Category: Other USMC

Tarpaper Barracks

Sgt Grit,

Just got your newsletter and there is a letter from Doran Cooper that was at Camp Gifu and was in Anglico. I was at Camp Gifu 1955 in Hg Bn Hg Co Comm Anglico Plt.

Here's some pictures. One is Me, Bernie standing in front of our tarpaper barracks. The others are taken on Iwo Jima Feb 1956 of the monument on top of Mt Suribachi. The coast line from there and the Mt from below. We made a landing there set up Radio nets remoted our Jeeps to the CP. There was air strikes. read more

USMC ~ Marine Berets

Aloha,    In 1951, while stationed at the Marine Corps Clothing Factory, 100 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, the clothing board was experimenting with the possible use of  berets for the Marine Corps.  They had tan, green, white and blue berets.  Some senior officer had come up with this Army idea for Marines to start wearing berets. Below is a photograph of my SSGT self and four other Marines.  I've long since forgotten the names of most, but the lieutenant on the left, next to me, I believe, is now Colonel (Ret.) Robert Parrot.  He had also been at the Chosin Reservoir.  I believe he was the adjutant here. Few Marines today know that the Corps once had its own clothing factory. Six floors. with all the sewing machines, cutting machines, shrinking machines, etc, needed to make the uniforms.  They were manned by civilian workers. My job was to process for payment, invoices for a million or a million and a half yards of kersey green cloth, herring bone twill (utilities) and blue cloth. etc. The Marine on the right is wearing the herring bone twill utility uniform. After the Korean War, the Corps had grown so in numbers, that the clothing factory could not keep up with the demand, and it went out of business, I believe, sometime in the 1960s.  Delighted to say that the bombshell beret idea died in its infancy.   Aloha and Semper Fidelis…Bob Talmadge

First Annual Wounded Warrior Open

Sgt Grit   This was taken on the 1st Tee (Las Colinas Country Club, Irving, Texas) at the first annual Wounded Warrior Golf Tournament.  Along with President Bush and myself is Army Sgt. Peter Richert.  I had the very distinct honor and privilege of being Pete’s caddy for the 3 day event.  Pete lost his right leg and has 160 pieces of shrapnel in his body from an IED explosion while serving in Iraq.  This is without a doubt one on the most inspirational experiences of my life.   I will treasure the experience and Pete’s friendship forever.  The event was organized by Former President George W. Bush  (43) to honor and bring awareness of our fighting men and women who have been wounded in combat.   Semper Fi   Carl “Snake” Fite Sgt. of the Marines 2266963 66-69  RTO Pappa Battery 3/12  3rd Mar. Div.

Emblem in Foreign Places

My wife and I took our whole family on a trip to Hungary this past summer. We visited relatives that I had not seen for sixty-three years. While at my cousin's house, his son arranged a trip to the fire station in Szentes. He thought it would be interesting because my son is a volunteer firefighter and my grandson is a junior firefighter in the town we live in. When we returned to Connecticut, I saw the video my granddaughter took at the fire station and noticed a Marine Corps emblem decal on the wall in the station. Unfortunately, at this point the film ran out and I was unable to hear why the decal was there. Luckily, my son was able to get the e-mail address of the person who conducted the tour. Through a series of e-mails I learned the following information. Őrnagy Rajmund Kálmán of the Szentes fire department wrote that every year on September 11, the Kiskunfélegyházi, Kecskemét and Szentes firefighters organize a remembrance marathon. This is done in memory of and to honor the New York firefighters. They always invite firefighters from United States to join them. Two years ago several war-disabled Marines were also invited. The emblem decal came from these Marines and Őrnagy Rajmund Kálmán said they guard it to this day. read more

Court St.

Dear Court st.,

You were the place not to go, getting out of bootcamp in 1981 our drill instructors warned us about it, well thats a big mistake or maybe it was reverse psychology and they were trying to tell us where the memories were. Anyways before I ever set foot in Lejeune a bunch of us met at the airport and ended up at a bar in the middle of the day and it turned out to be on Court st. I spent a lot of time and money there got in a couple of fights and watched some good friends fall in love with the "buy me drinkie" oriental girls in the lower end. read more

The Exploding Armadillo or How Three Young Marines Spend a Day of Leave

Hello Sgt Grit;

I'd like to submit this story for possible publication in your newsletter. I have to say that I'm an avid reader and enjoy your newsletter with my morning coffee. I'd also like to say that while I've order from your store I've never visited personally. I'm almost afriad too, you have way to may toys, AND I WANT ALL OF THEM!!!!! read more

Sept. 11 Story

Sgt. Grit,   I am writing this on September 12, 2011, I have notice that there was hardly any mention of the plane hitting the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 at least locally in the Tampa area. So I thought I would share a couple of pics and a story from that day. I was stationed at Henderson Hall, HQBN,  HQMC while undergoing rehab after back surgery at Bethesda. They those of us with laminated light duty chits working at the base gym. I had just watched the planes hit the towers and went out for a smoke when I saw the plane fly over and hit the Pentagon. It was unreal to see we helped in setting up a triage area which I don’t think was actually used. After that was done we were given our m16 with no ammo of course and posted around base. The next day maybe next couple of days’ time was blending together, I was sent down to the Pentagon to help wherever I could it amazed me all the groups that had come out to help salvation army, outback steakhouse mc Donald’s and many others were helping feed amongst other things. Anyway to what I was actually writing about in the pictures I attached you will see in the midst of all the destruction there was Marine Corps Colors standing tall untouched by the damage. There was a Marine Major who arranged for the crane to lift someone up to get it and then it was brought to the Commandant if I remember correctly. It was really emotional for those marine that were there to see this standing tall.     Thomas Hunter   Cpl USMC RET