Last week SSgt Jim Leonard asked if anyone had ever seen the type of dog tag he mentioned. Myself and several other guys in my outfit were issued them on a trial basis. Enclosed is a picture of it, alongside my regular tag I was issued in boot camp. Nobody ever took our picture for the new tag, and nobody I knew ever even wore it on the chain with their regular tag.
Category: Marine Corps Stories
The Forgotten Unit Of Iwo Jima
During the Gulf War, I had the honor to command 25th Marines. One of my battalions 1/25 got into the fight. The war ended before I could get 2/25 and 3/25 overseas. This regiment has had a distinguished
My Dress Blues Still Fit
Having just seen the piece from Wayne Dillon (fitting in his utilities), I just couldn’t resist the temptation to brag just a bit. Attached is the photo of me at the Marine Corps ball a couple of years ago. I am a Viet Nam era veteran, and at 63 years of age, I can still fit into my dress blues! These days, I only get to wear them
An Inspiration To Fellow Marines
Article by Salvador Rivera
FOX 5 News
A video showing retired Marine Jose Barron crawling up a steep hill on his hands and one leg has gone viral and has turned him into an online sensation.
Barron attended a reunion over the weekend at Camp Pendleton for Marines who were deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, members of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.
Foggy Rifle Range Memory
Calling Marines of 1958 PI boot camp era: can anyone remember and provide the rifle range details for this old Marine, obviously now in his mid-seventies who, much to my dismay, is having difficulty recalling the exact firing protocol for each position with our M1’s back in the day? Specifically, what the did we shoot in the four positions of offhand, kneeling, sitting and prone? This is all I remember (I think): 100 yds. offhand; either 200 and/or 300 yds. kneeling and sitting; and pretty sure we did prone at 500 yards. Which positions and associated distances were shot in slow fire and which in rapid fire? Referring to the USMC Manual of the day yielded zero results. Your help to answer these nagging questions will be very much appreciated. Semper Fi to all brother and sister Marines.
Some Other Marine’s Trophy Case
Here is another photo I found from my Beirut collection. One night on patrol I found this 9mm sub-machine gun and it was in perfect condition. I know it was stupid, (all of you reading this are cringing) but I picked it up. We found it off to the side of one of the streets in one of the small local business districts.
Show My Pride Outside
Here is how I show my pride outside. I maintain this yearly and refinish it when necessary. Wisconsin weather is tough on everything outdoors.
Rifle Inspection
During rifle inspection, which included grilling of the recruits about general orders, command chain, etc. The Lt and Gunny came before Pvt Renfro: “Pvt! What is your first general order! Reply, I don’t know sir: Pvt who is the Commandant of the Marine Corps? Don’t know sir! Pvt what is your 3rd general order? Don’t know sir! Pvt! Do you know anything?! Yes sir! Well Pvt what do you know? (pause)…Don’t know sir! At which point, the Lt (mustang from Univ of Tenn) threw Pvt Renfro’s M-14 50 yards in the air and into a muddy puddle. It took everything the DI’s had to keep us from laughing. Pvt Renfro, “was counseled” later in the barracks.
47 Years Later
MIKE 4/11 1st Marine Division. You can not make this stuff up, you only access, adapt & over come. I once responded to a article that appeared in Sgt Grit from a person that I served with in An Hoa Vietnam, 1969. Have left my email in the sponge box, I received a phone call from Sgt Grit that a marine known as Mike Paul was trying to contact me. The years have clouded my memory but what the hell, I gave the go ahead to call me. At first I did not remember Mike because we used nicknames until he said they called me Top because his father was a Top in the Corps. That name hit the right bell in my head. After a long talk the past 46 years seemed as if they never happened, we were back there as 18 – 19 years olds covering any fears with a laugh. Well we decided to meet in Sanibel, Florida 4/2016. I have to say we didn’t look the same, the apprehension that was felt left as soon as our eyes locked our hands shook and a rather tight hug. The feeling between two Marines from serving in combat never changes, that bond is not breakable. The day and a 1/2 that we were together was something that gets written about, the wives shared their own stories about their Marine. We departed by saying let’s not wait another 47 years.
Semper Fi Brothers
Cpl W.G. Moodie 68-72