Last week SSgt Jim Leonard asked if anyone had ever seen the type of dog tag he mentioned. Myself and several other guys in my outfit were issued them on a trial basis. Enclosed is a picture of it, alongside my regular tag I was issued in boot camp. Nobody ever took our picture for the new tag, and nobody I knew ever even wore it on the chain with their regular tag.
Category: Proud to be a Marine
The Forgotten Unit Of Iwo Jima
During the Gulf War, I had the honor to command 25th Marines. One of my battalions 1/25 got into the fight. The war ended before I could get 2/25 and 3/25 overseas. This regiment has had a distinguished
My Dress Blues Still Fit
Having just seen the piece from Wayne Dillon (fitting in his utilities), I just couldn’t resist the temptation to brag just a bit. Attached is the photo of me at the Marine Corps ball a couple of years ago. I am a Viet Nam era veteran, and at 63 years of age, I can still fit into my dress blues! These days, I only get to wear them
An Inspiration To Fellow Marines
Article by Salvador Rivera
FOX 5 News
A video showing retired Marine Jose Barron crawling up a steep hill on his hands and one leg has gone viral and has turned him into an online sensation.
Barron attended a reunion over the weekend at Camp Pendleton for Marines who were deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, members of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.
Foggy Rifle Range Memory
Calling Marines of 1958 PI boot camp era: can anyone remember and provide the rifle range details for this old Marine, obviously now in his mid-seventies who, much to my dismay, is having difficulty recalling the exact firing protocol for each position with our M1’s back in the day? Specifically, what the did we shoot in the four positions of offhand, kneeling, sitting and prone? This is all I remember (I think): 100 yds. offhand; either 200 and/or 300 yds. kneeling and sitting; and pretty sure we did prone at 500 yards. Which positions and associated distances were shot in slow fire and which in rapid fire? Referring to the USMC Manual of the day yielded zero results. Your help to answer these nagging questions will be very much appreciated. Semper Fi to all brother and sister Marines.
Some Other Marine’s Trophy Case
Here is another photo I found from my Beirut collection. One night on patrol I found this 9mm sub-machine gun and it was in perfect condition. I know it was stupid, (all of you reading this are cringing) but I picked it up. We found it off to the side of one of the streets in one of the small local business districts.
Show My Pride Outside
Here is how I show my pride outside. I maintain this yearly and refinish it when necessary. Wisconsin weather is tough on everything outdoors.
Root Vets
Attached are four pictures from my first tour in Beirut in 1983. The top left photo is a pic of me and my best buddy Tim Wheeler from Portsmouth Ohio. We are getting ready to go out on patrol. Tim is on the right of the photo with the M60. The photo was taken on the second floor of what I call the American University, but not sure if that is correct as another Marine a few years ago who is also a Root Vet had another name for the structure when he replied to a previous post to Sgt. Grit.
Managed To Win The Award
This picture shows me receiving the “Outstanding Member” of my platoon award during Boot Camp graduation ceremonies at Parris Island in late November 1961. As you can see I was wearing a “P-ss Cutter” instead of a barracks cap and that was because clothing issue was out of my size. You might wonder how someone wearing a Rifle Marksman badge managed to win the award. Well, let me tell you.
Desert Utilities Still Fit
I read with amusement Mike Kunkel’s letter and photo (20 Apr) of him trying on his service uniform. Seems that is a common fate for most of us as we add on the mileage.
On the 25th anniversary of the First Gulf War, I thought I would see if my desert utilities still fit. I was so skinny then