Category: Marine Corps Stories

Cold War Marine

Another Cold War Marine heard from. In 1955, out in 1960. MOS 0311. I always wanted to be a Marine. Inclosed is a "V mail" letter that my Grand Mother sent to my Uncle JIM, her son while he was in the Pacific. He hit all the Islands as a linesman running phone lines day and night. Not a scratch. His picture is in one of the books from the islands. Enclosed is a picture of Jim Brady and his bride Murial Brady, one of the original Woman Marines. Jim spent his working civilian years at Pendleton as a linesman. Many reading this may remember him. I also included a picture of Plt.155, PI, graduated in Jan 1956 Depot Honor. I am top row 4th from rt. My best day in Boot Camp was the last week when we were going to a class room and I got out of step and the senior DI started to get on my case and got as far as PVT, Recruit ? ?? he did not know my name! That is being invisible for 13 weeks when Boot Camp was a little different than it is now. Every one seems to remember the DI's thumping people but our DI's were good teachers as well. Yes, there were some VERY tough days. Everyone in the High Depot Honer plt. had the opportunity to go on Sea Duty aboard the new carrier. USS Saratoga. My friends from Pa. went aboard and talked me into going with them. I was going to Jacksonville FL to Air Mechanic School? No regrets. From there it was Embassy Guard duty in Singapore for 3 yrs. Since I had 2 of the best duties in the Corp. I decided not to press my luck and got out. I am sure there were Marines during every Conflict and Peace time that never heard a shot fired accept on the range. We go where the Marine Corp sends us and sometimes it works out good. To me we are all Marines and for all of our lives we carry the Marine Corp within us. Those that served in combat are the Marines that gave me the Pride that I feel in Being a Marine. Boot camp is just the weeding out, the rest of the time is what makes us Marines. read more

Platoon 38

Sgt. Grit:

I am enclosing a picture of my Platoon from 1948. I enlisted in May of 48 in Oregon. They gave me train ticket from Portland to San Diego, meal voucher and a bus token for the San Diego bus system. My instructions were go to the Depot, catch the train, and in San Diego take the bus to Gate 5. Report in. I was the only one going to the Marines on the train several going to Navy. read more

Stacked Rifles

Hello Sgt.Grit,

In my graduation picture from PI in December 1964 we had stacked rifles. The thing I remember most about them beside being a pain in the ass was getting the strap to stay tight. Also if I remember correctly the strap had to be at a prescribed distance from the rifle and pivot points. This was with an M-14. I am sending the picture. I have looked for information on the three DI's on Together we Served but no luck. All three of them would be in their 70's and the two oldest Sgt. Morgan and Corporal Violette might be pushing 80. After all this was on December,16th. 1964. Corporal French in his 70's at least. read more

Old Memories with Present Day Appearance

Grit,

It's been a while but I thought I'd send a few pics and see if anyone recognizes them. be advised, Infantry Training School at Camp Pendleton commanded by Col. P.J. Rowe was later changed to School of Infantry.

Remember a while back I mentioned Gunny Panickowski who was SDI at one point and he became Series Chief Drill Instructor. He was Series Chief for my Platoon 3084, SDI SSgt Rozman. I' be very interested to know where the guys in that platoon all went. You know, one of those type questions that comes to mind all those years after we all graduate and move on. read more

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

Following in his grandfather footsteps

I have attached a picture of my grandson, PFC Jordan Dwight Vicars, Jordan graduated from MCRD in May of 2010. He was assigned to one weeks duty to the Recruiting station, in his home town in Oregon City, Oregon.

This picture was taken at the Clackamas County Fair, where he met many of his previous school mates. They were impressed to see the change of what six months in the Marines can do for a young man in today's world. This duty assignment was Jordan's attempt to locate other young men to join him in his Marine Corps. read more

India Company 35 years later

On April 6th my twin sons, Louis and Norb, received their Eagle, Globe and Anchor and became United States Marines. The next day they graduated with India Company in Platoon 3071! Aside from their birth, that was the proudest two days of my life.

We traveled from Jacksonville, Florida to attend their graduation and Family Day at MCRD San Diego. Our home is only 3 hours from Parris Island, but they were allowed to go through recruit training in San Diego because the Marine Corps Legacy program. I went through boot camp in Platoon 3056 in San Diego in 1971, coincidentally in the same Company – India! read more