View Full Version : BUTTER (finger) BARS
OK folks, had an idea in chat tonight......
Yhea, well we'll see if it's a good one !!
Since 'Boot Camp Stories' is going on, and we had a SOON TO BE LOUIE' drop in, I thought some 'O1' tales may be in order...[ get it .... in ORDER :)] lol [at myself]
So, here goes :p
It's Okinawa, Northern Training Area, about March '77. We've got this NEW mustang Butter Bar for a Platoon Commander.
Now, I know an 81mm mortar Plt. is mobile. But DAMN.
Were on this mission, get from point A to point B, without being observed, yada, yada, yada. He gets this bright idea to go around the objective area, and come in from the flank. Mortars and all. We knew it was longer, but should be able to travel faster, since we did'nt have to be 'stealthy' YHEA RIGHT !!!
So we take off for this ridge line, that skirts around NTA. This is supposed to take about 3-4 hours. So, at dusk, we are crossing this Fcuk'n RAVINE, using trip flares to see with, mortars and all. Couple of hours AFTER dark, we stop in some creek bed WITH NO CHOW. we were supposed to eat when we got there.
The next morning, we hump it up to the top of this ridge, and Comm. unit with us sets one of those 25 -30 ft antenna's up [that THEY been humpin], and were on our last radio battery. They finally get a Helo, that was off on the horizon [line of sight], and a few hours later we get picked up.
WE WERE IN FCUKING JAPAN !!!! Off the map. Whole damn Platoon listed as missing. That Helo, was looking for us !!!
So, when I make jokes about an Officer, with a map and compass......
:banana:
Terry
Sombody's GOT to be able to top this.....
LL, I bet you had a run in with an Officer (or 2), that everyone would just LOVE to hear about.
Maybe pics TOO :D
3rd Plt was on stand by, we had been on hill 22 for about a month and our mission was to sit in reserve and wait for someone to get into trouble. When to sh!t hit the fan, we would get on choppers...
Sparrowhawk
08-23-02, 09:52 PM
This happened about a month after Charles S. Robb, Lyndon B. Johnson son-in-law became India 3/7 Company Commander. the story is included in my book, <b>“Dreams of Glory” © </b> <br />
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Aggie...
wrbones
08-24-02, 01:51 AM
For a while there at HMT-301, a pilot training squadron, every work center would get stuck with an "OIC". One of the butter-bars trying to become a Marine Corps helicopter pilot. Ya always got the...
... what I was hoping to get going in here. :banana:
You get some Officers that are TRUE 90 day wonders (you wonder what they did in 90 days), and you get some that will be OUt-Fn-STANDING Mairnes, AND Officers.
I wanted to start this thread, so Russ, (LongLegs' son) adn others going into the officers Corps, may get an insight on WHY troops respect some Officers (not just the rank), and not others (even with the rank). The point is, I had too many PC's, with a big head, that didn't knoiw sh!t from shinola. The only reason I'd have followed him into harms way, was if he was following Gunny's instructions !!
You young bucks, Russ and others, yur trops will be more than your responsibility, they will be your DUTY. They will cover your azz, or hang it out to dry.
As for me, as a Fleet LCPL, then Cpl, Then LCpl, I respected RESPECT. I followed orders, but I did a better job, a little more pride in the job, when I respected the Orders, and the Marine that issued them. Some where, in a stash, I've got a Captians Bars (I got one, my bro got one), from a Co. CO. we didn't respect. Watching him walk around one day on the rifle range, FUMING, and looking like a Pvt..... truely a Mastercard moment.
So com-on, give us your stories.... good AND bad. Who knows, we may start a new Marine tradition...... SMART OFFICERS !!:scared:
Scasry thought..... hugh !!!!
LadyLeatherneck
08-24-02, 02:58 PM
Mrbsox your first post was hilarious. Well wish I had some
LT stories but we were prohibited to talk to them by our
Chief Warrant Officer. :D Only LT I remember was an LT by
the last name of Love, and I ain't kidding. I think he was
our Bn. Adjudant if I remember correctly, Lieutenant Love! :D
First, a little background. In Jan66, 3/4 was pulled back to Okinawa (from RVN) for re-outfitting and reinforcements. Several hundred of we boot Pvts/PFCs were assigned to 3/4, after completing a month of jungle training. In Feb66, 3/4 boarded 3 ships (I was on the APA Paul Revere) and steamed down to the coast of RVN, off the coast of Hue. A typhoon hit as we arrived and we all had an E ticket ride for 3 days. That's another story. After we had been in country four months, 3d Platoon was assigned a brand spanking new platoon commander, 2dLt Mullins. His troops immediately nicknamed him Moon Mullins, after an old comic strip character. Moon was a real trip. Right away, he decided the platoon needed to regain its military bearing and ordered haircuts, shined boots, etc. We were back at Phu Bai at the time, so there was minimal *****in' and moanin'. A couple of weeks later, we headed back up North. Moon volunteered 3dPlt for the first patrol, and the first couple of hours were a walk in the park. Then Moon decided some small unit tactics practice was a good idea. So here's a platoon of Marines practicing fire team rushes in the middle of Indian country. The *****in' and moanin' was no longer minimal. When Moon decided the plt had practiced enough, the patrol continued. One problem, though. Moon was lost, and the plt wandered aimlessly for a couple more hours before Moon admitted he had no clue. SSgt Hartmann (no not THAT Hartman from FMJ) finally got Moon pointed in the right direction. Nothin more dangerous than a 2dLt with a map & compass. A few weeks later, as we were disembarking from choppers on Operation something or other, Moon had to be medevaced - he got sand in his contact lenses.
Semper Fidelis, Frank
In all Fairness to those poor 2nd Louies out there.
To be a 2nd Lt. has to be one of the hardest jobs in the Corps.
A Boot with rank and authority can be a very dangerous combination.
Fortunately for the Corps and us Poor Enlisted, most of them know this, respect their office and their Sr. NCO's
Semper Fi,
Bob
... at the airport this evening. 2nd Lt. Jerrnigan I beleive it was. Gave the web site and an 'Old Corps' pep talk. <br />
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Seems he was on his way back to Quantico, and still in schools, has yet to...
wrbones
09-03-02, 12:18 AM
That boy got ya a little fired up didn't he! LOL.
Well, soon to be lieutenants in our Marine Corps. Just off the top of my head, I can think of two things ya need to keep in mind. Well, maybe four or five, but I'll stick to two...maybe.
ONE. That Corporal has more time on active duty in the fleet than you do. Respect his experience if nothing else. If you are a younger officer, please keep in mind that all your knowledge hasn't been tested by you in the real world as of yet, and that Staff NCO has been down the road. He knows wht really works and he knows his people down to how soon they'll need to get new skivvies. When he's makin' recommendations, be aware of these things.
TWO. Take care of your men. If you learn to do that and do it well, they will go to hell for you and on the way they'll make sure your a$$ is covered. One precept. Treat a cat like a dog, he'll act like a dog. Treat him like a man, he'll act like a man. Do these things and do them well, and your people will never disappoint you. The mission will always be accomplished. Make sure your Staff NCO's know what's going on. They'll know who to tell what to and when with their people.
Third. Train then. Train them. Train them.
These are only precepts. What worked for me as an NCO. My men always got more done with less than any other similiar unit. If it came down to it, I carried their chow to them with my own hands. I made absolutely sure they got the credit and all of the credit when they did a good job. I covered their a$$es at all times. I made sure they got promoted and NOW when they had it coming. I made sure they got to sick bay when they needed to, whether they wanted to go or not. I made sure they got a chance to get a haircut when they needed it. I trained them at all times. Everything I did was some form of training and instruction. When there was time, I explained everything to them. In return, they jumped when I said boo. They worked their butts off for me. When I spoke, they listened. The mission was always accomplished.