Category: Marine Corps Stories

By Ken Zebal

In the early 1960s, 2nd Tank Bn had a well-established fire watch program at the tank park. Generally speaking, two lower-ranking Marines from the flames platoon and each gun company were posted at the tank park inside their respective tool sheds from about 1800 to 0600. I was a PFC at the time and was assigned fire watch for Charlie Company along with Pat Rogers. Pat and I went to boot camp at Parris Island together (Aug-Nov ’63) and then to ITR at Camp Geiger (Nov-Dec ’63) before reporting into Co “C”, 2TkBn (Dec ’63) and then going on boot leave. This was my first fire watch and may also have been Pat’s. We were nominated by our Platoon Sergeant, S/Sgt “Gunny” Jandrozits, and then hand-selected by the Company Gunny, GySgt Sam Fullerton whose sea bag read like a WWII war novel. After everyone else went on liberty call Pat and I were briefed by the Company Gunny, went to Mess Hall 207 across the street and were issued mid-rats. In those days it was a brown paper sack filled with a sandwich, hard-boiled egg, apple, container of milk and a napkin all lovingly prepared by one of the cooks. read more

This photo was taken in 1958 while serving with Kilo Btry. 4th Bn. 12th Marines during  Operation Strongback in the Philippines….This little Rhesus Monkey showed up at my tent one evening and stayed with me until I left for Okinawa…I called him Monkey Buddy….He got to swiping anything he could carry from the other guys, he would steal Cigarettes, Zippos, Mess gear and bring it to me to my tent….The guys finally learned when something came up missing Monkey Buddy had paid them a visit…I never figured out if he was stealing for himself or for me….He liked to sleep curled up beside me at night and would wake up screaming mad if someone got to close to me….He loved to pick through my hair like he was searching for bugs, and at that time he probably found some, but he kept my hair clean….He came to be a good little Buddy and I hated to leave him behind when it came time to leave for Okinawa…I wanted to take him with me but it wasn’t possible….I enjoyed his company what time he was with me and think about him often….He was a good little Marine …Semper Fi   Little Buddy read more

Greetings Sgt. Grit

While serving with the 12th marines in 1958 during ” Operation Strongback ”  there were Pygmy’s living in the jungles of the Philippines…They were a tiny people called Nigaritos who lived a very simple and secretive life style….I remember the first time I saw one of them several of us guys were bathing in this small fast flowing river, all of a sudden we look up and here comes this tiny dark skinned little man straddling a log and riding it down the rapids with only a loin cloth covering him….He didn’t acknowledge us or even glance our way as he passed by….In our C Rations we had small bars of soap and anytime we’d find a river or stream we’d strip off and jump in for a good bath, it was much better than bathing out of our helmets….When we finished we’d just leave the small pieces of soap lying on the bank….We soon realized the Pygmy’s were slipping down out of the jungle at night and gathering up all the small pieces we left….We always felt like they were watching us, but they were very seldom seen…..I just found out recently some of them were working underground with the Military forces helping to defend their country…..Being an 18 year old kid from Indiana it was quite a culture shock to see these things……It was a great education. read more

The way I left MCAS Kaneohe in JANUARY 1963 was, I rescued a
tourist surfer in Waikiki. He got hit in the head by another
novice surfer, a blond, who just took off. I pulled his head out
of the water and asked him his name.

No response, outta of it. I put him on his board and toe towed
him to the beach yelling for help. read more

Dear Sgt. Grit

I was a between the wars Marine and served from 10/55 to 10/58 with 5 years inactive reserve. My first and best duty station,  following P.I. (Platoon 164) and I.T.R. at Pendleton, was at  Camp McGill Japan. Camp McGill was a former Japanese naval base and my draft wound up in the 1st Amphibian Truck Co., 2nd AMTRAC Batt. 3rd Marines. The company was soon downsized to platoon strength and became the 3rd D.U.K.W. Platoon with Capt. Dave Dichter commanding. read more

The saying goes, “Once a Marine, always a Marine”. For Christina Johnson, project manager for the National Museum of the Marine Corps, every day reminds her of the faithful service that both she and others have dedicated to the Corps.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson, a former sergeant, stood in the museum overlook while observing the traditional cake cutting ceremony for the Marine Corps Birthday. As the Marines march in with the cake and pass the piece of cake from the oldest Marine to the youngest, Johnson notices a woman next to her crying. read more

HERO PILOT
Maj. Robb T. McDonald
Marine Attack Squadron 211
Camp Bastion, Afghanistan
Sept. 14, 2012
Award: Silver Star

On Sept. 14, 2012, heavily armed enemy fighters infiltrated the Camp Bastion airfield, attacking coalition forces and destroying aircraft. Maj. McDonald and two other officers, armed only with pistols, immediately left the security of the billeting area, and maneuvered on foot more than a mile through an area dangerously exposed to enemy fire. When he reached the squadron maintenance building and learned his Commanding Officer had been mortally wounded, McDonald assumed command and began directing the tactical situation. Realizing the aluminum skinned building was indefensible, he fearlessly exposed himself by leading multiple groups of his Marines across 75 meters of open ground to get them to the more protected squadron headquarters. Leading a small team out to reconnoiter the flight line, he killed one enemy with a rifle he had borrowed, and then expertly coordinated two helicopter strikes to destroy all remaining enemy. McDonald’s decisive leadership and tactical expertise inspired his Marines to vigorously repel the enemy, thereby preventing additional friendly casualties and further destruction of aircraft and facilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Orrin Farmer) read more