Memorial Day weekend I was with some friends in Palm Springs, CA. The ladies were drinking their wine and when one bottle was empty, one of the ladies said,” Another dead soldier.” I was quick to politely inform her of her poor choice of words. Especially given the meaning of the day.
One Day I Can Never Forget
May 26, 1969
The Battery had been moved to the top of Dong Ha Mountain for a few weeks now. Battery A 1st Battalion 12th Marine Regiment 3rd Marine Division had built a position for their six 105mm Howitzers on the top of a high peak and was capable of providing close artillery support in any direction. The work was very hard. All materials, ammo, supplies and equipment had to be man carried and placed. No trucks, just a placement by CH-53’s and 46’s and the guns tended to sink in the mud. Thousands of sand bags filled with mud had to be assembled into gun pits and houches. The wind and rain chilled you to the bone. The fire missions were long and everybody was worked into a trance. The Marines in the battery were very close to each other. We humped ammo and worked together to accomplish our mission. Many life long friendships were born. Many lives were changed.
MARINES SHOWCASE MARKSMANSHIP SKILLS AT THE 2018 FAR EAST MARKSMANSHIP COMPETITION ON OKINAWA
The competition allowed Marines stationed in Japan to test and enhance their shooting abilities.
“The concept of every Marine a rifleman goes back to our basics,” said Sgt. Christian Lee Burdette, an ordinance maintenance chief with Marine Corps Installations Pacific. “We learn basic infantry skills before we learn our military occupational specialty. Every Marine in general has the capabilities to engage any threat with a weapon. With this training, it provides that confidence for a Marine to engage effectively.”
MARINE OF THE WEEK // WARRIOR DOG HANDLER
#MARINE OF THE WEEK // WARRIOR DOG HANDLER
Sgt. William B. Soutra
Company B, First Marine Special Operations Battalion
Helmand Province, Afghanistan
July 11, 2010
Award: Navy Cross
While patrolling with Afghan commandos in Helmand Province, Sergeant Soutra’s unit became pinned down by a complex ambush initiated by an improvised explosive device that mortally wounded his Staff Sergeant element leader. Sergeant Soutra unhesitatingly took charge, and with complete disregard for his own life, moved across open terrain to each commando’s position, orienting their fires on the enemy. Under intense fire he fearlessly moved forward with the team Corpsman to reach the fallen element leader. While the Corpsman rendered aid to the element leader, Sergeant Soutra placed a tourniquet on a nearby severely-wounded commando and pulled him to safety. Repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire, he again moved from position to position to orient and direct friendly fires, accurately relayed enemy information that enabled aircraft to provide suppression, and calmly coordinated a successful evacuation of the casualties – personally carrying one of the wounded 75 meters. Nearly 70 minutes after the ambush began, Sergeant Soutra rallied the platoon and maneuvered them safely out of the kill zone with his military working dog still at his side. By his decisive leadership, exceptional courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and complete dedication to duty, Sergeant Soutra reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
Home For Christmas
21 Dec 1965, I had just finished my specialist training at Schools Bn, Camp Del Mar, Camp Pendleton, Calif., and was given 25 days leave before reporting to 2nd AmTracBn, Camp Lejeune, N.C. I caught a ride with a classmate up to the Los Angeles area where we stayed the night with his Grandmother, then we’re given a ride to LAX to get a flight home for Christmas.
Christmas Dinner 1966
No presents, no Santa Claus, just rain and more rain. Christmas day December 25, 1966. Convoyed from Dong Ho to a site that later became Camp Evan. Spent the afternoon digging in and laying our howitzers. Instead of Santa, we got mortared and the grunts, a ground attack. Then the rains came. Wet powder, swollen ammo boxes and fiber containers. The call for illumination coming from every direction. Then a night move that put us in a river bed. During the night The dry river bed became a river. Morning found my section on an island. Some positions were flooded. Unfortunately the Howtar (mortars mounted on pack howitzer chassis) had been located below us, but no one knew that an earthen dam was there and since water seeks its own level, the battery was completely submerged.
Marine Joke
A Marine is traveling home on Christmas leave in his blues and the airline puts him in first class when he checks in.
He boards the plane and sits down next to a Catholic Priest – also traveling in first class.
The stewardess comes over immediately and offers the young Marine a drink. The young Marine asks “ma’am, may I have a glass of scotch… Read More?” The flight attendant replies with a smile “absolutely, sir.”
THREE MARINES WITH SPMAGTF-CR-CC EARN PURPLE HEARTS
Cpl. Tyler A. Frazier, a mortar Marine with 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, who recently returned to Twentynine Palms following a deployment with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, was awarded the Purple Heart Medal by Lt. Col. Steven M. Ford on November 7, 2018.
All three Marines received the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in Syria, while attached to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, operating in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve in Syria, during the month of October. Each Marine has since fully recovered and returned to full duty status. Cpl. Rousseau and Cpl. Hendrickson both returned to Syria to rejoin their units. Cpl Frazier redeployed back to the United States with 3d Battalion, 7th Marines.
MARINE OF THE WEEK // “When you inflict that number of casualties on the enemy and none of us were killed, that’s a pretty successful fight”
#MARINE OF THE WEEK // “When you inflict that number of casualties on the enemy and none of us were killed, that’s a pretty successful fight”
Gunnery Sgt Brian Blonder
Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines
Shewan, Afghanistan
August 8, 2008
Award: Navy Cross
THE FIGHT FOR TARAWA: 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF ONE OF THE BLOODIEST BATTLES IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF WWII
It was photographs and video scenes of American casualties lining the beach that would stun the American people in the aftermath of the Battle of Tarawa. Imagery of significant casualties floating in the surf disturbed the public, setting into motion public protest and angry letters from families mourning loved ones lost in battle.