Concrete Evidence

A few months back, there was a brief bit in a newsletter about some odd concrete blocks that in all probability are still somewhere on MCAGCC, better known as the Stumps. These were described as being 3'X3'X3' (and 3,850 lbs, more or less) with forklift truck channels through the middle…..my guess is they may still be in use to block a road, or something like that, and my hope was that maybe some active duty Devil Dog out in the blazing sands would report having seen them……alas, so far, no takers……. read more

Enlistment – Travel Orders

Sgt Grit,

Your site really brings back some memories. Don Harkness story of how he came to join the Marine Corps rather than get drafted into the Army and his travel and arrival at receiving barracks at Parris Island prompted some thoughts about my experience. Don was over 21 years old and was put in charge of, as he states, "23 strangers, many of them teenagers who never had been away from home." for what appeared to be a one day travel via commercial airline. read more

Final approach, gear down and locked, full flaps…

I was a crew chief on the R4D-8 (C117) both in Japan and at MCAS Quantico. I was a Sergeant, drew flight pay, and got to wear a leather flight jacket. Life was good.

But…the hours were long. I would sometimes arrive at the flight line at about 0500 to inspect the aircraft, run up both engines, and get everything squared away to have the R4D ready for the pilots at 0600 for the flight. I might be gone for two hours, or a week, depending on the flight schedule. There were often mechanical problems on the flight and I hoped that I knew enough to fix what ever the problem was. read more