On October 23, 2013, I'll celebrate the 50th anniversary of my arrival at MCRD San Diego. In October 1963 I walked from my home in Hillsdale, MI, to City Hall with an idea to enlist in either the Air Force or the Navy. Those two recruiters had taken a late lunch, but the Marine recruiter, a Corporal, invited me to wait for them in his office and have a cup of coffee. While waiting I noticed all the brochures, posters, etc., and asked him about the Marines. I remember him telling me, "Oh no. You came here to see the Air Force and Navy. I'm not going to steal you away from them." I responded that I wasn't under any obligation to those guys and just wondered what the Marines had to offer. To make a long story short, I enlisted in the Marine Corps and it was, by far, one of the best decisions I've made during my life.
Category: Vietnam
Corpsman In Viet Nam
I was a Corpsman in Viet Nam from 9/67 to 9/68. I was a Delta Med at Dong Ha. During my tour there I learned to respect the Marines I was with and all who came thru the hospital.
We recently did some remodeling and I had to go to the local building supply center. When I was checking out, the guy behind the counter had a Marine Corps hat on. He looked to be my age, so I asked him if he had been someplace hot and dangerous in the 60's. He had. I told him that I had been a Corpsman at D-Med and when I had been there. It turns out that he was wounded several times in early '68 and came thru the hospital. I was in charge of triage at that time and therefore I saw everybody who came thru the doors. No doubt, I took care of him during one of his trips to see us, if not each time. We have been good friends ever since.
Freedom Hill
I thought I would share this photo with you. The Marine Corps is always on my mind and in my heart. I ordered my first car from the GM Military Overseas Representative at the "Freedom Hill" exchange in Da Nang in August 1968. This is my latest.
46 Years
After 46 years, I meet up with my old Marine buddy Sgt. John Benefield. We served together in Viet Nam with 3/26, 81's. '66/'67.
Semper Fi
L/Cpl Rick Starkey
50 + year reunion
Tom Lucas & John Marinko hooked up at Myrtle Beach, S.C. in Sept. 2013 after searching the "Together We Served" website for military, and veterans.
Tom was in platoon 329, and John was in platoon 328 at Parris Island in 1963, and later both were stationed at the Parris Island Field Music School. Tom was a drummer, and John was a bugler. After school, both were stationed at Camp Lejeune Force Troops. They made many trips together back to Johns home in Sumter, S.C., and Tom and John remember one time Tom didn't have any clean civies, and John's mom washed his clothes for him.
1500 Days In Captivity
On 14 September I was asked to speak at a local VFW event where 6 former POW's were brought to their Post in Fair Oaks, CA, to be honored. They were from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam and ranged in age from 64 to 89 years of age, and all were just as spry as they could be! Two of the 6 also happened to have been MARINES.
Walkabout
Phil Odom, Sgt, F 2/1, '68-'70 (left), Houston, TX.
Ron Bates, Sgt, F 2/1, '68-'69 (right), Canon City, CO.
These Marines came by the other day. Ron said they are on a "Walkabout" to see seven of their Vietnam buddies. They are making the trip in the motorhome pictured. I had a nice talk with both of them. It is great to get together with you buddies. I have a group from Vietnam and we have been getting together since 1987. Always great to see them.
Have an outstanding trip Marines.
Semper Fi
Sgt Grit
Ever Wonder
What ever happened with all the Fighter Jets jettisoned fuel tanks in Vietnam?
March Ourselves With Purpose
I read with interest Dennis Krause's tour of Camp Hauge and attachment to the 9th MEB. We were breathing a lot of the same air, trudging around Hauge's streets of gold, and bouncing around the South China Sea.
Like Dennis, Camp Hauge and the 9th MEB are bolted together in my mind. For me it all began on August 4, 1964, when I was minding my and the Marine Corps business in Iwakuni. I was an E4 in 1st MAW's G2/Intelligence, nominally per my MOS, an Aerial Photo Interpreter. On August 4, I caught G2 Duty NCO and was bunked down in the office as per SOP. At 0330 the Duty Officer woke me. We were on Def Con 3, due to The North Vietnamese attack on the USS Maddox in the Bay of Tonkin a couple of days ago.
My Bestfriend, My Hero, My Dad
On September 24th, it will be 1-year since I lost my father. His name was Corporal Jerome Lysek. He always told me that everyone called him "Polock". He served in Vietnam from 1968-1970 with Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 1st Marine Division. I miss him everyday, but I am proud that he is a Vet, proud that he was my dad, and proudest that he was a United States Marine.