Category: Vietnam

A Jarhead’s Journey

A book written for my children and grandchildren that I was planning to put on disk or flash, but decided to publish due to renewed interest in the Vietnam War and donate all royalties to the Wounded Warrior Project.

A Jarhead's Journey takes the reader through Marine Corps officers' boot camp in Quantico, Virginia, the Fleet Marine Force where a young lieutenant led the first platoon off the USS Guadalcanal during the Panama riots of 1964, the jungles and rice paddies of Vietnam, and back to Quantico as an instructor before returning to civilian life. An epilogue chapter relates the treatment of Vietnam veterans after honorably discharged from military service and frustrations experienced in dealing with the Department of Veterans Affairs today. read more

Scrounging In Vietnam

During my Tour in Vietnam there were many things that we modified to help us with our missions. I wish I could remember this Marines name, he was with Alpha Company 1st Recon. Top Barker ran "A" Co. and the sign painted was one of his works of Art. 1st Recon's motto was "Swift, Silent, Deadly", Top Barker added Surrounded to the motto as you can see. read more

1st Engineer Bn

I was in country about the same time you were. Sent you a scan from 1st Engineer Bn yearbook. If I remember this is Liberty Bridge. If you got oil on your feet it was probably my fault. I drove a 5000 gal. tanker and oiled the roads all over I Corps. This was to hold dust down and be able to see if anyone had planted mines. Most of the time I was alone, but sometimes had a shotgun riding with me. read more

Under Water And Under Motar Fire

About the UWSS reunion in the 14 August Sgt. Grit Newsletter, I went through underwater swimmers school in Key West in August 1964, then served in Force Recon '67-'68 and Recon Bn. '68-'69 and various Force billets after that. I can't make it to the reunion but I just wanted to brag a little. read more

To Hear Silence

It took over 4 years and thousands of hour digging through old files on Vietnam to write the book called "To Hear Silence". Although it's the day to day and often minute to minute account if one Marine battery's experience in support of an infantry unit, everyone who ever served in Vietnam will be able to identify with it. This book traces Charlie Battery 1/13 and the 3rd Battalion 26 Marines from the time they formed up at Camp Horno, CA until the original members left Khe Sanh and returned home in October 1967. read more

The Stoner

Sgt. Grit,

In Vietnam, a friend and fellow Ordnance Man was the Ordnance Chief of the 1st Marine Division. Hanging on his wall was a Stoner Rifle left over from the test of the Stoner Rifle in Vietnam. I asked him to come with me on a Recon Mission. The Division Ordnance Officer okay'd the Recon so we left touring the OP's. He took the Stoner rifle as his personal weapon while I carried my M14. At each OP he would allow any one that wanted to fire the Stoner, to fire it. Here is a picture I took at one of the OP's and a Marine Firing it. Don't remember his name or the name of the Ordnance Chief, sorry. read more

Our Annual Picnic

Thanks to all of you at SGT Grit our picnic last weekend was a huge success! As with every year the SGT Grit raffle and auction items were the highlight and had people drooling over them (even the younger people for which drooling really isn't an age related issue). Next year maybe we should order some bibs for the guests as protection at the prize tables! read more

All-Terrain Chair

I have an 11th Marines Nam buddy who was just 'given' an All-Terrain Chair. The picture show Cpl Jerry Hodge, his wife, Beth and Chuck and Annette Lee who delivered the vehicle to him. Jerry heard about them, applied and in a fairly short time got his chairvehicle. He can now go hunting with his grandkids and other outdoor activities. read more