Category: Other USMC

Best Officer (Lt. James Capers)

Thank you, Lt. Capers wherever you are, Happy 232nd Birthday and Semper Fi???..Sir!

My MOS was motor transport; I completed my first Vietnam (VN) tour in 1967 with Whisky-1-13 a 4/Duce mortar unit. I was looking to do something different. I volunteered for a security post not really knowing what it was all about. I filled out all the paperwork and did not hear anything for a long time. Figuring I was rejected, I continued my duties with 8th Com BN at Camp LeJeune NC as a mechanic. Then in March of 1968, I was assigned to Marine Barracks (MB) Fort Mead, MD. During this period the MB provided physical security for the National Security Agency. read more

I needed to tell you this

Dear Sgt Grit Well it was that time again when I said goodbye to my son, of the few, of the proud. Strangely it was harder this time than the last time. Last time I watched a boy go off to war and this time I saw a man climb onto that bus. The reality of it is that the 3/2 lost 14 brave, courageous men at the last deployment. I started a scholarship here in Tampa, Florida for Lance Corporal Eric W. Herzberg, 20 years old killed by a sniper in Al Anbar Province and a friend of my son’s. read more

The Speech

Good day and “As you were Gentlemen and ladies”…

I just finished reading the newest Sgt Grit news, and as always, I am impressed by the letters sent into the news. As I read through them, I find myself running the the gauntlet of feelings, and rememberances….as well as feel the pride in my beloved Corps swelling once more inside me. I must commend all the mothers and fathers out there that have a beloved son or daughter serving in my Marine Corps. Parents, I salute you, and tell you “Thank you” for raising such a fine and moral child….one that is standing tall and ready to give his or her all for their country, with no questions asked. This is the sense of duty I can only wish the populace of the entire country felt. read more

Thankful for Marines

This is an emotional time for me.Thanksgiving is a time when we think of Home. I can’t tell you how many Combat Vets I’ve enrolled in the VA Health Care System. I have a a heartfelt desire to continue to serve, that’s why I serve as a Credentialed Health Benefits Advisor at the VA San Diego Healthe Care System. I am still as motivated as I was a young Doc like I was. I prepared & trained hard & maintaied Marine Corps PT & proficiency standards as a SAR Doc, & FMF Doc. Hell, I wish I could go in place of your sons or daughters. read more

Platoon 100 – B Company – First Battalion MCRD Parris Island SC 1958

Hello Sgt Grit,

Please consider posting this reminiscent of bygone days. I recently purchased some items from your compound and wish to tell you that I am enjoying all the articles. Makes me wish I was 50 years younger and had it all to do over. read more

Mothers Blue Star Flag

This is a photo of my Mothers Blue Star Flag that I made in honor for my Son Lcpl Gregory Kelley. He is currently deployed in Iraq and this will be our first Christmas that we have not been together in 20 years. I can’t say enough of how proud I am of him and all the other Men and Women in the Service. I am going to miss my Son this Christmas and I wanted something that I can look at and think of him this Christmas. read more

Pride

Sgt. Grit,

I would like to share with you some pictures.

My husband and I got married on October 27th, 2007, and just days later, he was promoted. I got the privilege of pinning him and putting his new chevrons on. I was so nervous and at first I put the first pin on upside down, (I felt stupid — but what new wife hasn’t done that?) I’m so proud of my husband, (and any Marine). The first thing the SgtMaj said to me after the pinning was over meant a lot to me. He said to me — “welcome to the family”. read more

Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs

Sgt. Grit,

I know my Dad served in the Army but…

Here are a couple of pics of my Dad, Jack Glass, getting his high school diploma from Barren County Schools. He also received a certificate of appreciation from the Marine Corps League for his service to the United States during time of war. read more

Christmas Military Wedding

Hello. My name is Frances Roy and I am the Mom of LCPL Anastasia Benton, USMC. My daughter and her boyfriend Robert Benton joined the Marine Corps in August 2006 and they went thru boot camp Parris Island together, for the most part, until Rob hurt his leg and was held back for a couple months. My daughter graduated before Rob and went on to Camp Lejuene after a brief visit home. Soon after Rob graduated boot and he came home for a visit also just about Christmas time. My daughter managed to come home from 29 Palms to do recruiting and in that time they managed to get engaged and have a small but really beautiful wedding, the day after Christmas 2006. There was no time for a honeymoon because my daughter had to head back to 29 Palms and Rob went to Camp Lejuene for his MCT. Finally, the bride and groom met up at 29 Palms for a few weeks and then Anastasia was sent back to Camp Lejuene as her station. After Rob had his schooling in CA he was stationed back at Camp Lejuene and these 2 kids got to set up house together for the very first time in their marriage. In August this year, Rob was deployed to Falujah Iraq and left behind his beautiful bride. These kids haven’t been together much in their marriage so far and their first wedding anniversary will be spent apart. Being the good Marines they are, they take it all in stride and wait for the day they can be together again when Rob comes home and take their honeymoon trip to Orlando. I wanted to share with you and your readers a picture of the bride and groom and ask prayers for them to have a long and happy marriage. Anastasia is 20 and Rob is 19 and very much in love. It’s their great love for each other that keeps them together and happy while they are so far apart. I’m sending a picture of them on their wedding day hoping you might like to share it with your readers. And if you’d like to send Anniversary Greetings or words of encouragement here is LCPL Anastasia Benton address. I’m sure she’d love to hear from any and all as it is very lonely be a Marine that is the wife of a deployed Marine. Thank you all, past and present for defending this great nation and God Bless America! read more

Color Guard

Sgt. Grit,

Please find attached a picture of my wife and grandson with a Marine Color guard at the opening day of the International Quilt Festival in Houston. You have to love those promoters of this event. A prayer was said along with the playing of the National Anthem. Little Ethan was in awe of the Marines, so afterward the ceremony, he told his Grandma that he wanted to talk to the ?soldiers?. ( he?s only three?cut him some slack) He was somewhat intimated by the men when they approached but they soon were high fiving him and talking with the family. I wasn?t present but while quizzing him later, he told me ?They had flags and rifles?. I would like to thank these Marines for taking the time to visit with my bunch. Regretfully, my wife failed to mention to them that I was a member of the fraternity. If the members of that Color Guard do read this letter, feel free to email me. read more