Dear Sgt. Grit
I was a between the wars Marine and served from 10/55 to 10/58 with 5 years inactive reserve. My first and best duty station, following P.I. (Platoon 164) and I.T.R. at Pendleton, was at Camp McGill Japan. Camp McGill was a former Japanese naval base and my draft wound up in the 1st Amphibian Truck Co., 2nd AMTRAC Batt. 3rd Marines. The company was soon downsized to platoon strength and became the 3rd D.U.K.W. Platoon with Capt. Dave Dichter commanding.
D.U.K.W.s are better known as “DUCKS”. I believe we operated the last D.U.K.W.s in the Corps and by 1957 they were ruled obsolete. Most of the platoon was shipped to Okinawa and wound
up in Motor Transport. The DUCKS were designed by G.M. and built on a G.M.C. 2 ton truck chassis. Power, but not much of it, was by a 97 house straight 6. The ducks were truly amazing with all
wheel drive and a system to raise and lower tire inflation which allowed the driver to crawl up beaches when AMTRACS couldn’t (sorry AMTRACERS).
D.U.K.W.s were used by the Marines in the pacific and by the Army and the Brits at Normandy. Although the Marine Corps didn’t want them anymore, D.U.K.W.s have remained in continuous
civilian use for over 65 years. The U.S. really got their money’s worth from the D.U.K.W.s or “DUCKS”.
The attached picture was taken during a practice landing at Iwo Jima around 1956.
SEMPER FI
ROGER GIBSON, CPL. 1568938
In 1955 our 4.2 mortar Company made a landing on Okinawa. We were disgorged from LST’s and rode ashore on D U C K’s (sp)…or whatever. Got a bit wet from the ocean spray. Once ashore the vehicle became a truck ?, which transported us to our assembly area.
Roger, glad to see you are still alive and kicking. Norm Kitchin (Camp Mcgill, DUKWs, 55/56), best duty station in Japan at that time.
QUACK! QUACK!!
There are still a few of them around. Up until a few years ago, Philadelphia used them as a tourist attraction , for a fee, and gave visitors a tour of the historical area and then cross the Delaware river and ride to New Jersey. It was stopped after it collided with a boat or a barge, not sure, who didn’t see it. A few people died.
Roger, I was attached to c/1/9… 3rd Mar. Div. we made that landing on Iwo Jima in 1956. Our DUCK stalled as it came off the ship and started to sink before it finally started. We all thought we were going to drown. SEMPER -FI!