Actions that make heroes

Medford man returns rare handgun to Medal of Honor winner    

A historic Colt .45-caliber, semi-automatic pistol stolen more than 30 years ago from a Medal of Honor winner in South Carolina has been returned to its rightful owner.

The gun and owner were reunited after a history buff in Medford, who bought the old handgun in an online auction last month, tracked down the retired Marine whose name is engraved on it. read more

Pop’s Medal

My father was a product of his time. His father was a Sergeant in the Brooklyn 14th with "Black Jack" Pershing in Texas and Mexico and WWI service. My grandfather's uncles were with the Brooklyn 14th (it was the NYS militia at that time). They were combat veterans of the English Army in India in the 1850's and came over to the US as one of the many Irish immigrants of that era. They went through all four years of the Civil War.  When the war ended they sent for their youngest brother who became the Family Patriarch. The two older boys never married.   read more

No Letter.

Why do I go to the mailbox every day? He told me it was his last letter but still I walk to my mailbox hopeful. Every day I am rejected by my mailbox. No letter. Why do I do this to myself waiting for word that will never come…? No letter. He didn’t give me a reason why it would be his last, surely he would? No letter. I’m angry at the mailman the mailbox at him. No letter. He comes home in twenty two days, which means twenty two days with no word. No letter. No love filled words that decorated the pages of his letters to me. No letter. Perhaps the mail just hasn’t come or my letter slipped within the pages of coupons. No letter. I find it hard to continue to write to him call it selfish but it seems so unfair. No letter. I can’t stop though I need that connection. No letter. Nothing changes how I feel, nothing. No letter. read more

Boot Camp May 1960

I left El Paso, Texas in May of 1960 for MCRD San Diego, I got through boot camp in good shape only to leave for ITR trainging at Camp Pendleton, California, after that, 30 days leave and then back to MCRD San Diego to attend field music school, 16 weeks and after graduation left for Oahu, Hawaii and Camp Smith above Pearl Harbor and the D&B team. Great duty, once a Marine always a Marine. Semper Fi!!! read more

Company of U.S. Marines comes to Israel for month of intensive training with IDF

The narrow streets and tall cement buildings of theworld-renowned IDF Urban Warfare Training Center echoed with shouts in flawless English asUS Marines delve into another close-quarters-battle drill.

As part of theongoing cooperation between the Israeli Defense Forces and the US Armed Forces stationed in Europe, a company of US Marines came to Israel for a month of intensive training at IDF facilities and alongside IDF soldiers. Dividing their time between the Adam Base in central Israel and the Tze'elim Base in the south, the soldiers trained in urban and cautious warfare, reconnaissance, and at various shooting ranges. read more

American troops in Afghanistan through the eyes of a French OMLT infantryman

The US often hears echoes of worldwide hostility against the application of its foreign policy, but seldom are they reached by the voices of those who experience first hand how close we are to the USA. In spite of contextual political differences and conflicting interests that generate friction, we do share the same fundamental values – and when push comes to shove that is what really counts. Through the eyes of that French OMLT (Operational Mentoring Liaison Teams) infantryman you can see how strong the bond is on the ground. In contrast with the Americans, the French soldiers don’t seem to write much online – or maybe the proportion is the same but we just have less people deployed. Whatever the reason, this is a rare and moving testimony which is why I decided to translate it into English, so that American people can catch a glimpse of the way European soldiers see them. Not much high philosophy here, just the first hand impressions of a soldier in contact – but that only makes it more authentic. read more

Sgt Grit Newsletter August 24, 2011

 

Old Corps

Hi Sarge,
I’d like to comment and agree with GySgt. Edwin Tate’s letter concerning the House Mouse. In our Boot Camp we had no House Mouse either and the only time we smoked was when the “smoking lamp is lit”. Also we had to destroy the cigarette butts and spread the tobacco into the sand. We had two weeks at Camp Mathews, for rifle qualification, and our Platoon 609 had top qualification and marched into the chow hall first while the other platoons stood at attention. read more

Daddy’s Girl

My dad died in 2000. This Saturday would have been his 87th birthday. He was my best friend growing up and I was his little girl.

He served in WWII with the 2nd Division, 2nd bat. 8th Marines. He was a flamethrower in the Pacific. He was at Tarawa, Guam, Saipan, and Tinian. He also helped "mop up" on Okinawa. He served in China 1947 – 1949 and was at the Chosin with Chesty Puller in Korea. His DD214 reads like a combat history of the Marine Corps. His last rank was that of a Gunnery Sgt. read more