Category: Marine Corps Stories

Oklahoma Marine

I had the pleasure to stop at Sgt Grit’s main store and get a picture of Don and I standing at the back of my motorhome along with two other old marines. Sorry I don’t remember the other two’s names. I’m sure if they see this on the web site, they will write in and let us know their names and dates of service. I did meet another old marine that was a bit bitter about the happier homecoming that the current military is getting. He was a tad upset after 40 years of returning home from Viet Nam that he never received a welcome home. I welcomed him home as I do all old vets who survived any past wars. I can only remember why I served my country not for the accolades that so many seem to be looking for or wanting. I have and will always stand tall for being a Marine and a veteran of the Viet Nam conflict. read more

Phillip teaches Jr. Chruch in his Dress Blues

This is a pic of me teaching Jr. Church. This was in 1983 Okinawa, Japan.

I am Phillip Millard

I was in the Marines from Oct 1982-August 1986..During the time this pic was taken, I was stationed at Camp Kinser. I was attached to:

CMCC-CMS G2/3
H & S Co. H & S Bn.
3rd FSSG read more

A picture of me in 1983

Sgt. Grit:

We are a proud Marine Corps family. I served from 1960 – 1966, my brother, Dr. Larry Morrell, served from 1953 – 1956, and our Dad, James E. Morrell, served from 1916 – 1919. Recently, my family has put together many of the pictures that Dad took during his WWI service. Dad was a sea-going Marine. Enclosed are 3 pictures that I’ve had restored. One is his sea-going home, the battleship USS Wyoming; the second is the Marine detachment on the Wyoming (Dad is in the front row, seated in the middle at an angle), and the third is a copy of Dad’s discharge certificate. Notice that the CMC signed the certificate. Incidentally, for all you “salts” out there, my Dad’s USMC service number was 75136. Unlike most Marines, from the eras of my brother and I, my Dad took no stock in his service number. In fact, as a young Marine stationed on Okinawa in the early 60s, I wrote him asking what his service number was. He could not remember it. It didn’t matter in those days. He DID, however, remember his Springfield .03 rifle number, and did till the day he passed away. Oorah ! and Semper Fi ! read more

My Heros My Marines

SGT Grit,

When my two boys graduated from MCRD San Diego, they had to go straight to Grandma’s house to pay there respect’s to my father. My Dad served in WWII. He was in the Army. When my boys were growing up they always wanted to be in the service. As they grew up they wanted to be Marines. My Dad is so proud. I know he is looking down on them and taking care of them. read more

Un-Claimed Marine

He is buried here in New Hampshire at the NH Veterans? Cemetery as are a few other un-claimed service members from the different services. It came to light that these military persons had been cremated and sitting at different funeral Homes un claimed As the NH Veteran Cemetery is fairly new they were asked if they could be interned there and of course the rest is History. Many of NH VSOs banded together to provide the proper service ceremony. I can truly say it?s a place of Beauty and serenity. read more

Walk of Honor

This is just one of many service monuments that line the ?WALK of HONOR?.

The ?Reflective Fountain? was donated by the Blue Star Mothers to the Gold Star Mothers of New Hampshire.

All the services have their Monuments on the Red Brick Walkway, including the Merchant Marines. The Korean War Monument is visited each year by a contingent from South Korea who join with US Veterans to pay respect for their sacrifice. read more

A Marine You Should Know – Cpl Scherer

Cpl Christopher G. Scherer, USMC, KIA 21 July 2007, Operation Iraqi Freedom. My son is “A Marine You Should Know”.

When Lieutenant Colonel Wayne Sinclair spoke at Chris?s funeral he said the following: ?Chris?s platoon commander called him the most likable marine in the platoon, no one griped or had a bad day if Cpl Scherer had anything to say about it. Lieutenant Douglas Orr told me that though the living conditions in the field have been harsh over the past two months, and the marines have been working and fighting in 120 degree temperatures while wearing body armor and carrying ammunition, weapons, water, and equipment that typically weighs over 70 pounds for each marine, he never heard Chris complain or even question their circumstances – not once. NOT EVER.? read more

A Small Thank You

At the begginning part of this year, my husband was deployed, and I was facing my first deployment and time away from him. During the deployment you really look around at everything in your life and see how precious things are. You also come to see how lucky you are to have the family you do. Alot of my friends and co-workers do not seem to understand what that feeling of missing a call from a loved one is like, writing letters everyday, and just the everyday “I miss you’s” that are so hard to get through sometimes. I knew that I could always count on my family for eveyrthing and anything whether it be support or “just because” cards in the mail box. What I didn’t realize is the strong support of the wives, mothers, girlfriends, and sisters that were in the same boat I was….no pun-intended. Because I was given the previlage to become close with so many of them, I found Sgt. Grit. In finding you, I was able to show off how proud I was of my Marine, and all the Marines out there, and SHOP! 🙂 My Aunt is in the chocolate business and when I flipped to the page of the Marine Emblem chocolate mold, I didn’t waste a minute in ordering it. I gave it to her and she was thrilled. I kept bugging her asking her when she was going to make them. She would always respond saying, “for a special occasion.” read more