MARINE OF THE WEEK:
NICKNAME: E-TOOL
Maj. Gen. Ray L. Smith
Republic of Vietnam, April 1972
Award: Navy Cross
Smith, a Captain at the time, was serving as an advisor to approximately 250 Vietnamese Marines located on a small hilltop outpost in the Republic of Vietnam. Helping “repulse several savage enemy assaults, and subjected to a continuing hail of fire from an attacking force estimated to be of two-battalion strength, Capt. Smith repeatedly exposed himself to the heavy fire while directing friendly air support. When adverse weather conditions precluded further close air support, he attempted to lead the group, now reduced to only 28 Vietnamese Marines, to the safety of friendly lines. An enemy soldier opened fire upon the Marines at the precise moment that they had balked when encountering an outer defensive ring of barbed wire. Capt. Smith returned accurate fire, disposing of the attacker, and then threw himself backwards on top of the booby-trap-infested wire barrier. Swiftly, the remaining Marines moved over the crushed wire, stepping on Capt. Smith’s prostrate body, until all had passed safely through the barrier. Although suffering severe cuts and bruises, Capt. Smith succeeded in leading the Marines to the safety of friendly lines.” (U.S. Marine Corps photo)
E tool! Love it! Vietnamese “marines” ugh. We should trademark “marine”so no other service can claim it unless going thru our bootcamp. Laying down his body as a bridge across a mine field and concertina wire to save his “team”(marines, I dont so!) Now that is how you improvise adapt and overcome! My god! Man. Gen. Ray L. Smith. A marines marine.
Capitol “M” in “Marine” kapena! Semper Fi.
The Marines from South Korea as well as the British Royal Marines have shown themselves to be pretty damn tough in a number of conflicts. Also there were a number of South Vietnamese Marines who no doubt pretty tough customers. Remember their tour of duty in Vietnam wasn’t 13 months.
I agree about the Korean Marines
Did ops with the ROK Marines (Blue Dragons ) in 69 south of Da Nang Dodge city area. Friendly bunch until they get pissed. The will mow over anything or anyone that gets in there way including civilians . BTW they loved and respected American Marines and I for one respected the hell out of them. Bill 0331 E-2/1.
Hey Bill: I was with M Co, 3/1 in ‘67 &’68. Danang. Not sure where in Danang. Hope you are safe and doing well – Semper Fi!! Rob Morris In Philly ( John R. Morris)
Blood still pumping and I’m still able to move, though not as quickly. Yeah not sure about 3/1 either.. Could look it up I guess. SEMPER FI Bill 0331
He even looks like a Bad Ass! Don’t mess with that Marine! Semper Fi.
Harry – Copy that! Marine! Ooorah!
Lean-Mean Fighting Machine! A Real Warrior!
Proud to be a Marine!
Sgt Jim
Some guys just have extra when it counts! If you want to read about the other end of the spectrum that aren’t as professional. Read about Raymond Clausen Jr. Two tours, 98 air medals, and MOH was discharge a private. It takes all kinds! An enlisted Marine’s Marine,
PFC Clausen was a very brave young Marine. I was not far from this when it happened. I agree with Sgt Davis, all should read his citation.
Sgt. Davis.: Also In ‘Nam In ‘67 & ‘68. Spent most of my time with M Co.,3/1. Got banged up and ended up with M Co., 2/5. Went thru TET with 2/5. Hope you are healthy and doing fine. Take care and Semper Fi, Sgt. John R. Morris.(spent my time in Vietnam as an E-4)
Hey, John! Slight error: You could not have been with M Co., 2/5. Perhaps you meant 3/5.
The kind of officer every soldier should be led by. Semper Fi Sir !
L/Cpl MARTINEZ Vietnam 70-71
Truly a leader of Marines would gladly forget the General to hell & back. Semper Fi.
L/Cpl Souza 63-67
Thanks for your service Maj Gen E-Tool. I would like to know how you were tagged with the nickname E-Tool. Real U.S. Marines would not have steeped on their Capt. For you SIR it didn’t matter to you if they were Real Marines or not, they were under your charge and you did what had to be done.
Sgt. Maj. My thoughts on where Maj. Gen. Smith’s moniker “E Tool” comes from I can imagine a scenario where in a single moment the crushing overwhelming sense of what to do now weighs on you like the worst fears any one of us can ever imagine all combined into one moment. With only 28 out of 250 men left and hairs on the back of your neck being caressed ever so slightly by the breath of death, your mens fate and yours hangs in the balance. Cornered on all sides with your only chance of egress through barbed laced with mines. In that defining moment he made a choice that forever enshrines him in the annals of the Marine Corps. In the finest tradition of the Marine Corps ,he improvised adapted and used his only tool at that moment. HIS BODY! Hence the name ” E- TOOL”! A Marines greatest asset is his mind! Well that’s my take on it. SEMPER FIDELIS!
I wanted to say Sgt Maj USMC Ret 1966-1996 Viet Nam 1967-1968
Semoper Fi do or Die.
Thank you Sgt. Maj.Edswards, R . For your service to this country and our UNITED STATES MARINE CORE! OOORAH!
Kapena, it’s not the CORE, its the CORPS.
OOPS! I get so caught up and dont notice my errors! Thank you! I stand corrected! Carrying on!
A real American HERO!
Amazon man well done marine ??
Amazing hate this iPhone
A true leader of men and soldiers!
Sgt Antkowiak 2013-18
I dare to say Marines from every nation would “make a hole”if a formation of U.S. Marines come marching by. OOORAH-RAH!! I’ve done some training with Thailand Marines. Very disciplined but wonder if their chain of command broke down would they be able to accomplish their mission? I believe we would. Next ranking Marine up. We would improvise adapt overcome with our ability to think outside the box to get mission done. Those 28 Vietnamese Marines would not be alive if ” E Tool” didn’t take charge and save thrm! OOO-RAH!
Semper Fi, General! You were XO of my company, B-74 at TBS and I remember this, among many other stories. Wayne Rollings was my SPC. I was fortunate enough to make a career in the Marine Corps, due in no small part to the leadership of you, and Gen. Rollings!
Frank McBride
LtCol USMC (Ret.)
Hell Yeah Sir…outstanding! VMA-225
He was my Bn Co. with 2Bn 8th Mar promoted me to Cpl. Cg inspection in 1983. Outstanding co! He was a Marines Marine! Words can’t express.
He was one of my instructors at The Basic School in 1975. I was fortunate enough to be assigned as the Weapons Platoon Commander on one of our training patrols when he was running the Company and it was a thing of beauty to see how he ran the patrol, effectively using the terrain, squads and machine guns for covering fire to support the main advance through the woods. An experience I’ve never forgotten. The story I heard at the time about his nickname had to do with some Viet Cong machine gun nests and what he used to eliminate them, but that may have just been a story.