Category: Marine Corps Stories

Just sharing some pics…

I was in the Corps from 91-98, and in ’03 I joined the Army Reserve, and in ’05, I went active duty Army and got shipped off to Korea. Well, I’m out of the Army now due to a torn up knee, but I really miss the “good ol’ days.” They didn’t have digital cameras when I was in Okinawa, but I didn’t blow my chance when I got to Korea. I knew the tight relationship and history between the USMC and the ROK Marine Corps, and when our KATUSA’s (Korean Augmentation To U. S. Army) learned that I had served in the Corps, I got alot of attention. I learned that even though the Korean people are peace-minded and tend to shy away from military actions, they have an intense pride in the ROK Marines. There’s ROKMC souvenir stores everywhere, and every one I visited had ROKMC veterans hanging around swapping stories. Sound familiar? read more

Hector A. Cafferata School Ground Breaking

Students, teachers Chosin Few Members, and Hector A. Cafferata MOH, attending.

Wally

Chosin Reservoir

Sgt Grit,
My Dad, Retired SgtMaj John Swindle was in Korea from Aug 2, 1950 to Dec 4, 1950. He was in A-Battery 1st Bn 11th Mar Div. He was wounded on the 4th of Dec 1950 at the Chosin Reservoir and received the Purple Heart. I’m including a photo of him, from a book called “This is War” by David Douglas Duncan. My Dad is the Marine in the center looking down. I’m real proud of my Dad. read more

First ANGLICO Marine

Sgt Grit,

Found this photo of me taken in N. Korea July 27, 1953 right after the truce was signed. Then Cpl. Max Sarazin, 1st ANGLICO. Promoted to Sgt 6 mos later.

Past Cmdt Det 955 MCL,
Pound Keeper Seadog Pound 338 MODD,
PDD Max Sarazin read more

My Korean Buddies 1950-52

I am looking for any of these guy’s that were in the Motar Squad that I was in in Korea in 1950-51 Group is A CO.,1st. BN.,5TH. MAR.

View more of Bill’s photos

Korea Cold Weather Gear

Sgt Grit: Enclosed is result of contact between G. Robinson and myself, regarding a prior article I had written. With all the current reference of Korea, thought you’d like to see the resulting pictures.
Thanks for the quick reply, Top.

I thought you might enjoy seeing pictures of the vest I referred to plus the USMC long parkas. First the parka: read more

Point of Interest Are Reunion Anti/ Tank Co 5th Marines

Point of interest, At are reunion Anti/Tank Co.5th Marines ( Korea ) Sept.18 at Quantico,National Museum, Marine Base. Going thru the Museum I ran across a Picture that was taken Feb. 7 1953 of myself and my tank driver Norm Bodway carrying out one of the 6 Marines we were able to help. It was at the Samichon Valley also know as 76 alley read more

Thank you

As a young man I successfully made an attempt to get away from my father by joining the Corps. I managed to get one of my ?connected? friends get me a forged birth certificate, because I was only 16 years old, and as soon as I got it I went down to the Marine Corps recruiting office at the main post office in Chicago, Illinois and enlisted. I was subsequently sent out to MCRD San Diego where I completed my boot camp early in 1952 and went to Camp Pendelton with the 1st Marines for advanced infantry training. Immediately after that I shipped out to Korea in late 1952. I served in Korea until the spring of 1953 when I was wounded and sent home. read more

Korea 1950

Winter Sports, North Korea, 1950

In early December, 1950 at Yonpo Airfield, North Korea, I was assigned as a member of a team taking a Portable Radar set to the Chosin reservoir. After loading the equipment into a jeep and trailer, we drove over to the squadron mess tent to pick up some C-rations. It was about 8pm at night. At the mess tent we were told to stand down as the Marines at the Chosin were cut off due to other military units retreating, exposing the Marines flank. read more

USMC

loved your news letter and would love to suscribe to it , i come from a marine corps family my father was a p o w on sipan during ww ii ,my oldest brother was a hellcat pilot on the yorktown shot down in battle of midway ,i lost another brother on guadacannal ,and i had two sons that served honorably , and iam a chosin resevor survivor , ,the best thing i ever did was join the marine corps , there is a lot of truth to once a marine allways a marine ,and the pride instilled in me at parris island boot camp i will carry to my grave , i work a lot with veterens and its sad our boys comming home cant get there needs fulfiled ,because of budeget cuts we just got 18 vans shut down to get these boys to hospitals etc. my pet peve is why we as a country turn our backs on our veterens ,someone tell me why after severing two or three tours read more