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.
Thank you Sgt. Grit for supporting our Tri-County Leathernecks M/C Annual Event here in South Florida! Leathernecks from all over South Florida mustered at Port St. Lucie Florida for Tri County Leathernecks M/C Annual Event.
Semper Fi,
Bob MacGillivray
My local Marine Corps League detachment is involved in the local Welcome home celebrations for retuning veterans of all services. It was brought to the committe chairmans attention that many Viet Nam Veterans have missed that recognition, so he decided to do something about it… here is a letter he just sent out to those interested. Please help support this great cause…
As a former Marine ('62-'66) and aviation nut, I was thrilled to read the 1 May SGT GRIT article about WW II Marine pilot and ace Joe Foss. To follow up on the article, Joe was not only the highest scoring Marine ace in WW II (26 enemy aircraft shot down), but as your article indicated he was also a Medal of Honor recipient, as well being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. And if that wasn't enough for one lifetime he went on to become the Governor of South Dakota, the first Commissioner of the American Football League, an Air Force General, as well as serving two terms as the President of the National Rifle Association; and it was during his time with the NRA that I had the privilege of meeting Joe.
Only the older Marines will know what a M-1 thumb is, and most were coordinated enough to not experience one.
I should have known to stop, but I didn't. Two weeks ago in the local gun shop (LGS) somebody started talking to me just as I let the bolt go home. At least it wasn't a full stroke. Wasn't my rifle, either. My Garand was at home and she knows better, besides.
Noticed this month you featured barn quilts. The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor and the ribbons were all free hand drawn and painted by a very good friend. It's 5' x 5'.
L/Cpl Donald Meadors
Attached are several photos of the memorial I put together for the guys KIA from our class. I suspended the dog tags you folks made on a cross bar. Everyone was impressed especially the family members of the fallen. I told the families to take home their guys tag. The memorial was looked at a lot by everyone. We had over 200 class members and family at the reunion. I made sure to tell everyone who did the dog tags. Thank you so much for giving me the deal on those tags. The memorial was a labor of love.
Read Cpl Schweim's letter re landings: I was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, 12th Marines, during 1961- 62, we made many amphibious landings training with the Republic of Vietnam and other Units, off-loading from the APA Pickaway in the South China Sea to Thailand we climbed the ropes to the landing craft. The South China Sea was seldom calm, so the LST would bounce up and down sometimes hitting the side of the ship. Marines in full gear would climb the ropes while Marines on the landing craft would try to hold the ropes. However we never had a swabby directing us. One incident I recall a Marine did not have his helmet chin strap buckled and it fell from the APA's deck to the landing craft fortunately missing us, we listened to orders and had our steel pots on and secured. I have attached some photos of the operation.
Thank You Sgt GRIT! My husband, MSgt Dave Melka (MGySgt sel) is wearing his new USMC dri-fit tank top for the 10th Annual Pat Tillman Race in Tempe, AZ. He finished the 4.2 miles in just over 30
mins.
Julie Espinoza Melka
I thought you might like to see what an old Marine can come up with in his spare time. If you look close you can see my home made flag mount on the back of the sissybar. I picked up a hunk of aluminum at a recycling center and using only handtools shaped the plate. I then had it powder coated. I painted on both sides 'Semper Fi', though it is getting a bit worn now it is still visible. I also have mounted the metal EGA emblems on the side of the battery cover as well as the left side electronics cover. I get many comments and questions on my rather uniquely designed flag mount. Twice people have asked if it was a mortar tube, civilians what can I say. The bag on the back I had custom made to fit my flag mount as I like the lean look on my ride. I still need to carry rain gear, tools, and lots of water when I stand the flag line here in Florida. The bike is a 1994 Dyna Wide Glide with over 110,000 on it. Miles these days are mostly for PGR missions, however this bike has been in all of the lower 48 when I took 4+ months to ride this great country.
I was issued two pairs of the brown rough side out boots in June of 1970 when I passed through MCRD San Diego with Platoon 2076. Apparently that was the only boots left in my size as I was the only boot in the entire series to get a pair let alone both pairs. None of my DI's were familiar with them so I was told to shave them and then lay on the polish. By the time I graduated they shined as black as any of the other issued black boots. Though I confess to catching some heat in the early stages until I built up enough black polish to cover the rough texture.
