Category: Marine Corps Stories

July 4th 2009

Hey grit,

Here’s how I spent my 4th. How much grit stuff can you find? By kissing the Blarney stone you get the gift of eloquence. Not that I needed it, but you never know.

Tom Flynn
USMC 1969-the end
ARVN 69-70.

Headed to Bootcamp

Our Grandson Stephen Watt graduated from Champlin Park High School June 7th, 2009, he becomes 18 years old on Aug. 1st and will leave for Marine Boot Camp on Aug. 10th. Stephen has wanted to be a Marine for a long time and during the last year of school he committed to the Marines and his desire to serve his country with the support of his family. On July 12th we hosted a big party for friends and family to give Stephen a big OOH-RAH send-off. He gave his special family members pins to “wear for him” and rubber-band bracelets to his brothers, sisters and friends. Stephen was captain of his high school wrestling team, played hockey and enjoys sailing, a wonderful young man who will be a valuable addition to the security of America! read more

Yemassee S.C.

Sgt. Grit,

While traveling through South Carolina I was hit with a bit of Marine Corps Nostalgia. So I decided to go to Yemassee to see what I remembered of the receiving barracks. It was the first step for 500,000 recruits from 1914 to 1964, I had my turn in February, 1964, a few months before it was taken out of operation. read more

Illinois License Plate

Sgt Grit!
My Illinois Purple Heart Plates!
Semper Fi and Welcome Home to All Veterans

Sgt. Rich Hoffman Chicago
9th Engineers 1st Marine Division
Vietnam 68-69

Bringing Heroes Home, With Honor and Respect

In February 2009, I left my family and our new tropical island paradise home of Okinawa for the sand-swept landscape of Kuwait. My assignment was to serve as the mortuary and patient affairs chaplain for Marine Forces Central Command (MARCENT) in Kuwait. This 6 month Individual Augment (IA) assignment was unlike any other I had served during my 24 years in the military and a genuine learning experience. As always, amid the challenges of life, a Higher Power was at work. read more

The Scuttlebutt

Sgt. Grit:

I always wondered why the term “scuttlebutt” was used for both a water cooler and for “rumor control”. (Or maybe it was explained in boot camp and I was “skylarking”, another odd term) Recently, my wife and I visited Boston for the first time and toured the U.S.S. Constitution. During the tour, we were shown the object in the attached photo which was located on the gun deck. It was explained that sailors and marines were given their daily water ration scooped out of this cask which was called the scuttlebutt. Since they had nothing to do while waiting in line, they traded rumors. A great tour of a the oldest commissioned ship in the Navy. read more

Vets Rally two stories to tell

Girl friend and I went to Vets Rally in WinterPark, Colorado last weekend
Several pictures are included hope you can use them for the newsletter.
Two stories though.
On way down we had to stop for last minute forgotten items.
Stopped at a Super Walmart.
While browsing, saw an older gentleman with a cane and a 1st Marine Division Jacket.
Some kids (18-20 year old) were around him (4 of them). I was a little ways away and thought they were just talking.
But suddenly one of them shoved him backwards into one of the others.
Ok, I got your back, and started to hurry towards them.
Figuring four youngster against one old man with a cane just isn’t right.
I took maybe three steps, and that quick I saw the older man didn’t need anyhelp.
Using his cane, he had three of them on the ground in a blink of an eye, the 4th was making distance.
I continued over to offer any assistance I could.
Security showed up and then later the cops.
We visited while waiting. Turns out he is a Korean War vet.
When cops got there he politely told them, he did not want them arrested, but turned over to their parents.
He gave each a business card. All it said was United States Marines at top, Korean War Vet in the Middle
And Semper Fi at bottom.
He told the cops, they will never live down among their peers having their asses whipped by one lone old man.
More punishment than what jail would ever do.
I got one of his cards with name, but somewhere on the trip I lost it. read more

Boilermaker Update

Just wanted to touch base with you and let you know a little bit about how things came out over the weekend with the big race. The experience itself was incredible although a little bittersweet for me in that I did not make my 2hr and 15min time frame. Sitrin Healthcare has opted to award me the racing wheelchair anyway for hanging in there and going the 9.3 mile distance in my standard wheelchair. There was so much motivation along the way I can’t even begin to describe to you the whole story but the following contains some of the highlights: read more

William Lawrence

On July 22nd Marines from Bravo Co. and NH Marine Corps League presented full Military Honors to an unclaimed Marine. L/Cpl William Lawrence

The Detail consisted of A Marine Officer, two Flag Folders, a Chaplain, Two Buglers and Firing Detail.
Michael Horne, Cemetery Administrator received the folded flag. read more

When the Bee Stings

LCpl C.R. Dehn says it was personal pride that kept him standing at attention as a bee buzzed about his face during the birthday pageant. However, when Dehn opened his mouth to take a deep breath to blow the bee away he sucked it in instead. The bee stung the inside of Dehn?s mouth several times and then he swallowed it when an attempt to cough it up was to no avail. Dehn maintained his attention stance throughout it all commenting later, ?I knew all my buddies at OCS were watching. ? read more