America the Beautiful!

Happy Birthday Sgt Grit!

Today, 11 of us Marines had lunch at a restaurant in Novato, CA to celebrate the 236th birthday of our beloved Corps.  At the end of lunch, when it was time to get our bill, the waitress came in and announced that our bill had been paid in full by a local, who asked her to tell us "Thank you."  We were stunned.  Eight of the eleven served during the Vietnam War, a time when America had a lot of things to say to us, but "thank you" wasn't one of them.  To learn that an anonymous person had paid our bill, which wasn't an insignificant amount, and said "Thank you", was a very humbling experience.  Maybe, just maybe, you CAN go home again.  Semper Fi!  And God bless America! read more

A/1/1 Caroll Ralph Bassett passes away at 83

Carroll Ralph Bassett, 83, of Perico Island, FL, passed away on October 28, 2011.  Ralph was born and raised in Johnston, Iowa.  He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII and Korea.  He was wounded in Korea and received the Purple Heart and several other decorations.  After his service in Korea, he returned to and graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.  Ralph then pursued his first career in radio and television broadcasting in Iowa.  A few years later, he embarked on his second career in insurance and employee benefits in the Detroit area where he and his wife, Meridee, lived for 40 years until retirement brought them to Bradenton, FL, in 1997.  Ralph’s retirement was very active and he continued to golf several times each week and devoted his volunteer energies to the Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island.  With Kiwanis, he participated in many programs including the Easter Sunrise Service, foster grandparent program at Anna Maria Elementary, and coordinated the Salvation Army holiday bell ringing at the Publix store on the Island.  Ralph was a member of the Marine Corps League and greatly enjoyed attending Marine Corps reunions. We found a recording of Ralph that was done in 1999 that we would like to share, it is from his birth til marriage, but most of the recording is of his service in Korea.  The link to his oral history is https://www.sugarsync.com/pf/D420351_7573651_928507 read more

30 Year Boot Camp Commemorative EGA

Here is my 30 year boot camp graduation commemorative Eagle, Globe and Anchor tat. I graduated from boot camp on November 16th, 1981 but I thought that the Marine Corps birthday, Nov. 10th, 2011 would be a great day to get this done. This was done by Dave Attonito in his studio Good Clean Fun in Snellville, GA. Once a Marine, always a Marine!! read more

The P-7/ LVT7A1 ASSUALT AMPHIBIANS

It's been a few decades since i have been in, when i got out i went in cogneto, after bout 7 month's of tryin to get my head on straight, i finaly found a job, i work with aero space a mech and built all the P-7 when they got the new face lift from the old hyd to elec control, and for the older vet, they dont have leavers on them to pull and push for the steering, it is now a wheel that looks like a butter fly, this is when also HSU steering came out, here is a pic i was given, i also got a belt buckle and met some good guys along the way, i did so well they moved me over the the bradlys when they too first came out, the to the 114 troop carrriers, read more

grin and bear it

I joined back in 1975 right after the pull out and was in for four years.  I was stationed most of my time in at Courthouse Bay in Camp Lejuene N.C.. Well one of the things that I'll never forget happened right before morning formation.  Being in AMTRACs and being in HDQT platoon in Alpha Co.  We dealt with a rather rough bunch of Jarheads.  Anyway right before the CO. Gunny came out the incident happened.  The rumor was going around that so and so was going to have an accident.  Well 1st Platoon had a problem child at the time and the guy just wouldn't get it together and 1st was getting fed up with the guy.  Anyway long story short problem child had his shoulder dislocated right there in formation and being right next to 1st platoon all of our little HDQT platton heard it plain as day.  Kind of felt sick to my stomach actually.  Anyway after formation problem child was led away to sickbay by the two guys that did the dirty deed and I over heard them saying "not a damn word or you'll get worse." Old corps yah I was in the old corps and proud of it.  Grin and bare it.  Problem child didn't say a word and got his shit together and the culprits never got foundout.  Yah maybe it was a little like jailhouse justice but that's what it was like at times.  Oorah! read more