Chosin Memorial

Dear Sgt Grit in case you did not know it, I read your article on Korea 1950. I had the honor of being at the Chosin with the 1st Div and serving under CHESTY then a Col. And I am glad to learn about the memorial.

There is another being done at CAMP PENELTON; Ca. on 9/16/10 on the 60 year memorial service at the base a beautiful granite stone next to the Iwo Jima memorial KOREA CHOSIN FEW was dedicated. The Commandant, Gen Conway and several other brass was present, also guest speaker Ret. Capt Dale Dye USMC also producer of new film "CHOSIN" just being released. There were several members of the 1st Div that were present and I was so proud of them many of course my seniors being I was very young at the time. read more

Marine Family

Sgt Grit,

1st Sgt Holman here again. Picture is of my wife and I next to my bird up in Bridge Port, cold weather train base CA. Not bad when you go from a grunt to the air wing, and get your wings and you and your wife are in the same squadron (HMH769) and you can fly together. Team Work. Call signs Wonder Woman and Capt. America. 18 years of flying and got pulled back into the grunts for Desert Storm. That's the Corps for ya! But you gotta love it and we do. All of our married life and a few before we met. Semper Fi read more

Race across the USA

MGYSGT Charles (Chunks) Padilla on your left in the attached photo is a member of the Gumpathon Team who will run/bike/walk across the USA, starting in New York and ending in Santa Monica, California.

The Gumpathon is a charity run for the “Injured Marine Fund” and all donations to help the wounded warriors will be appreciated. read more

MCRD San Diego,California 1958

Just thought I would send you a picture of MCRD in San Diego, Ca when I went to boot camp, plt 231, Second Battalion. I am sure there are others who may enjoy this picture with the view of the quanset huts we lived in and scrubed on a daily basis with buckets of sand. I got out of the Corps in 69, served with the 5th Comm Bn, Vietnam 1965 – 1969 as Sgt Robert D. Gordon (Red Baron). 10/17/10 read more

Platoon 316

Sgt Grit:

In a recent newsletter, a letter from a member of Platoon 317 (Feb – April 1962 San Diego) inspired me to write this letter. I was a member of Platoon 316 (Feb – April 1962 San Diego of the 316 Series). Our Drill Instructors were SSgt Sharpe, Sgt Smith, Sgt Lyons, and Cpl Norman. SSgt Sharpe and Sgt Smith were with us during all of Boot Camp while Sgt Lyons and Cpl Norman replaced another Drill Instructor part way through training. I am pictured bottom row 3rd from the left. read more

Boot Camp Picture

Just read your latest mail and was suprised to see a pic of that platoon that graduated in Sept 62. What caught my eye was the platoon number. I graduated the same day as they did only my platoon # was 245. enclosed is my grad pic of the platoon. they look the same execpt for the number. Send me the e-mail of the guy that sent you that mail so I can contact him and talk about old times at MCRD. read more