In 1968 After returning from Nam I was assigned to The Urology Clinic at the Naval Hospital in Philadelphia. One day one of my x-ray machines went down and there was a large schedule of patient appointments. I called Commander Sacher, The Chief of Urology, to ask whether or not to start calling to cancel some appts. He came down to our waiting area and I said "you know what Chesty puller would do?" He responded with, "why don't you ask the General." My knees weakened as I turned to see General Puller in front of my eyes. He motioned me to him and said, "Doc I need you to do a favor for me… please go topside and visit my son who is in a bad way… please talk and pray with him." I said, "well General, Sir he's on sick officer quarters and I probably will not be allowed there." He said, "you will be allowed." And, I was of course. Huge day in the life of this Doc!
Category: Marine Corps Stories
Golden Bear Platoon
At the end of the day at the induction center in LA they put all the guys from California on a bus to Sacramento. We were a Special Platoon requested by then, Governor of California, Ronald Reagan. We made a fast trip up, were in a Parade and then a bus down to MCRD San Diego. Off the bus, onto the Yellow Footprints and then the Hair Cut.
Dear John
Selection letter for the 'Dear John of the Month' award.
Civil War Marine
I sent you this Ingersoll family information last year and would like to add a correction and addition per a recent VFW magazine dated May 2013.
The correction was made in the article that you printed – rank Capt was actually Cpl. Per VFW magazine article "Boys In Battle" – Medal of Honor.
Old Jarhead Rotorhead
Simply a visit from an old Jarhead Rotorhead. Active '68 – '74. Marble Mountain, I Corp, RVN Dec '69 – Dec '70. Flew with HML-367. Scarface. Off to show respect by visiting the RVN Wall. More next
week.
Family Day At MCRD San Diego
In picture 1, stands three sons who are all Marines, with Jim being the oldest. He is standing on the left. Next is Fred, standing behind Mary Ann, was 19 when he enlisted. Then there is Steve, whom Mom and Dad had to sign for him to enlist due to him being 17 at the time. Steve served in Iraq.
Marine Recruiting Ads
I found some Marine Recruiting ads in a program from the 1942 Annual College All-Stars vs the Chicago Bears. Thought you might be interested. You could tell it was war time. Lots of ads for the other branches also. Ads for War Bonds, scrap metal drives and such. Maybe some of our WWII Marines will relate to them.
Nice Piece
I was at the factory this past week and this tractor was there. Very nice piece.
SSgt DJ Huntsinger,
1968-76, Vietnam '69-'70,
11th Marines, Comm Plt.
Got A Surprise
Got a surprise in yesterday's mail. A fellow Marine, fellow member of AAPK and a knife mechanic put this together for me. It was originally a Camillus electrician's knife. New blades were swapped around along with Culpepper's amber staged bone handles, some file work on the back springs and an inlet Marine Corps emblem makes this a real beauty. I am tickled pink with it.
Big Stink
Your comment about Canadians serving in Vietnam:
"I know we have a lot of customers in Canada. This is just my own guess, but I imagine more Canadians crossed the border and enlisted in the Marine Corps during Vietnam, than cowardly Americans who escaped across the border the other way."