Proud to be a Marine – Page 103 – Sgt. Grit Community

Just Plain Lethal

Sgt Grit,

Attached are three pictures that I just came across yesterday while looking through old photos. The top photo is of me marching as the guide next to Sgt Mazenko on graduation day (Oct 27, 1981 – Platoon 2063 Parris Island).

Back then for graduation we marched in Columns of two with the SDI out in front and the "junior" DI's each marching in front of a section of the platoon, but not sure how it is done today. I was a squad leader at times during boot-camp (got fired several times, by Sgt Ishmail and always reinstated by Mazenko, but that is a story for another time), but never served as guide, so when Mazenko selected me as his guide for Graduation Day, I was all filled up with extra pride. My dad took the photo, but I did not know he took it – must have zoomed in, because he never got that close to the parade deck as far as I know. read more

Marine past and present

I served in the Army for 6 years with the 2nd Infantry Division received my Honorable Discharge then signed up for the Corps which I also received my Honorable Discharge. As a veteran who served in both services to compare the Army to the Corps there's no compairson Corps comes out on top all the time. Once a Marine always a Marine. read more

Leading the Way

“Next time I want to complain about my aches and pains I think I’ll take another look at this Marine.

PS-The regiment is not known as the “Fightin’ 6^th Marines” for nothing. “

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Timothy Solano read more

Shadow Box

Sgt. Grit,

You might remember that 2 or 3 weeks ago I sent in a story about Andy Goddard, retired Marine Gunny SDI pt’ing a fat-body recruit in the “Rose Garden” at Parris Island?

One of things I said was that “you oughta see his shadow box”. In case you’re still interested, here it is. read more

Marine Pride

There have been some comments in the newsletter about Women Marines. I want to introduce you to my neighbor who, last month, turned 89. She is sharp as a tack but her body is a little worn.
She will always say with pride that she is a Marine. Not an ex, former, used to be, or anything like that. read more

Buddy System

Sarge: Thought you might get a kick out of this. These are 4 guys that all joined the Marines on the buddy system. We did various lengths of hitches, but after the Corps we all ended up in law enforcement in one capacity or another.

This is a shot of the day we celebrated our 40th anniversary of enlisting in the Corps. We have one of your flags to commemorate the event. We are all wearing WW2 repro Marine camo with various and sundry other pieces of Corps equipment. The pooch on the end is a retired police K9 and has just taken a Japanese battle flag off of an enemy combatant who no longer needs it. Hope you get a kick out of the pic. read more

1st Civ Div

I'm replying to the letter where name withheld was lamenting lack of active duty visitors. I too am a Marine Veteran and VA employee, and I'm here to say Esprit de Corps is alive and well. Most of the VA facilities are pretty far from any active duty bases. MCL members and former Marine employees have got to pick up the slack. read more

DI at PI

When I returned from Korea, still in one piece, I was assigned to DI School at San Diego. So after 13 months in Korea I am going on 24 months of Training Recruits. So as DI School progressed and we were getting ready for Graduation and all Korean Vets were to report to Sick Bay. We were given a poison to kill the internal bugs common to Korea. I took the Poison as directed (who is going to tell the people that kept you alive in War…NO!} so On Graduation day, I passed out as did a couple others. We were hauled to Sick Bay then to Balboa Naval Hospital, we were dying of the Poison given us to keep us from getting sick. In the Hospital I was given my DI Diploma and later lost it!!! Fortunately mu Enlistment was up and so I asked for Recruiters School, what could be easier. (by the way in those days you were paid $360 for 6 year Enlistment, YOU HAD TO WANT TO BE A MARINE). read more

Traffic stop

The other day while driving to work near the Detroit airport in Romulus Mi. I pulled up to a red light. I came to a stop and at the same time a Police officer pulled up to me on my left side in the turn lane.As I proceeded through the green light the cop suddenly pulled up behind me with his lights flashing. I pulled over and he pulled up beside me and rolled down his window. I did the same. He yelled out to me hey marine, where did you get your marine wheel cover. I yelled back, www.sgtgrit. He thanked me, yelled out semper fi and took off. What a relief. read more

“The Greatest Marine I Ever Knew”

I want to tell you of a great marine. His name is Gunnery Sergeant Jerald J. boullion. He was a crew chief on a "Sea Stallion". He recieved two medals for service above and beyond the call of duty. His first came when he had all of the CH-53's in the Marine Corps grounded, when, after losing one of his 'copters in the Indian Ocean, he found a weak shear-pin in the main prop shaft. His love for his country and the Marine Corps still sounds true today, every time I speak to him. His three trips to Vietnam, and multiple deployments throughout the U.S. and abroad teaching and instructing other Marines about the mighty CH-53 "Sea Stallion" are just a few of his many great accomplishments. I should know. He's my dad. read more