Category: Marine Corps Stories

Platoon photo and Graduation program

Sgt Grit:

Let me start by saying that enjoy reading your Newsletters and forward them to my Marine buddies that I am still in contact with.

The other day was my Mother's 73rd birthday. When I went to take her and my wife out to dinner, Mom had a surprise for me. My orginal platoon picture and the Graduation program from the Graduation ceremony. I was very glad that she had saved them, I had lost my platoon picture over the years, but was able to order a copy from MCRD San Diego. Enclosed are a couple of pictures that I still have. The old picture is of my Grandfather, Ed Carroll, in 1942. The older Platoon picture is of my uncle's platoon, Blanton Kiser, in 1952. Keep on doing the Newsletter, it is good stuff. read more

Reunion at MCRD after 40 years

Hello, Sgt. Grit,

On 27 October 2009 (coming up on a year now), two of my Marine Corps brothers and I had a great reunion at MCRD. Inseparable during boot camp and ITR, we’d lost touch over the years, and “found” each other through the internet. We promptly decided a reunion was in order, and that the only place to have it was at MCRD where we met, and the only time to have it was from 26-28 October, since 27 October was to be the 40th anniversary of our first day of boot camp, to the day. read more

Well here’s another WM Boot Camp picture

Well, it has been many years since I became a Marine. I just thought that one of my four children would become a Marine, but only one has joined the service—the Air Force. Upon graduating as a Honor Graduate, another airman asked him how he did it. His answer floored me, but made me proud too. He said, “Do you think I could be anything but number one being raised by a Woman Marine”. He went on to graduate from Tech school as an Honor Graduate too. read more

New and Old

Sgt Grit:

Attached is a photo taken by my wife on July 10, 2009. It shows my son, Francis, saluting me on the same parade deck on which I graduated in May ’69. I am justifiably proud, as you might guess. I am, however, even MORE proud of the fact Francis had to lose 65 pounds to even be able to enlist, AND he lost an additional 40 pounds in boot camp. His platoon mates told me he was an inspiration to others who had to lose weight. He constantly motivated them to lose weight. OOOO-RAH!! read more

New Proud Marine Mom

Sgt Grit,

I found your website when I was looking for Christmas gifts last November for my son. He has wanted to be a Marine since he was twelve years old. In November 2008 he signed up and was in the Poolee program the rest of his Senior year. Although he wasn’t a Marine yet, we purchased a few items from your site and tried to become enthusiastic about his decision (which I’m very proud to say we are very happy for his decision). It is a very scary thing for a Mom to let her son grow up and go out on his own but when you add joining the Marine Corps to the mix it adds a new dimension to the feeling. Nonetheless, I have since enjoyed your newsletter, loved the items you sell and found great comfort from the stories I read in the newsletter. I have since discovered what Honor, Courage and Commitment truly means and now understand the pride felt by all Marines, new and old. I have learned to embrace my son’s decision and to be very proud of his decision. I wear a badge with my son’s picture and tell everyone I meet about how proud I am to be a Mother of a US Marine. read more

Platoon 315

Dear Sgt Grunt.

While looking at photos posted on your website I found one of Platoon 78 Ist Battalion Sept 1955. One of the DIs is Sgt A V Stacey. I graduated at Parris Island in Sept 1954 in Platoon 315 C Company 4th Recruit Training Battalion. The Senior D I was Sgt P A Wood and Sgt Stacey was one of the junior D Is. I considered all of my Drill Instructors to be the finest of men and great Marines. and there were none more fair and upstanding than those of Platoon 315. read more