Category: Marine Corps Stories

AQUA VELVA

Sgt Grit,

Here is a funny and VERY true story. I graduated from Parris Island in late October of 1981 in platoon 2063. Anyway…we were practicing for what I believe was the Battalion Commander’s inspection and the DI’s had us “on line” in the squad bay. They paced back and forth checking and rechecking that we had shaved closely, had brushed our teeth and gargled with mouthwash and knew our “knowledge.” I recall our younger DI going from recruit to recruit and splashing a small amount of Aqua Velva into his hand and then plastering it across each cheek of each recruit. (I still bust out laughing when I think of that). Then he moved down the ranks again and after pouring a cup-full of mouthwash into each person’s mouth, instructed them to gargle, and then swallow because, “he did not want any maggot to offend the Battalion Commander with our sh!t-smellin breath.” Apparently he ran out of mouthwash about a dozen or so recruits after me and did what I will never forget. He yelled for one of the “house-mouses” to get him the Aqua Velva and he made the rest of the platoon gargle with it! From that point on my memory is a bit clouded, but I don’t believe he had them swallow it! I do remember him explaining that the after-shave was no different from the mouth wash. It must not have hurt anyone internally…they all made it to graduation! I’ll say this much….I was scared sh!tless back then, but when I look back now, there isn’t too much that happened in boot camp that doesn’t bring a smile to my face every time I think about it! read more

TF 51/5 MARINES AND SAILORS PARTICIPATE IN SALUTE TO LIFE

Leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, congenital neutropenia, sickle cell anemia and thalassemia – recognize these? What they all have in common is they are some of the infections and diseases with which more than 17,000 Americans are diagnosed each year and may need bone marrow transplants. read more

Second to None

Arthur R. Cuellar of Rancho Cucamonga honorably served
his country in the Vietnam War in 1967 as a Point Man for the 2nd
Battalion, 4th Marines. He was honorably discharged as a
decorated hero with three Purple Hearts. The time Arthur Cuellar
spent in Vietnam changed his life forever. Arthur, a resident of
California came from a long line of military men. At a young age
Arthur knew he would one day also join the Marines. Before that
day would come he was a promising baseball pitcher, able to
throw a fastball 100 miles an hour. At one point he even played
against the famous ‘Rollie’ Fingers (Roland Glen Fingers). Even
though as a child Arthur was diagnosed and treated for Polio he
did not let this stop him from pursuing his dreams and enlisting in
the Marines at the young age of 18 years.While Arthur was engaged in basic training, he celebrated his 19* birthday and was teased by
fellow marines because of the number of cards he received from his family. As a joke, a female friend
sent him a letter with a kiss imprinted on it. His drill sergeants made him do pushups to kiss the letter.
This was his first initiation into the Marines. Once Arthur finished basic training in April of 1967 he was
flown to Hawaii and there transferred to a 17 hour flight to Okinawa. From Okinawa he went to Danang,
Vietnam. He was assigned his outfit and given a 50 Caliber machine gun as his first weapon, in addition
he was given his required mess kit and C-Rations. This, was his welcome to Vietnam. read more

2/4 Battle of Dai Do

Hello, I am reaching out to this forum to hopefully find someone who can tell me a little bit more about my uncle. I, am a Marine who served in Desert Storm and have the honor of having five other members of my fathers family who served in the Corps too. But that is for a later day, my interest now is to find anyone who might have been at the battle of Dai Do from April 29th to May 4th of 68. My Uncle, my second father was Dennis Romans. He was a squad leader of snipers attached to 2/4. He personally was with 2nd platoon, Hotel Co. He was wounded on I believe May 1st. From his letters to my parents (who my father was also a Marine in the 50’s) described how bad it really was. What I am looking for is for anyone who might have known him that I can talk to about that time. I have some many pictures of his from there with people I would just like to link together with. My Uncle, Uncle Dennis had a huge Heart! But he died back in 2010. One thing he did tell me during our drinking bouts after I got back from Desert Storm was about the 13 cent killers. He told me about he and his men had these coats made up with 13 cent killers on the back, because that was what the cost of one of their .307 (as he told me, yes! not .308. cost to produce!) I will include the pic. I have many pics of the area he landed in and would like to share them with those he was with. I know he would be happy for that. By the way, his little brother was with 1/1 during the battle of Hue City and he always looked out for his men! If you know the Marine in the picture (he is not my Uncle) please notify me and maybe I can get this pic to his him or his family! Semper Fi read more

ROYAL MARINE AND U.S. MARINE GENERALS STRENGTHEN RAPPORT AT MARFORCOM

The Commandant General Royal Marines, Maj. Gen. Charlie R. Stickland, visited U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command Feb. 12, 2019, to discuss future bilateral training opportunities with the Commanding General of MARFORCOM, Lt. Gen. Mark A. Brilakis.

The meeting was an opportunity for the two senior leaders to strengthen the long-standing rapport between the services while also speaking about current and future operational advantages gained from training together. read more

TET 69 Secrets

It have been 50 years since the 69 Tet offensive and now i ca finaly tell the truth about my service in the Marines.It is now declassified. On Feb 1 1969 i just finished my scout sniper training at Stone Bay Camp Lajune and was home enjoying 20 day leave when I got a call to return to HQ 2nd Recon. Once I arrived I was sent right away to a secret location near Onslo Beach.The only thing we were told was that we were shipping out to an undiclosed location. We were all issued a M-21 sniper rifle and loaded onto cattlecars.The next stop was Cherry point airbase. We were loaded onto C-130 cargo planes and imediatly took off About 10hours later under the cover of darkness we landded at Danag airbase in South Veitnam and were loaded onto covered trucks but still did not know where we were going. Finaly we were at our destiation Hue city. We were told to lock and load and to set up firing positions aroundd the city andd to shoot anyboby tring to leave the city.We were ther for about a week and lost Marines and We were then sent back to Danag again under the cover of darkness and told to never speak about waht we did.All any body need to know was we were on a training mission and the guys we lost were just lost None of us got any medals or nothing. I think I need a drink. read more

The Trained Killer

I was stationed at Subic Bay, Philippines, 1967-1971, and provided Technical Services to the fleet on weapons and weapon systems. I was assigned to ComFairWestPac, Cubi Point.

There were several Clubs at Subic Bay. Two of the Clubs were the Cubi Point Officers Club, and the Skyclub at the Marines MAU Camp on the hill. The Cubi Point Officers club was a formal, quiet, and sedate club where Naval Aviators gathered to frolic. read more

General Victor Krulak

I was visiting with the Gunny at the Recruiting Station in Flagstaff the other day, and he handed me the article that spoke of the passing of General Victor Krulak at age 95. Tears came to my eyes, as I recalled this unique, and most impressionable officer I have ever met. I had served as a Drill Instructor from 1957-1959, and at the end of my tour on the Drill field, I was given an assignment to Sea School at MCRD, San Diego, as an Instructor. read more

Saved My Life

It was a Friday afternoon in November 2008 just after Thanksgiving. I stopped in the Worcester, (MA) Detachment Marine Corps League for a beer or two in the Leatherneck Lounge. The only one there was the bar manager Marine Joe Ricci. Within five minutes one of our few remaining WW II vets, Marine Carlo Mastrototaro came in and sat beside me at the bar. Within two minutes the door opens and the second WW II vet Marine Walter Maloney enters and sits next to me on the other side. read more