Category: Marine Corps Stories

Guarding the Streets of Gold

Sgt. Joseph B. VanderLaan, January 2, 1971-December 17, 2011   United States Marine Corp Scout Sniper,   Radio Operator & Primary Marksmanship Instructor.   Served 8 years, 3 tours in Iraq, Operation Eager Mace in Kuwait, Operation Nautical Mantis in Saudi Arabia, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Desert Stay, U.N. Transport of Pakistani Forces in Somalia, Operation Fiery Vigil in The Republic of the Philippines, 1 float on U.S.S. Schenectady, Earned Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 stars, Meritorious Unit Citation, 2 letters of appreciation, Sea Service Deployment Medal, Over Seas Medal, Naval Unit Commendation Medal.   J.B. was a quiet and unassuming man who took pride in being a Marine, a Son, and a Brother.  He kept to himself mostly, making sure to attend to his Father's needs with little regard for himself in the process. Those that new J.B. or served with him saw past his quiet reserve and knew the true nature of his heart. J.B. suffered a brain seizure along with other complications, passing in peace in the arms of his Father, Michael Vanderlaan.   J.B.'s brother, Ted Vanderlaan (also a former Marine), quietly posted the following statement about his brother:   " It just disappeared without any warning or a word. Today I lost one of the few things in this cesspool of a world that even made being on this planet even partially tolerable. One of the only people I’ve ever had touched my life in such a way. Today I lost my baby brother. Most have never known him; he was a shy and quite unassuming man. He lived his life in obscurity, living with my parents and not venturing far from home. He spent every day worrying about them, taking care of them, and living a quiet life that few, if any, can understand or appreciate. He was a true angel. Maybe some people are blessed with many, and maybe some will never have the opportunity to know a single one….but for me, I’ve been blessed with far more than anyone ever deserves. The only other angle in my life was my grandmother on my mother’s side, not an angel not in waiting, but someone who touched everyone in her life and made everyone’s life a little better just by coming in contact with her. The other, my brother and the person I’ve worried about and fretted over my entire life. The only person that looked up to me his entire life, but who I could never help. He was a true patriot’ that loved this country as much as I did and risked his life in the service of this country in the Marine Corps. He, like so many of our fallen brothers, believed that everything this country stand for is worth dying for, even if it is to protect those that live here and hate everything about us. He was unique among those I’ve know in my life. I‘ve never experienced him being mean, cruel, or even temporarily self-serving. He was a beautiful human being of the like which we can only strive for in this world. "   Wishing my friend and brother in arms a peaceful rest, and peaceful hearts and minds to his family and friends. Until we meet again J.B…..Semper Fidelis   LCpl T.L. Palmer   7th ESB, 1st BF Co. – FMF PAC   USMC

Our Marine is coming home.

SGT.Grit.                                                                              About two years ago you printed the story of how our son became a Marine.Well he is coming back to the states in 14 days,not the 2 to 3 months we though it would be.Don't get me wrong he did his time in Afgan.,and I believe he did so in true Marine fashion.Having not seen him for close to two years ,we can hardly wait.         We are very proud of him and the service he has given our country.We don't know yet if he is going to renlist or not .He and his grand father are the only two people directly related to me that have served during and in a war position for our country. I served bot it was in between Vetnamn and Desert Storm.To young for one to old for the other.I'm sure this sounds like a o hum letter ,but to us antone who serves during a war is everything but that.CPL.Hayden is his name and he is the first true Marine in our family,that alone would make his mother and I beyond proud,but being the only other member of my family to enlist and serve during war time. Please don't just toss this aside we believe he deserve our thanks.His father.

Was with 1st Lt. Sekardi at LZ Baldy

I was with Wiskey 3/11 on hill 55 in August '69 and moved to Lz Baldy later that year. Lt. Sekardi was right, we did have to "borrow" a few items from the Army as we had nothing.

At one time we were sent to hill 953 which was so far out that we had to use mirrors with another postion two mountain ranges away to site our mortors in. I ended up being a section chief on both the 4-duece and the 155 at the same time. read more

Vietnam Christmas 1965

Sgt Gritt, had one more picture to show you of a greeting we made for all the Marines to see in the DaNang Airbase area where 5th CommBn was living in the great tents and mud. By the way we did sit up the sound system for the Bob Hope Show that year and I do have some old picturs of Jody Heatherton, and a couple others while working behind the scene's. read more

Bob Hope and Martha Raye

Sgt Grit,
Here's a shot of Bob Hope's Christmas Show on Freedom Hill in 1967. Les Brown and his Band of Renown and Raquel Welch share the stage. (Raquel's the one wearing a white top.)
I also saw Martha Raye in "Hello Dolly" at the same venue in early 1968. I rode in a Navy launch with Martha across the DaNang River going from the White Elephant to Camp Tien Sha. She was a pure delight to be with and lifted everyone's spirits. read more

Australian Photo Journalist

Dear Sir,

  Hi my name is Shaun Gibbons.   My father, Denis Gibbons was an Australian photojournalist in  Vietnam 1966-1970.   Unfortunately Dad passed away a few weeks ago.   Attached are a few photos from a series he took with a US Marine  Unit.   The only description I can find with the photo sequence is    Fire fight between Viet Cong (VC) and United States (US)  Marines, Hoa Vang textile Factory, there were two Marines  wounded in the action.   I was wondering if you knew of any way I could find out what  unit is in these pictures, and if there are any surviving  members?   Thank you so much for your time.   Cheers Shaun

Miscellaneous

The Green Weenie
Uncle Sam's Misguided Children
University of Science Music & Culture

I'm sure there are others with more time in grade but I spent 31 months as a PFC E-2, from 1December1962 until 1July1965, with no legal proceedings involved (thank you 1st Sgt Linehan). Most of it was bad timing. I left 29 Palms just as I had enough time in grade for L/Cpl and spent 14 months in school where rank was frozen. Upon reporting to my first duty station after school – Cherry Point – I managed to piss off S/Sgt Gehrdes and then ended up working for him. That tacked on another ten months TIG. I received my promotion to L/Cpl at the same ceremony at which I got my Good Conduct Ribbon. I don't recall where or how I got these PFC chevrons but it was shortly after I was promoted and I wore them for the rest of my time in grade. No one ever questioned them. read more