2,706 U.S. Marines and Sailors were killed in action during the Vietnam War while serving in the Fighting Fifth Marine Regiment. Their sacrifice is not forgotten. With your help, each and every one of them will be honored with a beautiful new Memorial Monument at the 5th Marines’ Memorial Garden, Camp San Mateo, Camp Pendleton, California.
Galleries
Blood, Sweat And Honor
If you have not checked out my new book titled “Blood, Sweat and Honor” Memoirs of a Walking Dead Marine in Vietnam, you can view and even order from my web site. I was with Bravo 1/9 3rd Marine Division 1967-68.
Reached The Rank Of Sergeant
Boot Camp San Diego ’69, trained as a jet engine mechanic, arrived in country Sept. ’70 assigned to the HMM-364 Purple Foxes, never got to work on one engine… assigned as a door gunner, and crew chief in training, reassigned to HMM-165 at Futema MCAS and qualified as crew chief, after an overseas tour I was assigned to HMX-1 from ’71 to ’73, served 4 years, and reached the rank of SGT E5.
Lost My Best Marine Corps Buddy
Lost my best Marine Corps buddy from Pt. Arguello Marine Security Detachment days (1961).
A.G. Sadowski
CPL E4 (1958-1962)
Keepin’ The Faith
A Marine Corps Christmas Story
The story regards a small group of Marines, haggard and tired from the day’s events, sitting at their jungle outpost as night approaches and attempting to find solace after the loss of friends in battle. Ceremony, designed to sooth, and which normally surrounds loss of those close to us is not to be. Mingling among family and friends at the wake, kind words from the preacher, the funeral procession to the cemetery for more kind words and capped off with roast turkey, drinks and even a bit of laughter as the pleasant memories take over. To be able to pay respect. In a proper way, to a friend. None of this was to be. Simply there one moment, with talk of the future and, of course, tales about the incredible babes back in “The World”. And gone the next moment, with the unceremonious zipping of a body bag.
A Marine KA-BAR Gear Shift
Now here is something that you can definitely get a good grip on!
With Bayonets Fixed – Mike 3/9
Although not officially recorded that I know of, 2nd Platoon, Mike 3/9 (my platoon) in 1966 did a bayonet charge when we were pinned down in the middle of a dry rice paddy behind a short dike and were running low on ammo. We had no attachments, so just had rifles and grenades.
Marine Humor
This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs.
3rd Bn Huts
I enclosed a photo, don’t remember who took it, or where the camera came from, the day we “finished” P.I. 29 December 1958. No graduation, etc. Note the 3rd Bn huts… I’m in the middle of the photo, the handsome, squared away one…
It’s Not Pretty
Here are two photos of my MCRD, yellow sweatshirt; circa, Receiving Barracks, February 1964. It’s not pretty, but I have saved that thing, despite efforts by deterioration and my wife threatening to toss it out. Many years ago, that ratty sweatshirt almost made it to the garbage can… but I just couldn’t let that happen.