Sgt. Grit, In your 14 April 2011 Web Site Shows was a Cake Topper with Marines Down. Marines Do Not lie down for a Marriage or much else either. A Cake Topper like this is Degrading to the Marines and to the Wives and to the Institute of Marriage.
I was married in 1947 and my wife of 64 Years still stands at my side, I think she was as much Marine as I. She raised five Children while I was either overseas or in a War. Also, Inclosed is a pictture I carried with me through all those years unitl I retired After 26 Years Marine Corps and 20 years in Business with my Son, serving the Movie/YV Industry as Military Tech and Weapons Tech. , My Swan Song was "Navy Seals".
Lets not let any one, Any One, Degrade our Marine Corps or our Marines with Cake Toppers like that. GySgt F. L. Rousseau, USMC Ret.
Category: Marine Corps Stories
Platoon 1049, July 1988
I went to Parris Island for Boot Camp in April of 1988 and graduated in July 1988. Graduating from bootcamp and becoming a U.S. Marine are still the proudest moments of my life. I stayed in the Corps for eight years getting out in 1996.
Semper Fi,
Cpl Rothberg, P.C.1371 USMC Veteran
Vietnam
4-6-11
Searching for my old skipper.
Dear Comrade,
I found Lt. Col. DeBona's citation for the Navy Cross on the Military Times website and Brothers in Arms website. I was at his feet as a gunner in 60 mortars when I was wounded twice on September 10, 1967. My squad leader Frank Antaya pulled a chunk of shrapnel out of my right forearm while the skipper laid back on his pack calling in arty. I was hit again in the left upper back through my flack jacket with a piece that stuck in my back 3/4 of an inch. I was also hit three times the day before during our first contact with minor wounds to my left hand and both legs. When the skipper commanded us to regroup back at our LZ, I stopped to pick up Gunny Pineapple, that's the name I new him buy. When I went to pull him out of the brush his arms and legs were barely attached to his torso. He yelled telling me to stop. I waited with him until he was gone. When I moved out, I saw Pvt Baker from Ohio laying on the ground with his leg and arm barely attached to his body. I picked up his leg and put it into a poncho and another marine put in his arm. It was at that time a Second Lieutenant from M co. came up to us and said he would lead us back to the LZ. He looked me right in the eyes and said he was putting me and the other guys up for Bronze Stars. At the time, medals were the last thing on our minds. On the way back we were burned by a napalm drop when the enemy over ran our position. I was wounded 5 times in two days and burned by napalm on the left side of my face and left arm as I carried Baker heading for the LZ.
A Memory…
To all a memory,
OF the fallen Heroes
Once they are forgotten
Fallen upon a foreign land
Fighting for a cause
Which no one was sure
Will we remember them?
God has blessed America
Since then he has no longer
It was imbued to our trust
To wipe away all of the tears
The Sniper
In the darkness, I will wait
My heart has become hollow
My mind, a flurry of disaster
In the solitude, I will reign
Creatures which use the night
Become one with the shadows
At midnight will come a scream
That of release, and not of vengeance
A 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance 1940
Three generations Five Divisions
Hey Sgt. Grit remember the three generations of Marine? Well here is a little more info. My dad was with the First Marine Division, I served with the Third and the Fifth, and my son served with the Second and is now a Staff Sergeant of Marines with Fox Co. 4th LARV Fourth Marines(Reverve)
A pic to share please.
Sgt Grit, just in case any of these Marines or their familes come across this I wanted to share the pic attached…. Marines from I Company, 3rd Bat/1st Mar/1stMarDiv, machine gunners, Guadalcanal mid October 1942. Back left to right Worrick, Griffin, Davis, King, Arthur, Hopkins, Gryzb….. Front left to right Pollio, Davis, Walsh, Giffear, McCarthy, Brock, Hileinerich, Bubanas…. deepest apologies if I spelled any name incorrectly as the back is hand written. God Bless and thank you men, God rest those departed, you are what is great about our country, SEMPER FI !! (back of pic on bottom written "about 2 wks before tank battle on Matanikau River)
p.s. Thanks to Joseph Giffear for allowing me to marry your daughter Catherine S.
GregT
USMC 87'-94'
Pickle Palms
From my Platoon Commander (Senior Drill Instructor): "Stay outta my pickle palms" (MCRD San Diego Ice plant – Pleasure Island Marines wouldn't understand.)
The stuff grew around all the Quonset Huts back in the day. Along with painted rocks, it was the Marine Corps idea of landscaping or as they call it these days, "curb appeal".
2010 Gritogether
FYI….
Out of five of these guys, four are Vietnam Vets.
I know that it is hard to believe but when these five guys were on Embassy Duty, all five were 6' 2", 150 pounds, blond, and blue-eyed.
They served at our embassies in saucy diverse places as: Ankara, Bulgaria, Calcutta, Hamburg, and Paris.
Respectfully submitted,
s/Denny