At 4:30 p.m., April 6, 1945, the United States Ship John C. Colhoun II received a call for help from a ship under kamikaze attack. When the Colhoun sailed toward the vessel in distress, the kamikazes turned on the Colhoun, crashing into the bridge of the ship and sinking it. Navy veteran Donald Irwin survived, but lost 34 shipmates that day, off the coast of Okinawa.
Clash of Characters: Gunny Hartman takes title, R. Lee Ermey thanks his fans
After one last dominating performance, a single military movie character stands head and shoulders above the rest.
Head and shoulders and campaign cover, that is.
Gunnery Sgt. Hartman took out Capt. John Miller (“Saving Private Ryan”) in the final round of Battle Bracket: Clash of Characters voting to claim the title of best fictional military movie or television character ever. R. Lee Ermey’s “Full Metal Jacket” DI wasn’t seriously challenged in any of his six contests.
Marines, Taking Care of Their own
Alzheimer’s is a terrible thing. My father-in-law lost the battle with Alzheimer’s and we cared for him for almost two years. It can be devastating. You might have seen in the news where a guy checked his wife out of a memory care facility for the day. He took her around back and shot her, killing her instantly. Married for forty years, she no longer recognized him. That guy was Master Sergeant Stephen Kruspe. He was the Operations Chief when I was the Commanding Officer of 4th ANGLICO. Top Kruspe was a very professional Marine – the kind of Marine you would want in your foxhole in a firefight. He has an attorney who will try to get the charge reduced from first degree murder. And though the attorney does not expect to get paid, the expert witnesses he will need to call to testify on Top Kruspe’s behalf will. If you want to help, send a check payable to “Attorney Jonathan Kaplan” and mail it to me at 5460 Old Mystic Court, Jupiter FL 33458-3470. When I get a pile of checks, I’ll send them together to the attorney. Marines always say “Marines take care of their own.” Let’s take care of Top Kruspe. Col Paul Loschiavo USMCR (Ret), former SALT Officer, 2nd ANGLICO, and former Commanding Officer, 4th ANGLICO.
Foxhole jumping
I posted a story a while back Sgt Grit liked so much he post it twice. lol When I saw Robert Mcload story jumping into foxhole it brought back memories that story I told about. It was on Hill 37 out side the village Dia Loc at The 4 corners. The story goes , we were getting incoming about 0545 , mortars were hitting all around us I was in the S4 hooch I grab my m16, helmet, flak jacket.The foxhole I’am referring to was just outside the back door of S4. I was doing about 60 miles an hour when I jumped feet first into the hole. Just as I went in a face appeared and both #10 ‘s met this face. Without hesitation I bounced out of their within a second. The reason I moved so quickly is their were captain bars on his helmet. Now, you say I could have stayed an apologize, I’am just a cpl. so at the time I just made myself scarce and went to the bunker underneath S4. That’s were the other story comes in about Gooood Morning Vietnam. Well the captain I met in the foxhole was Captain Robb of Lima co. 3/7, the President’s son-in-law. This is the first and last time I’ll mention this story and I’am sticking to it. My most sincere apology to the Captain. From what I saw and heard about the Captain, he was a damn fine Marine. Semper Fi my friends. Sid Crews ammo tech. 3/7, in country, Nov 66 to July 68 Oooorah!!!
Not a Great Welcome Home Feeling in 1967
I was honorably discharged in August 1967- enlisted from Florida- went to New York ( and reaped larger separation pay ) – stayed in Virginia for a few weeks- and applied for a job in area- went back to New York and a life of uncertainty- torn between family and friends left behind in Virginia. Found a job in a bank back office in Manhattan- hostile work environment as they pounced on me after they found out I was a United States Marine- had arguments and one clown reported me to senior management for being disrespectful. A white haired 60 something executive in an office as big as a lobby in some buildings- started to have me sit down and was nice to me- I saw a picture of an airplane with a young guy on a wing- it seems he was a World War fighter pilot ( Navy ) and after he heard my story- he gave me a business card with his home phone written on the back and told me to call anytime – and he promised to speak to my immediate superiors at my work area. A lot of hostility towards all military on returning stateside after Vietnam era. Mostly college kids and sorry to say malcontents too! Would not trade experience of the 4 years in the Corps if I had to do it over again. I still got the sometimes attitude that gets me into arguments today- different international atmosphere- different type of enemy- different life style- but still willing to interced
DITTO
Joined USMC one day after turning 17, spent my 18th birthday on hill 225 out side of Phu Bai (I 3/4). Did a Med Cruise with the 6th then a another tour, Khe Sanh with H 2/26. Quite an experience, never regretted it, always enjoyed hunting and camping. Oh yeah did college after my service. Semper Fi
THE END OF COMBAT?!?
Yesterday was 29-March the date in 1973 “That the last combat troops left Vietnam.” Our local VFW was having an event to commemorate that day. My friend and I decided to go.We are not members of that post but, all veterans and the public were invited to attend.They had refreshments and music but,not much else.It was more of a meet and greet.We were listening to a guy that was talking to a group of young people and I heard him comment that the last casualty occurred in March 73′. My friend JJ looked over at me and shook his head as to say “let it go” but I couldn’t .I waited for an opening and ask if he knew how many names are listed on the WALL after 29- 73′? I told them “at least 83 maybe more.I ask if he knew about the S.S.Mayaguez He said he did but thought it happened in Korean water.I said “No it was actually Cambodian water.” 41 Americans were killed including 18 Marines and Corpsman (3 of the Marines were executed by the Cambodians) Ask the families of those killed or wounded after the so called “End of Combat”. What they think.His response was that more would have died if we would have stayed I agreed and, we left it at that. jj and I also left! NEVER FORGET!! SEMPER FI!! Harry
Don’t jump in to a fox hole without looking
I arrived in country in September 1968 and was assigned to KCo 3/7 on hill 37. The Bn was out on a operation so I was with the short timers and walking wounded that remained in the rear.Each night some of us had to stand watch in the fox holes and bunkers that was on hill 37. One night we started taking in coming so all of us started running with our M16 rifles to our assigned positions when I jumped in to my fox hole I landed on a M16 fifle flash surpresser right up my ASS! All I saw was stars and almost passed out.Mean while we are taking 82 motors and small arms fire from the village below hill 37 (Di Loc) I went to sick bay the next morning and was put on light duty for 5 days. I could not take a crap crap for a week . Welcome to Vietnam Nam my friend! Sgt R.P. McLeod on the right ready to go on night patrol !
Welcome To Chu Lai
February, 1970. We arrived at Da Nang late in the afternoon, too late to transit to our final destinations. Driven to a transit barracks, 2nd deck. I grabbed an upper rack next to a door to the outside. Not sure of what happened next, I kept my clothes on, but tied my boot laces together with my glasses inside. While all of us were trying to settle in, grab some shut-eye, we could hear sounds of artillery somewhere in the distance, coupled with occasional small arms fire. I had just begun to doze when I heard the sound of incoming 122 rockets. I hit the deck, grabbed my boots, and flew through the door, jumped to the stair landing midway down in one jump, and on the ground. While I was jumping down the stairs I saw at least three 122 rockets landed in a field directly behind the barracks. We crammed as many of us into bunkers, and waited for whatever happened. After what seemed like hours, somebody sounded “All Clear,” and we returned to where we had been when The rockets came in. I don’t think there were any casualties. Not many of us got any sleep that night, and we spent most of the rest of the night trying to figure what kind of defense we could mount if the VC came at us, as we did not have any rifles, pistols, ammo, grenades, or even knives.
My Opinion
Just my opinion: I have know idea if boot camp is harder today or fifty+ years ago. I think everything is relative to the times. I do believe that the marine’s of today are better trained than we were. The one big
difference is, we did not have to deal with the PC Police watching and listening to everything we do or say, or diversity training. What a crock. And they wonder why moral and military discipline is at an all time low. I blame the past administration.