The
Forgotten Heroes amongst us…
I was a young Lieutenant going through TBS in the
early seventies. The instructors where all Viet
Nam Veterans and most of them where highly decorated.
Navy Crosses and Silver Stars adorned the chests
of many of the instructors and especially those
in the tactics instructor pool. These instructors
where serious, dedicated and highly motivated. Their
instructional techniques included attention gainers
and methods of instruction that have become legendary
in the Corps. They often used examples from there
own experience in Viet Nam or from the stories of
extraordinary exploits that remain with units forever.
This is about one of those exploits and its impact
almost three decades later. The story starts in
the year 1966 on Hill 488 northwest of Chulai overlooking
the infamous Hiep Duc Valley where 1st Platoon,
C Company, 1st Recon Bn’s 16 Marines and 2
Navy Corpsmen are inserted and ends in Jacksonville,
Florida in 1997... . Read
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Talking
To A Wall
Talking to some people is like talking to a wall:
a shiny black wall with names carved into it.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington is
a black granite wall engraved with the names of
each of the 58,245 U.S. servicemen who were killed
in Vietnam from October, 1957 to May, 1975. Each
of the 140 granite slabs is polished to a mirror
finish so that, as visitors look into the engraved
names, they will see the reflection of themselves.
The names of the dead are not organized by rank
or alphabet. They are listed in chronological
order of their deaths.
Each time I have gone to The Wall. I have been
struck by the quiet reverence shown by virtually
every visitor. Many people are visibly shaken
as they approach for the first time. Time does
not exist there. The collective soul of America,
scarred, bloodied, broken, bruised, is bared at
The Wall. The raw nerves, the sinew, the marrow
of America stands exposed in the reflection of
each of us. Whether they want to or not, each
visitor is forced to examine himself, his life,
his accomplishments, his soul. And each walks
away humbled... Read
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It was right after monsoon season when for me,
all hell came loose in that far off land of “OZ”.
It came unglued on a recon patrol in the proximity
of our base camp in the Quang-Tri province.
The enemy’s Tet Offensive was in full swing
at the once Capitol City of Hue. They were also
attacking Phu-Bai, laying siege to Khe-Sahn and
Saigon. Rolling Thunder was in high gear. This was
the first, or maybe the second time, President Johnson
ordered Rolling Thunder. Air power from the Air
Force, Navy and Marine Corps were pounding the North
Vietnam area of Hanoi and Hai-Phong, along the DMZ,
as well as around Khe-Sahn, the Ho Chi Minh Trail,
and any other targets they could find... Read
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Enough With
the BS
Study: Vets not getting enough
help, Associated Press Health Briefs Article buried
on page 5 of local newspaper in military community.
When is the BS going to stop! When are the silent
majority going to say they finally had enough and
shut down the extreme elements of both parties that
are exploiting the system, fighting over issues
that are more self serving than public serving…When
are we really going to start taking care of those
that are willing to serve and sacrifice for this
country….ENOUGH of the BS!
We need to stop passing the buck on veterans issues.
It is becoming more and more evident that those
in public service or elected to public office do
very little for those they are suppose to represent
and especially veterans. Public service has turned
into self service that fosters a patronizing environment.
Lip service and grandstanding is all you see when
it really comes to taking care of Vets. Veteran's
preference, if they even know what it is, is ignore.
You read and hear things like, "The best gesture
Americans can make is to hire a veteran”.
But while U.S. unemployment is about 4.7%, vets
still have a 15.6% jobless rate. Why?? The federal
government talks a good game, but they don’t
put any teeth in the enforcement. Statements like
this are routine and little is being done to help
alleviate the situation...Read
More
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Reminiscing…Looking
back with a smile
Our character as Marines is forged by our training, history
and adherence to our core values. From time to time as
Marines, we come across situations where taking care of
a Marine and adhering to our values takes on a special
meaning; this is one of those times...
I was the S4 at the Basic School (TBS) and was tasked
with overseeing the dedication of the new Infantry Officer’s
Course building (IOC) in honor of a Korean War Medal of
Honor recipient 1st Lt Frank Mitchell. Up to this point,
I didn’t know anything about Lt Mitchell or the
process of getting a government building named in honor
of a war hero. I was just informed that Lt Mitchell’s
name was selected and I was to take charge of the dedication
ceremony; I was handed a file with Lt Mitchell’s
picture and the documents authorizing that the Infantry
Officer’ building be named in honor of him... Read
More
Back
to top
On the dark, soft shoulder of night
I come again calling
I bring a dram of violence in memorial spite,
Of renewed anger in hate spawning
Cataclysmic seed planted in long ago fight
A dollop of truth mixed with your favorite fears
Between here, and there
A malicious fear crashing across light years
Primal screams splitting the air.
Again I take you forlorn into that jungle sweating
Filled again with deep despair...
Read
More
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IN THIS ISSUE
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1.
Forgotten Heroes
2.
Talking To A Wall
3.
Hero
4.
Enough With the BS
5.
Reminiscing
6.
PTSD
7.
Bulldozer Bob
8.
Affiliate Program
9.
Useful Links
10.
Authors
11.
Contributors
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Affiliate
Program
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FREE affiliate program is an easy way for you to
make money while helping Marines and their families
shop, find old friends and stay in touch with the
Marine community.
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your site, in your emails or in your newsletters
and you’ll be earning money. Every sale generated
from your banner or links will earn a 5% commision.
To signup or for more info click here:
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We
are always looking for new authors with
new stories. click the link below to contribute
to the Leatherneck EZINE.
Become
an Author
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Contributors
Robert Adelhelm
Paul Bailey
Mike Smith
Gary
Jacobson
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Special thanks to our
Editor in Chief
Michael Kannon
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