Category: Marine Corps Stories

21 July Newsletter item from Sgt Dick Tate

I read with interest the item entitled “What Irritates Me” in the latest news letter (21 July) because I am in the same category.  I am a marine who arrived at the Marine Corps recruit depot in Parris Island, S C in April of 1961.  Upon release from my six months (179 days) of active duty, I was assigned to a 105 artillery battalion in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and we fired our guns until I completed my enlistment, being honorably discharged in January of 1967.  During this time, I had signed the blank check (my life on the line), the concept never came closer than when we were assembled on the parade field at Camp Pendleton to hear President Johnson’s speech citing his options relating to the Tonkin Bay incident.  The organization was saying that he was planning to call the reserves to reinforce his position in Vietnam.  He announced, however, his decision that he was going to increase the draft and train more people; and that the reserves would not be called.  I guess that if he had chosen option 1, I would have been a “veteran”. read more

2/8 Drum & Bugle Corps

Sgt Grit,

One of the best highlights in my career was a tour of duty in 1976 while serving my 3rd tour in Gitmo, Cuba.  LCol Joe Cody, C.O. of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines forward deployed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba called on for volunteers from the battalion to form a Drum & Bugle Corps.  I was a Plt Sgt in Fox Company when I answered his call.  I was giving an audition to be the Drum Major and he wanted to see if I knew anything about bugles & drums.  He threw me a set of  shelter half poles and said give me a drum beat !!  Then a bugle mouth piece and said buzz me a couple bugle calls.  Since I did graduate Field Music School in 1962 – I passed and was hired on as Drum Major/ Director. read more

Charlie Co 1/5, 1966, Chu Lai, 1sr MarDiv

1966  Operations "Jackstay" and "Osage"  in Mar and April.  Charlie Company  1/5 based in Chu Lai, I can assist  These  Marines with  verifacation of claims.  I worked as a line company Doc and in Charlie Med.     These brave men brought this Corpsman home and I would like to pay back those who need assistance……… Marriors  are those who put their lives on the line for their brothers and I  consider all Marines , who shed blood my Brother……..forever.  Hm3, Doc Harzke, C Co, 1/5 , 1965-66   oooh Rahhhh read more

My SgtMaj

I wish I had a picture to send you. The last SgtMaj that I had before I got out in 2009, is SgtMaj William "Wild Bill" Skiles, a Bronze Star recipient for his actions in Iraq, and also famous for all he has done working with the snipers and shooting teams on MCB Quantico. I will always remember his little blue Honda Civic sitting in front of the Bn H.Q. with Virginia tags that read "WARHAMMER"! It was hilarious to me that such a tough name could be put on such a small car, but I guess I must not be as tough as I thought, because I would have never let him know that I thought it to be funny! read more

Sea Bee’s always fed this Marine

I just read a story by Cpl. Charles Townsend about the Sea Bees at Monkey Mountain not letting them eat in the chow hall cause they were dirty and smelled bad.  I never had that situation happen to me, maybe the grunts in his unit were to picky about what they would eat.  I was with 3/7 and our ao was about 28 miles s/w of DaNang in the Que Sons.  7th Marines had to bases there, our Regt. rear was LZ Baldy also a Battn. rear at FSB RossAround March of 70 the third BN moved to Baldy and pulled road security for MCB 7 buliding route 1 from Baldy to Chu Li.  The sea bees from MCB 7 dropped us off in pairs along the road for security. My best friend Mike Galleagher and myself made friends with some of the sea bees who we were guarding. After a while they invited Mike and I to stop by their club and visit them.  As most marines will know we didn't get much beer at the Marine E-club they were usally out of beer.  We decided to visit our friends at the sea bee compound one nite.  We asked them if we could have a cold beer and some food.  Our friends got togeather and said if we would eat what ever they would prepare we could have cold beer. They gathered up some roaches and flys and said eat thoes and heres yor beer. You wouldn't beleve how good roaches and flys taste with cold beer.  So next time your hungry trust our sea bee friends to provide, just dont be so picky. ( true story ) read more