Category: Vietnam

Discipline And Leadership

In last week's newsletter, SGT Dave Charbonneau left a remembrance to his Senior Drill Instructor, GYSGT C.D. Mortis. A real tribute to a Marine's Marine. But, if I could be so bold, since I did not know the GYSGT, but I do know the Marine to his left in the Platoon photo, Assistant Drill Instructor SGT J.C. Pleasants. Platoon 353 was Pleasants last at MCRD PI. Joe Pleasants passed on to me the 7 platoon books that he helped train at PI, to research the names of the new Marines for possible KIA's in Viet Nam. For the research I do, trying to find photos of Marine KIA's, this was a 'gold mine'. read more

Haven’t Used It Since Vietnam

There have been many articles through the years on the "Zippo" lighters that Vietnam Vets used for various things besides lighting cigarettes. I bought my Zippo in September 1965 about 10 miles south of DaNang from Vietnamese women villagers that sold us "Vietnam" berets, elephant soap, and other memorabilia. My Zippo was one of the very few things I came back with. I still have it in my drawer, but haven't used it since Vietnam. read more

Giant Amphibious Lizard

The stories on pinning stripes brought back memories. Not so much of being so honored myself or doing the honors. I think I made Corporal in 1963 and per tradition, I took some shots in the Chevrons from the resident "Old Corps" NCOs, but in H&S Company it wasn't strongly rooted. It brought to mind a somewhat related story about unit mascots. At the time I was in 2nd Amtracs in Camp Lejeune. And, at times we did do organized grab azs training maneuvers in the boonies of Lejeune. read more

ShinolA Shoe Polish

When I graduated from boot camp, MCRDSD (1962), I remember having a choice of either Sea Duty or Embassy Duty. I talked to my Senior Drill Instructor (Gunnery Sergeant Venizia) and asked him what his thoughts were on my duty station choices. I remember very clearly his words to me. "Sea Duty is the greatest duty station the Marine Corps can offer you… now, YOU make the choice!" read more

Khe Sanh ,Tet 1968

My name Sgt. Glenn A. Gray while serving with HQ. CO. 3RD. MarDiv. Quang Tri, I had a conversation with L/Cpl. George Marshall. He gave me a picture of  him featured in Life Magazine of him playing a guitar in a bunker. The picture was taken by David Duncan Douglas. I have just finished the Book about the 26th Marine Regiment's gallant survival during the Tet Offensive called I Protest. I have the origional picture given to me in Vietnam of LCpl. George Marshall. I wonder if any Vietnam Vets know what happened to L/Cpl Marshall? read more

Editing

Your comments about "PC" and filters much appreciated. Filters are often silliness on stilts. Some military websites have monitors who do what they are supposed to… but there are a few who leave it all to the filters. The results? Writing about an Australian with whom I served with… his first name, "Mick"… the filter censored it to "XXXX"… writing about Vietnam, the name "Ho Chi Minh" was censored to "XX Chi Minh…" read more

Sgt DT Lang

Just finished reading the latest newsletter and found a few things that pertained to some of my service, IE: the pinning of stripes, and the field landing at (sp) Aranchi Bay, Spain named Operation Steel Pike??? not sure…….  

I was promoted  to CPL by The Commandant of the USMC during an formal Evening Parade at the 8th & I Barracks along with a few other members of the 2nd. place GOLD SQUAD or Combat Squad Competition unit in 1963. Since the 3rd battalion had already boarded ships to the Med and embarked, we got to fly to Rota, Spain, and then on to Malta where we finally caught up to our shipmates. So, no one ever 'pinned' on anyone of us who made CPL. read more