Category: Other Eras

Clutching An Ammo Can

Comment on Amphibious Landing Problems.

Ken Schweim's comments on going down the nets for an amphibious landing are pretty much the way I remember it. It looked easy in the movies, but very tricky in rough seas. I am surprised more Marines did not get hurt just getting off the ship. But those who suffered from sea sickness did not care… they just wanted to get off the ship and on dry land. I will also add that going from the landing craft to board ship was just as bad. Grab the net when the landing craft was high… then before you could get your feet in the net you were dangling in the air. Grab the net when it was low… the net is bunched at your feet. Climbing up the net with all your gear was a bit harder than going down. read more

Photos From World War I

I have been given the honor of maintaining the personal items that belonged to my paternal grandfather, Oscar Steiner King, USMC 1917 – 1919. Among them are a number of photos from WWI and what appear to be some official U.S. Marine Corps photo post cards taken during boot camp. My grandfather was with the 78th Company, 2nd Marines, 6th Battalion. He was part of the 2nd Replacement Battalion which replenished the 2/6 after the Battle of Belleau Woods. read more

Major Times Three

Here goes…

I was commissioned thru the Regular NROTC program at the U. of Minnesota in 1963 and, of course, joined the Marines. (I decided to be a Marine when I was 8 years old.) I was the SupO for the 2d Radio Bn, then served 2 "wonderful" years of sea duty aboard the USS Wright, CC-2 (C.O. of the Marine Detachment). Then my wife "convinced" me to leave the regulars, and so I went right into the active reserves (Supply Management Officer for the 4th Marine Division; and finally as a Major, Company Commander, India Co, 3d Bn., 24th Marines. (Never went to Vietnam – 2 sets of orders to WestPac (Viet Nam); both cancelled.) I had an NSG top secret clearance, and the Navy NSG did not want to risk Marine junior officers getting captured… which did happen in 1965 …bummer). And LBJ would not call up the Reserve 4th Marine Division. (15 years). read more

Almost Always Had Good Chow

In my Marine Corps I almost always had good Chow. Now here's the facts, There's Officers Mess, Staff NCO Mess, NCO Mess, and the Mess Hall where we went to eat CHOW, call it what you want, it was Chow. I have to admit I grew up during the Depression and my Mother couldn't afford great lunches, but going into the Corps didn't enlightened my life by finally getting better food. read more

Combat – Non-combat

Regarding the Nov. 6th Newsletter topic: Combat or Non-Combat.

I also was disappointed that I did not see any action in Viet Nam during my 4 years ('67-71).  After all, that was the reason I took a leave of absence from college AND also had to have my mother sign a waiver for me to enlist.  I was a sole surviving son, my dad having died from illness contracted as a result of WWII action in N. Africa and Italy. read more

Civil War Marine

Camp 22, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War had a brief Memorial Day Ceremony at the GAR plot, Old City Cemetery Sacramento, Calif. It was decided that the stones were in dire need of cleaning, so the following Saturday was spent cleaning the headstones. As I scrubbed away the mold, one revealed the inscription U.S. Marine Corps. What a surprise, a Civil War Marine. read more

Bumper Stickers From My Era

Looking through your closeout items I was glad to see a couple of bumper stickers from my era. The Cold War (1955 – 1959). Thank you.

I was p-ssed when I:

1. Got demoted from Sgt to Cpl (rate change structure).
2. Didn't receive a Fire Watch ribbon (National Defense).
3. Can't join the American Legion (on my own merit). read more