Category: Marine Corps Stories

A Good Deed

Grit,

From one old Oklahoma Marine to another, Fine Job you and your crew are doing at Sgt Grit. Keep it up.

I just wanted to share a story that just happened tonight at a local Mexican Restaurant in Batlett, TN where I live. I served our beloved Corps for 7 years from 70-77, I was a 6133, T58-GE-10 engine mechanic and a 6034 SOAP Technician. Working on CH-46D's E's. Deployed to WestPac with USS Okinawa LPH-3 in 1972. I have always been very proud of my time served and I always wear a cover that I think came from your company that stated I was a USMC VietNam Vet. A lot of people see the hat, old Marines, young Marines, Doggies, Sailors, and the Zoomies in the Air Force. So I get the normal greeting, a friendly nod a special look between men who have been in and from civilians that are finally thanking my era of men and women for our service during that time, now about 40 years have past  but at least the public is thinking of the servicemen again. read more

66 years since I have walked the yellow footprints at PI

Sgt Grit, 

  It has been 66 years since I have walked the yellow footprints at PI.    I was honored this past month to have been invited by the CG of Parris Island to be one of two reviewing officials for the 1st Training Regt  Delta Company’s graduation.    The event was doubly appreciated by this old WWII, Korea and Vietnam Vet because one of the newest Marine recruits being graduated was my own Great Grandson Austin W; Lee. This makes 5 generations of servicemen in my immediate family.   A picture of the newest Marine and the Old Corps Marine is attached as well as the sign at the theater on PI.   Semper Fidelis,  George M. Barrows Sr   Jr Past Commandant Onslow County Detachment # 262 Marine Corps League National Marine of the Year 2001   Respect and honor the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps by saying his name correctly.  John Archer Lejeune (Luh-Jern)

Call Signs

I was with Comm Spt Company with the 1st Marine Brigade in 1971 and 72. I remember on one training exercise at Pakaloa on the Big Island our call signs were Hoot Owl and Jawbreaker.  For some reason before doing a radio check the operators had the habit of blowing into the receiver before asking “Hoot Owl, Hoot Owl, Hoot Owl this is Jawbreaker radio check over.”  Jawbreaker, Jawbreaker, Jawbreaker read you 5 X 5 over.”    By blowing into the handset it created a loud noise on any radio tuned to the net including the one in the Brigade Commanders tent. I guess he or someone got tired of the noise and ordered everyone to stop blowing into the handset.  I do not know who but some one replied by blowing into the handset and saying “Aye Aye Sir.”   Marines go figure.    What I remember most is that before leaving Kaneohe for the Big Island we were all issued long underwear and insulated sleeping bags.  Since it was usually a constant 85 degrees on Oahu I could not figure out why until I found out where we would be staying, halfway up the mountain in an old crater where the temperature was around 55 degrees. Not necessarily cold  per se by most standards but cold for Hawaii.    Our famously inept Lt. thought he would be staying in the BOQ and only brought sheets and almost froze.  To make matters worse they forgot to send a tent so we rigged one from a tarp and ponchos. (see the photo) I believe we were on the hill for almost three weeks before they moved us to the helipad.  We had running water in that we rigged another tent next to our equipment and if you dropped something on the deck the rain running through the tent just carried it out the other side.    We were in this for a week before the Battalion Medical officer deemed it unfit and made us move to a Quonset hut which we hated because now we had to stand a fire watch.   Jim Grimes

1st blood, 1st piss

 i was with bravo company 3rd recon in quang tri when one night in the rear i was getting shit faced on black label beer when we started getting mortered. i ran outsid my tent and crouched down when i felt this warm liquid on my leg. i thought i was hit and was going to bleed to death, but when i looked up there was p.f.c. petty drunk as i was pissing on my leg. whew! thanks petty.  read more

How Sgt. Grit changed my Marine Corps life and Marine Corps family.

I'm a Beirut Marine (Feb.-May'83 & Oct.-Dec.'83)with 2/6 H&S Co. Comm. Plt. I was coming home from work one day and I was behind a truck with a "Beirut Marine" bumper sticker (from Sgt. Grit.com of course). First of all,ever since I've been out of the corps,I have never heard of Sgt. Grit or have I ever met any Beirut vets here in my hometown of Lynn,Mass. As I was saying,I'm behind the truck with the bumper sticker. I hollered out,"when were you in Beirut?",he hollered back at me,"Oct.-Dec.'83". I asked, "who were you with?" he responded,"2/6". Well that blew my mind. I proceeded to tell him that we were there at the same time during my 2nd tour and to follow me to my house,which was right around the corner. His name is Joe Cafferelli and he was a police officer on his way to work. Well, we shot the sh** for what seemed like forever. I told him that we should exchange numbers and talk later so he wouldn"t get in trouble from his boss for being late. He asked me,do you see these bars on my shoulders?…I am the boss (LMAO). It felt so good to finally talk to someone who has seen what I've seen and experienced the same losses as I have. He then told me about the Beirut memorial in N. Carolina and the one here in Boston,Mass. I never knew…please forgive my ignorance. Out of the 241 who gave there all,9 were from Mass. The BVA  Mass. chapter is headed by a remarkable woman by the name of Christine Devlin. Her son,L/cpl. Micheal J. Devlin 1962-1983 of Westwood,Mass. was taken from her on that fateful day of Oct 23,1983. This woman organizes the memorial event every year and should be commended for her own personal sacrifices she makes so that those brave peacekeepers will never be forgotten. Finally,Joe told me about the Sgt. Grit website,where he got that sticker.I tell every marine that I meet now,young and old alike,to grab a couple of six-packs when they go to your web-site…"because you're going to be there awhile." It feels like coming home every time I'm on the site. If it weren't for you Sgt. Grit,I wouldn't have never been able to expand my Marine Corps family (including your Co.) with these wonderful people in it. "Semper Fi" to all. Les we forget,"The first duty is to remember". Sincerely, L/cpl. Darryl J. Bradley Sr. Mar.'82-Mar.'85. read more

The family “Black Sheep” now a “Black Widow”

Sgt Grit,

On June 24th, my brother, Lt. Col. Patrick Waugh, assumed command of MALS 13 "Black Widows" in Yuma, AZ.  I was honored to attend his change of command ceremony where he assumed command from Lt. Col. Gregory Clarke. My brother is six years younger than me and I recall how displeased he was when I entered the Marine Corps in 1978. He was just 13 at the time. I still look back and laugh at how he wouldn’t even say good bye to me the morning I left for Parris Island, because HE wanted to be the next Marine in the family. read more

Liberty Cards

Sgt Grit,

As a young Pvt. at Camp Lejeune in 1965, I was required to carry a Liberty Card signed out to me by the Duty NCO when liberty was authorized. When I returned from liberty, I gave it back to the Duty NCO.  However, at some point, I believe after my return from "Nam" Liberty Cards were ended.  The one card that I do have is a Chow Pass from the USS Iwo Jima (LPH 2) from 1965 and the Carib. Cruise, Santa Domingo crisis. The other is also from the same ship, but a few years later – circa – 1972 I believe. read more