Category: Marine Corps Stories

BAMs

BAMs

Photo of Jeff Howard's mother who served as a Marine during World War 2 Sgt Grit,

Sgt Doyle Clark wrote about his experience with “BAMs”. My Momma was a WM in WWII and after I graduated from Boot Camp, she let me know in no uncertain terms that “BAM” stood for “Beautiful American Marine”, although she did acknowledge that occasionally my Father (a Marine Pfc in the same Squadron) referred to WMs as “Broad Axle-d Marines”! read more

PFC Poochie

PFC Poochie

PFC Poochie and John Hi Sgt. Grit,

While reading your AmericanCourage Newsletter #195, for 05 Mar 2009, I saw the picture of PFC Bonehead submitted by Bart Baldwin, of Brackettville, Tx. I thought it was so cute that I sent it to my Daughter, because she is always dressing her dog up in ‘His Marine Blues’ for different Marine occasions. I’m a Life Member in the Marine Corps League, John Basilone Detachment # 190, here in New Jersey and a couple years ago after marching in the John Basilone Annual Parade, which is held in Raritan, NJ, I stopped by her house on my way home and she took this picture of me and Pablo, her dog. I know we were both a little ‘Out of Uniform’ , but please understand, I had just marched a couple miles in the heat and was hot and tired and on my way home. (no excuse, I know !) Now, PFC Poochie (Pablo) had no excuse, he was at home all day guarding his Mother’s perimeter, in the air conditioning, while I was carrying a flag for our Honor Guard in the parade. read more

Coming Home

Coming Home

Photo of old Marines gathered to display an airworthy UH-34D helicopter It’s good to hear stories of our Marines being welcomed home from deployment but it reminds many of us about a different situation years ago when returning from Southeast Asia. We returned to MCAS El Toro in October 1969 to a half dozen cars in the parking lot and transportation instructions. Having grown up in Southern California, I was lucky having my mother pick me up and haul me home through the anti-war protesters at the gate. Within four hours I was on a double date with “The Twins” and Topper Rankin, my 3rd Recon buddy I met on the USS Iwo Jima. Fast forward to October 2000 at the MCAS Miramar Airshow. A group of old Marines gathered to display an airworthy UH-34D helicopter which, to many Vietnam Marines, is a religious icon. It was four days of “Welcome Home” from the the public, the young Marines of Miramar and even Vietnamese who escaped the Communist takeover. We even signed autographs. The event ended with towing the helicopter to the end of the ramp, firing it up and cruising around the hills behind Miramar for a trip of a lifetime. Talk about memory lane. After 30 years, to gather with America’s best who you know will cover your back was something never to be forgotten. It took a week to come back down from the high. Every Vietnam and Korean Vet should have this experience. read more

Thank You

Thank You

Headquarters Company 9th Marines standing on the yellow footprints Headquarters Company 9th Marines Sgt. Grit,

Headquarters Company 9th Marine Regiment 3rd Marine Division (Republic of Vietnam 1964 ~ 1969) met in Charleston, SC on March 24 ~ March 27, 2009 for our 3rd reunion. When you learned of our reunion you made contact with one of our men and made arrangements to send many items from your catalogue to give out to those attending; this is to let you know that your gifts were waiting for us at the hotel and we were able to hand out to our men when we gathered at the local VFW Post on the 26th for a time of fellowship and memory. Thank you very much for your contribution to our time of fellowship. read more