I don't know when we started painting stripes on our Dungaree sleeves, but it was after World War II. Some were so bad and some so small that one of the guys that made stuff for the Marine Corps made Stripe markers. The original was like a box, you put that part of the sleeve where your stripe was supposed to be, then pushed the inside of the box back in, inside the sleeve, and if everything came out fine you had great looking stripes on your dungarees.
Category: Proud to be a Marine
11th Marines
Thought I would dazzle you with some of my Nam pics. Here is an aerial view of HQ, 11th Marine Regiment, near DaNang. The Comm Plt is the small group of about 8 hooches kinda by themselves to the left of the compound. We always felt kinda lonely down the hill by ourselves. Then again it did have some advantages, nobody bothered us. If memory serves me correctly, 11th Motors was across the road on the right. At the bottom of our compound we had an Army search light detachment, attached to 11th Marines. Apparently Marines did not have search lights so we borrowed from the Army.
Clutching An Ammo Can
Comment on Amphibious Landing Problems.
Ken Schweim's comments on going down the nets for an amphibious landing are pretty much the way I remember it. It looked easy in the movies, but very tricky in rough seas. I am surprised more Marines did not get hurt just getting off the ship. But those who suffered from sea sickness did not care… they just wanted to get off the ship and on dry land. I will also add that going from the landing craft to board ship was just as bad. Grab the net when the landing craft was high… then before you could get your feet in the net you were dangling in the air. Grab the net when it was low… the net is bunched at your feet. Climbing up the net with all your gear was a bit harder than going down.
80th Year Of The Sunset Parade
I am a Vietnam veteran (1966 – 1967 Khe Sanh, 26th Marines). I was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart. My Silver Star was presented to me by the then Commandant, General Leonard Chapman in his office while I was stationed at A Co., Hqtrs. Marine Corps at the old Henderson Hall across from the Navy Annex in Arlington, Va.
Promoted In Australia
My son Cpl Matthew Giebudowski with 1/5 bravo Wpns platoon. Matt was promoted to Corporal last week in Australia.
Mark Giebudowski
Welcome Home for Viet Nam Vets
My local Marine Corps League detachment is involved in the local Welcome home celebrations for retuning veterans of all services. It was brought to the committe chairmans attention that many Viet Nam Veterans have missed that recognition, so he decided to do something about it… here is a letter he just sent out to those interested. Please help support this great cause…
Memories of Joe Foss
As a former Marine ('62-'66) and aviation nut, I was thrilled to read the 1 May SGT GRIT article about WW II Marine pilot and ace Joe Foss. To follow up on the article, Joe was not only the highest scoring Marine ace in WW II (26 enemy aircraft shot down), but as your article indicated he was also a Medal of Honor recipient, as well being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. And if that wasn't enough for one lifetime he went on to become the Governor of South Dakota, the first Commissioner of the American Football League, an Air Force General, as well as serving two terms as the President of the National Rifle Association; and it was during his time with the NRA that I had the privilege of meeting Joe.
She Knows Better
Only the older Marines will know what a M-1 thumb is, and most were coordinated enough to not experience one.
I should have known to stop, but I didn't. Two weeks ago in the local gun shop (LGS) somebody started talking to me just as I let the bolt go home. At least it wasn't a full stroke. Wasn't my rifle, either. My Garand was at home and she knows better, besides.
Marine Barn Quilt
Noticed this month you featured barn quilts. The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor and the ribbons were all free hand drawn and painted by a very good friend. It's 5' x 5'.
L/Cpl Donald Meadors
TBS Class 6-67 Class Reunion
Attached are several photos of the memorial I put together for the guys KIA from our class. I suspended the dog tags you folks made on a cross bar. Everyone was impressed especially the family members of the fallen. I told the families to take home their guys tag. The memorial was looked at a lot by everyone. We had over 200 class members and family at the reunion. I made sure to tell everyone who did the dog tags. Thank you so much for giving me the deal on those tags. The memorial was a labor of love.