My name is Lucas Dyer (SSgt USMC) and I have recently had my book, A Battle Won By Handshakes, published. This is about my combat experience as a small unit leader and platoon commander and how my company, ACo 1/5 achieved great success in Afghanistan by utilizing Counter Insurgency Operations (COIN) and doing the right thing. There are not that many success stories from Afghanistan, but my unit was one of the few. I take a doctrinal approach to explaining how the tactical, operational, and strategic levels of war where utilized as we changed a village and their people. Since it's release it has become the number 1 best seller on my publishers website.
Category: Marine Corps Stories
To Hear Silence
It took over 4 years and thousands of hour digging through old files on Vietnam to write the book called "To Hear Silence". Although it's the day to day and often minute to minute account if one Marine battery's experience in support of an infantry unit, everyone who ever served in Vietnam will be able to identify with it. This book traces Charlie Battery 1/13 and the 3rd Battalion 26 Marines from the time they formed up at Camp Horno, CA until the original members left Khe Sanh and returned home in October 1967.
Have It All
For those guys interested, here are some of the guns we took from the VC and NVA. As you can see there is an AK47, then my M14, a Greasegun and two M 16's. With the exception of my M14 all these guns were captured from the enemy.
Future Recruits
I'm former L/Cpl Jack Gleason, Plt. 226, PI 1963 – 1967.
I just thought you would appreciate a good laugh. These are future recruits. We live in Flippin, AK, and we don't get that much snow. So, being a Marine veteran I improvised. We had some snow, a flag pole, and 4 great volunteers.
Graduation Photos
I graduated from Parris Island in December 1994. 3rd Battalion Platoon 3030 they called us the dirty thirty Lima Company. Over the years and angry ex-wives my yearbook, uniforms and everything else is gone. And I'm looking for anyone that has pictures of my platoon or a yearbook from then. If so please contact me. Feel free to send pictures.
The Stoner
Sgt. Grit,
In Vietnam, a friend and fellow Ordnance Man was the Ordnance Chief of the 1st Marine Division. Hanging on his wall was a Stoner Rifle left over from the test of the Stoner Rifle in Vietnam. I asked him to come with me on a Recon Mission. The Division Ordnance Officer okay'd the Recon so we left touring the OP's. He took the Stoner rifle as his personal weapon while I carried my M14. At each OP he would allow any one that wanted to fire the Stoner, to fire it. Here is a picture I took at one of the OP's and a Marine Firing it. Don't remember his name or the name of the Ordnance Chief, sorry.
Wanting To Become Marines
Sgt Grit,
Sgt Giles sent this photo to me. He is busy working with young folks who are wanting to become Marines when they grow up.
Semper Fi,
Teresa Bolhuis
Our Annual Picnic
Thanks to all of you at SGT Grit our picnic last weekend was a huge success! As with every year the SGT Grit raffle and auction items were the highlight and had people drooling over them (even the younger people for which drooling really isn't an age related issue). Next year maybe we should order some bibs for the guests as protection at the prize tables!
Trigger Housing Group
1956, Plt 406. Sitting in a class room listening to the instructor as he trained us in the stripping of the M1… He had us remove the trigger housing and explained that while out, we should never pull the trigger while removed. He had just about got that out of his mouth when I did the NO NO. A click was heard from Parris Island all the way to my home town in Massachusetts. He just kept right on talking without changing a beat. He had us all hold the housing group up as he and the meanest DI I had in my platoon walked up and down the desks. My DI passed by my desk and I thought, the dumb Azz never saw it. That was just about then, that my right ear began to ring and I found my self on the floor looking up. That was not the first time I met the wrath of My DI but I'll save them for another time. Sgt Wilson, where ever you are, I thank you for the attitude adjustments. It helped me thru my years in the Corps and there after… Always a Marine!
Yountville “All Marine Day” BBQ and Picnic
On Sunday, 21 September 2014, the Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Northern California holds its annual YOUNTVILLE "ALL MARINE DAY" BBQ AND PICNIC. It is a free event to all Marines, Marine Veterans, FMF Corpsmen, their Families and Guests in camaraderie and brotherhood.