Sgt Grit is a place where Marines can come and meet other Marines, share tattoos and stories, keep up with Marine Corps news, or shop for USMC gear.
Sgt. Grit,
Haven’t seen anything about “Stolen Valor” ever mentioned in your news’s letter in the years I’ve been reading it. Don’t know if you’ll display this or not in your next news’s letter but thought I’d send it anyway to get the word out of what happens to someone who may have great expectations of doing so. There’s more to find out about this person on the web, but this is the final results.
A few days ago, I had the pleasure of getting together with a guy I hadn?t seen since we graduated from boot camp with Platoon 145 in September of 1962 at MCRD San Diego. Henry ?Hank? Glees and I spent a couple of hours, swapping stories about boot camp and our time in the Corps. Turns out we both served a couple of months over four years and got out within five days of each other. Hank went to Sea School after graduation and spent a couple of years on one of those small aircraft carriers (I forget the name). He said he met John Wayne and brought a copy of the picture he had as proof. He gave the copy to me and I would like to share it with you. That?s Hank just over the Duke?s right shoulder. The time frame is sometime in 1963 or 1964 and the place is on a flat-top out of San Diego bound for Hawaii.
Today’s date is January 22 2009. this marks the 5th year of the passing of our son Cpl. Joshua Harris. He along with 3 other Marines died when their Huey helicopter struck tower 197 in Talega Canyon. The other three Marines were Capt. Michael Lawlor, Capt. Adam Miller and Sgt.Lori Privette. This canyon is on the northern perimeters of Camp Pendleton. These Marines deployed to Kuwait in January of 2003 where they served 10 months flying numerous missions into Iraq. My son came home in October and then again during Christmas of 2003. January 22 2004 these Marines were on a training flight using NVG’s, they were to be redeployed in April . This was the day that determined these 4 Marines where not to come home again.
Dear Sgt. Grit,
My son just deployed with 1/1. I am so proud of him, and all our marines!!! OOHRAH!!!. He was working at a part time job just floating around after graduation from high school.. A retired Marine he worked with kept telling him he would never make in the Corps. Everyday my son would take the bus home, and the bus would drive by the recruiter building. One day he called me and said ” Mom I did it!!”……..and the rest will be history.
For the past several months, we have been on this roller coaster ride with our son Matthew, the first of the two Marine sons currently serving in Iraq on the same base with his brother.
?Clear out my bedroom Mom? he would say over the phone. ?Is there room for my furniture?? he would ask. ?This is your home and whatever help or assistance you need we will be here for you!? we would reply. ?If plans are for you to get in school, no rent here!?, we let him know. Our biggest concern was his commitment to school and we would do whatever he needed to concentrate on higher education, financial needs would not be his worry.
Dear Sgt. Grit,
I joined the Corps in Nov. 1957, sent to Yemassee, SC until we had enough recruits [not the word the Sgt used} to form a platoon, then over to Parris Island, of which he informed us, there are two ways to leave this Island, one is to graduate, the other is in a pine box, I chose the first choice!
Top Black from one of “our” MiTT units came to town for a quick visit to meet and thank some of his supporters so, we took him to lunch and I wanted to do something a little bit special for him … I know I have heard on more than one occasion that, sometimes Marines feel as though they are not really supported here at home and I know many of you received an, um, less than friendly “welcome home” . So, I took some pictures that I hope will help a little in that department.
