Me and Bill C. at the Dirty Name, the first obstacle on the Parris Island confidence course on the day we graduated from platoon 374 in the Fall of 1960. Hard to believe that was 56 years ago. In my mind we haven’t changed much since then. Don’t know if we can still do 20 pull ups, but we can still lock and load and put them in the black at 500 yards.
Category: Marine Corps Stories
One Outstanding Marine Ride
This is the Punisher.
Jon Nelson
USMC ’71-’75
Veterans Day Tribute At Chick-fil-A
Article by
Bill Callen
Top Right News
Man walks into Chick-fil-A and is completely blown away when he say this for Vets.
Chick-fil-A, the same fast-food outlet has once again proved a positive to the world. This time it did so by unveiling an amazing Veterans Day tribute that left Georgia resident Eric Comfort in complete shock.
Modified To Thank All
Was in the Corps from 1967 to 1967, was a 0311, came out as an E-5 Sgt. I am a supporter of MIA and POW Veterans from all branches and wars. Decided to have the Eagle, Globe & Anchor modified to thank all Marines that have served.
Ron Knight
Marine Issued Rain Hat
Been reading the stories about the Pith Helmets. Here is a picture of me wearing a Marine issue rain hat when I was on a Med Cruise with India 3/2 in 1959. I believe we were on Sardinia.
Cpl (2 stripes) Patrick Arata
It Should Never Happen
In regards to Sgt Ted K. Shimono, concerning Marine officers training recruits: it will never happen and it should never happen. On my first West Coast monitor trip in 1979 with then LtCol Charles Krulak, Commandant Robert Barrow and SgtMaj of the USMC, SgtMaj Leland Crawford, I did some recon for myself at MCRD San Diego. I found that while some of the language was toned down when others were around, our Drill Instructors were maintaining our traditions and regulations the same as when I was a recruit in 1965. I did not know until later that SgtMaj Crawford did the same; he found where a platoon commander (and some series officers) were promulgating their own instructions on behavior of DI’s that contradicted some of what the DI schools at both Parris Island and San Diego were teaching.
50 Years Since I Graduated
March 15th, 2016, will be 50 years since I graduated MCRD in San Diego, CA, and on June 10th of the same year, I was graduating the Drill Instructor School. This is something I feel very proud and eternally grateful due to everything that I’ve lived as a professional and a person. Thanks a lot to my Drill Instructors who trained me and shaped me with their effort and military discipline. Our Drill Instructors did their best at sharing all the experience gathered in the swamps and forests of Vietnam; telling us what the real deal was.
Patriot Guard Bike
Attached are a couple of photos on how I am using the clips and a decal I just got from ya’ll. One of the uses for my newest ride is as a Patriot Guard bike. I needed a way to attach my windshield banner when I ride with the PGR and yet be able to easily remove it when not. I chose your clips over the plain ones and mounted the decal center of windshield where it is always on display. I sent two photos of the clips, one a closeup and the other shows the decal and all 4 clips in use.
The Long Goodbye
In the closing hours of the fight to hold the Khe Sanh Combat Base, after the longest and bloodiest battle of the Vietnam War, Tom Mahoney inexplicably walked away from his platoon, unarmed, and was shot to death by enemy soldiers hiding nearby. His fellow Marines made several desperate attempts to recover their well-liked comrade, but were finally forced to leave him behind, though never forgotten.
Ulithi, Atoll Demo Marines
Demolition Marines examining Japanese “Kaiten” suicide sub washed up in the surf.
Ulithi, Atoll, Western Caroline islands.
January, 1945.
John Ratomski