Out with the Old – In with the New

I had the bulldog originally done in Oceanside in 1969.In august 2003 I had it refreshed and added to just before our 1st Bn 1st Marines 1965 -1971 reunion in Washington DC . Work was done By Jim Hawk of Hawk's Tattoos in Galesburg, Illinois. He gave the old dog a much needed facelift and added the First of the First in the campaign ribbon colors along with the 69 71. read more

Inboard Eagle Globe and Anchor Tats

Sgt Grit,
Here are a couple of pics of my Eagle Globe and Anchor tats on my shoulders facing inboard. Good to go. They were a little expensive, but what the hey – Once a Marine Always a Marine! unless your a shit bird and they used to say Eat the Apple —- the Corps.
Not me Sarge, I bleed Green
Semper Fi Devil Dog
Sgt Bob Howell USMC (Ret) read more

Eagle, Scope and Anchor

I thought your readers would get a kick out of this "original" Marine tattoo. I've been out 29 years, and thought long and hard before I got this one. But after my son came home from School of Infantry last year with his, I decided it was time. It was co-designed by Red at Red's Timeless Tattoos in Houston, TX and I call this Eagle, Scope and Anchor…"One Shot-One Kill". read more

No Touch Up Required

My tattoo is one the older guys will know. I had it done in Oceanside, Ca. on my way to Nam in 1969. I ended up with Fox 2/7 and did a lot of humpin . And to think some of the guys are paying the big bucks to go back as tourists. I saw enough for a lifetime. Anyhow my tattoo is great except where the leeches in Ashua and Antenna Valleys got to some of me. For some reason they liked the red in my tattoo and took most of it with them. I thought about getting it touched up but then it wouldn't be original. read more

35 Years Later

Just before going to Nam, a bunch of us Grunts went to town (Oceanside) to get a tattoo. There was enough time for only about half of us to get them that night. Those of us who did not get them figured that we would return the following weekend. That week we received orders for Nam and were confined to barracks. I always figured that I would eventually get one. This past holiday season, I had a few days on hand with not much to do. I finally went and got the tattoo I planned to get in 1969. I surprised everyone. read more