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.
Christmas Day 1969 at Liberty Bridge, Quang Tri Province, RVN, 60MM mortar squad, Lima Co., 3/5/1. We decorated our gun withChristmas tree balls.
Front row: Harvey and Sanchez
Back row: Cannon, McDonald, Acton, Martinez and Bruce
David Acton (E-1/E-5)
USMC 1968 – 1970
RVN 1969 – 1970
Bob Gordon
1958 – 1969
Since you were at Da Nang during Christmas of 1965, you may remember Sir Charles blowing the bridge over the Han River just before Christmas. Little bast-rds cheated us out of getting to go to the Bob Hope Christmas show. We were on Monkey Mountain and scheduled to go to the show, but that bridge was our only link with Da Nang so we were scr-wed. We were resupplied by helicopter (picture attached) until the bridge was rebuilt, and ate a lot of C-Rats during that period. Getting to go see Ann Margret (picture attached), a few months later in the spring of '66, kind of made up for it. It's a rough life when you're attached to the Wing.
Well Sgt Grit, I have spent several Christmases away from home starting 1959, however, for my time spent in the Corps, that was my home and I enjoyed, Japan, Okinawa, Laos, Vietnam during the Christmas seasons, and I had 6 of them overseas on the Pacific Rim. Christmas overseas meant, USO shows with top artist at the time, Good meals in the Mess Hall cooked by Marines and lots of suds. (beer, booze) and great friends.
The organization that I belong to, National Image, Inc., honors civilian and military men and women on active duty who have excelled in community service at our Military Awards banquet on a yearly basis. This year our conference was held in Baltimore, Maryland. The call went out to the Department of Defense to submit personnel to receive this award. I have been in contact with my platoon commander since the late 80's even though we had served in the Republic of Vietnam in 1966-67. I knew that he had been involved in community service in Philadelphia where he resides and asked him to meet me just to say hello and talk about our experiences. It was a complete surprise for him!
Upon arrival to my destination, May 1968, 3rd Recon Bn, Quang Tri Province, I found the battalion still in tents on the ground. Food wasn't great, but we did have warm food. Below are before and after photos of our chow halls. By the way, serving with 3rd Recon was a great honor for me and I've been proud to be a part of such an outstanding Marine Bn.
I just finished reading some of the stories in your newsletter. They brought back many memories of my tour in Vietnam. I was in country in 1969-1970, Da Nang with VMA 225, A6 Intruder Squadron. I served as a member of the ordnance crew. It was hard work but a great bunch of guys, and lots of good memories. Here is a picture of the crew if you wish to share. I am the one 4th from the left.
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.
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.
After I graduated from high school in 1964 I announced to my father that I was tired of taking orders from him, tired of getting up early and tired of making my bed so I had solved all those problems. I had joined the United States Marine Corps. My dad smiled at me and said, "Well, son, it looks like your troubles are over." I left for Marine Corps boot camp 2 days later.
