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.
GOT TO VIET NAM ON MAY 12TH 1967. LANDED AT DONG HA AND CHOPPERED OUT TO THE USS OKINAWA WHERE B/1/3 WAS STATIONED.
GOT MY WEAPON AND AMMO AND CHOPPERED TO THE BEACH WHERE I WAS ASSIGNED TO CPL. DANIEL SQUAD.
SPENT THE NEXT 7 WEEKS IN THE JUNGLE WITH THE SAME CLOTHES ON AND HAD ONLY ONE HOT MEAL. NEVER SLEPT IN A BED…ONLY THE GROUND AS MY BUNK.
Dear Sgt. Grit Staff,
Attached are a couple of photos then and now of my dad Lonnie M. Massey that I would like to share with you. The badges and devices yo supplied were a big surprise for his birthday. Thank you for your help.
In the recent photographs taken on his 95th birthsay, he is wearing the devices and patches that you shipped. He was extremely pleased to recieve the patch of the 3rd Marine Amphibious Corps that you located and sent. That was the first patch to be sewn on to his jacket for his birthday. He had been a Gunner in WW2 with the 3rd throughout the South Pacific.
In the early 60's, MAG 13, consisting of two A4D squadrons, one F8U squadron, and a helo squadron of H-34s plus support squadrons was part of the First Marine Brigade at Kaneohe Bay on Oahu. I was a Plane Captain in VMA 212, one of the A4 squadrons, from '61 to '63. The First Brigade had two distinct factions, The Air Wing and the Grunts. Each had its own part of the base and had little or no interaction. We didn't mix well. Even though we wore the same uniform, utilities, you could tell at a glance the difference because grunts bloused their boots and air wingers didn't. You might say there was a bit of animosity between the two groups. Grunts thought air wingers had it easy and wingers thought grunts were, well, grunts.
Marine Corps League Detachment 1198, Harford County Maryland celebrated the 238th Marine Corps Birthday with Marines living at Oakcrest Village in Parkville, MD. Richard Rhinehart is the oldest Marine at 105. Richard served as an aviator in Nicaragua during the Banana wars. He served with Major Smedley Butler.
I wanted you to see the most beautiful mailbox I have ever seen! It is made from Sgt. Grit materials and lots of love from my son!
My son worked with Theresa at your shop and she helped with the items and information, and he came up with the rest. It is awesome!
Sgt.Grit,
Just read the article about Captain Holmes: The Legend in the November 20, 2013 newsletter written by Sgt. Philip Drugge 1957-1968. It was a very fasinating story about a great Marine. However in the article Sgt. Drugge wrote that he was a reservist serving his six month active duty. I am writing to point out that I also was a reservist who served six months of active duty and seven and one half years of active reserve duty (1956-1964). I have recently have been made aware that I CANNOT be considered a VETERAN. The Marine Corps League has accepted me into their ranks without any problem. In fact, I recently have been elected as Jr. Vice Commandant of my detachment with less than one year of membership. At the same time of my joining the Marine Corps League I attempted to make arrangements to be buried in my local Veterans Cemetary, but was informed that I COULD NOT be buried there because I am not considered a Veteran. My intent was to have my ashes put into urn which holds my wife's ashes and we buried together. At this time there is no hope for me, but I do have my local congressman looking into getting a waiver. I am writting in hopes that other Reserve Marines, who were never activated , reading this might check out their situation. I have been informed that six months of active duty I had is considered "training" and to be called a Veteran one would have to assigned to another regular unit for an at least an additional 180 days. Check this out for yourselves Marines.
November 10th, 1969. Lima Co., 3/26. That was my first Marine Corps Birthday. Don't know if it was yours. You were a 2nd Lieutenant Platoon Commander and I was a 81 mortar crew PFC. Hill 124 in Viet Nam and we'd just come off Hai Van Pass.
This summer I was selling some raffle tickets for my local American Legion Post when I met this gentleman that had joined our beloved Marine Corps on 9 December 1941. I remembered seeing him in a Veterans Day parade in 2012, but did not get the chance to chat with him at that time.
I delivered a small "Jack" package to my local Recruiters.
Sgt W B Polk
Sgt USMC 1948-1956
I think on this 10 November, the occasion of the 238st Birthday of our beloved Corps, possibly I am overdoing it a bit… nah, our birthday comes only once a year. So celebrate, yes celebrate, not celibate.
The chap in the first attached photo is me… "richard" taken two days ago.
