I joined the Corps in July 1956. Spent my time at MCRD, then Camp Pendleton and on to Asia for two tours in the Phillipines. When we were out in the boondocks, we still had c-rats from a long time before that. The Lucky Strikes and Chesterfields were so old we had to hold them upright or the tabacco would fall out. A few draws and they were burned up! The c-rat fruits were good, but the stews were a gut churner! They had a greasy layer on top that would turn your stomach.
Wishing I Was Still In Afghanistan
Tonight, as a United States Marine with 3 combat tours to Afghanistan, a Bronze Star w/ “V” for valor (heroism), Purple Heart, and 2 Navy Achievement Medals for actions in Afghanistan… I thought about SUICIDE. I didn’t think about it because I thought life was too hard. I didn’t think about it because I didn’t think I could conquer whatever obstacle lies ahead. After all, what can stop a Marine…Nothing.
Slip of the tongue
Returning from a Med Cruise in the fall of 1962 My unit was part of BLT 2-6 and instead of pulling into Morehead City N.C. we pulled into Norfolk Va. and sitting on the pier along with fresh food and other supplies was a recoil system for a 105 mm cannon which was for my sections gun which went out in Sardinia. While there I got to call home and spoke with my mom and she asked what’s going on and I replied” I don’t know but tomorrow morning we have a “F”ing pack and rifle inspection!”
NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH: BECOMING A MARINE AND AN AMERICAN CITIZEN
National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed every year from September 15 to October 15 to commemorate the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States of America’s history and culture. A large part of these contributions are made by the honorable men and women of Hispanic descent who earn their naturalization after joining the armed forces in America.
My Marine Vocabulary Story…
On my return from a tour in Vietnam, my Mom met me at the airport. When we got to the car, she asked me if I wanted to drive home. I accepted and began the 60 mile trip from Milwaukee to our home town in central Wisconsin. As I was merging onto the 4-lane, another driver cut me off and I yelled “you non-driving f**k” at him as I maneuvered to avoid a collision. A few minutes of silence followed, broken my my Mom saying “I wish you wouldn’t use that word”. I said “but Mom, it’s so dirty”. She responded, “well yes, when you use it like that”. I apologized for my language and gained a new perspective on my mother.
Honoring my Marine Dad
I have more of a question than a story which I hope somebody can answer. My father was a corporal in the 4th marine division his name is William G Kraemer and died in 1987 and thru the years after his death i always intended to make a flag box memorial out of his burial flag but always had things to do. Between working and family .I finally retired and set up a little wood shop and intend that to be my first order of business as I gathered the things I needed I noticed I did not have his Purple Heart from when he was wounded on the first day of fighting on Iwo Jima . I called my older brother and he informed me that Our dad never received the medal. We reminisced about the old man and both realized that he never spoke about his time in the marines or the battles he was in the only two things I remembered him saying to me were when both he and myself were eating lunch in the extreme heat onetime I had the audacity to complain and he told me to shut up and if I would feel better if I had to eat lunch by a pile of dead japs .the other time was I cut myself bad and needed stitches and me that when they were loading him on to the Amtrak after he was wounded the guy next to him was squirting blood out of 2 bullet holes in his chest so bad that he stuck his 2 fingers deep in the holes and the bleeding stopped. My brothers only story was that he got in bad trouble one time after dad told him not to do what he got in trouble for that he told him he’d gouge out his eyes and skull f—- him if he got in trouble like that again and I never heard him use that language at anybody ever.So getting back to the question does anybody out there know how I can get his Purple Heart. I have his discharge papers and an article in the local paper about him being wounded. Thx to all our brave vets out there. Ron
Not a Sailor
In ’74 I was a young L/CPL serving on a carrier with the Marine Detachment (MARDET). I let loose a few expletives thinking I was an old salt in the halls of the ship. Later in the afternoon my CO called me into the offices where he very nicely said. One, you’re a Marine not a sailor. Two, prove you have a bigger vocabulary. I replied with an “Aye, Aye Sir” and walked out of the office. Can’t say I never used certain words again but it most definitely made me think about what would forever come out of my mouth from then on. Damn, I loved the MARINES! Oorah!
AN OVERDUE HOMECOMING: 77 YEARS LATER, MARINE FINDS HIS WAY HOME
After 77 years, Pfc. Louis Wiesehan, Jr., has finally returned home.
Wiesehan, 20, was a member of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He was among the cadre of Marines charged with securing the small, but heavily fortified, island of Betio in the Tarawa atoll on November 20, 1943.
Grandson visits IWO in 2018
My Grandson is in the Navy & he is a air combat rescue swimmer. In 2018 his unit had exercises on the Island and he stated that it was a very hard island to run around on due to the volcanic sand. He sent me a jar of the sand and pictures of WWII relics still visible to this day. Even though I was a grunt in Vietnam and was wounded & medically retired from the Corps because of combat wounds, I wouldn’t have wanted to be in the boots of our Marine ansestors who fought in that that terrible campaign! I am so very proud of their sacrifices that they made for our country & Corps
Exactly my story!
So after going through boot camp at P.I., ITR at Camp Geiger and “A” school at Memphis, Tennessee, I went home for the first time at Thanksgiving. My Mother decided to have a big turkey dinner for all the Aunts and Uncles and cousins. So as we’re all sitting around the table passing the food around, people are talking and having a good old time. That is until I blurted out “Could someone pass me the f**king mashed potatoes”. All of a sudden it was dead quiet and everybody was staring at me. I just then realized what I had said. A little awkward. My father (an Army WWII vet) and my Uncle (a Navy Korean vet) were trying not to laugh out loud but my Mother and Aunts weren’t all that amused! After a long (at least it seemed long) silence, my cousin passed me the potatoes and I just went to work eating with my head down. My Mom never said another word about it!