“Corporal Reeves! Get your gear and follow me” the Gunny said as I hung sleepily onto a dream I was having of cool mountain streams, awaking to Gunny Randall’s course Drill Instructor's voice out side my squad’s earth bermed hooch at Quang Tri Combat Base. Home of the Third Marine Division, Republic of Viet Nam. I had injured my back falling out of a helicopter into elephant grass on a nameless hill near Khe Sanh. I was not hurting much now so the Gunny had made me the commanding officer’s driver and radioman. I went over to the motor pool with the Gunny. Gunny Randall was a tall thin hillbilly from Tennessee who had joined the corps to escape the poverty of the hill county back in the forties, he had served in the big one WWII and Korea, now he was in “This Azshole of the world” to hear him tell it. He was always cussing, the war, officers, the politicians and scum-sucking civilians. But never his beloved Marine Corps! The Gunny was what we called “Old Corps” or “Lifer”, Gunny was one of the good ones as far as a lifer could be.
Category: Vietnam
Fred Reynolds, Sgt 66-70
I read the story about the CH-53 crash landing at VCB April 1969… Taken from 4th Plt,1st Radio Bn area. First four are the crash next three were a few days later getting rid of what was left.
Silent Night Memories
My wife and I just returned home from seeing my 7 yr old grandaughter's Cristmas concert at her school.
It was a wonderful concert and it ended with all the children and the audience singing Silent Night. I was singing along, when I was transported back to December, 1968 in DaNang, Vietnam. Suddenly I was back on that hillside watching Bob Hope and Ann Margaret doing their USO show. There I was, this retired Marine MSGT, with my eyes full of tears, and not able to explain it, except to feel grateful for the life I've had, and sorry for all the guys that didn't make it home to have those lives!
Pith Helmets Continued
I was reading an entry from Sgt. (E4) T. W. Stewart, USMC 1952 – 1955 on the past wearing of Pith Helmets.
I was stationed at "C" Co. NAS Agana, Guam for 18 months between 1966 and 1968. Our regulation uniform was khakis, blouse and trousers, and regulation cover was a Pith Helmet. I still have mine with the large, black EGA still screwed on to the front of it.
Bring It On
Attached is a picture of me and my hometown buddy Bill on leave from boot camp. We are wearing the winter uniform in 1960, dress greens, with the old style overcoat we called the horse blanket, the green silk scarves and our barracks covers. We were proud and un-afraid to show that we were Marines. But in today's world, Marines are ordered not to wear their uniforms in public for fear they may be targeted. Isn't being targeted by our enemies the whole point of joining the Marines? By not wearing the uniform we concede defeat to the cowards and scumbags of the world who only attack those who can't defend themselves. I think I can safely speak for my fellow Marines when I say "bring it on" to these scumbags. Let Marines wear their uniform in public as a sign that we are still proud and un-afraid, but also give them the ability to defend themselves with the right and duty to carry a weapon just as they do when in a war zone. The war zone is here now.
L/Cpl Greg Eggleston
Got in vietnam july 1970 was with India Co.,1st Mar Div., 1st plt. Didnt remember any turkey dinner at FSB Ross or LZ Baldy. I was in the bush most of the time with Dark Horse 3/5. Semper Fi. Get Some.
Greg Eggleston
Nickname: babysan
K Co. 3/7 1st Mar Div Nov 1968
I was on hill 55 on Thanksgiving day with my plt. standing by to fly out on a Sparel Hawk! My Bn 3/7 was on hill 37 and the 7th Marines HQ was on hill 55.
We had our dinner on Hill 55 and it was great! I still have the program cover after all these 47 years.
Ham and Muthas
That's what we called them, Ham & Muthas. To tell the truth, they were always my first choice, because they were in the biggest can. The trick was NOT to look at 'em why chowing down.
Vietnam Era Zippo Lighter
While attending another great Veteran's Day celebration here at our RV park in Mesa, AZ. yesterday, I was talking with a fellow veteran and he relayed a story to me of his finding a Zippo lighter in Viet Nam in 1970. Here is his info regarding the lighter:
Ham And MoFos
Ham & MoFos were beyond nasty. Some guys tried to doctor them with hot sauce and/or C-ration cheese. Absolutely nothing could help them other than when they became landfill.
I have seen the first photo many – many times. I have never gazed upon that second photo… and from now on, I will grab the eye bleach before making another sighting.