NAVY CROSS RECIPIENT // Gunnery Sergeant Brian C. Jacklin, 1st Marine Special Operations // On the morning of 14 June 2012 Gunnery Sergeant Jacklin was second in command of a team conducting village stability operations in the volatile Upper Gereshk Valley of Helmand Province. The enemy suddenly poured heavy fire into the team’s position, and his team leader and another Marine each suffered life threatening gunshot wounds. Without hesitation, Gunnery Sergeant Jacklin seized control of the situation and orchestrated a counterattack. Finding the primary communications link inoperable, he personally established an alternate means with a nearby supporting unit and began prosecuting direct, indirect, and aviation fires on the enemy, while simultaneously coordinating evacuation of the casualties. He courageously led his team out of their compound and through open terrain in order to secure a landing zone, but enemy ground fire initially forced the casevac aircraft to wave off. Gunnery Sergeant Jacklin voluntarily remained behind, and throughout a raging battle all the next day, he provided vital intelligence, tactical assistance, and deadly accurate personal fires. Throughout 48 hours, he inspired all around him as he led a vicious fight to defeat a determined enemy force. By his decisive actions, bold initiative, and complete dedication to duty, Gunnery Sergeant Jacklin reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Category: Marine Corps Stories
Mouth full of donuts!
I went through MCRD San Diego in the summer of 1975. There were a lot of funny stories from that time frame. One day the drill instructor told me and another private to hustle over to the chow hall and eat, then get back to serve on fire watch duty while the rest of the platoon left. Like most recruits, I was always hungry, and we were always rushed. I was just about finished with my breakfast when the guy I was with asked if I wanted his powdered donuts! “Sure!” I said, stuffing them into my mouth then hustling to put our tray into the scullery window and head out the door. Before we could leave another D.I. stopped me, I’m sure I obviously looked like a hamster with a mouthful. “Come here private!” (High pitched mumble in reply on my behalf!) “What you got in your mouth son!” “Mmmrr, mmmrrr, rrr!” “You go spit that out lad!” I mumbled and saluted and spit out the rest of it in a trash can. “You go tell your drill instructor what you did, you hear me boy?” “Sir, yes sir!” I shouted and saluted, but in my mind I thought, “Bullshit!” and high-tailed it out of there!
Joined the Marines in 1966. .My MOS was 1833 Amtrak. After Six months at Camp Lejeune I was off to Staging. Arrived at CUA VIET, Camp Kessler at the mouth of the Cus Viet River
Semper fi: Joined the Corps Oct. 1966. Boot Camp in San Diego. MOS 1833 Amtracs. After 6 months at Court House Bay. Off to staging. Landed in Danang August 1, 1967. C131 to Dong Ha. Then 12 mile. Mike Boat ride to the mouth of the Cua Viet River to 1st Tracks, A Companyfourth platoon. Camp Kessler. The Company was out on operation. I spent my first few days with SGT Wright where I discovered that A Company was designated as AMGRUNTS. We were 1833 /03. My second week I was driving a tractor on mission. A few hours out the tractor hit a mine. My first of four I experienced. The worse day for the A Company was the ambush of January 20, 1968. Although the TET OFFICIALLY started January 30.. we were hit on Jan. 20. In minutes we lost. 11 Marines. 18 with major injuries that were Vac out. The tractor I was on hit a BIG Tank mine. I was sitting on top as a grunt. A few minutes later I was on the ground gathering my senses. An hour or so later we were saved by two new Cobra Choppers. The complete story is too long to complete. There are reports under Amgrunt 1968
Yellow Footprints
YELLOW FOOTPRINTS
We traveled all through the night.
First by train then by bus,
for many their first train ride if you rule out the subway.
It was a long tedious journey
through one state after another, after another, then another,
arriving just as night expressed its last vestige of darkness
and began a slow fade to white.
Final Mural as a Marine illustrator
I am a former Marine illustrator and Drill Instructor. This image was taken on 29 March 1982, by SSgt. Bill Daley, of the final work of art I created after leaving the Drill Field at MCRD before heading off to my new duty station –MCAS El Toro.
Challenge:
Though it has been long since painted over, do you know what building it was in?
A tale of two Corps
In December of 1968 I was in welding school in Pittsburgh Pa.
I had orginaly planned on going to law school until my Dad got sick and seeing an add on the bus coming home from my window washing job I decided to find out what a welder did for a living. The class was only 300 bucks and promised I would become a AWS certified welder.(which I became).
Like many of us I was in love with my high school sweetheart and wanted to get married asap.
Shortly before the draft came into effect, I decided to go to the Peace Corps and teach welding in some far away land. My girl was going to follow me when she graduated and my future looked pretty good.
Before joining I went to my local draft board and to my surprise I learned that after a 2 year stint I would still not have any type of deferment.
I did find out the Marine Corps would only ask for a two year active commitment.
I was pretty sure with my welding training I would be drafted so I enlisted that day on the 120 day delayed entry program and on April 17th 1969 I got a 3 am introduction to Parris Island.
WOW what a wakeup call!
I was promoted to PFC out of boot camp and extended for a year as the Marines decided they wanted me to learn how to shoot planes out of the sky. My MOS was 5923 and I ended up in Huntsville Alabama at the Redstone Arsenal army base, met my wife of 52 years now and I am forever grateful that I joined the Marine corps and not the Peace Corps!
Boot Camp
It was Christmas Eve 1965. I had
been called to St Louis by the
draft board along with three
Guys from my little town in
southeast Mo. After arriving
And completing a day of tests etc.
A army Sgt separated us some
To go home some to go to be
Drafted. You guessed it I got the
Second group. While waiting
For the bus I was laminating
About it being Christmas Eve
Guy next to me said there is a
Marine In the hall if you enlist
You can go home til after the
New year! Yes I Did and went to
San Diego in Jan of 1966. I was in
Nam Jan 67. Made it back and was
Ordered to Twenty nine Palms. Discharged and no regrets.
SSGT. USMC PROUD
Joining the Corps
Out of HS almost a year (1960) Working as a stock boy at Lord & Taylors. Another stock boy had just gotten married at 25 1/2 yrs of age. Got drafted. Cut off age for the draft was 26. Me another stock boy were discussing this snafu on our break. Did not relish the idea of getting drafted. I ruled out joining the Army, Navy and Air Force right away. Every guy I knew who joined the Army was either deployed to the South or Germany. I would have loved going to Germany but definitely did not want to go South. Did not want to be at sea for weeks if not month with a bunch of swinging d–ks. Had no particular skills so the Air Force was not a fit for me. I had the impression that Marines traveled which I always wanted to do. We decided to go speak with the local recruiter. Took the little test and was on my way to PI 30 days later. When I woke up the morning I joined the Marine Corps that was the FARTHEST thing from my mind. NEVER RGRETTED THAT DECISION. SF
Life is an adventure
I was 17 years old, had lived on my own for over a year, and had just left a good job because of girl troubles. The girl and I worked together, and it was a roller coaster relationship.
One September morning I told my best friend Paul that I was going to join the Marine Corps. Something which I’d not talked about or thought through. Paul said “Let’s go. by God”. So we drove down to the recruiting office in Columbus Ohio.
Before Joining the Marines – before March 1967
What was I doing before I joined the Corps? I was going to college. The local draft board culled the list of student sand called me in. “Why are you on our lists?” I was asked. After putting my pink ID on their desk, I said because I am already in the Navy – Navy Reserves that is. 3 years and a month into my 2X4 program (2 years active, 4 years reserve). I was a Seaman bucking for 3rd Class.