Amtracs Vietnam 1969

Morning Grit,   I’ve been seeing a lot of chatter in the newsletter about amtracs in Viet Nam lately.  January 1st, 1969 at the ripe old age of 18 I found myself serving with the 3d Amtrac Bn. “A” Co. 3d Plt. 1st MarDiv. FMFWestPac. in the republic of Viet Nam.  Our Battalion Area was on the beach at Marble Mountain.  3d platoon operated in that area known as Arizona Territory/Dodge City, Charlie Ridge, Hill 10, Hill 37, Hill 55, Hill 65, Liberty Bridge, and some times around An Hoa.  I’m sending a few pictures taken at Liberty Bridge showing some of the outstanding Marines I served with and the 37 ton tracked amphibious vehicles we played with.  Hope they bring back some fond memories for your readers.   Semper Fi Randy (Beast) TALBOTT SSgt. 1968-1977

Treasure Island

After boot camp,itr at Geiger, and scool at Memphis i had orders to Okinawa. First stop was Treasure is. to wait on a flight on a MATS to Japan. This was in june of 1962. i I n transit barrackks there wasn't much to do but wait for your flight. You're right the food was bad but i was a boot and did'nt know any better. One night we got woken up and told to go on gaurd duty. It seemed some prisoners had escaped Alcatrz and we were to guard the shoreline of T.I. The CPL, of the guard gave us M1s full clip and told to lock and load. He said if we saw anyone come out of the water to shoot them.Now it was cold and foggy and S.f. bay was choppy it was the only time i ever wore my horse blanket. Now i'm thinking if these guys can swim all the way to T.I. they deserve a medal not a bullet. Anyway as you all know they were never seen again,and I was called to Travis AFB to the land of milk and honey. read more

Platoon 253, MCRD, Parris Island, Aug. 18-Dec. 20, 1957

Any platoon members out there? Some fond memories: !st night field day, a recruit urinating out the 2nd floor window onto a passing DI; falling out by scrambling out the 2nd floor fire exit, breaking the railing and half the platoon jumping to the ground; Brasso, getting the lacquer off your belt buckle; rifle issue: #5113166, a brand-new, out- of- the crate International Harvester Garand (I requested that I be transferred with my rifle three times, OK'ed every time. I now have a match M1 but the IH was "my" rifle.) scraping the stock with my bayonet to get the tool marks out, and ready for the endless linseed oil treatment; rough-side out boots and boondockers, working up to a spit shine with polish and  the base of the little bottle that held black lacquer to paint anything that wasn't shined brass (like brass fittings on 782 gear); C rations with Lucky Strikes in the khaki green WWII packaging; light one and you had a flare going; (What is the idea of dated canned goods? Marines from the 50s and 60s know they're good for at least 15-20 years); ham and limas, canned spaghetti (which I grew to love, much to my wife's dismay). Thank you, Chef Boyardee, for continuing a great tradition of fine dining; mutton in the messhall, the smell would gag a maggot (or at least remind you of a wet dog); Tons of memories and some of the proudest moments of my life. read more

Junk on the Bunk

When I was in bootcamp in 1957, we were required to use iron-on tape and the sew around the edges on our brown socks for junk on the bunk.  You should have seen those boot's asses puckering as they tried to master the needle and thread.  Thanks to my Mom she had taught me a little sewing (e.g., buttons, darn socks, etc.)  I even made money after boot camp helping other guys! read more

My First Encounter with the Law

Let me first start off by saying that I am not a Marine, but I was raised to treat them with the utmost of respect and appreciation.

Being a child of two Marines I LOVED my childhood and will forever tell the stories of my encounters as a kid with the MP's on base (I was once pulled over on my bike and made to walk all the way back home because I did not have a helmet on). read more