My daughter, her boyfriend, and I were attending the Angels vs. White Sox game on 18 May at Anaheim Stadium. Of course it was Armed Forces Day and they went all out. All five of the services were well represented and you could feel the emotion in the stadium. They saluted the current members and had all former members remain standing and recognized us as well.
Category: Other USMC
Memphis Belle
Enclosed is a photo of a Marine Corps amhib nicknamed "Memphis Belle" coming up the beach at Okinawa in Eric Hammel's book "Islands of H-ll".
As the archivist and historian for the Memphis Belle Memorial Association, Inc., an organization chartered to restore and educate the public about the B-17F "Memphis Belle", a bomber from WWII, I am on the lookout for "Memphis Belle" and associated material. Although the airplane, which the city of Memphis saved from the smelter in 1946, has been moved from Memphis to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. We remain involved in the restoration and development of her history. This effort produced a book about the "Belle" entitled "Memphis Belle Dispelling the Myths". What I am looking for is information from anyone who was on Okinawa during the fighting that might possibly remember things about this vehicle. I realize that it is a long shot, but Marines remember things that many people don't.
HMX-1
Three photos are HMX-1 at Quantico, circa 1958. The last one was at Camp Lejeune circa 1957. I "wuz" there!
Joe Featherston
Barber Shop
Saw the story on barbers and thought I would send a picture of the barber shop on Hill 327, DaNang, Vietnam 1965.
Semper Fi
Cpl C Smith
3rd Shore Party
Captured Korean POW
This is the picture we talked about. Notice my reward for picking up the gentleman from opposing forces. Also received seven days R&R in Kyoto, one case of beer, and a fifth of bourbon.
Corky Knack
Sgt 1225xxx
Parachute Rigger
I've been asked what this WW2 sleeve patch represents. It would seem to designate a Parachute Rigger. There were other such patches worn on the lower sleeve until about 12/31/47 (same time we lost Division Patches). For example, crossed Signal Flags for telephone wireman and 'Lightning' sparks for radioman. Can anyone confirm?
Lost and Found Newsletter 23 May 2013
It's been over 57 years since I became a Marine at MCRD Parris Island, and with the exception of one of my DI's (SSgt Richard E. Buice) who I ran into at Camp Lejeune in 1965; I haven't seen nor heard from any of my Recruit Platoon members. I've done internet searches and phone directory searches, advertising in the Marine Times, Leatherneck, etc. with no luck. I was thinking that perhaps some of those Marines who get the Grit newsletter just might be one of those Marines from Platoon 197 who graduated with me in March 1956. Attached is Platoon photo.
1948 and 1946
This was taken 1948, and my boot camp pic taken 1946.
Tony
Sgt. Retired
Operation Silver Lance
Sgt. Grit,
This is my Zippo, I bought it while aboard the USS Cabildo LSD 16 in early 1965. I was a tank driver with B Company, 1st. Tank Battalion. We were participating in Operation Silver Lance, which involved a 7-day cruise off the coast of Mexico, and a surf landing from a Mike Boat at Camp Pendleton. Hopefully you can read what is engraved on it, my name, serial #, and the places I had been when I had the engraving done in the Philippines later in 1965.
Johnson M1941
I have heard that the USMC attempted to adopt an automatic rifle during WWII called the Johnson M1941 and also a machine gun, but got no support.
I also heard that Germany may have used this weapon as a prototype for its German Sturmgewehr and the Russian AK 47. I've read the reviews online, but do we have anyone left out there who handled one of these weapons.