Category: Old Corps

Camp Hauge

In response to an article in Aug. 7th, 2013 newsletter from Gy/Sgt. F.L. Rousseau… USMC… My name is Howard W. Kennedy and I served as a Cannoncocker on the 155 howitzer with Kilo Btry, 4th Batt., 12th Marines 3rd Mar. Div. in 1957/58 at Camp Hauge. I am attaching a photo of the front gate and the correct spelling of the name Hauge. To my understanding the name came from Medal of Honor recipient Cpl. Louis James Hauge who was KIA in May 1945 during the battle for Okinawa. After I left Camp Hauge it was used as a staging area for Marines going to Vietnam. Once it was closed, I have no idea what became of the base or if it's under a different name now. I would welcome any information someone might have about the old base and what's there now, and if anyone remembers Gy/Sgt Richard R. "Big Red" Ebert from Headquarters Battalion, 12th Marines… read more

Semper Fi… The Miracle That That Brought Me Back From Death

February 2, 2013, Lexington, MA. It was a windy and cold New England type day. I was just finishing up my morning exercise walk of one mile and proceeded up the stairs to my front door where I entered and sat down on the living room sofa to take my wife and sister-in-law shopping. Suddenly they noticed I was motionless, just sitting and staring into space with my mouth wide open. My wife exclaimed to her sister, ”There’s something wrong with him. Shake him!” Her sister shook me and nothing happened. I still remained motionless, as if in a trance. They immediately called 911. The voice on the other end said, “Put your ear next to his mouth and tell me if he’s breathing.” “He’s not breathing,” answered her sister. Within minutes, the ambulance with its complement of EMTs was on the scene. They rolled the patient of the floor, tried the paddles, all to no avail. Within minutes I was transported to Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA., one of the premier hospitals in the New England area. read more

WW2 Marine

My wife and I stumbled upon a group of Marine's from the Marine Corps League out of Stanton, KY. As a retired Master Gunny I just had to chat with these guys for a while. A few weeks ago I read the book "Voices of the Pacific" and today I was privileged to speak to a fellow Marine (gent in the black hat) that fought on Guadalcanal. 87 years old and sharp as a tack! Semper Fi! read more

KOZA, B.C. 1957

How many old 1950's Marines remember this scene… It's Koza BC in 1957… About two buildings down on the right where you can see three Marines standing was the Yen exchange, notice the young boy running toward them, they were always there hoping for a handout as Marines exchanged their money… Down where the taxi's are sitting on the right is where I bought my first 35mm camera… The tall building on the right was a Theater… I took one of the girls there to see the premier showing of the movie "Sayonara" with Marlon Brando and Red Buttons. From what I understand now it's called Okinawa City and that street is called Chuo Park Ave. It is now a tourist attraction with nice shops and restrauants from what I've been told. Some fond memories from a long time ago… read more

Camp Hansen Chapel 1957

While serving with K/4/12th Marines at Camp Hauge in 1957 we qualified with the M1 on the range at Camp Hansen… At that time everything was tents… including the Chapel. For entertainment we would sneak off at night to Kim Village, which at that time was probably not a good idea. In the wee hours on our way back to Camp Hansen we always tried to trade the locals for some fresh eggs, since all we had were powdered eggs for breakfast. I just wonder how much Camp Hansen has changed in the past 56 years? read more

Worst and Best Posts

Sgt. Grit,

Your letters have been about food, Doctors and Dentists, Posts served at, and aircraft flown. I would like to tell you about the Worse and Best Posts that I have Served. 

The Worst was U.S. Naval Prison Terminal Island, San Pedro, California. The Naval Prison had 3 huge cellblocks. One post was inside a cell in the cellblock, inside along the wall of each cellblock was the cat walk where a guard could walk and see what was going on inside each cell in the cellblock. The cellblock guard was inside with at least 50 prisoners, he carried a night stick by the way. His job was to prevent any illegal activities like fighting or escapes. The Guard reported in every 15 minutes and the Guard Sergeant checked from time to time, not scheduled. In 1949 the U.S. Government took control of the prison and the Military personnel stationed there were to escort Military prisoners to Prisons closest to their homes. read more

Naval Doctors, Dentists, and Corpsmen

Sgt Grit,

Most Marines today haven't seen the Dental drill used by the Dentist's working the Islands during World War II, and the Dentist's working the Korean War specially during the beginning of the War. The Dentist's drill was pump actuated by the Dentist while he ground on your teeth as can be seen in the picture. My first Dentist after I retired had been an Army Dentist, he told me about getting out of Dental College and going in the Army, then he was set up with several other Dentists and they worked from dawn to dusk on Soldiers going overseas, getting experience. Then he was supplied with a Jeep and trailer and a driver. He landed at Normandy on "D" plus 5, then followed units of his Division across France and Germany. He would go to the unit selected by Hdqtrs. set up his pump actuated Dental Drill and go to work. He told me how good he got with the pump machine, nothing like a powered Dental drill but it worked good. read more

Main Gate at Camp Hague, Okinawa

This is the main gate to Camp Hague, Okinawa in 1957… While serving with K/4/12th Marines 3rd Marine Div. in a 155 Btry. I passed through that gate many times coming from and going to BC Koza…The best I can remember bus fare to BC was 7 yen, and cab fare not much more…. read more

1st Radio Battalion Reunion

Hey Sgt Grit,

We had our 2013 USMC 1st Radio Battalion Reunion in Jacksonville, Florida, this past May… the economy stifled a bunch of our West Coast and Midwestern guys from joining us, but we gained a few more East Coasters, and a great time was had by all… former Sgt Lee Ahr and Linda Reinhart once again led the group by organizing this annual get-together, and their plans were excellent again. read more