About the the second day out on the USS Clymer I began feeling more than a little seasick and fed the fish until there was nothing left. I thought that would be the end of it, if there was nothing down there to throw up, you wouldn't have to hang over the rail anymore, WRONG! A couple more days of dry heaves and I seriously thought about letting go of the rail and just get it over with. Some wise old salt told me if you keep your belly full so the juice doesn't slosh around, you won't get sick. I made a record fast trip to ship stores and bought 2 huge boxes of soda crackers and ate till I thought I would pop. MAGIC, I started feeling a lot better right away and actually enjoyed the last couple days of the trip.
Category: Proud to be a Marine
Homes For Our Troops
On Saturday, I attended a ceremony turning over keys to a new house presented by Homes for our Troops to Marine L/Cpl Thomas Parker in Polson, MT. Parker was wounded in Afghanistan in 2010 as a member of 3/5. Veterans greeted him at Missoula Airport in January 2011 on his first trip home. This is the first HFOT home in Montana. One year ago, my wife and I also attended a home turnover by Homes For Our Troops to Marine Sergeant Justin Maynard in Cottonwood, AZ.
VIP Cartoons
This maybe a bit much for your newsletter, but returning from Korea on the USS Gordon someone put together a newsletter full of all the tripe usually allowed in a service paper. This ship was at sea so maybe the Publisher was given his lead and these VIP Cartoons were allowed to be printed, the rest oif the newspaper was news of the day which at the time was mostly about Russia. Even had a Marine that had escaped Russia and joined the Marine Corps serving in Korea.
Same Series
I went thru Platoon 346 , same series, same time! Can't find Old Buddies or Yearbook, bad planning by someone!
PI 50 Years To The Day
My wife & I planned a visit to Parris Island for 19 September 2014. It was fifty years to the day that I graduated with Platoon 157.
Unbeknownst to me, my wife was planning a surprise for me. With the help of a few members of my Marine Corps League Detachment (Tamarac Det. 755) she was able to get in touch with the correct Marines aboard Parris Island to help in the planning. ​She was hoping that maybe I would get recognized as a past recruit who was aboard the base for the day. What got arranged was reserved VIP seating at the Morning Colors Ceremony and the Graduation Ceremony. In between the two ceremonies I was asked to pose with the Commanding General and Depot Sgt Maj, along with my wife Lucretia, on the steps of the Headquarters Building (photo attached). As the General was giving his talk to the spectators at the Morning Colors he stood directly in front of me and glanced at me when he said something to the effect that the Marines of today build upon the Marines of the past.
Hill 510 – 11th Marines
The first photo shows Marines of Echo and Whiskey Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division working on clearing gun positions for fire support base on Hill 510, 35 miles southwest of DaNang. (Defense Dept. Photo, Taken by GySgt Parnell on or about 17-18 Jun 1970)
CO’s Demands
I've written before about my tour in Korea but I didn't mention much about my job as Base Photographer.
I took some photo's of damaged and ruined equipment for the Ordnance Officer. The pictures came out so good the CO asked me to be the base Photographer (We had none at the time). I was issued a Graphic, complete in the box with all the accessories. I had to beg, borrow or steal film, Developer and Paper, never having enough for the CO's demands. We finally got a Marine Corps Photog, an Old Hand with WWII experience. I was kept on the job until the Photog was ready to let me go (meaning I had all the cr-p jobs). Here's a photo of me with one of the Interpreters down town looking for stuff to shoot and supplies. "Note the Herring Bone Twill Dungarees" and Sergeant Stripes painted on sleeves.
It’s Effect Is Felt Today
World War I was fought by all the Armed Services of the United States, however there was a small problem that affected Harry Truman, George Marshall, Douglas MacArther and many others but that is not talked about. There was a Reporter for the Chicago Tribune I believe (I'm reaching back into this old brain) named Floyd Gibbons who was with the Marines at Belleau Woods, he lost an eye during his Stint as a War Correspondent with the Marines.
69 Year Coma And A Wake Up
San Diego
An American Marine injured during the Second World War and stuck in a deep coma ever since, has finally regained consciousness this Monday at the Naval Medical Center (NMCSD). James Hill, a 95-year old former Sergeant who is decorated with two purple heart medals and a Navy Cross, was severely injured by the explosion of an artillery shell during the battle of Iwo Jima, on the 27th of February 1945. Doctors had been able to miraculously save his life, but the shock was so violent and the brain damage was so severe, that they thought he was condemned to remain inert for the rest of his life.
Grandpa’s Choices
Merry Christmas to you and all of your troops there in Oklahoma City and I hope you all have a Happy, safe and healthy New Year. The pics are of two of my granddaughters, Meghan and Kelly on Christmas day sporting some of your wear. They were both thrilled at old grandpa's choices too.