Category: Marine Corps Stories

Used The Wrong Kind Of Fuse

Over the last month or so, I've read a number of submissions from readers about a "Capt. Hiram Walker", who was reportedly Force Recon, was "a member of the famous Hiram Walker liquor family", "his personal vehicle was Marine Corps green with camo seat covers", and he had a "reputation of being a bit strange". In 1967/68, I served with a Major E. Hockaday Walker who was then CO of 1st Force Recon based at Phu Bai, RVN. The very same stories about this Walker were circulating then and I wonder if we're not talking about the same person? At one point, Major Walker denied the reported relationship with the Hiram Walker liquor family and I believe he said he was a relative but not an immediate family member. He was in fact from a wealthy family in any event and the stories about the vehicle and his dressing his entire platoon in dress blues is supposed to be true. I also heard that as a platoon commander at Lejeune, he had no civilian clothing at all – and at one point was ordered to buy a suit for a special occasion. Supposedly, immediately after the 'special occasion', he dumped the suit in a trash can and burned it. read more

Looking For Fellow Marines

I just viewed the posted  picture of the Lima Company Reunion. I was attached (81 mortars) to Lima Company during Mead River and Operation Taylor Common (1969) and would like to get in touch with fellow Marines that I served with at the time. Could someone please contact me with info as to how I can find out about futureLima Company reunions. read more

Camp Lejeune Traffic Circle

I would like to comment on the article by John Vaughn in this week's (August 22nd) newsletter.

John mentioned that he never heard the term "swooping circle".  I, too, was at Camp Lejeune from Feb 1965 to October 1965 and clearly remember the "traffic circle".  I never heard the term swooping, either.  I don't remember the details of exactly where it was located, but it was central to the base and all Marines who had automobiles and were traveling for the week end would pull into the circle (as I recall, it was more of a parking lot) and one of the MPs would call out to those of us who were looking for a ride, how many riders the car could take and where they were going.  I think the standard price was about 1¢ per mile.  Riders were dropped off anywhere along the route the driver was passing and usually met him at the same place on the return trip back to base. read more

Dressed Up Our Buggy

I want to thank Lynn Lam and everyone at Sgt. Grit for all their great help and assistance with ordering the custom stickers for our light covers on our buggy. My husband is very pleased with how well the USMC Marine Corps stickers have dressed up our buggy. Once I cut them out and put them on they look awesome! Here are some pictures. read more

TBS 4-67

On October 10, 1966, over 700 Officer Candidates stepped off the buses at Quantico, VA into the welcoming arms of the equivalent of Boot Camp Drill Instructors to begin the 42nd Officer Candidate's Course. Ten weeks later, approximately 500 were commissioned 2nd Lieutenants. Because of the "needs of the Marine Corps", 144 of those Lieutenants were sent directly to Pensacola for flight training vice The Basic School where all Lieutenants are supposed to be trained to be infantry Platoon commanders. The remainder were divided into the three companies, Golf, Hotel and India of The Basic School Class of 4-67. read more

Trigger Puller

I was in Washington D.C. the weekend of August 3, 2013, for my niece's wedding. I went to the various memorials with my son and his wife. At the Iwo Jima memorial we were there at the right time. A bunch of Marines of all ranks and grades showed up to promote a Staff Sergeant to Gunny. I introduced myself as a 1966 Vietnam, E5, 0311 Marine. They called me a "Trigger Puller". I liked that. They then requested that I participate in the promotion ceremony. What an honor. Once a Marine, Always a Marine. read more