Thought I'd try and submit a pic of D/1/2, 1960 vintage. My dad (Charles E. Carter Sr.) was the company 1st. Sgt. The CO was Capt. Modjeski. Maybe some old timer out there will see the picture and remember my dad. My family had just spent 2 years in Gitmo and was then transferred to Lejeune where dad was assigned to D/1/2.
Category: Old Corps
Battle Jacket
Here is the khaki version worn by a Marine instructor standing inspection at Pre-Flight School, NAS Pensacola in 1952.
Spike Berner
1518119
Sergeant of Marines
MCAS El Toro (kinda sorta)
It is with great sadness I send these photos. Some will recognize some things, but all of the barracks are gone. All of the housing along Tabuco/Irvine Blvd are gone. The first pic would be of the old gate #2 where the F-4 was on the pedestal. I have a story about that for another time… one pic is the old commissary gate and some from where the Main Gate used to be. I am trying to document as much as I can.
Old Corps
No doubt, some of you Gyrenes have heard this before, but I was telling an old '03 buddy about this website, and we agreed, among other things, about Marines' definitions and traditions of "Old Corps."
When we were active-duty years ago, we were informed that "Old Corps" only applied to someone who had enlisted at least the day before you did!
Modified Blues
On sea duty in the mid-'50s we wore "modified blues", which were trousers with tropical worsted shirt and white barracks cap. All shirts, tropicals and khaki in those days were long-sleeved. I do not recall any particular designation for this uniform, just modified blues. We wore them for some duty situations, and even wore them on liberty in the Virgin Islands in the summer of 1956 (no, we did not attract any).
1865 Marine Emblem Buckle
Found a company that offers a lot of Civil War era memorabilia and replicas. Bought a brass puppy paws buckle that has the 1865 Marine Corps emblem on it. A puppy paw, the belt is attached by way of three hooks on the back. Also it wraps around your waist right to left.
Anyway, I'm making a decorative belt for it. Some minor booboos that won't show when done (my eyes). Belt has U S Marines in the Middle and Semper Fi on either side. Will stamp EGA in when it gets here.
Semper Fi
Choo Choo
1968 – 1974
RVN 70 / 71
Sgt
Correction – Story originally posted with buckle dated for the year 1859. The correct year is 1865.
1953 Old Corps
Check out the two DI's. Buck Sgt and a PFC. They are the only two with the 'salty' bowed covers. I wonder what the deal is with the three Marines in utilities in the middle?
The group picture. Look at the socks on the third from the right. Several on the front row appear to have high-top dress shoes. Doesn't appear to be a spit-shined pair in the group.
Outstanding Old Corps pic.
Semper Fi
Sgt Grit
1-A-34
1960/61 in K-Bay I was a crewman then crewchief of tractor 34 (probably not the same vehicle though). It's nice to know the line is unbroken.
Camp Lejeune Traffic Circle
I would like to comment on the article by John Vaughn in this week's (August 22nd) newsletter.
John mentioned that he never heard the term "swooping circle". I, too, was at Camp Lejeune from Feb 1965 to October 1965 and clearly remember the "traffic circle". I never heard the term swooping, either. I don't remember the details of exactly where it was located, but it was central to the base and all Marines who had automobiles and were traveling for the week end would pull into the circle (as I recall, it was more of a parking lot) and one of the MPs would call out to those of us who were looking for a ride, how many riders the car could take and where they were going. I think the standard price was about 1¢ per mile. Riders were dropped off anywhere along the route the driver was passing and usually met him at the same place on the return trip back to base.
Marines Won’t Change
There will be no attempt whatsoever to make the Marine Corps a more congenial and comfortable organization to work for, its Commandant said yesterday.
"Negative," General Leonard F. Chapman Jr. replied with brisk, professional economy when asked about the prospects.