Category: Marine Corps Stories

I have more of a question than a story which I hope somebody can answer. My father was a corporal in the 4th marine division his name is William G Kraemer and died in 1987 and thru the years after his death i always intended to make a flag box memorial out of his burial flag but always had things to do. Between working and family .I finally retired and set up a little wood shop and intend that to be my first order of business as I gathered the things I needed I noticed I did not have his Purple Heart from when he was wounded on the first day of fighting on Iwo Jima . I called my older brother and he informed me that Our dad never received the medal. We reminisced about the old man and both realized that he never spoke about his time in the marines or the battles he was in the only two things I remembered him saying to me were when both he and myself were eating lunch in the extreme heat onetime I had the audacity to complain and he told me to shut up and if I would feel better if I had to eat lunch by a pile of dead japs .the other time was I cut myself bad and needed stitches and me that when they were loading him on to the Amtrak after he was wounded the guy next to him was squirting blood out of 2 bullet holes in his chest so bad that he stuck his 2 fingers deep in the holes and the bleeding stopped. My brothers only story was that he got in bad trouble one time after dad told him not to do what he got in trouble for that he told him he’d gouge out his eyes and skull f—- him if he got in trouble like that again and I never heard him use that language at anybody ever.So getting back to the question does anybody out there know how I can get his Purple Heart. I have his discharge papers and an article in the local paper about him being wounded. Thx to all our brave vets out there. Ron read more

In ’74 I was a young L/CPL serving on a carrier with the Marine Detachment (MARDET). I let loose a few expletives thinking I was an old salt in the halls of the ship. Later in the afternoon my CO called me into the offices where he very nicely said. One, you’re a Marine not a sailor. Two, prove you have a bigger vocabulary. I replied with an “Aye, Aye Sir” and walked out of the office. Can’t say I never used certain words again but it most definitely made me think about what would forever come out of my mouth from then on. Damn, I loved the MARINES! Oorah! read more

My Grandson is in the Navy & he is a air combat rescue swimmer. In 2018 his unit had exercises on the Island and he stated that it was a very hard island to run around on due to the volcanic sand. He sent me a jar of the sand and pictures of WWII relics still visible to this day. Even though I was a grunt in Vietnam and was wounded & medically retired from the Corps because of combat wounds, I wouldn’t have wanted to be in the boots of our Marine ansestors who fought in that that terrible campaign! I am so very proud of their sacrifices that they made for our country & Corps read more

So after going through boot camp at P.I., ITR at Camp Geiger and “A” school at Memphis, Tennessee, I went home for the first time at Thanksgiving. My Mother decided to have a big turkey dinner for all the Aunts and Uncles and cousins. So as we’re all sitting around the table passing the food around, people are talking and having a good old time. That is until I blurted out “Could someone pass me the f**king mashed potatoes”. All of a sudden it was dead quiet and everybody was staring at me. I just then realized what I had said. A little awkward. My father (an Army WWII vet) and my Uncle (a Navy Korean vet) were trying not to laugh out loud but my Mother and Aunts weren’t all that amused! After a long (at least it seemed long) silence, my cousin passed me the potatoes and I just went to work eating with my head down. My Mom never said another word about it! read more

Leave after boot camp, after leaving PI I went home on leave to visit the folks. Mom had cooked all my favourites. In attendance was my mom, dad(a Raider WWII Gunny, Last action was Iwo Jima. My baby sister and her best friend (my soon to be wife, though I did not know it at the time). Well we sat down to eat and after the blessing, I looked over at my mom and said, This is great mom, please pass the f**kin salt. Out of no where mom slaps me up side the head, an action that illicts the response from me of, what the f**k was that for? followed by another slap upside my head. I turn to dad who is rolling in his chair about to fall on the floor laughing and said, dad why the f**k is mom hitting me? followed by another slap. Now on the floor, barely able to catch his breath, dad replies, son it’s your booney talk. I turned three shades of red and turned to mom and said, shit mom, I’m so f**kin sorry. Mom stands up looks at dad and says, he’s your son alright. dinner was over. Years later we are having dinner with friends and my wife starts telling our friends about that night, I looked at her and said, how do you know about that? She then tells me she was the friend of my sister eating with us that night. I was awed, twenty years later and I did not know she was the friend staying with my sister that night until then. read more

I was at P I in the summer & early fall of ’56 too; was in 3 1/2 active years & was a Sgt. E4 when realeased from active duty. Am now 82 and the Corps experience is the foundationof my adult life! When I visited the “Island”in in 1997 I was surprised to learn how different it was. I was told DIs could not touch recruits, supposedly were not supposed to swear at them either & the old 3rd Battalion quonset huts were gone! No matter the changes /improvements of boot camp, I know some Marines who were at the “Island” in the ’90s and early 2000s. They are just as good as we were, perhaps even better because they use much more advanced weapons sytems than we did. One thing that does surprise me is that so many entries on Face Book center on boot camp with little commentary about exeriences in the “real Corps” away from tranining commands.
Semper Fi brothers and sisters, LDD Sgt. USMC 1555451 read more

Finally! On leave at home after ITR in 1967. Brand new PFC. Welcome home dinner with everyone there, said Grace, digging in to Moms wonderful chow that I’ve missed so much. I asked for someone to pass the salt in between forkfuls when suddenly all movement seized and no sound was made, utter quiet. I instantly realized what happened. My request for the salt included that four letter word which had become part of my regular vocabulary. My sincere apologies were accepted with a lot of laughter, smiles and a couple of frowns. That “slip of the tongue “ at 17 taught me a lesson I’ve practiced ever since. There’s Marine Corps talk and Civilian talk, Engage brain before opening mouth. read more

I went to San Diego MCRD for boot camp, and one day the Drill Instructor yelled smoke break, but for the non-smokers We had to continue doing what We were told to do. So one day I requested to speak to the Senior Drill Instructor and inquiring why if you smoke you get a break, but if you don’t you have to work , (of course I didn’t use I or You, that would be hell to pay) but the Senior Drill Instructor stated from this time forward, during smoke breaks all Marines would get a 10 minute break. Also We were wearing Satines Uniforms the ugly ass forest green ones, and after boot camp the Marine Corps upgraded to camouflage Uniforms, for which I had to pay for. A lot has changed in the Marine Corps, but once a Marine always a Marine! Semper Fidelis OooRah! read more