Sgt Grit is a place where Marines can come and meet other Marines, share tattoos and stories, keep up with Marine Corps news, or shop for USMC gear.
I'm always up for military history in my travels. Several years ago on vacation with the family we found the USS Texas, now a museum ship.
Attached are a couple of photos about the formation of the 1st MarDiv. The 1st MarDiv. guys probably already know this and have been there but for the rest of us… a little more history.
The Marines of 1969 MCRD San Diego, Platoon 1066 met in Branson, MO once again for our sixth annual reunion on 4-8 June 2014. We were again joined by our two Drill Instructors and their lovely wives. In addition to excellent shows and camaraderie, the highlight of our five days together was my marriage to Denise on 6 June at the Stonegate Glass Chapel. At our wedding banquet on Saturday night all of the great items so generously donated by SGT GRIT were distributed to the attendees to everyone's delight.
If anyone knew or knows my fiance, they know to tread lightly and speak openly and honestly. His 2 tours in the Marines as a DI Instructor will have you speaking the truth within 5 seconds of even attempting to speak sideways (trust me I've tried and it doesn't work… LOL). Look at those eyes… he has been trained with the best of the best and gives nothing but 110% of himself in whatever he does… he does it to perfection! I'm not in the military, but he's taught me some great values and how to distinguish them within a person, and I can spot a Marine a mile away.
In a recent letter, one lad asked about Dog Tags. But in the old, old days one of the Sergeants or Officers went back over the battle field to identify the Dead, or the Dead were just buried without concern for the identity. During the "Cold Harbor Battle" of the Civil War, men on both sides sewed their name and address on their coats so they could be identified and the family informed of their Death. I'm sure it happened more often than not.
10 years ago I built the caboose as a yard ornament. Badly weathered it was time to be rebuilt. I decided to make it honor the Marine Corps. People seem to like the change from the former R.R. motif. I served in the Corps from 1946-1952.
Semper Fi!
Leon Hooper
By Bryan J. Lash
The sixties brought us many things: women's liberation, free love and draft dodgers. More importantly, America was involved in helping the fledgling democratic Republic of Vietnam withstand attempts from the Communists of North Vietnam to conquer them militarily. America sent its bravest and brightest to assist and train the Vietnamese. Unfortunately, history will probably show that most Americans opposed this action. This is a story that chronicles the experiences of one man's journey to be a U.S. Marine during this time in history. It covers his time as a boy, through college, to leading the world's finest fighting men in combat. He discovered many life lessons along the way, not the least of which was the real meaning of the famous Marine motto: Semper Fidelis.
After the Rush represents author Lanny Martinson's debut into the literary world. His gritty, tell-it-like-it-is style leaves little to the imagination in his no-holds-barred account of a young man's journey into manhood. Although the book is fiction, it's based on actual events experienced by the author or his fellow Marines who served in the Vietnam War.
By Staff Writer
An old adage says, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks", but Mary Wyscarver, THS teacher, begs to differ with that. For years her friends have told her of the joys of motorcycles. Finally on Memorial Day she joined almost one thousand bikers for the 15th annual "Ride to Remember" in West Texas to honor the fallen heroes. Her son, Marine SSgt. Joseph Fankhauser (KIA Afghanistan 2012), is her hero and was recently featured on Fox Sports Warriors Among Us – Honor the Fallen.
Every year on Nov 10th there is a huge Marine Corps B-Day celebration in Philadelphia and they close off a major street and about a thousand Marines show up. It last all day at a Marine owned bar called Cookie's Tavern. Guys come from all over. Joe Curry was a Captain in the NJ State Police and is my neighbor, and this is me with his wife a couple years ago. I have now lost 129 lbs so I looked much younger and skinnier now. The other picture is me and my buddy from high school talking on the blocked off street. His name is Wayne Parker, and he buys stuff from you guys too. I love the spinning EGA's but I can't figure out how to do it.
Aubrey Headon, age 14 from Rochelle, Illinois stopped in to visit us here in OKC while attending the Endeavor Games. She is in the preparatory events for the Paraolympic team. She holds the world record for the long jump and is on her way to London next for more events. Aubrey loves the Marine Corps! Her grandfather, SSgt Lyle Headon of 1st Amtracks '64-'68 inspired this love in her. She eats, sleeps and breathes the Corps and has since about age 3. She wears Marine Corps anything she can get her hands on. Aubrey ran on 7 June 2014 at the games in honor of LCpl Alec E. Catherwood, KIA from Darkhorse 3/5, Afghanistan 10-14-2010.
