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.
I was stationed at Subic Bay, Philippines, 1967-1971, and provided Technical Services to the fleet on weapons and weapon systems. I was assigned to ComFairWestPac, Cubi Point.
There were several Clubs at Subic Bay. Two of the Clubs were the Cubi Point Officers Club, and the Skyclub at the Marines MAU Camp on the hill. The Cubi Point Officers club was a formal, quiet, and sedate club where Naval Aviators gathered to frolic.
I was visiting with the Gunny at the Recruiting Station in Flagstaff the other day, and he handed me the article that spoke of the passing of General Victor Krulak at age 95. Tears came to my eyes, as I recalled this unique, and most impressionable officer I have ever met. I had served as a Drill Instructor from 1957-1959, and at the end of my tour on the Drill field, I was given an assignment to Sea School at MCRD, San Diego, as an Instructor.
It was a Friday afternoon in November 2008 just after Thanksgiving. I stopped in the Worcester, (MA) Detachment Marine Corps League for a beer or two in the Leatherneck Lounge. The only one there was the bar manager Marine Joe Ricci. Within five minutes one of our few remaining WW II vets, Marine Carlo Mastrototaro came in and sat beside me at the bar. Within two minutes the door opens and the second WW II vet Marine Walter Maloney enters and sits next to me on the other side.
Sgt Grit.-
I have a story that I am certain every Marine can understand how exactly it was we felt. I am currently deployed with the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines with a group of 23 Marines from 12th Marines Regiment in Okinawa, Japan. We are a small unit and don’t see any action, just supporting the command and the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. Thanksgiving day rolling around for us means a good meal at the chow hall (one that’s not either microwaved or fried) and an extra 6 hours spent out on the road escorting some “Distinguished Visitors” from the US Congress. (I know most people probably have never heard of OEF-Philippines. But its real, Google it.)
The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert Neller, issued a call to action to all “disruptive thinkers” within the Corps. A cultural evolution, filled with Marines that can come up with solutions to accelerate ideas to decision makers, that will lead the Corps into a new age of innovation.
You can find Marines in any clime and place, but one place you don’t expect to find them is behind the scenes working at a Mercedes-Benz dealership.
Marines with Motor Transport Platoon, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, have been working as apprentices with service technicians from car dealerships in the Southern California region for more than twenty years.
USMC Vietnam Tankers Association
The USMC Vietnam Tankers Association will be holding our 11th biennial reunion on Thursday October 31 – November 4, 2019 at the Hilton Double Tree Suites Hotel Seattle Airport – Southcenter. Anyone who served with any of the Marine tank battalions or Ontos units in Vietnam . . . in any capacity is welcome!!!
In July 1968 I arrived at Hill 861s and was soon met by a couple of Marines who took a look at the new Corpsman who delighted in calling me a “squid”. I thought for a moment as I had never been addressed in that term. I then asked them if they knew what a “squid” was. They replied,no and I informed them that a squid was something floating in the ocean sh–ng on Marine life. They then called me Doc for the rest of my time there over looking Khe Sanh. My second item to address is very close to my heart. It concerned a Marine serving with me in 1/26 Company C. We were patrolling the Ah Shau valley one day when my radio operator, a black Marine from somewhere back East turned to me and began trying to take off my Caduses. I asked him what he was doing? He stated he was taking off my insignia , so the VC would shoot him instead of me as there was a $250 bounty on me by the VC. At the time I laughed and told him thanks for the thought but reminded him that the same bounty was on him as a radioman. Al I remember was his name we used as SCOTTY and I do not remember where he was from. The thought of what had transpired Did not hit me until much later. This Marine was willing to sacrifice his life for me. I cannot think of a greater gift. Loved my Marines….RIP DOC John GOTT, Kia 1/26 Marines 18 DEC 1968 Hai Van Pass VN.
THE OLDEST YOUNGEST MARINE?
It was the height of the Cold War when I enlisted in the USMC in 1956 and went to USMCRD San Diego and then to Camp Pendleton. This was a break from my studies at UC Berkeley. Boot Camp (Platoon 3006) was a sudden cultural shock as I exchanged kindly professors for ferocious drill instructors. I have spent the rest of my life as a professor. I cherish my time in the Corps. After retiring, I started attending Marine Corps birthday celebrations.
Recently, my wife of 61 years and I went on a Holland-America repositioning cruise from Rome, Italy to Ft. Lauderdale. Since we would be at sea on November 10th I investigated and learned that the ship had made no provision for a 243rd USMC birthday party. So, I began to put one together. I ordered a cake with the EGA logo. The ship reserved a special section for us near the bar on the rear deck for November 10th.
I began to troll for Marines, wearing a Marines t-shirt and a USMC cover. Gradually, I began to meet and greet Marines. I met an ex-USN Chaplain (Rev. Dale Williams) who had served twice with us. We had a group of about 20 for the birthday celebration.
One Marine played the annual message from the Commandant. Chaplain Williams gave the invocation and then led us in singing the Marine Corps hymn. Now it came time to serve the cake. The big problem was finding out who were the oldest and youngest Marines present. The goal was to honor service in the USMC. There are few young people on a late fall cruise. I’m 81 and I did not feel that old among the passengers. There were no young Marines and a lot of us elders. We chose an imposing MSgt with the most years of service (29) as the oldest Marine. (He the second from the right.) He was 66. But, choosing the youngest Marine was a problem. So, I asked “Is anyone under 50?” No. Then, under 60? No. Finally, since the eldest was 66, I asked if anyone was under 66. There was one who was 65 plus change. (He is the one on the far right.) So, he became the recipient of the second slice of birthday cake.
The 243rd birthday party was fun. The delicious cake, the adjacent bar, and good fellowship made this celebration special.
Later, I realized that we may have set a USMC record for the oldest youngest Marine at a USMC birthday celebration. I have attached photos of the cake and a small group consisting of myself, the two honorees and friends. I regret losing the names of the two honorees and hope that a reader might identify them for the record. I’m the old guy with the USMC cover in the back row.
Do any of you know an older youngest Marine at a USMC birthday celebration?
James Freud provided the photos and made excellent suggestions for improving this letter.
On 1- Feb- 2019 Major Edward Wright USMC ( Retired) received The Silver Star for action on 21-Aug-1967. At the time of the action he was Lt. Wright, a platoon leader with Lima Co. 3/3 and was tasked with leading a 30 man reaction force sent to rescue an Army convoy and, other Marines from his company that were ambushed by an NVA unit.As they advanced and engaged the enemy the fight turned into close combat and ultimately hand to hand. Lt. Wright ordered his men to “Fix Bayonets” and continued the fight. It,s times like these that make the Vietnam War not seem so long ago. You want to know what combat vets are? There you have it! Those Marines are combat vets! Harry
