Category: Marine Corps Stories

Wyatt And His Marine

From age 3-to-now: Wyatt’s clothes have consisted of, green camo or dessert camo, no hunter’s camo (soldiers don’t wear that), and boots just like the soldiers wear. His toys consist of wooden guns (his father and pawpaw make for him), binoculars, canteens, survival gear, MRE’s (which he actually eats) and of course a back-pack to carry it all in. His birthdays consist of camo everything, even face paint. He sends out 100 Christmas cards each year (four years now) to soldiers, signing each one. read more

Sgt Coyne and his children

I think these pictures say it all. They stand for the sacrifice that all military families make, but the reward of Freedom is so great. God Bless the US Marines and all other Military Branches for their service. May all American families be as happy to have a homecoming such as my Son’s. Proud MOM of Sgt Bernard J. Coyne Jr. read more

The rest of the story

Dear Sgt. Grit,

Last year about this time, you asked, “Who was our best officer?” I wrote about a Lt. Capers that I was with at Fort George G. Meade, MD when I was a security guard at NSA, and how the Lt. influenced my successful Marine Corps career. At the time I had no idea where know Major Capers was, and Sgt Grit forwarded several e-mails that told me his location. read more

EGA pumpkin

Sgt. Grit , Love your newsletter. Thanks for everything you do for all who have served and who are currently serving.

This is my entry into my company’s pumpkin decorating contest. It took me about two and a half hours to complete. read more

EOD and EGA carvings

Hi Sgt Grit,

Just wanted to share with you my pumpkin masterpiece for this year? My son is in EOD? he spent 7 months in Iraq this year. He is now back in NC with his wife and they await their first born within the next 2-4 weeks. This year I carved the EOD, last year, the EGA? (I think I may have sent that to you last year but here it is again) read more

Letter from KB in Chicago

Dear Sgt Grit,
I would like to thank KB for his help that day on the tour. My son is the young Marine from 2/3 and his name is Lcpl Matthew Bradford. He is a very courageous young man and I am very proud of him. He has overcome some tremendous obstacles and is still going strong. He is a true Marine and is very proud of his brothers. He is hoping to stay in the Corp and work with the wounded Marines and their families at the hospitals. He also wants to do some public speaking. He has a lot of heart and soul. As you can see, he has his legs and is walking whenever he can. He is currently at the Hines VA Hospital at the Center for the Blind. He has learned so many things so that he can be independent once again. I know that he will achieve whatever goals he sets for himself. I know that Matt can help others with whatever injury they have because he is such an inspiration. He has helped me thru all of this just by not giving up on himself. This is just a sidestep for Matt to take and then he will be able to go forward for the rest of his life. read more

Letter from KB in Chicago

Greetings from one of a 5 children who is very proud of our dad and the many Marines that have come before him and after. Many years ago a young man talked his very best friend into joining the Marine corp. The United States was in at war with North Korea. Although many say it wasn’t one; just a little old police action. His friends mother had wanted him to be a priest and Eddie had other ideas one was the Air Force. My dad convinced him the Corp was the right choice. They left and each went to different boot camps and then onto different outfits. But they kept in touch each describing what they experienced through out their training. Eddie was sent over seas first. He was CPL Edward Trautwein 7th Mar Reg. F Co 2 BN He ended on a place called Out-Post Vegas , where he died along with many others defending one of many hills in Korea 03-28-’53. He was a radio operator. read more

Gunny Ermey visit

Hi Sarge,

Just checking in with some info I thought you may deem worthy of passing on. A bunch of old Marine Air-wingers have restored back to flying condition their exact UH34D (tail number YN19), they dug up from the boneyard in Arizona. They have put it back together on an old potato farm on Long Island, New York. read more

Happy Birthday

Marines:

This day, Our Marine Corps is 233 years old. I had the wonderful pleasure this weekend to be in Arlington National Cemetary, and see also the Iwo Jima Memorial, also know as the Marine Corps Memorial. I walked around the Iwo Jima Memorial, not knowing what I was supposed to be feeling. I circled it twice, snapped photos of the sculpture, the base, it was beautiful. As I walked around the side to the right, a 12 or 13 year old boy was on the surrounding ledge, walking around the memorial. I motioned with my arm for him to get down. He did, and walked back to his folks. Another guy from my training class, asked why I did that. read more