I remember one JOB in particular. It was in the wooden Barracks at MCAS El Toro Santa Ana. This was in 1969, it seems as though you were either coming from, or going to RVN. There were many old salts waiting to go home. Some of which had only a pair of utilities, and a new set of greens, receiving early outs to go home for Christmas. The majority were coming from 3rd Marine Division. PFC Kenneth Rexford Brown, formerly Sgt. Brown showed me how to pull your blankets tighter from underneath the rack, by using the springs. Of course we learned that in recruit training but KR had a trick that made the blanket tighter still and even remained that way. I believe KR got out and went to WalaWala Washington. I remember that many of the Marines were “cut a huss” for not having the proper uniforms. I can remember the inspecting Colonel coming closer and approaching a Marine that was obviously not prepared for inspection. He would ask where are coming from Marine? The Marine would reply something almost incoherent, and definitely a different language. The Colonel only said “well done Marine” and continued his inspection. That was definitely one of those days when I knew I had been in the presence of heroes. That evening we celebrated by putting a poncho liner inside a footlocker filling that with ice and beer, and listening to Johnny Cash and Luther played the boogy woogy. The party was great until the OD made us take our shindig outside the barracks. After paying for the beer, ice, and a battery operated record player the only record we could afford was albums on sale in the PX. Johnny sold for .99 and a pack of Camels for .27 cents. I remember Friday morning formation, when Captain Wade, Mustanger and one of the greatest Marines to put on a uniform would read off the names of Marines shipping out WESPAK. I remember Sgt Joe Dunlap our Platoon Sgt. in El Toro. I saw him again in Hawaii as GySgt Dunlap and I was a SSGT. We were mounting up for Operation Frequent Wind. I remember being “gigged” while on embassy duty in Chile for having dust on my wall locker display. Even with that “gig” we won the detachment of the year award. 3 Years Running. I mean RUNNING our NCOIC SSGT Turnbow had been a Physical Fitness Instructor prior to coming on MSG. That guy made us run like Forrest Gump. Like Forrest, my running days are over. Our memories and Junk on the Bunk are what make us ALWAYS A MARINE. Semper Fi D. Womack.
Semper Fi
Coming from NAS Memphis in 1975, those were some of the same barracks I stayed in waiting for a TME assignment. I didn’t go far, just to LTA. TME-32 assigned to HMH-363 for 3 months and then as an Avionicsman for HMH-363 under Lt. Colonel R. Shelton (Shelten?).
No body in the world has memories like Marines do. They last a lifetime – such good and precious times they were
Glenn T
RVN 1968 69. 1/26
I was there in 71. It is sad to see it closed. The ghosts of the past still haunts my mind whenever I go past it. The smell of orange blossoms remind me of this place first.
Or 40 acres of tomatoes outside the main gate, or a helicopter taking the tops off a bunch of corn behind the Tail of The Bull.
Rob M. VMCJ 1, ’69
I was there in November of 1969. I was one of those Marines who only had a pair of Jungle utilities!
I was also fresh from the hospital on Okinawa recovering from burns on both feet. I was also one of the ones getting an early out as I only had 3 more months in my contract.
They wouldn’t cut me loose until I could wear my dress shoes and walk a few hundred feet in them!
I managed to do that and was home by Thanksgiving in 1969. Those holidays were tough because although I was glad to be home from Viet Nam, my heart and head were still there with my buddies.
And, I am often still there.
Thanks for this post. It brought back some of the memories of the great times I had as a Marine!
Semper FI!
I was at El Toro from April ’66 till end of March ’67. Met the lady I eventually married in Santa Ana.