Category: Proud to be a Marine

Keepin’ The Faith

A Marine Corps Christmas Story

The story regards a small group of Marines, haggard and tired from the day’s events, sitting at their jungle outpost as night approaches and attempting to find solace after the loss of friends in battle. Ceremony, designed to sooth, and which normally surrounds loss of those close to us is not to be. Mingling among family and friends at the wake, kind words from the preacher, the funeral procession to the cemetery for more kind words and capped off with roast turkey, drinks and even a bit of laughter as the pleasant memories take over. To be able to pay respect. In a proper way, to a friend. None of this was to be. Simply there one moment, with talk of the future and, of course, tales about the incredible babes back in “The World”. And gone the next moment, with the unceremonious zipping of a body bag. read more

Base Brig Camp Pendleton, CA

This is for all current and former Marines who served as guards at H&S Company, Corrections Battalion MCB Camp Pendleton, CA. I served there from December 1979 to July 1983. I have a lot of fond memories of that place. Some of which were: January 1980 through June 1980 – Murderers row (8 in cell block), IDIOT forms, gate silencers, signing the 509 forms, Master Control, Victor, Victor!, Section Leader SSgt Arroyo, Sgt. Reyes, Sgt. Lee (both), Sgt. Saia, Corporal Catbagan, Section Leader SSgt Helmel, Bn Commander Maj. G. A. Miller, CWO Jackson and his morning snooping (entering through the dorm rear hatch trying to catch any sleeping guard while on duty), Capt. Collins, Lt Ciamacca (WM), coyotes howling up in the hills, 100 rabbits on the front lawn, rattlesnakes, Minimum Annex, Work Annex, squirrels chewing through newly glued targets at the Work Annex because they liked the wheat paste, having Environmental Services remove a 6 foot rattle snake from the Work Annex, LCpl Bowman, relaxing in the barracks TV room, Sgt. Gade, the weasel that wasn’t afraid of walking through an open door and visiting occupied rooms, annual rifle qualification, Field Day formation, morning PT Formation, Company Formation, going up to ‘The Hill’ for duty, Duty Belts, Uniform of the Day, ‘do we call them confinees or prisoners today?’, Guard Mount, Post 4 duty, turning the flood lights on by climbing the guard towers, finding two owls in Tower 2, (one broke out a window), Rec Call, Reveille, Reveille, Reveille!, Mail Call, Code 6. We were Firm, Fair, and Professional in all our duties. We were the gate keepers to prepare Marines to be returned to duty or to be summarily discharged. You were invaluable to the Corps in which we all served. SEMPER FI! read more

Inspired By The Yellow Sweatshirts

Inspired by the Yellow Sweatshirt we wore during bootcamp in 1962, I designed and had made this Yellow T-Shirt for the surviving members of my boot camp platoon. Twenty-two members of Platoon 145 ordered thirty-two shirts. They shipped on Tuesday, February 16th and should be in the hands of the platoon members by Thursday February 18th or Friday February 19th. read more

3rd Battalion Barracks At PI

I would like to send a photo and brief description of the old 3rd Bat. barracks at Parris Island that are being torn down. I was there two weeks ago, they are partially demolished, the bricks are being preserved and sold by the base museum to raise funds. The barracks were used from 1960/61 until three years ago. A new Bat. area is located a short distance away. I took some pictures of the shells of these buildings while standing on the old parade deck, many memories came to me there in the silence. Thought many old 3rd Bat. Marines would like to see what has happened to the barracks. I was there in 1961, they were brand new, and jokingly referred to as Disneyland by the 1st and 2nd Bats. read more