Category: Marine Corps Stories

Do Not Imitate A Drill Instructor

It was Parris Island, 3rd phase, F Company, Plt. 2008, April 1980 and we were testing at E Beach and one evening our Sr. Drill Instructor Staff Sgt. Shank, informed us we were going to have a Gong Show. If any of us had any talent, we had to stand up in front of the platoon and do our thing. The whole time we were in boot camp, I had a knack for imitating one of our 5 drill instructors. His name was Sgt. Britton. He was the easiest of our DI's. He would always tell us, "Privates, the Walls of Jericho are going to fall down upon you if you don't… etc, His head would tilt from side to side and he would wave his hand like a karate chop. I would always imitate him behind his back and when everyone would start laughing, he would ask, "What the hell is so funny"? No one would say anything and we would all PT for a while. read more

A Good Day

On Sept 15, 2015 SgtMajor Beck (ret), L/Cpl O'donnell, Sgt David Simmons, myself Sgt Wears and MstSgt Knight (ret) [L to R in pic], met up on 1st Bn Parade Deck for our 50th anniversy of graduation from Parris Island. We looked over the parade deck, Stood in front of the Iwo jima memorial. We got a tour of the new barracks (second picture), SgtMajor Beck saw the yellow footprints I snapped to on them struck the red hand print as hard as I could, shouted who I was, got to request when the 3 now Drill Instructors came out of the Drill instructors house, wondering what was going on since they had not picked up their new Plt. Too funny. read more

Honors My Dad

My dad was born 8/11/1933. He served in the Korean war. He passed away 8/12/13 and is buried at Indiantown Gap, PA. Till the day he died, he never forgot he was a Marine. My mom, who is 79 and will be 80 in January, honors my dad and the Marines when she wears a Marine Corps shirt/sweatshirt when she goes walking two, three or four times a week. She walks 6 miles each time. read more

No Book

I Never Recived My Year Book Would Like To Know How I Can Get A Copy

I Was In I co. 3rd Marine Div Ploutune 387 Gradguated InYear 1972 Month08 Day10 If their Is Anybody Out Thear That Can Help Me I Would Grately Apreachted       THANK YOU                                           S.Cloutier                                                                                           PVT U.S.M.C. read more

Aye Aye Sergeant Major

In 1975, I was a Weapons Platoon Sergeant with Fox 2/7 at San Mateo, Camp Pendelton. All of the Battalion NCO's including myself were attending our monthly NCO meeting. Sgt.Maj. Yanachi was an Eskimo Indian, but to hear him tell it he was Born at Tun Tavern. The Sgt.Maj. when answering a question would always start out with "Well I remember in the Old Corps when all you young kids wer just a twinkle in your daddy's eye," and we would all give a little laugh. Being the Smart-Ass Comedian Sgt. that I was… I raised my hand and Sgt.Maj. pointed at me and said "Yes SGT. HAMMER." I stood up and asked him if he had any pictures of himself polishing his Sword and Shield in the Old Corps? Some NCO's were laughing and most were wide eyed going OOOOOH! He turned around to the podium (I thought he was ignoring me) and picked up the Battalion NCO Duty Roster, turning back to face me he said "NO, I'm sorry to say I don't Sgt. Hammer, but I promise I'll be here every weekend this month to take your picture at the battalion guard duty desk." He then ripped the schedule in half and threw it over his shoulder and looking around the room at all the other NCO's said "Is there any other questions?" "NO. Alright then, I want everybody here to thank Sgt. Hammer for volunteering for duty NCO this month so that his fellow Marine NCO's can enjoy their weekends this month… Isn't that right Sgt. Hammer?" I snapped to attention and yelled "Aye aye Sergeant Major!" Everybody snapped to attention and Sgt.Maj. yelled "DISMISSED" everybody was laughing so loud you wouldn't have heard a grenade go off. Every NCO patting me on the back saying "Way to go Hammer, Thanks!". I Loved the then and still do, I didn't mind at all. My Wife and Kids all lived on Base at 633-A Puller Place a five bedroom 2-1/2 bath NEW home. And I Respected the Sgt.Maj. more than any man on the Base. I read Sgt.Maj. Yanachi's Presidential Citation that on a mountain top in South Vietnam went outside the wire one night with no weapon other than his "Razor Sharp" E-tool to dig a "Cat-Hole" (out of Respect for his fellow Company Marines). On the way back to his position The Marines came under Attack. The Sgt.Maj. surrounded by Combat Armed NVA's who not wanting to fire their weapons at one "Lone Marine" and alert the Company of Marines inside the wire attempted to bayonet the (then) 1st.Sgt. Yanachi, He just started swinging that E-tool in all Directions. It was later determined (after the battle) that THIRTEEN (13) Enemy Soldiers had been killed by an E-tool. Sergeant Major Yanachi told me he had to dig a second Cat-Hole inside the wire to clean out his shorts. I TREASURE the memories of every day I served in the Corps from 1972 to 1978 even the bad ones. read more

LCpl James Fuller Inurnment

Here's the final set of photos from Jim's inurnment ceremony at Arlington National Cemetary.

The onlookers/mourners dressed in yellow shirt, vest, and cavalry hat are from Buffalo Soldiers group. Marilyn informed me that Jim was an honorary member of the special group of folks. One of the other Veterans being inurned that day was being honored by the Buffalo Soldiers group. Jim was also a member of MIAP (Missing In America Project). read more