Category: Marine Corps Stories

Call Signs

Sgt. Grit,   I'm starting to like this newsletter of yours. It's a whole lot better than some of the "weep and pity" ones that I have seen. You have caused me to start looking for things that I haven't seen in 20 to 40 years. My whole family has been in the Corps, Dad was a China Marine, he served under General Puller (he was a Major then) re stationed to Pearl Harbor in October 1940 as a member of the Marine Detachment on the U.S.S. Oklahoma. Then Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Peleliu ended his hopes for a Marine career.   My grandfather was a Marine during WW I and my great, great grandfather was (some say the outlaw) a confederate Marine. I'm the only one that made it a career. Tell you some stories sometime…   The real reason I am writing is because I must have missed the hullabaloo about call signs so I thought I might submit this one along with a photo (hope it comes out).   I'm sure that many an AO, FO, Army and Marine Infantry who needed long range and accurate fire support will remember The call sign "BEECHNUT" and "BEECHNUT ALFA" …. 8" and 155 self propelled Howitzers. From Chuli to Ann Hoa in the good old days of 66 and 67.        Capt. T. L. Johnson, Jr. United States Marine Corps Ret.

Cpl Harkness’s Liberty Pass

Looks like Dennis D. Krause unknowingly crossed paths very closely in the 9th MEB. While I didn't volunteer as he did I was plucked out of G2 1st MAW and added to the ranks of the 9th MEB back in the day, and like he, enjoyed time on "Greasy George" Clymer.    And I definitely recall that very same swim call. Once or twice was enough for me as well. And he got it right, below deck was an oven. I don't recall feeling any coolness, but rather what stuck in my mind is the wierd feeling when jumping in and going under, that relatively speaking,  it was bottomless. This was in the S. China Sea and it's really deep there.    The 9th MEB floated off of Nam for I don't know how long. It seemed like an eternity. Lot's of ships of various kinds and that was it, you just floated, perhaps moved around a bit, They'd invent things for you to do. I was on the G2 staff so I had a job and a place to go, but the grunts were penned up with nothing, literally nothing to do. Scuttlebutt was one took his rubber mattress, went overboard and started peddling to land.    We were off Danang and then things got interesting. Seems there was a coup down Saigon way and the Admiral got orders to move the fleet down there in case we had to evacuate Americans.  I was on the Admiral's/Generals flagship, which may have been the Clymer, (I moved to another ship somewhere along the way, but don't recall it's name off hand) and as Dennis said, these ships were long in the tooth). when the order came in.    I remember this scenario well. Though we were afloat, doing nothing, going nowhere, Uncle Sam actually paid you. In US dollars I think, not funny money (military script). The way this was done is a Captain carried the money from ship to ship, with a Sgt packing a 45 in tow for protection. He was ferried around in a small boat, pulled up to the Jacob's ladder (staircase), would come up, sit behind a little table and dole out the cash to we troops, who signed off that they rec'd it. You could opt for it all or part. But he had to have enough case for all. So he had a LOT of money. It so happened that one eventful day, A bunch of Marines, including me were standing on deck (hanging around doing zip) just as he came aboard our ship. They say timing is everything in life and that day it was for the Marine Captain & Sgt.,Literally a few minutes after the Captain & Sgt set foot on deck, the Admiral himself stuck his head over his perch and shouted the order down to the navy guys that we we're ordered to pull out and head to Saigon. Included in this short order was to "pull up the Jacobs ladder and get under weigh"  This,  as you can imagine got the Marine Captain/paymaster's attention. He and the Sgt quickly gathered themselves and the Captain, politely and properly asked the Admiral who was still looking down from ahigh, the words just out of his mouth,  if the Admiral would hold that ladder a moment so he & the Sgt could get off.   The Admiral said "Captain, my orders are to move my fleet South IMMEDIATELY, and that's exactly what I'm going to do….Welcome aboard" And stunned he watched the crew hop to, pull up the ladder, and off we went.  And that poor Captain and Sgt were with us all the way to Saigon and back (eventually we came back when the coup quieted down Big Minh was overthrowing Little Mihn or vs versa). All they had was what they were wearing (uniform of the day, not dungerees) their 45's, and a pile of money. And I suppose a neat story to tell.    What else comes to mind, is the Admiral had a very high pitched voice, which amused the Marines to no end, but you had to be Very careful of when and where you were amused.   Along the lines of vintage liberty cards being sent in,  attached is mine from the 9th MEB. As you can see it wasn't a card per se. just a piece of fragile paper. You carried them with you, not much liberty as you may think, being on a ship. When we pulled into Subic, you had a step in front of you before that pass meant anything, you had to get off the ship, i.e. be on the roster approving it.   Subic is another story. As well as the tour to Bataan and Corregidor.   Don Harkness 1961-1965

My Devildog Gomer

I'm sending these photos of my Beagle Gomer Beagle, USMC to Sgt. Grit to give other Marines & Friends some ideas for their pets. I got a Woodland Camoflage harness from an on line vendor (Hug-a-Dog) & customized it with patches from Grit in honor of my Dad, Hawk Rader Jr., A/1/8 2 Div WWII Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, 2 USMC uncles, & all past, present & future Marines who have served & will serve the USA. Needless to say, Gomer really gets a lot of attention when he's wearing his "uniform" when we go out & he waves the flag for the Corps & USA.   Gomer is an adopted Chocolate Beagle boy, 4 1/2 yrs. old of Catonsville, MD. He was named for Gomer Pyle, USMC because his personality resembles Pyle's: happy, enthusiastic & slightly misguided! He didn't like the name given to him by the rescue group but responded the first time when I started to call him Gomer.

World War 2 enlisted rank insignia

Sgt. Grit,   I was a Vietnam Marine and served at Camp Books, FLC, from 1970-1971.   My son, Matt, served with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, from 2006 to 2010, and was deployed to Fallujah, his first time out.  The battalion was assigned a float on the second deployment.    My father served with "M" Company, 3rd Bn., 8th Marines, in World War II.  "M" Company was the battalion weapons company.  I've attached a photograph that was taken, of "M" company, in June 1943, when they were at Camp Paekakariki, New Zealand, some months before the assault at Tarawa.   What prompted me to send this photo, was that I was watching the HBO series "The Pacific".  In the final disc, there is a profile of the Marines who were depicted.  The first is of John Basilone.  There are several photos of "Manila" John, wearing his winter service greens after his return to the states in 1943.   Sergeant Basilone wears the rank insignia of a WW2 Platoon Sergeant, one service stripe, and the 1st Marine Division shoulder patch  on the left sleeve of his blouse.  There is no rank insignia on the right sleeve.   After seeing that,  I noticed that the same is in the attached photo, although the Marines are wearing combat jackets.     I do recall that World War 2 Marines wore rank insignia on both sleeves.  My father's uniform certainly did.  I guess that I'll have to give him a holler, and see what he says.   Feel free to post that photo.   Semper Fidelis, Jim O'Brien Sergeant, USMC 1969-1972

LCPL Johnson and his nephew

Hey Sgt. Grit,   As always, I enjoy reading your great newsletter….all the stories really bring it home, and remind me how proud I am to be "One of The Few".   Several months ago, I sent you a picture of my nephew,  PFC Jason Johnson, and I, when I attended his graduation from MCRD San Diego, last October, almost exactly 48 years after I had graduated there. Well, he is now a L/Cpl and just got home for a 10 day leave after MOS School, before he reports to Miramar.    His Mom reports that was home less than 24 hours, and he was already trying to teach his 2 year old nephew how to say "Ooh-Rah", and I suspect that push-ups will be one of the next lessons. It appears we have yet another future Marine in training !!    I have to say, my nephew wanted to become a Marine from the time he knew what the word Marine meant. He followed his dream, worked hard, and accomplished his hearts desire. Already, you can tell that he has the dedication to, and love of The Corps that we all share. I am proud to have him as one of my Brother Marines.   Keep up the great work,   Patrick C. Verd Cpl. USMC – 1962-65

Call Signs

Sgt. Grit

I read your newsletter every time I get your newest e-mail. The last one kind of hit home with me regarding the article about call signs that different Marines remembered. One in particular caught my attention, Benchmark. While serving in Nam in '68-'69 with Kilo 3/7 I was transfered to Battalion and assigned to TACP Local as the Battalion Section Chief. My call sign was Benchmark 14. I never thought I would hear that call sign again. It brought back many memories of standing night watch in the COC bunker ready to assist the grunts in the field when things got hairy and they needed help. I consider it a privelage to have been given that responsibility and only hope that the Tactical Air Control Local Marines were always there just a simple ket of the handset away when things got tough. read more