There are two people who are most responsible for me joining the Marine Corps…..Jack Webb and Leon Uris. Webb because of "The D.I." The first time I saw that movie I was absolutely entranced by the (*beauty?*) and discipline of boot camp. It seemed so logical and organized. Then someone gave me a paperback copy of Leon Uris' "Battle Cry" and I was completely hooked. After reading about Danny Forrester and his squad, through bootcamp and into the South Pacific, I was hooked. In 1967, recently an ex-college student and facing the certainty of the draft, there was no place for me except Parris Island and the United States Marine Corps. (Oh, the follies of youth.) But I survived and, to this day, I'm proud that I can still call myself a United States Marine. Thank you, Jack and Leon. May god smile over your eternal souls.
Category: Marine Corps Stories
Vietnam
I am looking to make contact with the Marines picture in this article, or to communicate with anyone who can assist me in locating them. The picture was taken on LZ Cunningham during Operation Dewey Canyon in February 1969. Pictured from left to right are: LCPL Rodney Button, SGT John Devine (ME), LCPL Moses Garcia, and Burkhard. We were assigned to Whiskey Btry 2-12. I retired after a full 30 as a SGTMAj.
Why I joined the Marine Corps
This is why I joined the Marine Corps. This picture was taken on Nov 8, 1955 when I was 5 years old in downtown Baltimore, Md. It was published on Nov 10, 1955 in the Baltimore Sun newspaper celebrating the Marine Corps birthday. From that point on I knew that I wanted to be a Marine. I fulfilled that dream in June 68 and served four glorious years. I was able to find the Marine Staff Sergeant pictured with me in October 2001. He is Retired Sergeant Major Francis C. Rohrs. Hope you enjoy.
The Holycross Award
I have some info. that I think should be shared. This is in reference to the previous info. on Warrant Officer Richard Holycross who was killed on Sept. 10, 1967.
The Holycross Award
This award was given to the Marine of the Year in Mike Company 3rd Bn., 25th Marines, 4th MarDiv. located on Yearling Rd., Columbus, Ohio. The award began in 1970 after the passing of Warrant Officer Richard Holycross, who was a Marine’s Marine. I was fortunate to be awarded in 1976,
as a Platoon Sergeant in Mike Company, which eventually became Lima Company in the 1980’s. A very good friend of mine, Cpl Moe Miller of White Cottage, Ohio was a Fire team leader and the Point man on that day of Sept. 10th, 1967 when Warrant Officer Holycross was killed. Corporal Miller witnessed his death on that day. Warrant Officer Holycross will always be a important part of this reserve company’s history and stand as a level of performance to achieve.
Old Marine
L-R LCpl William Williams, LCpl John Harris, Lcpl Dave Schad, Cpl Norman Dusseault, Cpl Albert Stemm, 2nd Mar Div about June, 1963
ROK Marine
I had Sgt Grit make a ball cap for my barber, a ROK Marine. When I gave it to him, he had a smile from ear to ear. He has many ROK Marine memorabilia in his shop, including U.S. Marines things. This tells me “Once A Marine, Always A Marine” also refers to our ROK brothers. I have attached a picture of the cap. Thanks, Sgt Grit, for doing a great job in creating this cap. By the way, no, I did not accept a free haircut.
Da Nang 1970
Dear Sgt Grit,
I am a Marine from the Gulf War era who was raised by a Vietnam Veteran (Sgt. Greg Theis, USMC(ret.) and I just found a picture of my father in Da Nang in 1970. My father is the surly Marine sitting down facing the camera with a cigarette in his mouth. As you may have guessed by the hair pushing regs he was an airwinger; a Sergeant in the Crash Crew stationed at the multi-force air base near Monkey/Marble Mountain (?). This photo was taken minutes before the rocket attack which severely injured my father and killed the Marine on the far right of the picture whose hand is all that made it into the photo. That Marine who lost his life was standing in front of my father securing the fire-hose as they sprayed down a rocket pod from an F-4 Phantom. The pod continued to fissle and eventually exploded in its stall landing my father in the burn ward of Naval Hospital Camp Lester for a year on Okinawa before being sent home for medical retirement. Ironically Camp Lester was the Command that processed my medical discharge 25 years later for injuries I incurred during the Gulf War. Feel free to post the picture if you think it would be appreciated.
Talk about Old Corps
Sgt. Grit – Talk about the 'Old Corps'! This is a picture of the 1st Aeronautics Company stationed in the Azores Islands in World War I. It was the first US Military Aviation company to serve outside the continental US. They hunted for, but did not find, German submarines. The Commanding Officer was Major Evans. He flew the sea plane in a loop, a feat thought impossible at the time and he received a Congressional Medal. The Executive Officer was Major Brewster (Brewster Buffalo fame). My dad was a mechanic who signed up "for the duration of the war" in Philadelphia, PA in 1917. Major Evans' medal and the original photograph reside in the US Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, VA.
CUBA 1965 2Bn,2Mar,2Mar Div (FMF) PVT. David Dangleman
Was TAD at the air strip for almost 6 months. The alerts were bad running up those Hills to the Fence Line was NO Fun at all. We all were able to Hang but glad to get out of there. Shipped out to Vietnam as soon as I got back.
My Second War Room
This will be my second war room. My wife did a while you were out war room for me in Cleveland when I was doing a job in NY. We've since moved to NC. We got lucky to find an old farm house with 3 bedrooms. The deal was if I keep all my Marine Corps stuff in one room, I can build on it. The walls are olive drab, ceiling sand, trim brown. She's motivated about it like I am.