Category: Other USMC

500 Holiday Boxes For The Troops

The Women Marines Association (WMA), The Romeo Masonic Temple, the Romeo Post Office and the surrounding community comes together to pack 500 boxes to ship to our service members deployed in harm's way. On 15 November the women Marines of the Women Marines Association will once again work with the Romeo Masonic Temple and the Romeo Post office to pack up 500 holiday boxes for the troops. read more

Grabasstic Patrol Up A Creek

The Gun Club, assembled in the gulch. (Actually, 106RR or "BAT" Platoon (Battalion Anti-Tank) and Flame Platoon, combined)… H&S 2/1/9 in the Northern Training Area of Okinawa, 1959). Since our recoilless rifles and Jeeps had not caught up with us yet, we were used as the Bn Aggressor Force. The rifle companies would come up to the NTA one at a time from Sukiran to find/engage us… and, since the boondocks were our 'home court', the second and later companies really didn't have a chance… This is kinda old Corps… M-1's, M1919A4 air-cooled .30 Cal Brownings, herringbone utilities, and in this picture, the old green woolen shirts, as aggressor uniform. Since no blanks had been invented for the Flame Thrower (M2), the Flame guys usually got to be machine gun crew… most of either team having the M1911A1 .45cal pistol as sidearms. We were camping out up there for multiple weeks… got hot chow once most days, and some kick-back time when between companies… I recall an all-NCO grabasstic patrol up a creek… or maybe it should have been called 'swim call'?, as we were all buck nekkid, doing the Tarzan bit with vines, etc… until one of us realized that if somebody got seriously hurt, we were all in deep kimchi… In this picture, over half a century later, I can identify, among other trades, a surgeon, a feddle gubmint landscape architect, a mortgage broker, several law enforcement officers, and more than one career Marine… (buncha dumb-ss grunts, anyway…) read more

George Batten – re: Newsletter 16 Oct 2014

George's grave marker was highlighted in the Sgt Grit Newsletter – 16 OCT 2014

George B. Batten enlisted in the Marine Corps on September 16, 1914. He was accepted into the service at Philadelphia, and went through recruit training as a member of Company D, Recruit Depot, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Norfolk, Virginia. After recruit training, he served with the Marine Detachment aboard the U.S.S. New Jersey. While aboard the New Jersey, he visited ports along the East Coast and Carribean, including Navy Yard Boston; Hampton Roads, Virginia; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Guacanayabo Bay, Cuba; Culebra, Puerto Rico; Navy Yard, Philadelphia; Newport, Rhode Island; Provincetown, Massachusetts; Charleston, South Carolina; and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. In August 1916, Private Battan joined the 45th Company in the Dominican Republic, serving in La Cumbre and Canada Bonita. On November 8, 1916 George was promoted to Corporal. On June 8, 1917 the 45th Company became part of the 3rd Battallion, 5th Marines, and were assigned to the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF). The company sailed the Atlantic for duty in France in June, 1917. On April 5, 1918 George was sent to the Army Candidates School in France. On July 31, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutentant, and assigned to Marine Corps Reserve Class 4. He then was assigned to the 1st Corps Artillery Brigade in Hosieres, France, where he participated in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. On November 16, 1918, he assumed command of 1st Platoon, 45th Company (Company "L") and participated in the march of the allied armies towards the Rhine River via Belgium and Luxembourg, following the evacuation of the German Army. He then marched to Waldbreitbach, Germany. On April 7, 1919 he took the oath of office as a 1st Lietentant, with a date of rank of August 18, 1918. He served in 20th Company (Company "K") as part of the Army of the Occupation at Stopperich, Germany. On June 6, 1919, he returned to the 45th Company (Company "L") as a Platoon Commander. On July 25, 1919, they embarked on the U.S.S George Washington at Brest, France for the return trip home. The 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines were deactivated on August 13, 1919. read more

Vision 2 Victory

Sgt Grit and Staff were recently honored with a visit by Marine Veteran Derek Hendershot. Derek is on the Board of Directors for the Vision 2 Victory program. This program is led and operated by military veterans. Following the completion of the Wall of Remembrance by Marine Veteran David Brown, which bares the names of all servicemen and women that have been KIA since the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism, Derek was tasked with touring the 2nd generation Wall all over the country. read more

Reunited With Three Of My Vietnam Marine Brothers

Last month on August 14th I had the honor and privilege to reunite with three of my Vietnam Marine brothers in Tomball, Texas. We had not seen each other in 46 years! We traveled from Connecticut, Michigan, California, and Texas. After a few tears and mighty bear hugs we started jowl jacking like it had only been a week since we last met. We laughed and told stories about the funny stuff and practical jokes we did to each other in Chu Lai in 1967 and 1968. read more

The Black Rifle

Sgt Grit,

Several stories have been posted recently about the Stoner rifles. Here's a little more info:

Eugene Stoner developed this rifle, and it had several variations. Most notably, the M16. He was the father of the M16. To fully understand the development and Vietnam problems with the M16, read the book "The Black Rifle", it's very informative. I met him once while working for Colt Firearms in the early 90's. He was also a WWII USMC Veteran. read more