Another Marine Corps First !!!

Boondox · Jun 1, 2005

( Semper Fi

Served as corpsman 2/12 3rd Mar Div Vietnam 67-68. Got a chance to have my picture taken with Gen Tommy Franks last week. I had a very tiny USMC pin on my jacket. Tommy Franks looked down and saw my pin and said Semper Fi. I said "Vietnam 67-68".
HE said "Welcome home" to me. That's the first time that had been said to me. Not bad coming from a 4 star!

Semper Fi to all of you jar heads! )

Flag officers were always pretty cool IMO. Guess once you reach the stars it's okay to have a sense of humor.

Before my very first deployment my rifle company was being inspected by the Commandant himself! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I had never been thru a Marine-style inspection before, so asked all my buddies what sort of questions I might be asked by the General. I memorized it all, and on the morning of the inspection I was ready with all the rates of fire, muzzle velocities, etc of every weapon in our unit.

So the general stands in front of me, never looks at my pistol, and asks, "Doc, what's the navy's birthday?"

I had no idea! I was utterly clueless! But being nothing if not quick on my feet, I bellowed out my reply. "SIR, the only birthday that matters to me is 10 November 1775, SIR!"

There was a moment of shocked silence, then the general turned to my CO and said in a soft voice, "Take care of this man, Captain. He's going places!" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

EddieWalker · Jun 1, 2005

Boondox,

That, my friend, if a frist rate answer!!!!!!!!!!!

Eddie Walker
USMC
83-88

Varmintmist · Jun 2, 2005

Thats some fast thinking for a Squid on the hot plate /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif About any other one would have earned you a hard time cause you KNOW that was his plan.

82-86 University of Science Music and Culture /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Cityboyfarmer · Jun 2, 2005

( 82-86 University of Science Music and Culture /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif First time I heard that one! Nearly spit my drink on the monitor!

Squid on a hot plate /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif That was a great answer Boondocks! Gotta love those Corpsmen!

So..What did you study at the University, Varmintmist?

Varmintmist · Jun 3, 2005

6333, one wire on EA-6B's.

I used that after I got out and went to college. Told all the young ladies that I transfered from the U of SMC. If they were hippie weenies they never got it but I still could. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif If they had a brain they thought it was funny and I still had a in.
I was a apolitical HO. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

bczoom · Jun 3, 2005

( 6333, one wire on EA-6B's.)

I finally recalled my MOS (6324).

Hmmm. Varmintmist. I wonder if we may have bumped into each other at all working on EA6-B's?
I was in MAG-14, VMAQ-2 in the end of '82 and the first 1/2 of '83. Worked in the electronics trailers outside the hangers. Were you anywhere around there? Were you at NAS Millington (TN) in '83?

Boondox · Jun 3, 2005

Jeez, I actually remember mine too! 8404 -- official graduate of the Camp Lejeune School of Barbaric Medicine! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MikePA · Jun 3, 2005

For anyone who served during the Viet Nam era, here's a link, Click Here, for MOSs.

bczoom · Jun 3, 2005

Here is a list of newer ones.

Mtrman · Jun 9, 2005

I served from 85-91. My mos was a 1345 heavy equipment operator.
Sgt Rau

Semper Fi

TuscaniMac · Jun 22, 2005

I recently got out in Jan of '05. My MOS was 2621, SIGINT.

Yut

Varmintmist · Jun 23, 2005

I was at Millington approx Dec 82 - July 83

I got stuck as perm personel VAQ-129 on Whidbey Island Asked for overseas first, east coast second and west coast dead last, so I did my tim in WA state, SOP /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

If you went through the Whidby Island VAQ-129 electric shop any time after about mid July 83 I was there.

bczoom · Jun 24, 2005

( I was at Millington approx Dec 82 - July 83)

Sounds like we crossed paths there. I was in MATSS-901 when in Millington.

They changed my MOS so I switched from EA6-B's over to Hueys and Cobras. OK with me since I got to ride a lot.

Varmintmist · Jun 24, 2005

I was in barracks 417 in Millington, Bout the only thing I really remember is field daying singing "We all live in 417, 417, 417"
To the tune of yellow submarine. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

bczoom · Jun 24, 2005

Sounds like you were pretty bored. I was in 415. Only remember it since I still have my baseball jersey with it printed on the front.

One of the main things I remember was trying to get the sailors to stay in step using the USMC cadence. I was highest ranking so I had to get everyone around each day. I never could do it. I ended up splitting the Marines/Sailors and having one of the sailors use their own cadence which was more of a song... "Your left, right, your left and your right...". Can't even think of how to spell how I/we called a cadence.

Barton · Jun 24, 2005

Idel LO I O Idel LO /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Cityboyfarmer · Jun 24, 2005

( One of the main things I remember was trying to get the sailors to stay in step using the USMC cadence. )

Wait a minute...You mean you air-wingers actually marched after boot camp? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Come on, you're pulling my leg....right? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

bczoom · Jun 24, 2005

LOL

Yea, (I mean YES SIR /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif)... we had to march. It was a training base so like Camp Geiger and the other training bases, we had to march.

Now, once I got to New River... that was a different story. 5:00am was just past bedtime, and surely not intended for a wakeup call.

Varmintmist · Jun 26, 2005

OHHHH Yeahhhhh, I remember that /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

We didnt march with the sailors, but we did march through their area /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

They seemed to like to sleep late, at least that is what I gathered when the windows filled with 4 letter words about 0630.

BWAHAHAHAHA

Silky Sullivans Diver OUCH /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif