An ol' Viet Nam vet sent me this pic. He was enlisted in country, but retired as Col., Army Reserves. Anyway, several years ago, I worked with a young Vietnamese guy, in aircraft manufacturing. He offered me $10,000 to go to Saigon and marry his sister, and bring her back to the states.
Category: Marine Corps Stories
Torture Device
Sgt. Grit,
I just found this NCO Swagger Stick at the bottom of my footlocker. It brought back some memories of the versatility of this little torture device, especially when in the hands of an imaginative Drill Instructor.
Semper Fi,
Kirk Lambert
(1971-1997
Tanks
In response to an article in the newsletter of 21 Sept, by Larry Fleagle and tanks. Sorry Larry, there were no M-60's of any kind in Vietnam, but the tank retrievers were M-88's. Mentioned by you were three tanks on Hill-55 in 1965-66, here are a few pics of those tanks. One of a truck also, if you were there you would remember this truck and who died in it on the road to Hill-55.
Bodfish Forever
A special Thanks to Max Felser of the 1st Marine Division Association Bodfish Chapter! He has sent our Showroom Director/Reunions Coordinator a few gifts on behalf of the Bodfish Chapter and himself.
He sent hand selected, single barrel Jack Daniels Whiskey, a DVD copy of the 1st Marine Division Association Reunion this year in Portland, OR (in which she also attended) and a signed picture of Tim Matheson from Warner Bros. Studios.
Japanese Sniper Rifle
Sgt Grit,
I thought you might like to see a couple of old photos, one picture is of me holding a Japanese sniper rifle from WWII that my older brother brought home with him. He sure made me proud and as the second picture shows me as soon as I turned 18, I was in Korea in 1953 in 4/2 Mortars.
Bearded Bum
Sgt Grit,
Saw an article several months ago about a certificate given to members of 2/2 called the bearded bum certificate. Enclosed please find the attachment with the certificate in it. It was signed by Lt.Colonel David A. Brewster. I don't know if all Marines got one but we who were at the jet airfield side of Guantanamo, opposite mainside did receive one. The Cubans had the beards so the Colonel thought it a good idea for us to grow a mustache "To confuse the beards across the fence"!
Utah
Sgt Grit,
Here are some scans of a couple more Propaganda leaflets (front and back) that I picked up while out on an operations south of Chu Lai in the Summer of 1966 – maybe on Operation Texas or Utah (?).
Operation Utah seems to have been forgotten by most USMC Historians. I have often wondered if it is because of the high number of casualties that resulted – 98 to 104 Marines Killed and 278 wounded – on an operation that started with limited enemy information that resulted in only a couple companies being sent against an entrenched enemy battalion.
To read an excellent description of this battle, entitled "They're not supermen," Meeting the NVA in Operation Utah, March 1966 — Author unknown by me, Google the title.
Looking for help
My name is Beverly Crone. My Father was a Marine. His name is Marc Shaub served from 1958 -1960.
For years my father told us stories of being a prisoner in Cuba. He never told us details untill we took him to a doctor for his mild memory lost. The doctor said it was from him surppressing his memories and not talking about it. That was causing his memory to slip.
I’m Looking for someone who served with my Father
My Father served during the Cuban conflict, He was a prisoner in cuba. I am tring to get him benifits.
I'm getting no where. The va is telling me there are no records of him near Cuba. I was told if I can find someone he served with to prove this, they will change there decision.
Another Marine Reporting Sirui
I wanted to send out a tribute to my old, dear friend, Cpl. Lon T. Hunter. "Lonnie" passed away on September 28, 2012, after a short, but valient (and very Marine-like) battle with lung cancer. It came on fast, and took him quickly. Lon was 61. He and I first met in junior high. We became good buddies, double dating, drinking beer underage, etc. Lon got in trouble when he was just about to turn 18, and was given the choice of going to jail or enlisting in the Marine Corps (some of you will remember those days). He chose the Corps.