In your 27 March newsletter, Jim Mackin provided a great report on the old French resort at BaNa which 1st Recon (and 1st MarDiv) used as a radio relay site. I thought you and your readers might be interested in a couple of pictures of the resort as it was in about 1968. It was a great radio relay site and an informal in-country 'R&R' site for war-weary Recon teams.
Category: Marine Corps Stories
Shamrock Platoon
Attached you will see a picture of when I was at Parris Island, SC. March 17, 1951. Approximately 60 of the men came from Connecticut. We went as a group and were called "The Shamrock Platoon". Most of the men were assigned to Korea, as I was one of them. We were a Honor Platoon.
She Also Noticed The Attitude
Sgt. Grit story on Summer Dress Uniforms, Green Field Scarf and Best Duty Station.
Like many other Marines, I start off my Thursday mornings reading your Sgt. Grit Newsletter. And I want to express my appreciation and thank you for providing such a great service! I know that editing the Sgt. Grit Newsletter takes a tremendous amount of time and a whole bunch of love. Thanks for Loving our Corps and fellow Marines!
Proud Dad Of A U.S. Marine
I put these on my truck in November when my son LCPL Vincent Smejkal, US Marine was deployed to Afghanistan. Lots of people make comments, some good – some not so good, but that's why my son is there to allow people their freedom to say what they want. There are a few names I've written down of those that have made fun of what I have on my truck… I plan to have my son pay a visit to them when he gets back to discuss it.
Photos From World War I
I have been given the honor of maintaining the personal items that belonged to my paternal grandfather, Oscar Steiner King, USMC 1917 – 1919. Among them are a number of photos from WWI and what appear to be some official U.S. Marine Corps photo post cards taken during boot camp. My grandfather was with the 78th Company, 2nd Marines, 6th Battalion. He was part of the 2nd Replacement Battalion which replenished the 2/6 after the Battle of Belleau Woods.
1953 Dodge M37
This is a frame-off restoration of my 1953 Dodge M37 that took 2-1/2 years. All components of the vehicle have been restored and overhauled to new Mil Spec or better condition. All old paint and trust was removed down to bare metal and repainted. The hard top was removed and converted to the current soft top now in place. In addition specific depot installed items found on USMC vehicles were fabricated and installed. With the exception of some welding and the machine work on the engine, all work was done in my garage. Just shows what a stubborn old Marine and some wrenches can do.
MCRD San Deigo
Not a story just a couple of questions. I may be having a senior moment but it seems that I remember that the slogan The Few The proud used to end in The Chosen does anybody know. I am looking for anyone who went thru boot in July Aug and September 1959. I cannot remember the platoon number and all my information and platoon picture was destroyed by a tornado in GA. During the nineties some names I remember were Curry and Zenkie was from Muleshoe Texas, also had a member named Parrish a copy of the platoon photo would be geat appericated. Email me at waltermarycarleen@hotmail.com. Thanks McCormick always a marine..
Bi-Polar Marine 1969-1973
Bi-polar from age 9 -present. Age, now is 63. U.S.M.C 1969-1973. The Marine Corps put me through some changes that ensured my survival.
I did not sh-t my first six days on active duty (06/16/1969-six days). Reported to Senior D.I. S/Sgt. V.D.Martin for solution-butter.
Looking for People From PLT 1066, Aug 1968
Looking for people who were in plt 1066 @MCRD San Diego Aug 1968, PC SSgt RKU publico, DI's JT Cuff, SSgt Rabenowitz, I left from OKC, OK and flew to Diego, middle of the night met by a screaming man on the bus and then the yellow foot prints wondering what the hell have I gotten into. Changed my life and made me a man. Went to the Nam and then home and got out at the Stumps finished college in '70.
Blood and Whiskey
After reading a couple of recent stories about donating blood on Okinawa, I was reminded of an experience of my own. I was serving with the 3rdMarDiv Band in 1964. We rated house girls because we went through several uniforms a day, mostly due to the Godawful humidity. One of our girls was killed in an accident and her family was having trouble paying the hospital bill. We learned that if a bunch of us went to the Okinawan hospital and donated blood it would help to reduce the bill. We wanted to help and also knew we would be given whiskey afterwards. I was lying on the table hooked up to a bag and taking life easy when I happened to look over and there was a big pool of my blood on the floor! There was a big hole in the bag and I yelled "Aksamio" at the top of my lungs. An Okinawan nurse came running and nonchalantly hooked me to another bag. Needless to say, I was given many shots of Suntory whiskey to sooth my fevered brow and ruffled feathers. Just another day on the Rock!