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.
Hi, Sgt. ,
I've been discharged from the Corps for quite a few years, but like so many others, I can't get it out of my system. I still practice what I've learned back then. Example, I have to make my own bed each morning. It is properly tight and straight, specially the bed spread. I always wonder if the DI would approve.
Sgt. Grit,
In June of 1956 I was fortunate to join the Avionic shop of MAG-35 MCAS Cherry Point, NC. The group consisted of two squadrons, VMR-153 and VMR-252 of R3Q-2 “flying boxcars.” My shop supervisor was then Capt. Robert O. Arthur of Wake Island VMF-211 fame. He was the spitting image of “Smiling Jack” the cartoon character with the pencil thin mustache. The Captain was a big man full of good humor and a great C.O. He drove a small Renault which was way too small for his large frame. When he wasn’t flying he always joined us at the noon time card game. We all knew the Capt. had spent most of WWll in a Japanese prison camp after the capture of Wake Island but none of us knew of his heroism. He never bragged nor did he talk much about his prison camp experience. One day we were visited by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Gen. Randolph McCall Pate. I was standing on top of an aircraft in our hanger when the Commandant entered. I heard the Commandant yell “Bob” and the two walked swiftly toward each other and sharing greetings they embraced. I knew then there must be something special about our Capt.
Sgt Grit,
I was reading the comments about the Women Marines having male Drill Instructors in recent Newsletters and I am here to say "I was One".
After putting thru 14 platoons at MCRD PI in January 1971 to March 1973, I was transferred to OCS Quantico for the summer programs but as luck would have it The Printing Shop at Quantico was civilianized that summer so i had to spend the rest of my tour as an Instructor at OCS and also at the SNCO Academy. I was the NCOIC of Casual Plt for some time. After SNCO Academy and as my last duty before receiving orders back to my MOS, I was sent to the OCS Women Marines Company where I taught drill to the last Company of Women Marines before they were to begin training with the male Marines or so I was told.
Sgt. Grit
I am trying to locate men from my old Cannoncocker days on Okinawa….I served with the 12 th Marines Kilo Btry. 4th Battalion at Camp Hauge Okinawa in 1957 & 1958 on the 155 Howitzer…I was hoping you could print this letter and photograph in your newsletter to help me maybe find some of these men I had the honor of serving with….Time is fast slipping away from us and I'd like to locate as many as possible…I can be reached at Facebook at Howard W. Kennedy or by email at h.kennedy@comcast.net Thank you Sgt.Grit for the platform you provide to help us find long lost friends…
In reference to Cpl.Kunkel's wanna be Marine (WM). I was at MCRD Parris Island March 1977 3rd HERD and when we stood guard duty, one of the areas was around the WM barracks and MajGen. P.'s
Semper Fi
Former Cpl. M. Davis 1977-'81
Gung Ho Sarge; This is a photo of a bunch of future Marine officers just completing their second training tour of Platoon Leaders Class at Quantico, in August of 1954. Take a look at our faces and you can see the pride instilled in us by Senior Drill Instructor Wakefield and his henchmen. The emotions we shared were those of brotherhood, trust and ready for the challenge. I wonder if any of my fellow candidates will see this photo and get in touch with me. If so I am Bob Morris, second on left, front row and am at poppi66@live.com. Maybe we can recollect the identities of these former skinheads. Thanks for all you do for the Corps and God Bless our brothers in harms way.
Why I Fight
One day as I was coming home to visit my family after my last deployment, I Decided to stop at a locale restaurant to eat. When I walked into the restaurant I was still in my Marine dress uniform. The hostess looked at me. She was going to move me in front of the line of waiting people, so I said to her “ No Ma’am, I can wait. No need for me to go first.” As the line went down I finally got to sit and order my food. When I was waiting for my food to come out the people that were leaving came up to me and said, “ Thank you”. So, after an hour I finish my food and paid and was walking back to my rental car when this young mother with four kids came up to me and asked, “Son why do you fight”? I then looked at her and said, “Well Ma’am, I am a US Marine. I have stormed beaches and freed countries. I have defended the weak and defeated the strong. I have been courageous and have shown compassion. I have raised our flag and raised our hope. Some call me Leatherneck, My Enemy’s call me Devil Dog. But you can call me a Marine. It’s not the money, the glory, the women or to kill that I fight, but it’s for my brothers and sisters in arms and for you. I fight for you and I’ll do it again too. To protect you is my honor so that’s why I fight. But now may I ask you, “ What can you do to help? Please support our military”!
