Marine Corps Stories – Page 420 – Sgt. Grit Community

Marine in Camp Gloucester, New Britain

Hi, Sgt.Grit, I’m the youngest son of Wilfred Magnan. He enlisted in the Marines on 11-15-41, which was 3 weeks before the Pearl Harbor Attack..he heard about it in boot camp in San Diego. He went to New Zealand & Australia, was in the amphibious landings at Cape Gloucester,New Britain on 12-26-43, Tahnamerah,Dutch New Guinea on 4-22-44, and Peleliu on 9-15-44. He survived fierce combat at Peleliu, and left there on 10-20-44. He was honorably discharged 11-28-45. Corporal Wilfred Magnan was in the 1st Marine Division, 1st Tank Battalion, Companies A & D. He was shell loader in Tank no.9. He also carried a backpack radio. He is still alive,and sharp; his wife of 60 years recently passed away. I’ve enclosed a pic, which shows my Dad sitting in the tank turret as the barrel is swabbed) read more

“Old Corps” TBF on Guadalcanal

Sgt. Grit,
As the son of a WWII Marine Aviator and nephew of a Korean War Marine Tank Driver, I have always been fiercely proud of “the Corps” and my family’s participation.

Recently my father dug out an old photo and asked if I could “repair” it on the computer. The picture is of my Dad’s TBF torpedo bomber squadron on Guadalcanal in the early part of WWII when the outcome was no sure thing. I look at all those young heros and feel nothing but pride. As I look at pictures of today’s Marines, the only thing that has changed is the technology. They are still a bunch of young (and not so young) heros doing what is needed to keep our country safe and our freedoms intact. read more

WWII USMC Photos

Here are 2 of the pictures. The one of the platoon I do have the names of the individuals, they are: Front: Burt Eddings, F. Thorpe, W. Raymond, L. M. Golden, Bobo Porter, H. A. Cushing, LT. McDonald, Don Stout, Fred DeSomme, Jerry Schwartz, Floyd Hileman, M. M. Silver, R. B Ziegler. BACK: Louie Hansen, L. R. McMahon, W. R. Ringrose, A. J. Zimmerman, H. L. Straha read more

Saipan Invasion and Vella Lavella

Here are some Photos from the Saipan invasion. They are from the: 121st NCB – 3rd BN, 20th Marines, 4th Marine Division photo albumn.(left)

Vella Lavella – August, 1943. Seabees and a Company of Motor Transport Marines landed on an August morning and were greeted almost immediately by a Japanese air attack. One of the LST’s they arrived on took a direct hit. Other Photos are some of Pappy Boyington’s gang on Vella Lavella.(right) read more

1945 Marine Corps Uniforms

The uniforms are all from the 1945 era. I couldn’t find anything specific about “Dress Blues” in that era except picture 4 (right). That Marine has the “Dress Blues” on but I can’t see clearly the differences between that uniform and the current one.
So if you could show them these pictures and just ask them their opinion, I would be much appreciative.
Travis Wishon
read more

1945 Marine Corps Uniforms

Sgt Grit

My name is Gary Arney I have pictures from Bougainville, Guadalcanal, Guam, Iwo Jima, Kwajalein, Okinawa & Saipan. Places where my Dad, Phil Arney, landed and fought in WWII.

Semper Fi
Gary

Major Jack Ruffer

After reading Major Ruffers storey I had to add a tid bit of my own. Major Ruffer and I basically started our careers together, he was in Plt 264 and I was in plt 164 in Aug 1959. I graduated on Nov 17th and went to ITR, after ITR we got leave to go home for Christmas. Jack and I hooked up when we were both assigned to B Co, 1st Bn, 7th Marines at Las Pulgas, he was in Weapons Plt and I was in 2nd Plt. We deployed to Okinawa on April 1st (April Fools) in 1960. We became friends (Buddies). After returning from overseas in May 1961 we were assigned to B Co, 1st Bn, 5th Marines at Camp Margarita, 33 Area. We remained close and would go on liberty together. Since his Dad was in the Air Force and was at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino which wasn’t too far from Camp Pen. My Dad and Mon were in Coronado, CA so I would go home when I could. I do not think we had cars at that time since base pay was low. My Dad was career Navy and after 30 years retired in Nov of 61. I had an Uncle who was in the Air Force also At Norton AFB, so we would go to San Berdo after my Dad retired and went back to Annapolis, MD since they owned a house there. Jack meet a girl in San Berdo and one thing led to another. Before you know it they were getting married. The wedding was held in San Berdo he asked me to be his Best Man ( the best man was getting married and I was his witness) see picture. I talked to him about Mexico but he did not go for it ( I was glad he didn’t) Pat was a great catch and an outstanding person. She was good for Jack. We both went back to Camp Pen. Later in 62 we both were transferred to Marine Barracks, he to Alameda and me to San Diego Naval Station at 32nd St. read more

DaNang Ammo Dump

Sgt. Grit,

I just finished reading the story from Carl Baker about his experience on April 27,1969 when the DaNang Ammo Dump exploded and I thought this picture might be of interest.

I was assigned to HQ. Bn. 3rd MAR. DIV. and we had a compound located on Freedom Hill right next to the main PX. The picture, taken the day after the ammo dump exploded, shows me holding my prize possession. I had just pulled the locker out of what was left of the hootch that we had built ourselves just weeks before the dump went up. The pile of rubble in the back round is the main PX on Freedom Hill. Luckily, I had stored the tape deck in the locker before we were evacuated and it survived the blast. read more

Washington DC 2009

I served eight years FMF….I did three tours in Vietnam as a Recon Corpsman but time in combat ended up taking their toll on me…seeing to much combat and to much death put me in a private Hell that only other Combat Veterans, could ever nderstand…you learn what the word “Frightened” is all about….you learn how to walk away from your brothers when they are laying there dead in a shelter half, waiting for the Chopper to come in and take them home. To survive, you know that you have to shut down all feelings and just do your job. A lot of veterans coming out of combat have already lost their ability to “restart” their emotions and live a normal life. They will carry the memories of combat for their entire life. The civilian Dr’s have attached many names to our demons…from “survivor guilt” to the catch all “PTSD”. But they will never truly know what we are feeling. read more

75mm Pack Howitzer at Quantico, USMC Museum

In 1968, members of “India” Company, 3rd Bn, 3rd Marines captured two 75mm Pack Howitzers on Dong Ha Mountain. Although it took the Marines two days to reach the location of the Guns, the Marines of India 3/3 did accomplish their mission despite constant small arms and mortar fire by the entrenched NVA. Once the location of the Guns were discovered, to the astonishment of all, the Marines also discovered that the Guns were American made and bore American stamped marking’s on many of it’s parts to include a “General Electric” marking on the breach. These Guns had pounded and harassed the Marines as well as US Army Artillery Batteries on Camp Carroll for months and despite tons of every known ordinance imaginable, the Guns could never be silenced until the brave Marines of “India” 3/3 put a permanent silence to them, once and for all. Today only one Gun still exists, the second Gun is believed to be buried at Camp Carroll thanks in part to Marines who rather see it buried than fall into the hands of the US Army Artillery Battery at Camp Carroll…So the legend goes. If you are ever at the USMC Museum in Quantico, please stop and see the display and you will understand why these Guns were so prized by the North Vietnamese and hated by Marines. read more