Sgt. Grit Community – Page 757 – 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.

Death of a Marine

my husband died suddenly of a massive heart attack Sunday. he was Marine Force Recon and did 3 tours in Vietnam. he did a lot of other things that were classified but suffice to say he qualifies as a hero like all Marines do.

he was larger in life and in death, he has become a legend to me. this photo, though you cannot see the writing on his shirt, is one from i got him from Sgt. Grit. it says “University of Vietnam.” i just wanted to post this so other Marines will keep Carl and his family in their prayers. he is now standing alongside his mates in Heaven guarding the gates. read more

Capt. Ron Browns jeep from 7 Feb 68, after Retrival to Phu Bai

April 1963 First Combat Unit in Vietnam

This is just to let you know, the first combat marines in Vietnam was April 1963 it was a 47 3rd Recon Bn “C” Co.. and this is the only link to this special ops unit.

Click here: The Advisory & Combat Assistance Era: 1954-1964 read more

X-mas in RVN

Well; now I sent this to you: Dec 1967 as OpChief, G-3-11; Hill 10 and Dec 70, and still OpChief, this time E-2-11 at FSB Ryder.

The picture from Ryder show some interesting people: BGen Simmons; Lt Houston who retired some 28 years later as Colonel, Gunny Aguilar, Capt Mulholland, the battery commander who spent 4 tours in the Nam, SSGT Lozada (Me) who retired a CWO-5 in the Field Artillery and after 34 years and 4 months and other FDC guys and an Army Liasion Team since army units were loose in the Que Son basin. read more

The Bomb Dump

Sgt. Grit, My name is Sgt Dove, KA 0311 71-78 (Rose Garden 72-73). I would have never thought all this being possible sitting up in my tower at the Bomb Dump some 36 years later. What America has done is just mind blowing, being able to connect with long lost brothers who were close friends at one time and now reunited again. I have had the pleasure of having 3 old buddies come into my life again via your page, the Nam Phong roster and one other web page. read more

Army Artillery

In late 1966, 2 Army artillery battalions were sent to the DMZ to be attached to the 3rd Marine Division’s 12th Regiment. My unit was the 1st Battalion 40th Artillery composed of 105mm SP’s. The other unit was the 2nd Battalion 94th Artillery composed of 175mm SP’s. The 1/40’s base camp was at Dong Ha and we rotated the firing Batteries between Dong Ha, the Rockpile, and Gio Linh. The 2/94 was based at Camp Carroll. I was an artillery surveyor and was all over the DMZ and was at the ammo dump September 3, 1967 when the ammo dump was hit by NVA artillery. read more

FDC Bunker

You sat in FDC at the 11th Marines did you not?
That same night I sat in the FDC bunker at Lima 4-11 on Hill 55…..
Merry Christmas ‘lo these so many years later.

stew

Immediately Introduced Himself

I first met LCpl Gary Keller during ITR (advanced infantry training) at Camp Pendleton in late 1966. All the Marines looked alike in their utilities and short cropped hair. One stood out from the others. He appeared to be more mature and with no chevrons, I assumed he was an officer. He was a private. It was our first day at the training facility and we were being assigned billeting in Quonset huts. As I was putting my gear away, a Marine tapped me on the shoulder. “My name is Gary Keller and I am from Yakima, Washington.” I introduced myself as PFC John Foster. I was surprised that Keller had just completed boot camp. I thought he was older but he was 18, just like me. After we all got settled in, we were called out on the deck for a promotion ceremony. About 6 Marines were being promoted to LCpl. Gary was one of them but he was getting his first promotion to PFC. read more

Vietnam Veteran Color Guard

Sgt. Grit: The traveling Viet-Nam Wall came to Shelbyville, TN. this fall. The organizer contacted me, as I am the Commandant of the local Marine Corps League Detachment to ask if we could help in the planning for this special event. He inquired if we could present the colors during the special ceremony on 1 November 2008. I replied that we would be proud to do it and told him I could do one better. Our color guard that morning was made up of Viet-Nam Veterans that had “boots in country”! read more

Snipers And Monsoon Rains

On Jan 6, 1969 the Song Ba Ren River Bridge was completed by the 9th Engineer Battalion. It was 29 miles south of DaNang and was 722 feet in length. It is believed to be the longest bridge built in the history of the Marine Corps.