Category: Marine Corps Stories

Courage Under Fire

Article by Pete Mecca
CovNews

More than one Leatherneck would agree, it's befitting that a young man from Montezuma chose to join the United States Marine Corps. The month was November, the year 1965, the man: Eli Fobbs.

"I remember basic at Camp Lejeune," Fobbs said. "Back then the Corps didn't play around. They'd insult your momma, sister your wife; shoot, those guys would bust your nose and scare you to death. It didn't take me long to believe I'd joined the wrong organization." read more

My Battlefield Cross

The attached pictures are from a Memorial that I put up in my front yard every Memorial Day and Veterans Day as a tribute to my fallen brothers. My "Battlefield Cross"… (with the helmet, weapon, dog tags and boots of a fallen Marine/Soldier/Airman/Sailor…) are very special to me… I started doing this in my front yard many years ago but just never really shared it. Only the neighbors and people who drove by would stop and look and take pictures… And then I would take about 60/70 pictures just to find the perfect one to print and save. read more

Sgt Maj

Just want to say Hi to all of my friends that helped me in my fox hole in '64-'66 in Khe Sanh. If it wasn't for them I'd be dead meat for the viet cong. I was the only one that was alive, when the 365 helicopter unit come to pick me up, I took a hit from a sniper bullet in my leg, but I held on to the rope in mid air for a mile or so still under fire. Thank you brothers on the Iron Horse for saving my life. read more

Humble Contribution

The attached photo is my humble contribution to all my brother and sister MARINES who have had the honor to claim the TITLE. Many have given the last full measure of devotion to that TITLE and many more have served HONORABLY. Two especially are remembered by me as I served with both of them. G/Sgt John D. Wysemierski and Capt Lawrence Jordan, both of whom are on the WALL. This is my permission for you to use this photo as it copywrighted. Thank you Sgt Grit for Service in Vietnam and your devotion to our Brother ans Sister MARINES. read more

Hard Lessons

For many of us, life lessons are learned the hard way. When we reach a place of stability and calm, we are able to look back on those life-changing experiences and reflect on what they meant, and how they changed us. Read my story about how lessons I learn throughout life and my service in Vietnam shaped my personality and my beliefs in my book "Hard Lessons: Lessons Learned The Hardest Last The Longest". read more

Purple Heart Reissued

The attached article appeared in the Newport Plain Talk, the paper in Newport, TN where I was activities director and training to be a nursing home administrator at the local nursing home at the time.

Resident smoke breaks were divided up among the various departments for supervision. Every once in awhile one resident, Mike Price, would get a pained look on his face and say, "Got shot in Vietnam for nothing…." Everyone thought he was making it up. His medical record said he alleged being in the Marines, but there was no official record of him ever having served. I told him I was in the Marines, and we started talking. He knew it all…the rank structure, the jargon, and he was telling me things about Parris Island I'd forgotten a long time ago. There was no doubt in my mind whatsoever that Mike was in fact a Marine at one time. read more