Dear Sgt Grit,
Enclosed is my Initial Phase I copy. I kept the original all these many years. I joined on 15 Sept 1953. Arrived at PISC MCRD the following day. Check out those prices!
Within seven months me and my ‘band of brothers’ were in Korea. The armistice was in effect and we faced stragglers, houldouts, die hards and plain old bandits. After spending a swell 13 month tour of duty in Frozen Chosen we boarded the ‘Go Home Boat’ and 18 days later we were back in the US of A. No one flew home in those days. I arrived in Vietnam in Jan of 1966, pulled 13 months of duty and left in Feb of 1967. That was my first tour there. From your catalog page it appears I was in country about three years before you. (you didn’t miss much: white tee shirts and spit shined boots etc etc”
Back in the day I was in Plt 343 Company I Second Bn. We had eleven battalions but that was paired down to nine when my platoon graduated 6 Dec 1953. I still keep in touch with my DI who lives in Jacksonville NC he’s in his 80’s. Upon retiring I can compare all the rifles I fired in combat: The M-1, M-14, M-16, M16A1.
Enjoy the list.
Bob Hughes USMC (53-79) 6511/8061/8511/9999
Santa Ana Ca 92706-3049