Category: Motorheads

M-42

For Cpl WW McFarland, USMCR.  A pic' of 'my' M-42 at 29 Palms in late '58.  I also joined the reserves at age 17 in '54.  Made Pfc before I went to boot camp.  Doesn't seem fair does it?  (Had a buddy that stayed in the reserves and never went to boot camp).  I left when the Corps decided to use rockets instead of these (WWII?) tracks.   Also had experience with quad fifties.  If you think one fifty is fun…  No stories except that I never hit much firing this rig.  We also practiced at using the M-42 in a ground support role.   Bob Sturdevant Sgt  USMC  1469231

Mighty Mite behind my barracks

Here is a picture of a mighty mite I parked behind my barracks in 1965. After driving and working on Willys Jeep I thuoght the mite was a piece of junk.
We had to pick up the brand new mites from the rail head and take them to our shop at Lejune to modify them because they put self locking nuts on the axles
But did not reverse thread them. About 8 of 10 we drove most of the way on 3 wheels because they would fall off. read more

Mighty Mite

Hello Sgt. Grit

Here is the Mighty Mite at Camp Courtney on Okinawa in 1960-61. At that time it was an experimental vehicle. I saw the invoice for it and it was $23,000. About blew me away. I liked it so much, that I bought an MGA when I got back to the states. As Cpl. Ted Picado said, I made LCpl twice. Back in those days, getting busted for fighting etc, wasn't such a big deal as it is now. I understand it to be a career buster these days. I have really enjoyed your newsletter these many years. Thanks, read more

The Gunny – US Marine Corps Custom Motorcycle

FOR SALE: $37,500 E-mail the seller

I am selling my Custom USMC Motorcycle! I am not honoring the bike and its rich history by keeping it in my garage. When I bought the bike I promised to show it to Marines and pass it on to another Marine. I don't want to sell it to civilians or thru civilian auctions. It has too many things for me to list but was selected to be shown at the Grand Opening of the National Marine Corps Museum in Quantico and also received a Letter of Commendation from the Commandant. It has appeared in Chromedoutmag.com twice and also was custom built by Marines and a Marine Dependant Son. read more

Devil Dog – Saturn Sky-Redline

Sgt. Grit,

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to meet Guenter (Gint) Reider of Ilion, NY and his “Devil Dog” 2007 Saturn Sky-Redline.  Gint became a Marine in 1965, served in Vietnam 1966/67 and was honorably discharged in 1968.  I’m not sure of the facts, but he said he lost (a street race?) to a girl in a Chevy Cobalt, and that second wasn’t going to cut it.  The idea for the car came with the purchase of a Devil Dog tee shirt, and the ball started rolling.  Gint’s Devil Dog has a number of Sgt. Grit accessories—some seen in the attached pictures.  He takes his pride and joy to several car shows each year and has won “Best In Show” twice and “People’s Choice” once. read more

21 July Newsletter item from Sgt Dick Tate

I read with interest the item entitled “What Irritates Me” in the latest news letter (21 July) because I am in the same category.  I am a marine who arrived at the Marine Corps recruit depot in Parris Island, S C in April of 1961.  Upon release from my six months (179 days) of active duty, I was assigned to a 105 artillery battalion in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and we fired our guns until I completed my enlistment, being honorably discharged in January of 1967.  During this time, I had signed the blank check (my life on the line), the concept never came closer than when we were assembled on the parade field at Camp Pendleton to hear President Johnson’s speech citing his options relating to the Tonkin Bay incident.  The organization was saying that he was planning to call the reserves to reinforce his position in Vietnam.  He announced, however, his decision that he was going to increase the draft and train more people; and that the reserves would not be called.  I guess that if he had chosen option 1, I would have been a “veteran”. read more