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.
While reading the last newsletter, I noted several book recommendations by readers. One about Carlson's Raiders and another about Iwo.
I would like to add one more, which I consider one of the best narratives of the exploits (Guadalcanal, Tulai, Savo, etc.) of Edson's 1st Raider Battalion. The book is: Edson's Raiders: The 1st Marine Raider Battalion in World War II.
I bought a fixer upper 7 years ago and was in the market to buy a front door. I ran into the proprietor Arthur who I noticed was wearing a USMC ring proudly. We shared sea stories. He not only gave me a great deal on a door, he gave me a copy this photo… to boot! He was proud and I made him mark where he was in the photo and sign the back of it. Stated that soon afterwards his unit was sent to Korea… I currently have it on top of my mantel at home.
We all learned about Presley O'Bannon in boot camp and if we've read any history about the war against the Barbary pirates we've learned more about him. His name is always spelled "O'Bannon". Does anyone know why his name on his tombstone in the Kentucky State Cemetery is spelled "O'Banion"?
In reply to Brown Side Out, Green Side Out.
When I went into the Marines (Sept. 1959) the new rank structure was just getting started.
We had the M1 and BAR, hence the crossed rifles on the new chevrons. Since then we have gone through the M14 (I was on the Troop Test Program for this), the M16 (that got a lot of Marines killed in Vietnam), and a lot of new shooting irons since then that I can't keep up with. And there will be more to come.
(Article by Patrick Whitehurst of The Daily Courier)
There are those who believe everything happens for a reason. If true, U.S. Marine Corps veterans Lee Paul, 88, and Lee Dortsch, 91, were destined to meet. But, while both served in World War II, both landed on Iwo Jima on the same day, and both had the same commanding officer, they never met at the time. That changed last week, however, when the two met at the Prescott campus of Northern Arizona Veterans Affairs.
In reading some of the past articles concerning Marines making various modifications to equipment to suit their needs, I recalled a couple of small things my Dad told me when I was a teen-ager. Dad was a Pfc. with the 3rd Special Weapons Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division.
Thought you may be interested in these items; Ka-bar from 1950s, Korean era; Springfield Armory 1911A1 w/USMC grips; lower pistol Remington 1911R1 (actually a CO2 powered BB automatic, fires full magazine of 18 BBs as fast as you can pull the trigger).
Navajo Code Talkers Day
The Navajo Code Talkers whose ranks exceeded 400 during the course of World War II in the Pacific Theater took part in every assault the United States Marines conducted from 1942 to 1945. They served in all six Marine divisions, Marine Raider battalions and Marine parachute units, transmitting messages by telephone and radio in their native language — a code that the Japanese never broke. The Navajo Code Talkers served in the United States Marine Corps for America and for the world with integrity.
Another inspection at Marine Barracks, Naha… the inspecting officer is Lt.Gen Alan Shapely, at the time the CG, FMF PAC. On December 7th, 1941, he was aboard the USS Arizona, as a Major, and had just been relieved the previous day as the CO of Arizona's Marine Detachment. He had stayed aboard, as his Marines were scheduled to play in a championship baseball game that Sunday. He was aloft, with a cup of coffee, when the Japanese struck. He was blown, naked, into the water… and helped others swim ashore on Ford Island. Note, if you can see the detail, that those are brass claws, just above my left hand… meaning that we had leather slings… field marching pack, one canteen…
Sitting here watching a Military Channel program on the Browning 'Stinger' 30-cal as used by the Marines in WW2 – very interesting story behind it; Marines took Browning A-2's out of damaged SBD's and used an M-1 rear stock, BAR rear sight, bipod, and carrying handle, plus a modified trigger and lighter barrel, to make a light machine gun. Showed re-enactment of Marine PFC Tony Stein using one to take out numerous bunkers and pillboxes on Iwo – kept running to and from the beach to replenish the 100-rd ammo belts… took off his shoes and socks to run better in the sand. Pretty neat little MG, supposed to have a 1300rpm rate of fire!
