Anyone out there serve with 2 / 4 during the battle of Di Do back in the mid 60's?
Category: Marine Corps Stories
Sea Shell Trails
After returning from MCRD Parris Is. I visited an old WWI Marine and we talked about the Island , the heat, etc. So at one point I mentioned in the middle of the PT field were sea shells, and wondered how the got so far inland. To my suprise he started telling me about when they "built" PI and they hauled wheel barrows full of shells to be used for pathways around the island. So now we know where the damn things came from that cut our hands as we did leg thrusts and pushups.
My Marine
As I lay me down to sleep,
For 54 hours your soul will weep.
Be strong my son, the end is near,
And this is when, you’ll have no fear.
The pain you feel, it will not last,
You’ve become a man and grown up fast.
My heart is full, so proud and serene,
A Father’s Final Message
A Fathers Final Message
You never know when that moment will hit you and it always catches you by surprise.
It’s the thought of you leaving that rips through my soul and brings instant tears to my eyes.
Now those moments are more frequent as your time here decreases.
It will be most difficult on your mother as her heart is sure to break into many pieces.
Christmas 1966
Remembering Christmas 1966 on Operation Chinook north of Hue, Vietnam.
MCRD San Diego
In the photo are MCRD Commanding General, Gen Daniel Yoo, Christoper Edwards, and the CG's Aide. Christopher is the young man that began the Huddle Up for Heroes organization that sends care packages and Hero Bands to all deployed troops.
On 1 Nov 2012, Christopher and his mother Denise were at the Sgt Grit headquarters and where they received donations and were given some Sgt Grit t-shirts. The t-shirt that Christoper is wearing in the photo is one of the shirts that is available at Sgt Grit.
General Mattis and Don
This is General James 'Mad Dog' Mattis and I at an event in LA this summer. I was given best regards from Tony Zinni, former Marine 4-star general, whom I reported to as top sniper in Nam together… and Mattis reported to as well.
Semper Fi
Honor Flight
Hi Sgt. Grit,
I had the great privilege to go on the MO. Honor Flight on Nov. 6th, this year, is one of the best days I ever had. This is a picture of a WWII Iwo Jima Veteran I met and
was lucky enough to get a picture with this Marine and at this spot. There were 67 Veterans on this flight and only six Marines. It was a honor to get to know him.
His name is Ralph Dobbs and he is 92 years old. He told me he could still get into his old uniform. He walked all over that day on his own, just like a Marine. I wish all
Veterans can make this honor flight, be sure to put in an application in your state. You will never regret it or forget it. I even got him to autograph my hat.
Semper Fi Sgt. Bob Holmes, 78 years old
Dai Do
LCpl. Thomas Moore's Company Commander, Capt. Jay Vargas and Capt. Jim Livingston another Company Commander of BLT 2/4, were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor while serving under Battalion Commander, LtCol. Bill Weise. There is a series of YouTube videos narrated by BGen. Weise describing the Dai Do battle beginning with "Battle of Dai Do Part 1". Attached are b&w photos of the aforementioned Captains Vargas (L) and Livingston (R).
D-mn Fine Officer
Dear Sgt. Grit,
I read Thomas Moore's account of his Company C.O. getting him a new shirt. Like so many stories here, this one strikes a chord.
Having completed infantry ITR in early 1969, I was sent on to pick up the "11" on my 0311 at Camp Horno (part of the Camp Pendleton complex), further up into the hills. Field jackets were not individual issue and the first day I was in line to get mine, our Company Commander pulled me out of line. He was a 2ndLt. Only one that I ever saw stateside who wasn't back off wounds or former enlisted.