Being the young smart ass that I was, I figured I could out smart the barbers at MCRD, San Diego. Two days before I left for boot camp, I went into my local barbershop and got myself a really short butch haircut. Well, this didn’t faze the barber at all. He said “Well, we have a smart ass here” and proceeded to shave my head with a razor, no lather either. I didn’t need a hair cut the rest of the 16 weeks I was there. At age 87, I still wear my hair “high and tight”.
SEMPER FI to all the current Jarheads and those like myself, living the old Corps.
GySgt Hicks 1954-1974
Boot Camp Hair Cuts
I feel like the same guy has been cutting hair at MCRD SD for the past 50 years. Who remembers sitting in this chair and what were you thinking at that moment?
USO Shows
In my 27 Years of Service I’ve seen a lot of USO shows (actually this is the term used for all shows shown to us in a War Zone). Top Actors during the 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s made USO Shows during WWII, most of them went to the European War. I did get to see Bob Hope, Jack Carson and some lesser named Actors, but not often. Now in Vietnam most of the military men were not familiar with this group but the Girls were Pretty with short dresses and did a shimmy or two. This was the Group Al Jolson (WHO?) put together and sent to Vietnam. No l didn’t see Al, Jolson was a big hit during the 1920’s and 1930’s, and he died in the 1950’s so he wasn’t there, but if you have a Group and a Manager who’s still around, they could be sent to perform for us. You can see the guys enjoying seeing the girls.
Lost Mine On Hill 37
My dad passed in 2004 and I was cleaning out his gun cabinet when I came across the Zippo lighter I had given him after returning home from boot camp and ITR in 1969. I had forgotten about it. I’m sure I bought it and one other identical one at the PX at MCRD in San Diego. He obviously never used it as it is new in the box. I had mine engraved at
MARINE OF THE WEEK // Under fire, pulled his fallen comrade from the burning Humvee
Sgt. Jarred Adams
Scout sniper, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines-First Team , 1st Marine Division
Jan 6, 2005
Husaybah, Iraq
Award: Silver Star
In downtown Husaybah, Iraq, then-Corporal Adams’ patrol came under intense enemy fire causing the lead vehicle to crash. He exited the vehicle and began returning fire as fellow Marines attempted to dislodge the vehicle from the wall. After freeing the vehicle and retrograding back to Camp Gannon, the patrol realized one of the vehicles was separated and needed to be located. Re-entering the kill zone again, his vehicle suffered a direct hit from a rocket-propelled grenade, causing the vehicle to erupt into flames. Corporal Adams exited the vehicle and began to fire on enemy positions. Suffering from multiple shrapnel wounds and burns, he began returning fire on enemy positions while trying to communicate with the Command Post. Realizing that the turret gunner was still inside the burning vehicle, he jumped back inside the burning wreckage, subjecting himself to the imminent threat of exploding friendly munitions from within the vehicle and enemy fire, refusing to depart the area before retrieving the fallen Marine. Freeing the gunner from the turret, and suffering from multiple wounds, he carried the gunner across the intersection under enemy fire while the remaining Marines provided suppressive fire on the enemy threat. By his bold leadership, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty, Corporal Adams reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Marines Are Something Sacred
“I have grown to look upon Marines as something sacred,
I have laughed with them and cried with them,
Cursed them and prayed for them,
Shivered and sweltered with them,
Fought with them,
bled with them, and held them in my arms while they died.
I have buried them.
And all the time I have loved them.”
–Major Gene Duncan
Foggy Rifle Range Memory
Calling Marines of 1958 PI boot camp era: can anyone remember and provide the rifle range details for this old Marine, obviously now in his mid-seventies who, much to my dismay, is having difficulty recalling the exact firing protocol for each position with our M1’s back in the day? Specifically, what the did we shoot in the four positions of offhand, kneeling, sitting and prone? This is all I remember (I think): 100 yds. offhand; either 200 and/or 300 yds. kneeling and sitting; and pretty sure we did prone at 500 yards. Which positions and associated distances were shot in slow fire and which in rapid fire? Referring to the USMC Manual of the day yielded zero results. Your help to answer these nagging questions will be very much appreciated. Semper Fi to all brother and sister Marines.
Why I don’ go to the traveling wall … a memory poem
I was then just a boy …
Life to me was a toy …
Years do little to the sight …
Of brothers lost in worthless fight …
But if you choose come ’round each year …
Remind me ever of my fear …
Remind me of how I cried …
As in my arms he bleed and died …
Remind me of how close I came …
To my death in that game …
Like my friend from childhood …
Who disappeared from where he stood …
Leaving me in red rain …
With gray on me that was his brain …
If you choose come ’round each year …
I know your motives are sincere …
But don’t look for me I won’t be there …
I’m a one the wall did spare
20 years since 9/11
USNavy sailors and Marines pay tribute to the victims of the 9/11 attacks on the flight deck of the @USSARLINGTON. The ship is named after Arlington County, Va., and honors the victims of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon.
In The Head
You may have heard this before. However, a couple of decades later while in the San Diego airport, waiting for my flight, I can’t believe I actually had the presence of mind to remember it when a young, just graduated from Navy Boot Camp, seaman saw me leaving the urinal straighaway to the exit, I’m sure, noticing my 3rd Marine Division ball cap, and made the remark… it was priceless, and I still wonder at my ability to recall and use it.