Sgt Grit is a place where Marines can come and meet other Marines, share tattoos and stories, keep up with Marine Corps news, or shop for USMC gear.
Sir,
I am trying to locate some brothers from a long time ago… I
thought by putting this letter and picture in your newsletter
one of your readers just might recognize one or more of these
guys. This picture was taken in the Philippines during Operation
Strongback in 1957 while with Kilo Btry, 4th Battalion, 12th
Marines.
While looking through some old pictures I noticed how much
things have changed in the Corps over the past 56 years… The
only camouflage we had was our helmet covers and the netting
over our 155 Howitzers… Our Quonset huts were heated by a coal
or wood burning stove set in the middle of the hut… Our daily
uniform was the old green herringbone pattern utilities… Our
weapons were the greatest Rifle ever invented… The 3.0 cal.
Semi- Automatic Gas operated M1 Garand, The Browning A.R. And
the Model 1911 (45 cal. Another great weapon… Those in this
picture are young Marines of Kilo Btry. 4th Battalion 12th
Marines, 3rd Marine Div. Camp Hauge, Okinawa… Miles… After
looking at this picture I realized though the weapons, uniforms,
and housing have drastically changed, it's still the same Marine
Corps and always will be at the ready… Old Corps, New Corps no
difference as long as it's Marine Corps…
Dear Sgt Grit:
Enclosed is a picture of CPL Cyla Barron Huber. Now what is
annoying about her is that this is a very recent picture of her,
20 years after she was on active duty, and she still fits in her
blues and looks like she is in her early 20's. That said… She
is still a hard-charger.
While going through my seabag, I came across a box with all of
my brass… tie clasps, belt buckles, and Eagle, Globe, and
Anchors for the various uniforms. I came across some brass
(yep, I know they need some polishing!), and wondered what/why
the difference?
To all those that spent time at AN Hoa. I was with 2/11 ,1970 until we left and gave it to the ARVN's in Aug. I went back in 2005 and their is not one piece of the base left except a few pieces of the tarmac. Liberty Bridge is also gone, I met a few people that lived in the ville, but An Hoa was destroyed and move a few miles away. It was a great trip and I'm glad I went but never again, twice was enough. China Beach has a 5 star hotel.
I had not been in country long around 3 months on this 1/21/1968. It was just past midnight and the word came down that we had NVA in the wire and there was a break in our lines. Every 3rd man turned and watched the back in case we got jumped from behind.
These are some photos that a reader of the newsletter sent in from the WWII era.
Sgt. Grit,
Re: Iwo Jima Marines.
Roy Ford, Marine Paratrooper, was there for the entire campaign.
I have been hanging out with Roy off and on for a couple of years
now. He has too many stories to tell here, but I'm sending some
info about him for you to share.
In the last newsletter someone mentioned 'forced marches'.
A number of months before JFK was killed he had this obsession with physical fitness. The end result was that every combat outfit was ordered to be able to march 50 miles in under 10 hours, in full battle gear. Can't be done? BS all the way, and yes, it can be done.
During my tour in Iraq 04'-05' my trusted driver, and friend was a former Marine. Richard "Dick" J. Forss was in the Wisconsin Air National Guard who volunteered to serve one last time for his Country. In order for Dick to accomplish this tour he transferred from Personnel Section as an E-7 MSgt to the Security Forces Section as an E-6 Technical Sergeant. Talkin about a patriot… Now Dick not only saved my life more than once, he had this sixth sense of incoming rounds and would either go to one knee or "flop" down on his belly. I asked him how he knew how close these rounds would be… He simply said, "Kevin, I spent 13 1/2 months in the bush of Vietnam from a few days before "Tet" Jan 1968 until March 1969. Whenever I would go over and get my hair cut at the barbershop by a TCN (Third County National), he would defer and have me cut his hair. Curious as to why he wouldn't let them cut his hair I asked. He said that during his tour in Vietnam his fire base was over ran and the Marines where pushed back to the Main Base on the hilltop. All night long the battle was fought with the outcome in the balance. The next morning the Marines had not only secured the Main Base but all overran fire bases. He walked over his barber's body laying at the maingate, wearing a NVC badge. His in country name was "Baby Huey" because of his size, easy going personality, and baby face complexion. I was amazed, not only was Dick a retired Milwaukee PD of the famous Motorcycle patrol after 31 years, here he was after entering the USMC in late 1967 and was here serving his country again at he age of 55 years old and saving lives (especially mine), with the same training he had learned all those years ago in the bush of Vietnam. Dick retired from the Wisconsin ANG in Nov 2009 at the age of 60 years old. What a comrade in arms he has been to this "Space Cadet". Dick I salute you and all those serving.
