Vets and the word, "Gun."

[Dean C]

Don't forget the Swabbies

Orlando, 1970, then off to the Pacific.
SUBPAC 70 to 73
MIUW 73 to 76

dean

edit: God bless all the armed forces that have served and especially those that gave it all.

 

[Otherguy Overby]

Ft Polk

God that place was hell. I spent 16 months there. 14 months of that was spent at 3d brigade headquarters where I had to write ONE newspaper article a week.

 

[willie]

Look I know we are called The Few,The Proud but this is ridiculous. I am
surrounded here. Am I the only one

 

[Devonai]

Sorry, they told me my ASVAB scores were too high to join the Marines!

Seriously, there are many Marines on THR.

 

[doughboy]

memories

Basic:Ft.Gordon,Ga. Jan.& Feb.,1963 Loved that M1 rifle!
Played football for Ft.Bening "Doughboys",1963 & 1964. We played in the national service championship at Orlando,Fla.(the Missile Bowl)and beat Ft.Eustis making us the services(all branches)nat'l champs.Our coach was Major Ralph Petersen.Anybody out there been there at that time?We played:
Fts.Bragg,Campbell,the marines-Quantico,LaJeune,AF-Lackland,Navy-Pensacola.Also-Ft.Sill and FtHood in Killeen,tx.We finished undefeated.

 

[crazed_ss]

The Marines was my first experience with firearms.
For that reason I always refer to guns as "Weapons" and dont neccessarily agree when people say guns are "tools".

 

[qlajlu]

Look I know we are called The Few,The Proud but this is ridiculous. I am
surrounded here. Am I the only one

No, Willie, you are not the only one. Graduate of MCRD, San Diego, 1963. Earned my first stripe on the range on qualification day for high range score (M-14). P'd a couple of DIs off because they had a bet going and I wasn't even considered. Got the stripe and about 2,000 squat-thrusts.

First day in Boot Camp we learned "proper eating habits." Two minutes to clean (snarf) the tray and be standing at attention outside the mess hall. I remember the first meal because I HATE macaroni and cheese. Always have, always will. Something about the consistency of cooked macaroni and melted cheese in my mouth at the same time. Too scared to puke my guts out.

Loved the drills before we could eat. "READY...SIT! GET YOUR A.. OFF THEM BENCHES! I DIDN'T HEAR THOSE ARSES SUCK WIND!" And on it went for about 15 minutes or so until the meal was cold, then it was 2 minutes and out.

 

[Eleven Mike]

Sand Hill, 97

Was the "it's not a gun" idea just something made up for the purpose of messing with us? Wouldn't be the only thing.

Spent a few summer weeks at Fork Polk, living in tents. We got showers every third day. This was training for the intense heat and humidity of our winter tour in Bosnia.

 

[Quo Vadis]

The Marcussen Man cannot post

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
HEADQUATERS AMERICAL DIVISION
APO San Francisco 96374
17 February 1968
GENERAL ORDERS NUMBER 779
AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL

1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced posthumously.

Marcussen, Glennon RA 15872232, Specialist Four E4, United States Army, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade APO 96256
Awarded: Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device
Date action: 09 January 1968
Theater: Republic of Vietnam
For heroism in connection with military operation against a hostile force. Specialist Four Marcussen distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 9 January 1968 in the Republic of Vietnam. On that date, while on a search and destroy mission, his platoon became pinned down by hostile automatic weapons and mortar fire. Specialist Marcussen quickly began to return rapid and effective small arms fire, until he ran out of ammunition. Disregarding his own safety, he braved intense enemy fire to reach the rear of this element and pick up more ammunition. Aware that part of his platoon was pinned down and in need of help, Specialist Marcussen again charged through the bullet-swept area. Upon reaching the rest of the element, he immediately commenced firing, and successfully located and destroyed a machinegun position. He then volunteered to remain in position and provide covering fire for the rest of the element, so they could withdraw to less exposed firing positions. Specialist Marcussen provided fast and accurate fire which enabled them to move back safely. He then tried to rejoin them under their protective fire. As he was maneuvering to the location of his comrades, he was mortally wounded. Specialist Four Marcussen’s courageous actions, unselfish concern for his fellow soldiers, and avid devotion to duty were in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflected great credit upon himself, the Americal Division, and the United States Army.
Authority: By direction of the President under the provisions of Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962.

 

[Quo Vadis]

Anchors away

Don't forget the Swabbies

Three hot meals, hot fresh water shower, clean fart sack each and every day.
Lets not forget "brass" up the ---- enlisted were not alone. Stars and bars got the crap blown out of them along with the rest of us....

 

[del4]

My dad was a WWII marine. The first thing he saw when he got off the bus was some guy in his underwear, a bucket on his head, rifle at shoulder arms marching around chanting "200,000 marines have rifles and I have a gun, 200,000 marines have rifles and I have a gun..." I became a Navy man.

 

[qlajlu]

...was some guy in his underwear

Those were not underwear, they were SKIVIES!

1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced posthumously. (Emphasis mine)

Far too many came home that way.

SALUTE!

 

[Farnham]

Sorry, they told me my ASVAB scores were too high to join the Marines!

The reason you see so few Marines recounting mistakes in boot camp, is because we, being Marines, do not make mistakes.

I did on occasion, make a tactical error, such as "eyeballing" or doing anything whatsoever to anything a DI believed to be "his." And EVERYTHING is his, as previously noted.

I also corrected a DI on the pronunciation of my name, once. Don't know how he confused me with that guy called "Goggles."

Plt 2075, E Company, MCRD San Diego, '94.

S/F

Farnham

 

[scout26]

Ft LostintheWoods in the State of Misery. A-5-3, Summer of '83.

Too hot for PT outside, so we'd "Sweat the Walls" inside the barracks. Never knew where the "Wetbulb" was or how it worked, but we spent most of time in rolled up, un-bloused pants, and no blouse, only T-shirts.

And yes, when I got home, I could clean my plate before anyone took their first bite.

I know I never said it in person but, Thanks for Everything: Senior Drill Sergeant Galvin, Drill Sergeant Plancencia and Drill Sergeant Oliver. I hope I made you proud.

 

[Rosstradamus]

B-5-2, FLW, MO, August-September '76.

I call it a gun every chance I get just to spite those stupid old SOB's!

If I ever saw one of my old Drills pushing his walker across the street, it would be pedal to the metal, boys.

By the way, anyone got a longer MOS than mine? 98G1LLAK3. Actually, on the company roster it was P98G1LLAK3 even though I had no parachute qualification. Typical Army idiocy. Never let reality get in the way of a good report.

 

[cropcirclewalker]

USNRTC San Diego Co. 297 June-August, 1962

I got to carry an 03-A3 and I got to do the drill, "This is my rifle, This is my Gun........."

There were other guns. Those big things that stuck out of turrets on the ships, (Not Boats)

I yam sorry, youse guys, but I cannot refer to my firearm as a weapon.

I am a civilian now. Firearm, piece, shootin' iron, pistol, rifle, sidearm, gun and like that.

Cops and soldiers have weapons.

 

[DF357]

And if that ain't enough for you, let me tell you about the Jark Marches in OCS at Fort Sill -- 5.4 miles with pack and M1 rifle in 50 minutes, without bending your knees.

Very similar time at FT Dix in Feb 67 but with an M14.

I hated the long double time marches with the temp in the teens. Work up a real sweat on the 10 mile run and then sit around and freeze in the cold when you stopped. Many guys got pneumonia and had to be 'recyled'. Feet got frozen in the sweaty cold too.

Bivouac was a PITA in near zero temps in the snow.

Go for a double time run, bundled all up, work up a sweat and go into a building for a VD film or something. Can't take off the clothes so you sit there and swealter in the warm building...people fall asleep during a lecture.

After the lecturer sees bunches of guys sleeping, he says quietly,

"Everyone who is awake, disregard this next command"

Then he screams out "ATTENTION" !!

Soon everyone who was sleeping is standing at rigid attention while the rest of us are cracking up!

 

[greengiant]

Amen

AMEN BROTHER!! BEEN THERE, DONE THAT AND WILL NEVER FORGET IT! Drill Sargents: Gentry & Rogers :banghead:

 

[XLMiguel]

A Little Period Attitude (circa 1969)-

"We were the unwilling, led by the incompetent, to do the unnecessary for the ungrateful . . . "

Tough weekend. I'm a Vietnam era vet. I live by Rt 66 going into DC, listened to Rolling Thunder all weekend (God bless them all). Had a reason to go into town Saturday and come home by way of Constitutuion Ave & the Mall, and got to see all the heavy metal and vets who rode in. Most inspiring.

Things have sort of mellowed out over time, I'm glad the populace is more supportive of the troops from Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, but, frankly, I'm still pissed about the war of my generation (Nam). And I still want to slap the chapatoulis outa the mindless (i.e. those who don't think anything is worth fighting for) peaceniks.

I watched "Jarhead" over the weekend, kind of tough flick. "Each war is different, all wars are the same" . . . (they all suck). God bless the Marines, too.

I guess I'm just having a bad Memorial Day hangover, forgive me.

 

[fredcwdoc]

Weapon vs gun. What I remember.....

51 Drill Sgt, 52 Drill Sgt., or holding my weapon over my head until my arms felt like they were bleeding.

 

[Davo]

I love hearing those stories, but I have no military backround.
My buddy was a Marine, and told me one time during his service during a lecture in a sweltering basketball gym, somebody passed gas horribly. The instructor randomly called on a student, and told him to "suck that fart out of the room!". He then went on teaching as this poor guy sucked down gulps air, and ran to window to blow it out.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Things have sort of mellowed out over time, I'm glad the populace is more supportive of the troops from Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, but, frankly, I'm still pissed about the war of my generation (Nam). And I still want to slap the chapatoulis outa the mindless (i.e. those who don't think anything is worth fighting for) peaceniks.

Let the fighting men of our generation resolve to prevent the peaceniks and self-serving politicians from doing the same thing to this generation.

 

[AirForceShooter]

it's a "Weapon" period.
That's what every DI I ever had told me it was with many hours of "Positive Reenforcement". You call it anything you want. To me it will always be a Weapon and when you call it a "Gun" my spine twitches.
You don't get it. OK, not a problem. I'll call a magazine a clip, all the time. See how that gets to you.
Got it now??

AFS

 

[Leadbutt]

AH!!! The memories,,

Root and Kidd YELLING at me Ft. Knox,Ky How I hate those hills "MISERY, AGONY"

 

[tegemu]

Just to clarify - Chow is eaten in the Galley on the Mess Deck. The latest Scuttlebutt was gotten from the Butter Cutter on the Starboard Chow Line.

This data from the Senior Chief.