WWII WMs and Honor Flights

Sgt Grunt,

Last month Honor Flight flew 97 aging but vibrant WWII Vets flew from Madison Wisconsin to Washington, DC. to visit the WWII Memorial and return home in a one day blitz. This flight set the record for the most female WWII Vets on any flight in the history of the program, and it was noted that a vast majority of those women were WMs, or as they were called back then, WRs. Proud to say that my 86 year old Momma, Corporal Annette Howards, USMCWR, was standing front and center when the roll was called at the airport. read more

An Update

Sgt.

Here is an update to a picture I sent earlier.
I was fortunate enough to sit with a Code Talkers Wife today.
Today was the 54th annual cemmorative wreath laying at Bethel Cemetary
in Cheyenne. Afterwards we had a free BBQ picnic at VFW 1881.
Just by chance she happened to sit with me at the table.
She autographed the back sides of these two cards for me.
One is a pic when he was in service back in 1942 and the other a few years ago.
He's 91 years old now. read more

WWII WMs and Honor Flights

I was at my veterinarian about a year ago and on the wall in the waiting room was an old picture of a young Marine along with an ensamble of ribbons and medals. I asked my vet who that was and he told me it was his father, William Kuhl. He began to tell me a couple of stories about his father in the corp and I found them interesting, among the most interesting was a couple things, the fact his father served on the USS Yorktown when it was sunk and a story of his father's long lost sea bag. A couple weeks later, I stopped back in and he said he brought some things from his house to show me. He had an old foot locker and an old worn, tattered cardboard box. He said his aunt (his father's sister), had kept newspaper clippings of things that had concerned his father and articles in which his father was mentioned. Dr. Kuhl started to show me pictures and newspaper articles that indeed varified his father was on the USS Yorktown. One newspaper article had even metioned how he had shot down a Jap zero. To make a long story somewhat shorter. Dr. Kuhl told me he had no idea as to what to do with all these articles as there was no one left in his family that was much concerned with them. I told him I had an idea and I would get back with him in a couple of days. I went home and contacted the Marine Corp Museum in Virginia and they in turn immediately contacted Dr. Kuhl. He sent them some pictures of some of the items, and their response was if everything he said he had was verified, that these items would make a one of a kind display at the museum. So Dr. Kuhl signed the property over to the museum and hopefully soon they will have a special place there. I mentioned earlier a newspaper article about his father's lost sea bag, so I have included here a copy of that article and a picture of his father with his sea bag. They are pretty self explanitory, so I will leave you now to enjoy. But in closing, I would like to say that as a thank you to me from Dr. Kuhl, he gave me his father's K-bar that had seen action at Guedalcanal, Iwo, and several other places along with his father's brass E.G.A. belt buckle. read more

Allen Dale June Code Talker

Sgt. Sgt Dale was temporarily in The Cheyenne VA hospital last year and early this year. While he was there I had an opportunity to visit with him. He had reverted to his native Navajo language, but he did say a few words in English.

We first met outdoors. I saw him being pushed in a wheel chair. i saw his red hat with Marines and Code talker on it. I immediately squatted down where he could see my Marine hat, and when he did, he sat up straighter and smiled and saluted! No doubt he was proud to be one of us. Next day at VFW breakfast I just happened to sit with Virginia and his grandson. She gave me two of his autographed business cards. So these will definitely become a keepsake! read more

Honor Flight Long Island

Hey Sarge,

Where else can you spend the day hanging out with a Marine who landed on Iwo Jima, a soldier who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, a seaman who survived Pearl Harbor and a pilot who flew 112 combat missions in Europe and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross?!
www.HonorFlightLongIsland.org
gave me that chance. Check out the website to see what it's all about. On this day, I had the honor of escorting Harry S., veteran of Iwo Jima, to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. and the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington. read more

Iwo Jima Vet Leo Champagne’s

Here are a few pictures of Iwo Jima Vet Leo Champagne at Missouri Military Academy's Homecoming Assembly. Pictured from left to right are GySgt Robert Munson (in Desert MARPAT), Leo Champagne, and GySgt Tompkins (Woodland MARPAT) Mr. Champagne was our Guest of Honor for the Homecoming weekend. It kicked off with a assembly honoring Mr. Champagne then a speech by Mr. Champagne. I have been at the school for 11 years now and I have to say I have never seen an individuall hold the attention of the Cadets like Mr. Champagne did. I am a Veteran of 18 years with 2 tours in Iraq, and GySgt Tompkins is a veteran of over 22 and it was a honor for both of us to meet one of our living leagends. read more

Gunny Monster

Just an update here is a couple of pictures of Gunny monster listed on your best use of site page for under the title of “Gunny Monster”. Here is a picture the really fits the shirt title. And a current picture of him now he is almost 2. He has grown into a Bulldog any marine would be proud of. I hope you can add these to the posting. read more

Kabar, the Marine Corps Bull Terrier

Sgt. Grit,

Since I last sent you a picture of Kabar she has been promoted to PFC twice and busted to private twice for pooping on the sidewalk. I am glad to say that as of today she has progressed from private to PFC, and finally to lance corporal. Her MOS is 9999 (useless dog with a bad attitude). The question of a good conduct medal is still up in the air. Kabar's greatest ambition in the Corps is to be eventually assigned as sergeant of the guard at a dog food factory. read more