Christmas of 1962 found a lot of us in the Iwakuni trying to see how many of the 93 bars we could have at least one drink and move on before falling on our faces at the bar. My trip to town that day was with Bob Ryan, John Cherry and one Lt Gofas. No we never made it but I know we must have had a great time as I did end up on some futan in the morning.
Category: Marine Corps Stories
Semper Fidelis..always faithful
This is a poem i wrote for my marine, Matt. I'm 16 he is 19 and we have been together for 1 year and 6 months. We live in Indiana and he left for boot camp in California today.
16 years old she stands alone in an air port.
responds to “what other sayings do you remember?
December 10, 2011
Season greetings, Sgt Grid.
I wrote to you a little over a year ago, at which time the subject was “Hollywood Marines vs. P.I. Marines”. I forward a picture of a MCRD SD Marine recruit, proudly wearing his SUN-glasses. Your comment on the story was “…folks you can’t make this up.”, which of course you’re right! So today I’m responding to your request about “what other sayings do you remember?” so here goes.
GySgt Ron Hamilton, USMC
Here is a pic of my dad in Cherry Point, NC in the early '60's. I remember him getting his s**t together, first time I ever saw a rifle and K-bar. I knew this was serious. Most likely Cuban Missle Crisis related.
He was an expert diver and was the President at the local base diving club, MCAS Cherry Point.
last man out of vietnam
my plt.cmdr. (platoon 104 san diego 1965 honor platoon) was last man out. Staff Sgt. John Valdez . Later Master Sgt. ncoic embassy saigon. last man on last chopper out. What a Marine! He kicked my _ss a lot . Made me a Marine. Saw him on tv a while back. Check it out. I feel like i'm famous. Carlton R. King 2132447 USMC 65/68 SEMPER FI.
Come Home Soon
This is a poem I wrote, had a small card made and laminated when my oldest left for Boot camp…
I remember you as a little boy, walking in your daddy's boots.
How we would all giggle and declare how cute.
Through the years I watched you grow to be a man,
motivation
WHILE IN BOOTCAMP AT SAN DIEGO MCRD SUMMER OF 1975 WE WERE RUNNING OUR FINAL PFT FOR TIME AND OF COURSE THE DIFFERENT PLATOONS IN OUR SERIES WERE STAGGERED AT THE STARTING LINE. ONE PLATOON WOULD START AND THEN A MINUTE OR TWO ANOTHER WOULD START THEIR RUN. ANYWAY WE WOULD RUN 1 1/2 MILE AND MAKE A TURN AND GO BACK TO THE FINISH LINE. NOT BEING THAT GREAT A RUNNER JUST AVERAGE I HAD A GOOD PACE GOING AND FELT I AT LEAST WAS GOING TO MAKE IT UNDER THE TIME THE DRILL INSTRUCTORS WANTED US TO PERFORM AT NEVER MIND WHAT THE CORPS WANTED OUR MINDS AND BODIES BELONG TO THE D.I.'S AND NOBODY ELSE AT THAT TIME. ANYWAY JUST THINK WHAT WE WERE THINKING WHEN AT ABOUT THE MILE MARK A LITTLE SHIT OF A RECRUIT RAN BY US (NOT FROM OUR PLATOON) AND WAS SPRINTING BY US LIKE HE WAS RUNNING A FIFTY YARD DASH. WELL OUR FIRST THOUGHT WAS THE GUY MUST BE CHEATING OR THAT SOME ONE REPLACE OUR REGULAR BOOTS WITH LEAD BOOTS OH YAH WE RAN IN BOOTS BACK THEN. ANY WAY WHEN THIS GUY CAME BACK AND PASTED US BEFORE WE EVEN GOT TO THE HALF WAY POINT MOST OF US GOT DOWN RIGHT SCARED HELL WE WEREN'T GOING TO PASS THE PFT AND GET DROPPED TO ANOTHER PLATOON – NOT GOOD. WELL LONG STORY SHORT I RAN THE BEST THREE MILES I EVER RAN AND I'M SURE EVERYONE ELSE DID THAT SAW THE GUY RUN PAST US THAT DAY. WELL THAT MAN RAN A THIRTEEN AND SOME SECONDS 3 MILE AND I KNOW AT LEAST THAT FIRST MILE OF HIS HAD TO BE CLOSE TO A 4 MINUTE MILE. WELL TURNS OUT THE GUY MADE SERIES HONOR GUARD AND WAS ALSO ONE OF THE SHORTEST MARINES EVER TO BE LET INTO THE CORPS AND I WISH I COULD REMEMBER HIS NAME. TO ME HE WILL ALWAYS BE ONE THING THAT IS TRULY A MOTIVATOR NO DISRESPECT TO MY D.I.'S BUT THAT KID WAS HARD CORPS AND CHESTY WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD.
STAND A LITTLE TALLER
A peom written for my son, after his graduation from Parris Island…
Now that you are a Marine, taller you appear to stand,
With the stature of a proud and confident man.
You get your strength from a brotherhood deep
Warriors past and present, Honor and Integrity to keep.
4.2 Mortars
Here's a picture of a 4.2 mortar crew from 1953,Korea,with the 5th marines.At the time it was a very good weapon.I was in 4.2 mortars for three years.My question is are they still in use in the marine corps any more?My guess is they are not because it would be easy to trace where you were firing from.
For Xmas
Sgt.Grit,
My son was in 2nd recon. and later a recruiter.I ran out of ideas for Xmas so I went into my workshop and made him a knife,pistol,and wheather station.Hope he likes them.
Semper Fi,
Larry Fisher ( Cpl.1962-66 )