I was the the officer in charge of Hill 250 from January 1969 until September 1970. 1st Recon was sent to the hill to provide security for the IOD and my men and I, in that order. We had thermite (sp?) grenades strapped to the IOD. Our job was to destroy it should we get over run. The IOD (Integrated Observation Device) was my responsibility. I remember the dozer being brought to level some high ground adjacent to our hill.
Category: Proud to be a Marine
Hill 250, 6-70 to 3-71
I was TAD from 1/13, 3rd Howitzers (Danang) to Hill 250. I was a Fire Controlman and secondary Viet Interpretor. But I was an Troop Handler at Camp Pendleton for year, instructing mortars & MG.
Only got a few pics of Hill & others, as lost camera in poker game, but would like to hear from anyone who might remember me (Panther tattoo on right forearm & Jesus/crucifix on left forearm). I also carried a huge Bowie Knife, which I threw alot, during spare time.
Post Cards From Khe Sanh
I was a 21-year-old Marine stationed at Khe Sanh with Delta 1/26 when the seige began. The day before it started, I sent my Dad a post card made out of the lid to a box of 'C' Rations (Ham & Muthers). I just found the original card and thought it might be of interest to others. Semper Fi All Hope you enjoy the memories.
Well Son Of A Gun
Corporal, 1981. Had received a Navy Achievement Medal for performance as a member of 6th Marines Rifle Squad. Did not have a Good Conduct Medal yet. 1982, Did a lat move to 0231 Intelligence Specialist, got assigned to 1/6. Spent a year busting my b-tt for that Bn under the direction of LtCol Fox. When I got my orders to go to Oki, the S-2 wrote me up for another NAM. Deploy to 1st MAW HQ on Okinawa. Working in the G-2 as the daily briefer for the CG, MGen Peterson. I get called out one day to go receive my award. Well son of a gun if it was for a Navy Commendation Medal. He pinned it on proudly, and I was just as proud that it was him doing it.
Protest In Baghdadi
I wanted to submit two pictures for you from my time in Iraq. The first is a banner that we found between two houses in Al Baghdadi in early April 2004. At this time we were guarding a former Iraqi ASP between Al Asad and the train station. There was a protest in Baghdadi over the cordon being set up around Fallujah for the first operation to clear the city. This was just a few days after the contractors were burned and hung from the bridge. On the day of this picture some civilian contractors were in the wrong place at the wrong time and drove into the protest. One of the vehicles got stuck in the crowd and we left ASP Flea to try and rescue the contractors. When we arrived one of the contractors had been executed and was lying in the road. We cleared the immediate area, loaded the body, and began to clear some nearby houses we believed the insurgents had gone into. During the house clearing we found the banner. It roughly says they are protesting the surrounding of Fallujah, the city of "heroes and martyrs". From left to right is LCpl Bishop, Cpl Turner, LCpl Street, and me.
Semper Fi Marine
Today I stopped at Woodman's Grocery Store, here in Rockford, IL, to restock the pantry shelves. I had just finished checking out and was heading towards the door when I noticed a gentleman wearing a Marine Corps jacket. With my ice cream melting, I waited for him to finish his own check out and gave him my standard "Semper Fi Marine". I asked when he was in and if he got his jacket at Sgt Grits and he gave me dates in the late '90s/early 2000s (my memory sucks), then said he did get the jacket at Sgt Grits. This is the jacket he had on. It's pretty spectacular in person.
Unbroken
One of my custom coin customers visited Louis Zamperini before his passing. This is a picture of them all together. Louis Silvie "Louie" Zamperini was an American prisoner of war survivor in World War II, a Christian inspirational speaker, and an Olympic distance runner. Zamperini is the subject of two biographies and the 2014 film "Unbroken".
1st Annual SgtMaj “Hashmark” Johnson Charity Motorcycle Ride
This is the first ride of what will become an annual Event. We are honoring Sergeant Major "Hashmark" Johnson and the Montford Point Marines who dedicated their lives to the defense of our Nation. Hashmark was one of the First African Americans to join the Corps and one of the First African American Marine Corps Drill Instructors. Your Participation will support our building and scholarship fund. Share this with your friends and every rider you know. Semper Fi!
Marine Recruit: Tears In The Sand
"Marine Recruit: Tears in the Sand" is an epic novel of Marine Corps boot camp (San Diego). A compelling unabridged account of recruit training as told by the Drill Instructor.
Author of Chronicles of a Marine Rifleman, Retired 1st Sergeant Herb Brewer, USMC, now brings to life this outstanding all-encompassing witty honest, caringly brutal, human, and timeless narrative. Combining two stories into one, he takes you all the way from the grueling view of the recruit to the panoramic mission and perspective of the Drill Instructor.
Thanks Sgt Grit
Great t-shirt, Thank you Sgt GRIT!
The attached images show Marine Wounded Warrior Lead Clinician Jimmy Craig (Cpl. USMC-R) as he instructs umpires from the Marine Wounded Warrior Battalion-East at the Palm Beach Challenge. Marine Appreciation Day sponsored by The Semper Fi Fund and Sgt. Grit. Six Sergeants – Boles, Rogers, Dean, Bletcher, Simmonds, Mauro. These Marines will become instructor qualified and will help us reach full Marine implementation and direction.