemorative Ka-Bars were NOT NUMBERED, as, I believe, they were the first commemorative Ka-Bars offered by Sgt Grit. Mine was dated 10 November 2000. After these Ka-Bars sold out, Sgt. Grit began offering NUMBERED ones for special occasions and commemorative events… This kind of makes my Ka-Bar a special one now don't it!!! Got it displayed above my fireplace in a made-for-it wooden stand. I am including a photo of the original Certificate of Authenticity…. Just some trivia, I guess…. (Former) Sergeant Dan Dye, USMC
