Category: Old Corps

Green Field Scarves

Ref. Sgt. Bob Rader asking if anyone remembers the Ascot-looking Green Field Scarves. Yes, I remember those awful looking things quite well. They were issued and still in use when I reported to MCRD, San Diego in Jan. 1958. Above is my graduation photo from Platoon 303 taken in March 1958 where we were required to wear these things. Don't know when they were phased out, but probably soon after as I don't recall ever wearing or seeing them worn after boot camp.  read more

Family Treasures

This is the picture I mentioned that is signed "To The Kemp Kids from John Wayne". We got it after the Intermountain Premiere of "Sands Of Iwo Jima" in Salt Lake City. My father was the senior SNCO (MSgt) for the intermountain recruiting district and was heavily involved in the whole deal. At the studio party, all of the Marines from the recruiting station were there in dress blues. Dad was matching the Duke drink for drink and asked for a good photo. This is the one we got. It is 11×14 and the only pose I have ever seen but the interesting thing is how the ink got smeared when the ball point pen didn't work at first. It is one of our family treasures. read more

Blue Cover used in 1957 by Silent Drill Team

The Blue Cover was still utilized in 1956-57 as this photo from 1957 attests.  I was a member of the 3rd Silent drill Platoon at Marine Barracks, 8th and I St., Wash. DC.  The photo was taken at San Diego Recruit Depot as we performed our drill.   Ralph E Reimers, Sgt USMC 1955-59

Blue Cover

Yes, there was a purpose for those loops on the Blues blouse. In the winter, the Blues were worn with a blue cloth belt and blue cap cover. The belt was secured to the loops with a 3" long tab on each side. The tab was passed through the loop and buttoned. The white belt was worn covering the loops, unlike today where the belt is worn through the loops. The blue cover and belt were discontinued sometime in 1948 or 1949. Attached is a photo of my younger brother taken January 1948. I only got to wear that uniform once when I went home for Christmas 1947, it was not authorized in the Pendleton-San Diego area. I still have the blue belt. read more

Honeymooners

Being too d-mn old to cut my toe nails any more I have a pedicure whenever needed. The gal that does the Pedicure is Vietnamese, I asked where she was from and she told me DaNang and I mentioned I had been in 1st Recon. She told me about going home again for the first time some years ago and going home again just a few months ago. She told me to go to, DaNang on Vietnam.com and take a look at how it is now. I mentioned BaNa and she said go to BaNa, DaNang, Vietnam.com and see how it turned out, China Beach, DaNang, Vietnam.com. I went home and was swept away with what I saw. Now I ain't one to go visiting places I had been where I had to carry a weapon even to the head, and in all the years since I left the Marine Corps the only place I happened to visit since I retired was Guam. I was returning to the states after a visit to Japan for business reasons and the plane stopped in Guam and I had a couple hours to look about. Christ what had been a barren beach with all the palms reduced to splinters was now a spot for Japanese Honeymooners and the hotel was fabulous looking. The pictures show Guam during WWII and the sad looking beaches, the other picture shows me, Top and the Lieutenant having a beer at a hootch on Vietnamese side of China Beach in 1968 or so. The mama-san tried to give us her baby to bring back to the states, I guess she already knew how the d-mn war would end. read more

“Momma BAM”, Chesty, and Me

My Mother was a WWII "BAM", that's Beautiful American Marine as she always said.  She and my Father both served in ABG-2 overhauling F4Us.  I served '73-'77.  Took her to 8th & I to fullfill a bucket-list wish and we had to good fortune to run into Chesty and his escort.  Once in a lifetime photo opportunity.  Semper Fi, Mom. read more

Get The Jacket

I should have sent this long ago, but it has been quite hectic.

My father is a WWII Marine Veteran who served in four invasions on Kwajalein Atoll, Tinian, Saipan and Iwo Jima. He actually was assigned to duties stateside and stowed aboard a ship when the rest of his unit was deployed for combat. He didn’t want to be left behind. read more