Vietnam – Page 46 – Sgt. Grit Community

Call Signs

Sgt. Grit

I read your newsletter every time I get your newest e-mail. The last one kind of hit home with me regarding the article about call signs that different Marines remembered. One in particular caught my attention, Benchmark. While serving in Nam in '68-'69 with Kilo 3/7 I was transfered to Battalion and assigned to TACP Local as the Battalion Section Chief. My call sign was Benchmark 14. I never thought I would hear that call sign again. It brought back many memories of standing night watch in the COC bunker ready to assist the grunts in the field when things got hairy and they needed help. I consider it a privelage to have been given that responsibility and only hope that the Tactical Air Control Local Marines were always there just a simple ket of the handset away when things got tough. read more

Chaplain Recognition

Sgt Grit, Thanks again for everything you do for us Marines. We do appreciate it. Lately, there has been recognition of the Corpsmen which is really great because they provided us with the care and assistance we needed without hesitation. Another recognition I think we should consider is the Chaplain Service. Attached is an article taken from the Eastern Oklahoma Catholic Magazine July/August edition about a Chaplain Father you might want to include in one of your newsletters. Thank you and Semper Fi Robert(Bob) Gordon USMC 1950-1953 Korean Service 1951

Anglico and Correction

Sgt. Grit,

I served with 3rd Bn, 11th Mar during the summer of 1966 In Chu Lai, Viet Nam. We did have some Anglico guys in our Hq Batt. Here are a few pictures I took of a few Anglico guys while fooling around one day. I don't know the names, but anyone in Anglico there at that time might recognize their comrades Our firebase, which included Golf battery was located at the South end of the Chu Lai Taor. read more

Where’s Wally?

I proudly served with Gunny D.E. Walton "Wally" @ MCAS Kaneohe HI in 1967 and then deployed with him in an RLT to RSVN just in time for the TET offensive in 1968. Our unit was 81's in 1st Battion, 27th Marines. Would love to here how the rest of his 30 went in the Corps. read more

Radio-Telegraph Operators in San Diego in 1969

This is a Radio-Telegraph Operators class (MOS 2533) in San Diego in early 1969. The only name I can remember is Joe Holt, who is standing just left of center. I last saw him on Okinawa as a Corporal with H&S Company 2/4.—Larry Anderson—2nd Amtracs, 5th Comm., 2/4, and for my last 2 years, 1st Shore Party Battalion at Camp Pendleton. read more

Nam

In my Yard, Craig Gordon. I have this in my yard, its now a but can next to horse shoe pit. Don’t know what it is have good idea. Name on side, Richard Caron,(Ceron).hard to read. BCO 4th S&T BM, Tony Tarn RVN,1968,1969. Thats what I can make of it. Help would be nice. read more

Behind the Wall

For anyone who has ever stood before The Wall, a flood of memories is a common experience. Like the scent of honeysuckle brings back those carefree childhood days in the springtime, so too The Wall pulls on the soul, but on a deeper, more spiritual level. read more

My Memorial Day Activities

I set up a USMC Vietnam War historical display at our local Missouri Veterans Home. It was very well received and many folks were interested in it. Photos are below.

Related to that, I have been going nuts trying to locate another white plastic C ration spoon for my display. Would anyone out there have one they would be willing to sell? read more

Who says the Marine Corps has no humor?

Sgt. Grit – With the recent publication of “Last Men Out: The True Story of America’s Heroic Final Hours in Vietnam” (Copyright © 2011 by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin) I was browsing through some old files and ran across the orders we received following the evacuation of the embassy in Saigon (Operation Frequent Wind). Marines know that you must have orders for every transfer and movement so attached is the text from the ones received by members of the Marine Security Guard Detachment formerly assigned at the U. S. Embassy in Saigon – who says the Marine Corps has no humor? Here we were bouncing around the South China Sea fresh off of a CH-46 from the roof of the embassy and receive a set of orders (see attached). I especially like Items 2 and 4.: “3. You are authorized per diem and travel chargeable to appropriation 19501113- allot 4320” and “4. No delay enroute is authorized in the execution of these orders.” read more

SHIELD OF BLT 3/26

I was looking through you magazine that I just received and found a patch for 3/26, since I was with BLT 3/26 when it was formed in Dec 1968 at the Rock Crusher on the backside of Danang the reverse side of the hill that the 3RD MARDIV Headquarters was located and then we went afloat until July or Aug 1969 I am not sure of the month. One of the GySgt from the battalion rotated to Okie and had this shield made up for those of us that wanted one. He told me he took it from the old 5th Marine Div logo. I have attached some pictures of the shield that he had made I got from him when I went through Okie on my back to the states. Compare it with yours and let me know if you can tell me if my shield is close to the original. Thanks for your email and catalog. read more