Sgt Grit is a place where Marines can come and meet other Marines, share tattoos and stories, keep up with Marine Corps news, or shop for USMC gear.
Sgt. Grit,
I would like to submit two pictures, my Boot Camp picture at PI in 1953
Platoon #73. My wife still has a letter from me stating “I love you almost as much as I love the Marine Corp” and she still married me!
The 2nd picture is of me on the left and a fellow Marine Corps League member Joe Shea laying a Wreath at the Marine Corps Monument at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery on Memorial Day 2011.
Hey Sarge! Just wanted to share a photo of 'our' Marine – as his parents and I call him. My nephew, LCpl CL Vuchetich has been serving overseas with the 1/5 Marines for the last few months. Many thanks to him and all the Marines and Sailors who are sacrificing. Semper Fi!
Marines,
It is with great sadness that I write to inform you of the passing of another one of our brothers. Ray Vondracek was a young Corporal who found himself in the battles of Saipan, Okinawa, and Tinian and later made his way to Nagasaki, Japan after the bombing. He was a demolition man and saw a lot of combat in that theater, as did most.
My Name is Joseph Hodson and I'm from Glassboro NJ. I took this picture while waiting for my son to compete in the Poolee Field Event on May 14, 2011 from all 15 recruiting centers in NJ which was held at the Earle Naval Weapons Station in Colts Neck NJ. I served in the Marine Corps from '82 – '86 in 3/6 and got out as a Lance Corporal. My son, Joseph Jr leaves for Parris Island on August 1, 2011. I thought this photo might show the colorful side of former Marines.
Dear Sarge,
Introducing Ella Elizabeth Horton born on November 10, 2009 as a Marine Corps birthday present to her;
Grandfather Cpl. James Kotche 1955-1960
Great Grandfather PFC Arthur Corirossi, Jr. 1943-1946
Grand Uncle L/Cpl. Arthur Corirossi III 1966-1970
On 11 May 2011 at 1705, Platoon 145 – MCRD San Diego – 1962, lost our Platoon Commander (Sr. Drill Instructor for you boots). Gunny Way was the youngest of three brothers, all Marines.
In Remembrance of
Gunnery Sergeant William Way
9 November 1926 — 11 May 2011
USMC 1944 — 1968
Sgt. Grit,
In June of 1956 I was fortunate to join the Avionic shop of MAG-35 MCAS Cherry Point, NC. The group consisted of two squadrons, VMR-153 and VMR-252 of R3Q-2 “flying boxcars.” My shop supervisor was then Capt. Robert O. Arthur of Wake Island VMF-211 fame. He was the spitting image of “Smiling Jack” the cartoon character with the pencil thin mustache. The Captain was a big man full of good humor and a great C.O. He drove a small Renault which was way too small for his large frame. When he wasn’t flying he always joined us at the noon time card game. We all knew the Capt. had spent most of WWll in a Japanese prison camp after the capture of Wake Island but none of us knew of his heroism. He never bragged nor did he talk much about his prison camp experience. One day we were visited by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Gen. Randolph McCall Pate. I was standing on top of an aircraft in our hanger when the Commandant entered. I heard the Commandant yell “Bob” and the two walked swiftly toward each other and sharing greetings they embraced. I knew then there must be something special about our Capt.
Hi Sgt.Grit, Thanks for a great job you guys did on my custom license plate. Special thanks to Custom Order Specialist, Lynn Lam.
Semper Fi, Jim Wood, Sgt. USMC 1963-68.
I would like to share something that happened today that was a first for me except when I was in the USMC. While in the Corps, 65 to 69, I met a few Guadalcanal vets but none since. Today while taking my wife for a radiation treatment I noticed an elderly gentleman leaving the hospital in a wheelchair boarding a nursing care center bus with the help of a young lady, probably a granddaughter, great-granddaughter or a nursing care employee. He was wearing a hat and all I could read on it was WWII. I went over to shake his hand and before I could say anything he said Semper Fi; I had on a hat with USMC on it. Then I saw the Eagle Globe and Anchor on his hat with the First Marine Division patch and Guadalcanal under the patch. He told me he landed with the First Marines on August 7, 1942. As he was in process of boarding the bus I didn't get his name but he smiled when he said Semper Fi and I am not ashamed to tell you all it put tears in my eyes. He is certainly one of the very few left that served on that hell hole island and it was an honor and a treasured moment for me that I will not soon forget.
Tour boats ferry people out to the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii every thirty minutes. We just missed a ferry and had to wait thirty minutes. I went into a small gift shop to kill time. In the gift shop, I purchased a small book entitled, “Reflections on Pearl Harbor” by Admiral Chester Nimitz.
