TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, AND ALL THROUGH THE CORP, NOT A TROOPIE HAD LIBERTY AND BOY WERE THEY SORE. WE WERE ALL CRASHED OUT, EVERY MAN IN A LOT , IN A BED OF SPIKES, CALLED A MARINE CORPS COT. WHEN OUT ON THE PARADE DECK, THERE AROSE SUCH A CLATTER, I SPRANG FROM MY RACK TO SEE WHAT WAS THE MATTER, OUT OF BREATH,I HID BEHIND THE DOOR WAITING FOR MORE !… WHEN A ROLY POLY FIGURE APPEARED ON THE SCENE, AND TO MY SURPRISE IT WAS THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORP., YES IT WAS THE GENERAL HIMSELF, THERE WAS NO DOUBT HE WAS WEARING A PONCHO INSIDE OUT, HE MARCHED AROUND EACH MANS RACK CAREFULLY INSPECTING EACH MANS RIFLE AND PACK. TO A FEW HE LAID OUT A 96 CHIT, BUT TO THE MAJORITY A RATION OF SHIT: AS HE PULLED AWAY IN HIS GOLD PLATED TANK PULLED BY TEN PRIVATES PUSHING FOR RANK. I HEARD HIM SHOUT …MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU BASTARDS YOU”LL NEVER GET OUT …
FIRST LIGHT
“FIRST LIGHT”
First Light Starlight – star bright – shadows in the night.
I pray that calm will be, that we may see The next first light.
Moonlight – too bright, we fear will bring a firefight.
If that must be – I pray to thee that we survive til next first light.
A distant sound brings chills of fright Eyes open wide – no sleep tonight.
The sounds so slight are amplified It’s long away from next first light.
We’re young, and strong – this starlit night But do not boast with great delight.
Hold back the tears – I must for years if I survive to see first light.
Marine Barracks at Key West
I pulled a 13 month tour of duty with the Marine Barracks at Key West 1974-75. Now I can’t find a single thing about it on Google. I don’t even know if it is still active (probably not) or if there are any old Jarheads I served with there on the internet or not.
The Christmas Gift
There is a gift that comes
From those out on the lines,
It is not wrapped in bows,
But, oh, how bright it shines.
There is a Christmas gift,
A pearl beyond all price,
From those who ask for naught,
But make the sacrifice.
They risk their blood and bone
On endless weary tours,
For that is all that keeps
The evil from our shores.
Regular People
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.)
S.0.S. Recipe – U.S.M.C. Style
What you’ve all been waiting for!
Everyone recalls the famous pre-invasion Marine Corps breakfast of steak and eggs. However, that was not the normal morning meal served aboard transports as they slowly plodded across seas to deliver Old Breed Marines to their next combat venture.
BS Both Ways
I went to boot camp 3 months after my older brother. Out of boot camp in April 1957 to ITR and into the same Company my brother had been in. Went to get my first Liberty and Liberty Card in 3 1/2 months and the CO says, “I had an Olson in here three months ago, any relative?” Now I wanted to see the sights, not BS. But I had to say “Yes Sir, He was my brother.”
Typhoon Bess
USMC operations orders for 2 September 1968, indicate that Lima Company 2/26 was on a clearing operations in the mountains of the Hai Van pass. On the 4th of September 1968, Typhoon Bess struck the coast of Vietnam. Lima was at the highest point in the mountains and took two serious WIA in a ambush. The only option was to return to the base of the mountain to evacuate our wounded. I was had been attached to Lima as the Scout Observer from Charlie Battery 1/13. Charlie had positioned on the beach at the edge of the mountains to support Lima during the 7 day operation. I went to the ambush site with my radio as my radio operator Trosper was sick and contacted Bravo’s Commanding Officer. I explained about the ambush and the only option open to us. I asked for a fire mission and indicated danger close right away. The CO told me that the battery was almost under water from the tidal surge and that all aiming stakes were gone and that the very best gunner the battery had would use his distant aiming point. All I asked was that he did the best he could. For over an hour I adjusted fire onto the bunker where the machine gun was located, all rounds impacted within 100 feet of where I was adjusting the fire. Lima was able to in the middle of a Typhoon move back down the mountain in 5 hours and ambulances were waiting for our wounded.
CAC COMMEMORATES 74TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF TARAWA
To honor the service members that fought in that conflict, Hawaii Marines with Combat Assault Company (CAC), 3rd Marine Regiment, completed a motivational run across Marine Corps Base Hawaii and finished with a ground fighting event at Fort Hase Beach, Nov. 20, 2017.
BREAKING LANGUAGE BARRIERS, BUILDING BONDS
The Japanese American Society held the event at the Sinfonia Iwakuni Concert Hall to help strengthen the U.S. – Japan friendship.
Japanese participants performed speeches in English while American participants performed theirs in Japanese. Contestants were judged on the content of their speeches as well as articulation, enunciation and stage presence.