November 10, 2013 is 238th anniversary of the founding of the United States Marine Corps. Traditionally Marines gather on this day to celebrate the birth of their Corps. The baker at Uncle Bill's Dining Facility, (Mess Hall for you Old Corps types) FOB Spin Boldak, Afghanistan made a cake in honor of the occasion.
Category: Old Corps
REUNION
GOT TO VIET NAM ON MAY 12TH 1967. LANDED AT DONG HA AND CHOPPERED OUT TO THE USS OKINAWA WHERE B/1/3 WAS STATIONED.
GOT MY WEAPON AND AMMO AND CHOPPERED TO THE BEACH WHERE I WAS ASSIGNED TO CPL. DANIEL SQUAD.
SPENT THE NEXT 7 WEEKS IN THE JUNGLE WITH THE SAME CLOTHES ON AND HAD ONLY ONE HOT MEAL. NEVER SLEPT IN A BED…ONLY THE GROUND AS MY BUNK.
WW2 & Korea Era Patches for 95th Birthday
Dear Sgt. Grit Staff,
Attached are a couple of photos then and now of my dad Lonnie M. Massey that I would like to share with you. The badges and devices yo supplied were a big surprise for his birthday. Thank you for your help.
In the recent photographs taken on his 95th birthsay, he is wearing the devices and patches that you shipped. He was extremely pleased to recieve the patch of the 3rd Marine Amphibious Corps that you located and sent. That was the first patch to be sewn on to his jacket for his birthday. He had been a Gunner in WW2 with the 3rd throughout the South Pacific.
Oldest Marine At 105
Marine Corps League Detachment 1198, Harford County Maryland celebrated the 238th Marine Corps Birthday with Marines living at Oakcrest Village in Parkville, MD. Richard Rhinehart is the oldest Marine at 105. Richard served as an aviator in Nicaragua during the Banana wars. He served with Major Smedley Butler.
Mr. Robert Dowdy
This summer I was selling some raffle tickets for my local American Legion Post when I met this gentleman that had joined our beloved Marine Corps on 9 December 1941. I remembered seeing him in a Veterans Day parade in 2012, but did not get the chance to chat with him at that time.
Two Promises
After I graduated from high school in 1964 I announced to my father that I was tired of taking orders from him, tired of getting up early and tired of making my bed so I had solved all those problems. I had joined the United States Marine Corps. My dad smiled at me and said, "Well, son, it looks like your troubles are over." I left for Marine Corps boot camp 2 days later.
M1 Carbines Cont.
Some M-1 Carbine bayonets even made it to the top of Suribachi.
http://www.iwojima.com/raising/raisingb.htm
I have been following the M-1 Carbine discussion with interest and sharing it with a close friend and WWII arms collector, Richard Jacobson, a retired local police lieutenant. After consulting several collector's websites and other historical references, Rich assures me that there were indeed M-1 Carbine bayonets on Iwo.
Cpl. Chuck Lindberg
Statue of Cpl. Chuck Lindberg. Chuck was a flame thrower on Iwo Jima and with the first flag raising group on Mt. Suribachi. He died in 2007. This memorial, in his honor, is in Veteran's Park, Richfield, Minnesota.
Norm Spilleth
Cpl. '60 – '64
A Special Dinner For Me
I joined the Marine Corps in December of 1958, went to MCRD San Diego. On November 10, 1959, I was aboard the USS Paul Revere for my first Marine Corps Birthday, and my 18th birthday. Here is the menu of what we had that day, the menu was also a postcard which I sent home. I told my parents the Marine Corps found out it was my birthday and made a special dinner for me.
Carbine Bayonet Response 2
I was surprised when I read this article. My dad was in WWII and brought home a bayonet. I have pictures of it. This was the same bayonet I was issued in 1957 with my M1 rifle. What is right is a Marine does not attach the bayonet unless he is out is ammo and is in hand to hand combat. The bayonet is carried on his ammo belt and tied to his leg.