Semper Fi!
That a great postcard, tomiseksj.
In 1965/66, I spent eight months as a Fleet Marine Corps hospital corpsman, the last 37 days in Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam, which sure was a fun place to be in 1966! While you celebrate the Marines' birthday, read about my Marine Corps adventures here: 37 Days in Vietnam — A Navy corpsman with the U.S. Marines.
This is me on an operation; coming in for a landing is a Marine Corps Silorsky UH-34D Seahorse helicopter:
And this is the letter and cover I sent from U.S.S. Repose, the hospital ship where I had surgery after I was wounded on March 5, 1966.
The letter is misdated. I wrote it the day after I was wounded, but I was heavily sedated with morphine, and lucky to be alive: 10 Marines in my company had been killed. I don't regret being in Vietnam, or being wounded, although the experience leaves a lot to be desired if you're looking for a comfortable life. But I don't feel that I "served" anyone other than the Marines in my battalion. I did my job to the best of my ability, not for my country but for the Marines.
Semper Fi,
Bob
Wishing all Marines present and past a Happy Birthday! Once a Marine, always a Marine!
FrequentFlyer
re: Marine Corps Birthday, November 10th, 2019, 244th anniversary of the Corps' founding
Semper Fi!
re: Marine Corps Birthday, November 10th, 2019, 244th anniversary of the Corps' founding
That a great postcard, tomiseksj.
In 1965/66, I spent eight months as a Fleet Marine Corps hospital corpsman, the last 37 days in Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam, which sure was a fun place to be in 1966! While you celebrate the Marines' birthday, read about my Marine Corps adventures here: 37 Days in Vietnam — A Navy corpsman with the U.S. Marines.
This is me on an operation; coming in for a landing is a Marine Corps Silorsky UH-34D Seahorse helicopter:
And this is the letter and cover I sent from U.S.S. Repose, the hospital ship where I had surgery after I was wounded on March 5, 1966.
The letter is misdated. I wrote it the day after I was wounded, but I was heavily sedated with morphine, and lucky to be alive: 10 Marines in my company had been killed. I don't regret being in Vietnam, or being wounded, although the experience leaves a lot to be desired if you're looking for a comfortable life. But I don't feel that I "served" anyone other than the Marines in my battalion. I did my job to the best of my ability, not for my country but for the Marines.
Semper Fi,
Bob