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,
My name is Glenn Russ. I’m a former active duty Marine. My wife and I visited the National Musuem of the Marine Corps September 11th. First, I must say the museum was outstanding! It is a must go and see for all Marines! We went to Washington, D.C. the following morning and approached the World War II memorial.
Hello Sgt Grit,
Yesterday, September 9, 2009, my father, First Sergeant Casey T. Bazewick, USMC (retired), 91, was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he received as a prisoner of war in World War II.
He enlisted before WWII in 1938, after two years in the Marine Corps Reserve. He served with the 4th Marines in Shanghai and on Corregidor in its defense until it fell on May 6, 1942. He became a prisoner of Japan for 39 months — 92 Garage (Corregidor), Bilibid Prison (Manila), Cabanatuan (Luzon, where 42% died in the first year), Hell Ship Tottori Maru (on deck he watched it nearly sunk by two American torpedoes), and Mukden, Manchuria at a large Mitsubishi factory (three winters, 40?50 below).
Hey Grit; Just thought I?d send this along. WWII Veteran Bernie Ruchin holds a get together each year at his home in Bedford NH for the Marines in the area. Marines from WWII up to Desert Storm and all ranks from Cpl to Col. Swap Sea Stories and shoot rifle and pistol competition. Bernie?s wife and daughter hosts the event, making sure the food never runs low.
It is my sad duty to report that Colonel Kenneth L. Reusser, USMC (Ret.) made his last takeoff on 20 June 2009. He is survived by his wife Trudy, sons, Richard and Ken II and sister Betty Vuylsteke. Funeral services will be held at the New Hope Community Church in Portland OR on Friday June 26th, 2009 at 11:00 AM, followed by graveside services at Willamette National Cemetery. Detailed instructions were sent under separate cover.
Flag Day June 14, 2009
WWII Veterans Honored
I am on our Legion Honor Guard, one of our past commanders Bill Kaufman had noticed that we had lost a lot of our WWII Veterans last year. So he said we should find a day and get them all together for a picture. Well it took some time to get the right day for the picture. We finally picked “Flag Day” because all of our snow birds would be back for the summer. Also it was a date close to the “D-Day Anniversary”. The Flag Day program is always put on by the Grand Haven Elk’s Lodge with support from the American Legion and the VFW. I asked the chairman Mike Lankes from the Elk’s Fag Day Committee if we could be part of their program that day. He said YES.
Dear Sgt. Grit.
The attached photo (the B&W) was taken by an official Marine photographer About March 6, 1945. My brother (on the right) was with Headquarters 5th Amphibious Corps and for the Iwo operation was attached to the Fourth MarDiv as a communication liaison between Division and Corps Headquarters. I (on the left)was in Signal Company, Headquarters Bn. Fifth Marine Division. That’s a radio jeep we are standing next to on Iwo Jima. Obviously, we were both on Iwo, and we both survived.
Memorial Day -2009
My Father and his Marine Corps buddies, a 60 year timeline, and never forgotten encounters are what follows in a little written capsule I would like to share on this Memorial Day 2009. My father Robert E. Vogel served in WWII as part of the 4th Marine Division, 20th Marines (Engineers), 23rd Marine Regiment, Company ?A? with the tour through the Pacific including Roinamur, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. My Father passed away in 1960 at 36 years of age when I was 10 months old. Though my mother retained many of my father?s records, letters, and photos from the war, there was a time to seek insight from those who may have served with my Dad. On Veteran?s Day 1998 I started the search on the internet for information regarding my Dad?s service. About 5 months later on April 1st, 1999, an amazing thing happened. An email was sitting in my inbox with the subject line ?Your Dad ? My Buddy? with the message beginning with words ?It?s a small world?.? Wow! A message from one of my Dad?s buddies was waiting for me. His name was Roy Strickland and to this day I still have the email in a scrapbook. I soon realized this was definitely no April?s fool and our family is forever grateful of making contact with Roy.
Marine Jack Rosenau, who will be 90 in November, was the honored guest at the Tallahassee Highland Games on May 16, 2009. He later served in the Army, the Air force & the Coast Guard Aux. but remains a proud Marine. His late wife, Jean, was also a WWII Marine. He?s wearing a kilt in the Leatherneck Tartan Jean made for him. In the group shot, I?m to Jack?s right, and Joe Lindsay Haley is on the left.
Sgt Grit, I know this is a Marine forum, hopefully you can include this about a Seabee.
It is with great sorrow that I have to announce the passing of LT. Commander Peter S. Marra (133rd NCB) 4th Marine Division (Iwo-Jima) at age 90. Peter was the Heart and Soul of the Presidential Unit Citation issue for the 133rd N.C.B. at Iwo Jima – He singlehandedly pursued this for years in deteriorating health, and deserves a medal alone for his ‘Herculean’ efforts. He will be sorely missed. Peter S. Marra 6/15/18 – 4/27/09
