Here is a cute picture of my granddaughter Abby Smith at a 4th of July parade in Morgan Hill California. Her daddy, uncle and Godfather are all US Marines. I thought maybe you would like it for your magazine.
My family loves your magazine.
Category: Other USMC
Custom Made Marine Corn Hole Boards
The 3 attached photos are of my totally handmade Corn Hole games. I searched far and wide for a store made game set depicting Marine Corps lineage. Finally decided to build my own and adorn it with Sgt Grit decals. The decal story line on the boards tracks my time in the Corps from MCRD Parris Island (Sept '59) to assignment with the 1st MAW Iwakuni, Japan to Soc Trang, Vietnam and discharge rank E4 Corporal (Sept '63).
Proud Customer
Added some of your stickers (decals?) to my Jimmy… I was in Gitmo Bay October – December 1962…
Robert Heathorn
Deep Sixed
Ddick: Once again Ddick has become my Muse regarding Amtrack operations off an LST. The one part of the launch he doesn't mention (because it's not apparent to those riding inside is the "deep six" portion which involves the tractor accelerating down the ramp and actually going 5 or 6 feet under water before bobbing to the surface (hopefully) and heading for the rendezvous circle. This is a little intimidating the first couple of times its done, but being Marines we would see how deep we could go. I think I've related this story before but here it is again. A second LT. platoon leader pulled me aside and asked where the driest place was inside when we launched because the cargo doors on top of the tractor weren't water tight and became a torrent while getting off the ship. I assured him that the driest place would be sitting on the machine gun platform in the front. Just above the platform was the machine gun turret with the gun taken out, it was rotated to the rear and a redwood plug was inserted where the barrel went. I told my crewman to rotate the turret to the front and remove the plug. As we "deep sixed" off the ramp a solid stream of cold seawater shot from the hole into the chest of the 2nd. LT. I kept my eyes glued to my vision block but snuck a peep to see how it went. He was staring at me with fire in his eyes but I'm sure he never asked to be kept dry while part of his platoon was getting wet. Ya gotta love 'em!
Future Marines
Jones Beach Marines putting the Poolee recruits through the paces… 6/7/14.
USS Texas
I'm always up for military history in my travels. Several years ago on vacation with the family we found the USS Texas, now a museum ship.
Attached are a couple of photos about the formation of the 1st MarDiv. The 1st MarDiv. guys probably already know this and have been there but for the rest of us… a little more history.
Dog Tag Of The Korean War
In a recent letter, one lad asked about Dog Tags. But in the old, old days one of the Sergeants or Officers went back over the battle field to identify the Dead, or the Dead were just buried without concern for the identity. During the "Cold Harbor Battle" of the Civil War, men on both sides sewed their name and address on their coats so they could be identified and the family informed of their Death. I'm sure it happened more often than not.
Lieutenant Of Marines
By Bryan J. Lash
The sixties brought us many things: women's liberation, free love and draft dodgers. More importantly, America was involved in helping the fledgling democratic Republic of Vietnam withstand attempts from the Communists of North Vietnam to conquer them militarily. America sent its bravest and brightest to assist and train the Vietnamese. Unfortunately, history will probably show that most Americans opposed this action. This is a story that chronicles the experiences of one man's journey to be a U.S. Marine during this time in history. It covers his time as a boy, through college, to leading the world's finest fighting men in combat. He discovered many life lessons along the way, not the least of which was the real meaning of the famous Marine motto: Semper Fidelis.
Gold Star Mom Converts to Cycles
By Staff Writer
An old adage says, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks", but Mary Wyscarver, THS teacher, begs to differ with that. For years her friends have told her of the joys of motorcycles. Finally on Memorial Day she joined almost one thousand bikers for the 15th annual "Ride to Remember" in West Texas to honor the fallen heroes. Her son, Marine SSgt. Joseph Fankhauser (KIA Afghanistan 2012), is her hero and was recently featured on Fox Sports Warriors Among Us – Honor the Fallen.
Cookie’s Tavern
Every year on Nov 10th there is a huge Marine Corps B-Day celebration in Philadelphia and they close off a major street and about a thousand Marines show up. It last all day at a Marine owned bar called Cookie's Tavern. Guys come from all over. Joe Curry was a Captain in the NJ State Police and is my neighbor, and this is me with his wife a couple years ago. I have now lost 129 lbs so I looked much younger and skinnier now. The other picture is me and my buddy from high school talking on the blocked off street. His name is Wayne Parker, and he buys stuff from you guys too. I love the spinning EGA's but I can't figure out how to do it.