BEING A D.I. AT P.I.

I just read the 3 May News Letter and am replying to "FORMER HAT..  August 1979 to Nov 1980, I was at PISC on my second tour as a Drill Instructor with "B" Co, 1st Bn (1st Tour was in "A" Co 1st Bn)  I was honored to have been on the same Island as Lieutenant Colonels Livingston and Barnum, both being holders of the MOH.  However, in 1st Bn we had LtCol Ron Christmas who was a Navy Cross holder for service at Hue.  When we would have a Friday Parade Col Christmas would march us out on the Parade deck  and leave us at Attention and go and salute the other two Bn Co's, return and give us At Ease.  read more

Platoon 1019, 1968

USMCRD – San Diego Recruit Platoon 1019, 44 years ago. It doesn’t seem that long ago.

The dates: 17 June 1968 to 14 August 1968. As a note, this platoon was a part of the 1017 Series.

In the front row, the Staff, from left to right, SSgt. J. T. Cuff, Drill Instructor; SSgt. R. K. U. Publico, Platoon Commander; SSgt. A.W. Bennewitz, Drill Instructor.
Of the recruits pictured, PFC Daniel Gauna, Jr. was killed in Viet Nam. He was a rifle expert and was assigned 0311 (rifleman) as his MOS, scout sniper. I first heard of his falling from former Marine Raul S. Valle who is in the front row to the right of D.I. SSgt. Cuff as you view the picture. read more

HOK 195 – USMC utility and ambulance helicopter

I hope this answers Lclp Wilson's question. Remember Helicopters do not fly they beat the air into submission. And if you've never had a malfunction in a chopper you're about to.

HOK 195? = USMC utility and ambulance. 600hp P&W R-1340-48; rotor: 47'0" length: 25'0" load: range: 220 ceiling: 18,000' (hover) 9,000'. Triple tails, twin intermeshing rotors read more

MCRD Parris Island Platoon 55, October 10 1949

I hopeyou can use this as I have been looking for it for about fifteen years, just didnt look in the right place. Maybe someone will recognize themselves from long ago,at least I hope so as I would like to hear from them.I am in the first row at bottom fourth from the right. old corps. Really enjoy the news letter and stories,had a few laughs. read more

29 Palms Chopper Crash and Mess Duty

Sgt Grit,

Regarding the question submitted by LCpl Wilson of the 1960-61 chopper photo, I know that it's been identified by your knowledgeable readers so no need to go there.

However, I wanted to share some photos as they may bring back so memories and/or commentary from the troops. When I was a brand new Redleg with India Battery, 11th Marines, I had the displeasure of pulling mess duty at 29 Palms. While my buds were off firing the 4.2's and I was taking a break my scullery duties, I saw one of the type fly overhead and I started snapping pics of it as it was landing. Just as it touched down, for what I thought was a normal landing, it nosed over and landed on it's side with lots of dust and blades flying everywhere. The crew walked away. I know nothing else; I was not authorized to be where I was… read more

T.A. Airsoft at the 9th Annual Gritogether

T.A. Airsoft will be attending our Gritogether this year. They will be setting up a shooting range and they will bring weapons from different eras to choose from. They stopped by this week to show us some of the weapons they will be using. These are a 1:1 scaled ratio. Pictured above is LCpl Andrew Wilson (left) Field and Marketing Mgr at T.A. Airsoft (middle is Sgt Grit and in second picture is Sgt James Williams,) and (right) Daniel Turner Airsoft Technician. We are really looking forward to having these guys come out that day and allowing Marines and friends to shoot these weapons and have a lot of fun! read more

Marine helicopter

Hi Skip,

I looked through some of my collection of HMR-161 memorabilia and found the attached photo.

A few weeks ago some one mentioned some barrels of something hanging under one of the Choppers in Korea. His memory was pretty darn good.

I have the picture because a Marine Photographer gave it to me after I told him that it was nice to see that my work was suitable. I sewed the sling holding the drums of fuel oil in the photo. My MOS was either 6413 or 6419 as I remember it. (Flight Equipment) Semper Fi, Oltopper ( Russ McCrimmon) read more

USMC Chow

I entered the Corps on 8 AUG 66, Being a skinny body (127 lbs) I had to eat every meal twice. Upon graduation I weighed 165 lbs, and was in the best shape of my life.

After reading about bad food in your news letter I was reminded of the poor food at my unit in Phu Bai, 3rd motors in march of 1967. I decided that I would rather eat C rations rather than  risk eating there. One of the worst meals was the green liver that you needed a K-bar to cut. One of my fellow marines placed a potato on the 2×4 over the entrance to the mess hall that remained there until it was torn down months latter. I did 2 tours with 3 motors and weighed 127 lbs when I went back to the world. read more