Stand Tall Vietnam Veterans

Vietnam Veterans
by Dr. D. N. Christensen, WW II Vet

(Reprinted with permission of Military magazine, 2122 28th St., Sacramento, CA 95818. A sample copy of Military may be obtained by writing to the above address)

The Democratic convention brought to memory their meeting in Chicago in 1968 which was totally disrupted by the Viet-Nam War protesters. Several of those people (Tom and Jane Fonda Hayden) were professional protesters appearing at numerous rallies. Protests were orchestrated in part by the American Communist Party and allegedly financed through secret connections with the Russian Communists. The purpose of the Viet-Nam War was never forcefully explained to the American public, and the communist inspired protests led many uninformed Americans to act in a most disgraceful way toward Viet-Nam veterans who served with great honor when our nation called. Perhaps some of your readers will recall Viet-Nam and 40 years of the Cold War. read more

Breakdown of Vietnam Veterans per State

State

Vietnam Vets
Alabama 104,244
Alaska 31,044
Arizona 144,728
Arkansas 78,865
California 951,588
Colorado 154,208
Connecticut 96,106
Delaware 23,988
Florida 466,274
Georgia 243,947
Hawaii 41,860
Idaho 36,994
Illinois 321,959
Indiana 179,080
Iowa 87,270
Kansas 87,084
Kentucky 115,854
Louisiana 124,824
Maine 49,491
Maryland 175,577
Massachusetts 166,251
Michigan 290,593
Minnesota 149,766
Mississippi 67,325
Missouri 180,474
Montana 32,689
Nebraska 53,054
Nevada 60,825
New Hampshire 45,531
New Jersey 198,956
New Mexico 61,136
New York 413,404
North Carolina 228,364
North Dakota 20,067
Ohio 353,871
Oklahoma 123,172
Oregon 122,692
Pennsylvania 366,757
Rhode Island 30,566
South Carolina 128,420
South Dakota 21,599
Tennessee 167,187
Texas 594,705
Utah 45,699
Vermont 19,542
Virginia 264,902
Washington 232,426
West Virginia 59,413
Wisconsin 150,690
Wyoming 15,384
Total from above 8,184,654

Who Does A Vietnam Vet VOTE For?

Gore’s Military Service or Bush?
Submitted by: Loyde P. “Snake” Arender

Gore or Bush?

Gore …. I think that I might have seen “Gore” ALL over Nam, especially “In the Bush” because I vividly Remember A Lot of Marines saying: ” There sure is a bunch of Blood, Guts, and GORE in the BUSH”. (Or was that spelled Goar ? ) Hell, I don’t know …. I was a PFC “grunt” …. WE didn’t know shit until it had already happened. read more

133rd Seabees in the 4th Marine Division

133rd Seabees Stay Unsung
Submitted by John Ratomski

The Fourth Marine Division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for the Iwo Jima battle and the 133rd Seabee Battalion was not, although: 1) the 133rd was part of the 4th Marine Division from Nov. 1, 1944 until March 1945 2) The 133rd was not a support unit, but was used as a Marine Pioneer Battalion during the battle. 3) The 133rd NCB and the 4th Pioneer Battalion both became shore parties for the 23rd and 25th Regimental Combat Teams of the 4th Marine Division for the assault phase on Iwo-Jima. Official Battle Plans on record show this. 4) The Presidential Unit Citation declared that the Pioneer units were assault units and did not state that the133rd were support troops, therefore the 133rd would have to be considered assault troops. 5) The entire 133rd landed with the first waves and suffered 40% casualties. That exceeded the casualties of the 4th Pioneer Battalion. The 4th Pioneers were awarded the Citation the 133rd was not. 6) The 133rd acted in the same capacity as the 4th Pioneer Battalion for the 23RCT, wearing issued Marine uniforms, subject to Marine regulations as part of the Fourth Marine Division. assault team and not as a support group. 7) In addition they were awarded 10 Bronze Stars and 29 Fourth Marine Division Commendations in recognition for their part in the assault phases of operations. 8) The 133rd NCB wore its uniform proudly as Navy and wore its uniform proudly as Marines! They served both with distinction. They earned and deserve the recognition that is still not theirs. read more

Iwo Jima Landing and Flag Raising Commemoration in Sacat Arizona

February 20 and 21, 2009 – 64th Anniversary Iwo Jima Landing and Flag Raising Commemoration in Sacaton, Arizona

"The flag doesn't wave because the wind blows it. It waves with the last breath of every service member that has given his life for this grand and great nation." Marshall Tall Eagle Serna

On February 19, 1945, a large contingent of Marines landed on the island of Iwo Jima facing an equally substantial army of Japanese defenders. One of the bloodiest, fiercest four days of combat ensued. Iwo Jima became the most populous 7 square miles on the planet as U. S. Marines and Japanese soldiers fought a battle that would test American resolve symbolizing a free society's willingness to make the sacrifice necessary to prevail over evil. A SACRIFICE AS RELEVANT TODAY AS IT WAS THEN. read more

Japan’s Atomic Bomb: We almost lost all

Japan’s Atomic Bomb
by Leon Thompson

(Reprinted with permission of Military magazine, 2122 28th St., Sacramento, CA 95818. A sample copy of Military may be obtained by writing to the above address)

While reading the article by William B. Breuer entitled “Hiroshima bomb saved lives” (Oct. ’94, pg. 39), I had to chuckle to myself, because he is on the right track, but doesn’t know the half of it; the bomb saved two nations! read more

Back Alley Bridge Rules

Rules of the Game
Sumitted by Gary F. Taylor

1. Start each player ( 4 total played with partners ) getting thirteen cards. This will leave two cards left over (you use the jokes as the big and little bloopers).

2. Turn over 53rd card and it will be trump.

3. Each player bids as to how many tricks he can take. Each team of partners is totaled; i.e. North bids 5, East bids 2, South bids 3, and West bids 2. That totals 12 of a possible 13 tricks. read more

27th Marines on Iwo Jima Story

BLOOD PROMOTIONS: 27th Marines on Iwo Jima
Submitted by Chuck Tatum

Major Justin G. Duryea was the original commander of the 1st Bn 27th Marines. When he came aboard, he brought his staff from the parachute training school located at Camp Gillispie, California.

When Lt. Col Butler came aboard, the major moved up to regimental headquarters and became the 27th Marines operations officer. He received a promotion to Lt. Col. As an operation officer, he was in charge of plans and training. That chore included devising operational plans for all the battalions of the 27th Marine Regiment. read more

George Medal

George Medal
Submitted by R.A. Wulff

In the early morning hours of August 7, 1942, elements of the First Marine Division made their way into the landing boats and began the assault on the Japanese held island of Guadalcanal. As in any conflict, there were to be many acts of heroism, untold fear and the seeds of legends. After an unopposed landing and the initial advance into the interior of the island by the Marines, the Japanese decided that it was time to drive the Americans away from Henderson Airfield and back to the beaches where the Japanese Army would annihilate them. The Marines saw it differently and the battle went from a sparing match to a brawl. It was the birth place of major offensive action and the thousands of telegrams that were to be sent to the front doors of American homes from the Pacific for the next three years. read more