Category: Proud to be a Marine

Never Had A Swabby

Read Cpl Schweim's letter re landings: I was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, 12th Marines, during 1961- 62, we made many amphibious landings training with the Republic of Vietnam and other Units, off-loading from the APA Pickaway in the South China Sea to Thailand we climbed the ropes to the landing craft. The South China Sea was seldom calm, so the LST would bounce up and down sometimes hitting the side of the ship. Marines in full gear would climb the ropes while Marines on the landing craft would try to hold the ropes. However we never had a swabby directing us. One incident I recall a Marine did not have his helmet chin strap buckled and it fell from the APA's deck to the landing craft fortunately missing us, we listened to orders and had our steel pots on and secured. I have attached some photos of the operation. read more

PGR Bike

I thought you might like to see what an old Marine can come up with in his spare time.  If you look close you can see my home made flag mount on the back of the sissybar.  I picked up a hunk of aluminum at a recycling center and using only handtools shaped the plate.  I then had it powder coated. I painted on both sides 'Semper Fi', though it is getting a bit worn now it is still visible.  I also have mounted the metal EGA emblems on the side of the battery cover as well as the left side electronics cover.  I get many comments and questions on my rather uniquely designed flag mount.  Twice people have asked if it was a mortar tube, civilians what can I say.  The bag on the back I had custom made to fit my flag mount as I like the lean look on my ride.  I still need to carry rain gear, tools, and lots of water when I stand the flag line here in Florida.  The bike is a 1994 Dyna Wide Glide with over 110,000 on it.  Miles these days are mostly for PGR missions, however this bike has been in all of the lower 48 when I took 4+ months to ride this great country. read more

1970 Still Issued Brown Boots

I was issued two pairs of the brown rough side out boots in June of 1970 when I passed through MCRD San Diego with Platoon 2076.  Apparently that was the only boots left in my size as I was the only boot in the entire series to get a pair let alone both pairs.  None of my DI's were familiar with them so I was told to shave them and then lay on the polish.  By the time I graduated they shined as black as any of the other issued black boots.  Though I confess to catching some heat in the early stages until I built up enough black polish to cover the rough texture. read more

Treasured Addition To My Office

Late in 2013, my son, James Wolter Jr. (Jimmy) had started a project with the help of Sgt. Grit to create a shadow box of medals for my birthday in April 2014. I had no idea what he was doing, but with my wife's help, he was able to get pictures of my medals and other USMC item that I display in my office along with those of both my sons. read more

Visiting Camp Lejeune

What a pleasure it was to meet the Marines of Camp Lejeune N.C. as I attended the Marine South Expo. I had always been west with my husband so this was my first time experiencing the East Coast and I have to say I loved it! Here are a few pics of some of the people I met. read more

Thumping

After reading the stories about thumping in boot camp I had to tell of my experience with this, I was in plt 3047, 1979 San Diego, and we had a DI who when it was his night to have the duty he would punch each recruit in the chest after he was done inspecting him durring hygiene inspection to knock him back onto his foot locker, we all expected it and no one ever said anything about it, that is until he ruptured one recruit's intestines, it happened because this recruit refused to fall back onto his foot locker, we called him our little wobble, he would wobble but would not fall down. Well one night when the DI punched him in the chest he went back but as usual he started to pop pack up and when he was on his way back to the position of attention the DI under cut him in the guts, later that night he was taken to sick bay and a couple hours later the DI was taken by the MP's, we were told that we were not to talk about it outside our platoon, then we all were interviewed and the recruits that had seen it happen were held on legal hold after we graduated. I want to thank my DI's SSgt Snow, Sgt Thames, Sgt King, I will not mention the name of the DI whom was relieved of duty, for helping to shape my life. What we thought of as sadistic back then, we laugh at now. read more

Back to Bootcamp

I recently discovered that the Marine Corps sponsors an event called the Bootcamp Challenge.  Civilians are invited to participate in a 3 mile obstacle course that current recruits train with.  Over 60 drill instructors are positioned throughout the course to give civilians a flavor of what it is like to be trained like a Marine for a day.  Over 4,000 people participated in last year's event.  This year, the event is held on September 27th, which is the the 40th anniversary of when I first joined Marine boot camp, TO THE DAY.  I am making the trip as a 58 year old Marine Veteran, who is going to give Marine Corps basic training one more go around.  I am making the trip from Wisconsin, as the special date of the 2014 Bootcamp Challenge was a calling, that only a Marine would understand. read more