Sgt Grit is a place where Marines can come and meet other Marines, share tattoos and stories, keep up with Marine Corps news, or shop for USMC gear.
August 28, 1945. Forty young men stand for induction into the Marine Corps on this day
A symbol is dedicated to the group that will accompany them along their way
The California Bear Flag is handed off from the Marine Corps League to the group
When their training is finished, it will find it’s way back from the troop
When ocean breezes drift my way
I feel and smell the salty spray.
Life afirming-a gift from the sea
it brings our lord so near to me.
I feel his power in the ocean roar,
in sun splashed waves that pound the shore.
I see his face where ocean meets sky, where sunset burns brightly-God’s all seeing eye.
The birthday ball is coming soon.
Devil Dogs will smile and dance under the moon.
As they sway gently holding loved ones in their arms,
Their thoughts steal away to their brothers who face harm.
Just for a moment, they want to be over there,
Just to make sure the perimeter is clear.
The love and regard these men have for each other
Is a bond common to all Marine Corps brothers.
Sgt. Grit I must say I was glad to read Cpl Haines letter in newsletter #132 on the 28th of Sept. I would like to offer this poem I wrote as proof to Cpl Haines that there are many of us that feel the same way. Thank you to all of my sisters and brothers in arms wherever you may be in the world. May god bless you and keep you safe so you may return home in one piece.
TARAWA ATOLL
20 to 23 NOVEMBER, 1943
Copyright ? 2005
Thomas G. Pettit
How many ways do we count the dead? 1,165 Marines and Corpsmen. Deconstructing as we must, we lost about 195 per landing zone or battalion; 16 per hour of combat; one every 3.75 minutes; all in about two square miles of misery. And the enemy lost four times that many. But these are politicians’ and journalists’ numbers.
Hello Sergeant, My name is Scott Barbour and my son(Ryan) is a LCpl at Camp Lejeune. He was injured in tank school and has missed two deployments. A week or so after he got his eagle, globe and anchor in San Diego, I wrote this poem. I thought that some of your readers would like it. You can also sing it to the Marine Corps Hymn
Written by Scott Barbour for his son, LCpl. Ryan Barbour
We are a band of sisters
Sent out to you,
With nothing to lose?
Until the day we came to you?
We were just kids if you knew.
Packin’ pounds, hurtin’ feet,
Pushing sisters til they succeed
Letters adrift, and friends we miss?
Have you ever thought, why we’ve battled and fought, for 230 years?
Why we never look back and always attack, without showing any fear.
Why our feeling runs deep and our honor we keep and never betray a trust.
Then you know what it means, to be labeled Marine, till our ashes turn to dust.
TIME:
Time as we were told could be stored in a bottle,
Slipped in the river,
Tossed in the waves,
To be found by someone searching
SEARCHING:
Searching for companionship,
Looking for that special friend
The friend you could say anything to,
The friend that would still be there for you some 40 years later
A Legion of Angels descended on earth, to wage an epic war.
Disguised as boys, they stood when called, and traveled to lands afar.
An evil scourge had arisen, and threatened World domination.
These boys became great Warriors; a shield, in defense of our Nation.