While serving in Vietnam with 3/1/1 in 1968, I acquired a little friend. My last name being Mongar, I was given the nickname, “Mongoose”. Seems that the kids in a local ville that we tromped through occasionally, heard me being called, “Mongoose”, and next time through, they presented my with this very young mongoose. After my first day of carrying this little critter around, it never left my side. The little thing met it’s Waterloo during a mortar and rocket attack in Elephant Valley, in June or July of 1968. It was an experience I will never forget, one of those things that happened in Vietnam that can never be repeated.
Category: Marine Corps Pets
The Dog’s Got Grit
Shopping at Sgt Grit with my dog in Oklahoma!
Lynne Holmgren
From North Mankato, MN
Proudly Served In The Corps
Here I am with Brandi Alexandra, a 6 lb. Reindeer Chihuahua in her Woman Marine Dress Blues. I am a Vietnam Nam Era Veteran who proudly served in the Corps from Nov. '68-'70, at MCRD San Diego,CA. Believe me, I would NEVER change those two years for anything! I was assigned to the Provost Marshals Office where I had the honor of working with GySgt. Jimmy Howard, Medal of Honor recipient, and worked in Casual Company, both H&S Bn. MCRD. San Diego. I Loved My Jobs!
Rest in Peace “Mo”
“Pig”
In 1969 while serving in the 1st MAW in DaNang, I was at the airstrip waiting to catch a C-130 for Chu Lai when a little guy came out of nowhere… He jumped in my lap and looked hungry. I took him back to the compound and got him some chow & water. We became good buddies for the next 4 months. I named him "Pig" because he would eat anything! He was a great little guy!
Gunny Monster
This is our Mascot Gunny Monster supporting the Marines at Radio Disney event at the Gateway in Salt Lake City. He works with the local Marines supporting the Toys for Tots campaign.
http://www.facebook.com/gunnys.place
Semper Fi
Gunny & Troy
Babe
"Babe" was given to me when I checked in to Dong Ha at the end of 1966. I was told to feed and take care of her, because she was special. She was in during April 1967 that was when all hell started. We were getting rocketed and mortared on a regular basis. I was in the crash crew adjacent to the runway, so apparently, we finally found out they could see us from a church in town [Dong Ha], as I was told. To make a story short, "Babe" knew when incoming was really coming in and we kept an eye on her all the time. When we saw her, all of a sudden, dash out the door she could open. We knew that we had a few seconds to hit the ground or any place we could grab. That was our "Special Babe." Eventually, she left us due to continuous incoming and ended up in a USMC helicopter outfit in Quang Tri ten miles from where we were. She was a good one. I found out they took good care of her when I saw her in an online web site; (2010). Naturally, I contacted them and that was another story.
A good friend
In 1957 while serving with Kilo Btry, 4th Battalion, 12th Marines on a 155 Howitzer Btry. in the Philippines during Operation Strongback… I was surprised one evening when a small Rhesus monkey wandered into my tent from out of the jungle… For some reason he took up with me and was always close to me… He got to making his way around camp picking up anything he could carry back to my tent… I had at times a dozen or so Zippo's… The guys soon realized when they were missing something to come to me, knowing my little buddy had paid them a visit… He slept curled up next to me every night and would wake up screaming mad if anyone got too close to me… I just called him Monkey Buddy and hated to leave him behind when I had to return to Okinawa… Over these 55 years I've thought of him often and considerd him a great little Marine… Semper Fi Monkey Buddy… Howard W. Kennedy… USMC 1956 / 1962
Bruce the Moose newspaper clipping
Here we are again the Gunny is making a big hit around my area every one thinks he so Marine He dose what a marine is told to do with out questioning it he has been on meny missions in the last 2 years ..If he can make a Family smile when they have lost a loved one or make an old marine in a nursing home or soldiers home smile thats all that matters, Hes a Patriot Gurad Rider mascot Since im A ride captian & flag director the gunny is mine to take care of and hes only 22 months at this point ..hes a real little trooper.. We have done home commings and send offs and also been there for are fallen troops (Gunny Sgt Bruce The MOOSE)
Moose in Dress Blues
This is gunnery Sgt Moose in his new Dress blues 67 pounds of all pride. And he's my Little Marine all the way he's a great companion and the Marines in my area just love him and the VSO of all the towns around us ask if he will come to there events and I take him. He's good for moral and he's an all around good pal I never leave home with out him.