Gunny A. J. Squaredaway USMC

Marines take care of other Marines

December 3rd, 2009 by Jack Orth | FLASHBACKS | | 0 Comments

As a partner in Leatherneck Square, I thought it would be great to head for Hendersonville, NC for the 234th Marine Corps Birthday. After all, Gunny A.J. Squaredaway’s C.P. is there, and he’s our chief advisor as to what gear Marines will like! However, there was another reason to see “The Gunny”, who will always be The Gunny to me although he retired as a Sgt. Major years ago after serving in WWII and The Korean War. Bill Parks is the “poster Marine” for Leatherneck Square, and we proudly call him “A.J. Squaredaway”.

In July of 1953, I was a squad leader with H/3/7 in Korea. We were on line near the Berlin outposts and Boulder City. I had helped carry a wounded Marine back to the reverse slope, and was on the way back to my squad. The Gunny directed me to take a group of Korean Service Corp men up to help the 2nd platoon, who had been hit badly by incoming. On the way up, we were hit by incoming that killed most of the KSC people, and wounded me in the back and leg.

I came back down the slope and the Gunny, although surrounded by incoming, got me into a Charlie Co. tank that would take me back to an aid station where I would be helicoptered to the hospital ship USS REPOSE. As I was being pulled through the tank hatch, the Gunny yelled up,

“Throw down your cigarettes!” It was as if he was at the 7/11 store .. no rush .. he just calmly asked me to throw down my cigarettes.

I’ve always felt the Gunny saved my life. For many years after my discharge in late 1953 I mistakenly thought that Bill Parks had been killed in Korea. About twenty years ago I found out that he was alive and well in Hendersonville! Naturally, I went down from Boston to see him, and met his wife. Since then I’ve spent time with him, and a couple of years ago asked him to be our advisor at Leatherneck Square.

When putting on my ribbons for the Marine Corps Birthday celebration in Hendersonville, I had a flashback to that day in Korea long ago. Here I was, spending the M.C. Birthday with “The Gunny” … I’m 78 years old, and the Gunny is in his mid-eighties. There is a very strong possibility that for the past 57 years I’ve been alive because of one Marine taking care of another Marine. On this Birthday in Hendersonville, it hit me once again that Marines always take care of other Marines, no matter what the situation is.

Oh, how proud I am to have served those three years in our “Corps”. Where would I ever have met such people if I hadn’t joined The Marine Corps? I wouldn’t have! Combat is an unexplainable happening on one’s life … ya have to be there to understand. Even though the times were more than difficult, I’m glad I was there. It enabled me to see what Marines do for each other in the toughest of times. Marines, if need be, will give their life for another Marine.

We, at Leatherneck Square, salute you all during this Christmas season. My family and I, of course, give an extra salute to Sgt. Major William Parks, USMC (Ret.)… he being our own “GUNNY A.J. SQUAREDAWAY, USMC, (Ret.)

Semper Fi …… Cpl. Jack Orth, USMC (1950-1953)

Murphy’s Law of When to Drink

November 18th, 2009 by Jack Orth | FLASHBACKS | | 0 Comments

There was a real chill in the air the other morning, and Trigger seemed to have more pep than usual. Like a Marine waiting for the slopchute to open, he pawed at the hatch at 0500, and was ready to run an extra-long patrol. Put on my tough-as-nails Leatherneck Square Webgear Jacket with the embroidered modern EGA and Marines in flat black and set off in style.

Went through the hatch, and was greeted by a chill that made you want to move out on the double .. and we did! Pulled down the parka-style hood a click .. and had a “flashback”!

It’s not supposed to be cold at Parris Island in November, but it sure was in 1950. Snapping in at the rifle range is no bed of roses, especially when it’s cold. The rifle range instructors, along with our D.I.’s, were their usual caring selves. They constantly reminded us in no uncertain terms that “Luke the Gook” didn’t care if it was 20 below zero when we got to Korea, he’d still be game for putting a round between our horns at any time! This, of course, was a pleasant thought, especially with Thanksgiving a few days away. Naturally they were right, as many of us found out down the road when going to Korea.

When a young Marine is away from his family on Thanksgiving, it’s sort of like your girlfriend telling you she’s been invited over to Jimmy Jones house for turkey dinner! Jimmy is the high school football captain, and you’re at Parris Island being called every name in the book .. and then some! But, a full-blown turkey dinner in the mess hall at the range will take the sting away for the 20 minutes or so you get to finish the feast!

Our platoon was in formation before heading to the chow hall, and one of our D.I.’s decided to set the stage for our holiday meal!

“If you maggots were at home in your warm quarters, you just might be allowed a sip of wine at the family table.” Then he stood eyeball to eyeball with a boot named Murphy. “Murphy, being Irish, you just might have a sip of the devil’s brew at times. Do you drink, maggot?!”

“Sir! Only when I’m alone or with somebody, Sir!”

The D.I. screamed at Murphy, and told him to report to his “house” after chow. Murphy made our Thanksgiving a great one .. he had stood his ground, and added great humor to the day.

I hope Murphy is alive and well this Thanksgiving, and isn’t alone. He should be surrounded by family. I also hope he tells about his great reply to a D.I. at Parris Island .. and ya know, I’ll bet the D.I.s from our platoon remember that wonderful comeback by Murphy, and laugh like hell every Thanksgiving!

Whatever Mess Hall you’re visiting this year for turkey day … ENJOY!

Semper Fi ….. The Gunny

2009 United States Marine Corps Birthday Message

November 12th, 2009 by Jack Orth | FLASHBACKS | | 0 Comments

To past, present and future Marines. Thought you might like to view “The 2009 United States Marine Corps Birthday Message, from Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen James T. Conway. Join Marines and their supporters around the globe as they celebrate the 234th birthday of the USMC on November 10, 2009.”

It’s why we are who we are, and what makes The United States of America so great.

Semper Fi

The Gunny

Remembering the USMC – 1775 to 2009

November 4th, 2009 by Jack Orth | FLASHBACKS | | 0 Comments

Can’t believe it’s Birthday time again! I’m at an age when I think I was back at The Tun Tavern in 1775, signing on the dotted line and heading off to boot camp! Well, I guess I don’t feel 234 years old .. but, some days I’m not too sure!

Checked out my “mini” Marine Corps medals for the Birthday bash at The Marine Corps League in Hendersonville, and pulled out my blue blazer from the locker to be sure it still fits. Then, took the Birthday Edition Polo out of the footlocker … the deep corps green long-sleeve polo is perfect with the sport coat … and ya gotta look good for the Birthday! The USMC EGA and Semper Fidelis logo set it off in great style, and I hung it in the locker for the big day .. then, had a flashback”!

I was back in boot camp in 1941, and had only been there a week or so. The shock of being there hadn’t worn off yet, and wouldn’t until practically the day I left! However, my initial feeling, along with every recruit there, was What the hell have I done? By the end of twelve weeks, I was thinking, I made it! I made it! The rest is a piece of cake!

The Marine Corps Birthday in 1941, kind of set the stage for me. I hadn’t been away from home for any length of time before, and the rude awakening at boot camp made me realize how good I had had it. We were all young, but one kid had just turned seventeen a few weeks before, and he enlisted in The Marine Corps. The chow hall served us cake on that Marine Corps Birthday, and I’ll never forget the kid from Kentucky.

While eating my cake, I remember thinking of my birthday coming up in December, and that I wouldn’t have a birthday cake this year for the first time. Then, “Kentucky” said in a low mixture of sad and happy, if that’s possible,

“This is the first birthday cake I’ve ever had!” How could that be? I thought .. Ya mean no one ever sang Happy Birthday to “Kentucky”, and he never blew out any candles? Well, it hit the other boots within earshot of “Kentucky”, and, practically in unison, we split our Marine Birthday cake in half and put it on his mess tray!

I must tell ya, it brings a tear to my eye thinking about it. Yeah, real Marines cry ya know! I hope “Kentucky” has had many birthdays since that day, and will have his slice of Marine Corps cake this year. It will once again bring him back to what the Marine Corps is all about. We’ve always taken care of each other .. and always will!

Oh, how fortunate we’ve all been to have joined forces with the first “Jarheads” to enlist in our great Corps way back in 1775. We all bitched and moaned many times when on active duty, but only to each other. Let someone other than another Marine wise off about our Corps, and they’d better stand by for a ram!

I join the other Marines at Leatherneck Square in wishing you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! May all of you have “flashbacks” to your first Marine Corps Birthday as a Marine, and if you happen to run into a Marine who doesn’t have a slice of cake on November 10th, set them up with a slice for old times sake!

Semper Fi ……. The Gunny

We Didn’t Promise You a Rose Garden

October 21st, 2009 by Jack Orth | FLASHBACKS | | 0 Comments

Had a call recently from a long lost retired Sgt. Major, who lives in Beaufort, SC. He was having a mini-reunion with a half dozen Jarheads at Parris Island. I knew them all, and he said right off the bat, “The order of the day is for you to saddle up, lock and load, and head down here. Don’t give me any B.S. that you can’t leave Trigger behind … he can stay at my barracks here in Beaufort, just like you!”

Being free as a bird, Trigger and I packed the seabag and headed out of Hendersonville, NC at high port! Trigger loves to travel, and was in the “tank” like a flash. Half way down Rt. #26, our minds wandered, and I was told by a State Trooper that I was clocked at 86 mph when he pulled me over!

Ya know, we Marines always find that it pays to be one. My USMC decal on the back window led to the question, “Where are you going in such a hurry?” Told him I was on the way to P.I. for a reunion, and he said in a business-like manner, “Well, this is your lucky day .. Semper Fi!” Then told me to hold it at 80 mph, and I’d be fine. Yes, he was a Marine, and let the “old Gunny” move out almost on the double!

The get-together the first day was at The Officers Club at P.I., which is now a combination “O” Club and Staff NCO Club. I was wearing my Leatherneck Square USMC 234th Birthday Edition Polo and Old Salt Cap and, practically in unison, the Marines said,”Where’d ya get that shirt?!” I had a “flashback”!

It was back in 1951 at Camp Lejeune, and I told the other Jarheads this story ..

A young PFC in the 6th Marines was going out on liberty, and he was wearing a USMC tee shirt with the Marine green trousers. I chewed him out big time, and told him if he was going to wear civilian clothes wear them, not a combination of a tee shirt with Marine green issue trousers. Casual clothes on liberty is fine, but not with our Marine Corps issue clothing.

Well, come to find out, the young Marine went to the “slopchute” instead of his planned liberty, and proceeded to have one too many beers. Then, he decided to go into Jacksonville with other Marines to do some serious drinking! One thing led to another, and he ended up at the tattoo parlor. Came back to the base with a new look .. a tattoo that pictured a beautiful rose in full bloom inscribed at the top, “AS SWEET AS A ROSE” .. and underneath the rose, the name “JENNY”!

A month or so later, I commented to the young Jarhead, “Why didn’t you get a Marine Corps EGA on your forearm instead of that flower?!” His explanation went something like this .. “Well, when you told me to change my liberty uniform, I did, and went to the slopchute. I was going to a church supper in Jacksonville, but changed my mind, and eventually ended up at the tattoo shop. Had my girlfriend Jenny’s name put on the rose. Last week I received a “Dear John” letter from Jenny!

If I had gone to the church supper none of this would’ve happened .. so, when I look at “JENNY” on my arm for the rest of my life, I’ll think of you, Gunny!”

Well, I told the Marine he might want to go back to the tattoo parlor and have “JENNY” blocked out, and in its place put “We Didn’t Promise You a Rose Garden!” .. with an EGA under it! Also, told him I’d pay for it Hopefully, all these years later, he looks at that art work and laughs as he says, “The Gunny was an alright guy!”

Semper Fi ……. The Gunny

The Duke Ain’t Got Nuthin’ on The Gunny

October 7th, 2009 by Jack Orth | FLASHBACKS | | 0 Comments

It’s usually “The Gunny” that has his “flashbacks” when he reaches into the old seabag and puts on his Leatherneck Square gear!  However, last Thursday, it was my turn ..I’m the Marketing Jarhead and a partner in Leatherneck Square.  My wife and I were heading up to Hendersonville, NC to see “The Gunny” for a few days, and I put on one of our exclusive 234th Birthday Edition Polos with the USMC “legacy” embroidery design in Old Gold thread on the left chest.  We got in the car at 0400, and hit the highway from Jacksonville, FL, heading north.
   
My “flashback” was to the first time I saw Gunny Parks.  He retired in 1961 as a Sgt. Major, but to those of us in H/3/7 in Korea, he’ll always be “The Gunny”!  When I arrived in Korea during the winter of 1952, H/3/7 was on line, and there I was reporting in for duty as a Corporal …
   
The first day and night with H/37 was different from any other experience in my life. 

When you’re a kid, you check out the war movies of WWII and, for some reason, you think being in a war would be the ultimate high as an experience. Well, when seeing incoming up close in the freezing weather of Korea, after the initial shock you say to yourself, “What the hell was I thinking about when I actually volunteered to come over here?!”

I saw, that first night, what a true Marine is all about.  Gunnery Sgt. Parks was everywhere in the trenchline checking on “his” troops.  He was the shepherd tending the flock … he was the mother duck with the new family … he was what John Wayne pretended to be in the movies!  He moved through the trenchline as if he was strolling down Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood!  He was all business, but had that flair about him that gave you great confidence.  You knew he was the man-of-the-hour, and he continued to be day in and day out until the war was over.      
   
We had a great Captain as our Company Commander, and he, too, led by example … but, he did something that some officers might not do, and surely few CEO’s in the business world don’t.  He was confident enough in himself, and the Gunny, to let the Gunny handle the troops, and between them, they instilled greatness into our company.   Gunnery Sgt. Parks and Captain McCulloch are the reason many of us from those days in Korea are still around to have a “flashback” now and then!
   
They are both WWII Marines, and fought many a campaign in the Pacific.  It’s always amazed me that men who have been in heavy combat in one war, are able to perform superbly in another war.  I’m glad I was never put to that test.
   
What a time we had with “The Gunny”!  He’s about eight years older than I am, and going strong.  He has the same way about him .. very cool .. never seems to get flustered .. and, still takes care of his troops as he did back in WWII and The Korean War.  For me to serve with such men as the Gunny and the Captain was the highlight of my life in many ways.  They showed me, along with others I served with, that Marines truly take care of each other .. through thick and thin.  My three years in The Marine Corps put me in touch with some of the finest people I’ve ever met. It was a privilege to serve with them .. especially The Gunny!  
  
He will be back in a week or so with his own “flashbacks”, but I had to tell you about mine! To see The Gunny again is always a great pleasure!
                                                                  
Semper Fi ….. Jack Orth (sitting in for The Gunny this week)

“Pickle Meadows” Cold Weather Training Days

September 29th, 2009 by Jack Orth | FLASHBACKS | | 0 Comments

A Marine I served with on Guadalcanal–so he’s no spring chicken and I’m not either–called me recently from his C.P. in Houlton, ME. His last checkup by the corpsman, I mean doctor, wasn’t that great, so he said, “Gunny, pack your trash and come on up so we can lie to each other about how we won the war in the Pacific! Bring some warm gear because ya never know up here in northern Maine what tomorrow will be like!” Well, reading between the lines, I figured I’d better go up sooner rather than later, and check in with the “old salt” from my younger days.

Hate leaving Trigger with anyone else, so since the Marine Corps hasn’t called me back to active duty, I’ll drive up to Maine and Trigger can ride shotgun. Packed our seabag full of Leatherneck Square gear, and wanted to bring a couple of items for my machinegunner friend .. so brought two Midweight Hoodie sweatshirts. The deep-green, heavy-duty combed cotton/poly fabric with the gold EGA embroidered logo looks and feels like a million bucks! The kangaroo pouch in front will keep your “paws” warm. One Jarhead told me he carries his sidearm in the pouch when roaming the boondocks, but we leave that up to you! Rolled up the gear to pack in the seabag, and then had a “flashback”! …

Before going to Korea in 1952, all the troops from every draft spent three or four days of cold weather training. The bus ride from Camp Pendleton seemed to take forever before we finally reached “Pickle Meadows”, which was near Bridgeport, CA. It’s well over 10,000 feet elevation, and carrying a full pack, weapon, etc., up to that elevation was no walk in the drill field.

We stayed in shelter halves in snow up to your cartridge belt, and sometimes higher. The below-zero temperatures forced the Marine Corps to have warming huts that the troops used at various intervals during the stay. To top that off, they had aggressors on snowshoes and skis screaming and yelling all night and firing blanks. The only thing missing was incoming, but we’d see that soon enough on the other side of the Pacific! Well, like all Marines, we lived through Pickle Meadows …but, it would have been a hell of a lot more comfortable with the Midweight Hoodie!

The Jarhead in Houlton knew all about Pickle Meadows, as he had been there, too. We laughed like hell about that adventure, and hundreds of other ones over our more than twenty years in The Corps. With each beer, our stories got better, and for three or four days we ate a lot, drank a lot, and talked a lot. Our stories have been worked over and embeliished on over the years, but we enjoy them now even more than we did in the old days.

I’m hoping I’ll be back in Houlton, Maine next year to continue our storytelling. There’s nothing quite like two old Marines getting together. It makes you understand once again that the Marine Corps is very special, .. and what an honor it is to have served!

Have some flashbacks of your own! You will when you wear Leatherneck Square gear!

Semper Fi …… The Gunny

“Luke the Gook”

September 25th, 2009 by Jack Orth | FLASHBACKS | | 1 Comments

Trigger was low on chow, and my stash in the cupboard was in the same shape. Reminded me of when I was a kid during the depression and parents would tell us about “Old Mother Hubbard, who went to the cupboard to fetch her poor dog a bone. But, when she got there, the cupboard was bare, so the poor dog had none!” That brought a smile to my face, as I told good old Trigger we were heading to the Supply Sergeant to load up the seabag with chow.

Threw on my Leatherneck Square Freestyle Jacket. It’s water and wind-resistant and you’ll be needing one for the fall and winter. A special faded OD modern EGA with Marines on the left chest create an outstanding look. O.K., Trigger, jump in the “Tank”, and we’ll head off to Supply.

Picked up everything we needed for a couple of weeks, and headed back to the C.P. to have a cold one and give Trigger his favorite treat before evening chow .. a “Slim Jim”, and a few ounces of “Rolling Rock” .. the buy of the week! Every so often I get this craving for thin spaghetti with garlic and oil … nothing fancy, just the garlic and oil. Three or four large cloves of garlic (minced) fried in olive oil, then mix in with the spaghetti and some parmesan cheese …. and fresh Italian bread! The great garlic smell stays in the bunker a few days, and it’s like Heaven! Then, I had a “flashback”!

When I first went on line in Korea with H/3/7, the salty short timers always told us if you smelled garlic blowing in the wind, “Luke the Gook” was close by. All they ate was fish heads and garlic the soon-to-be-heading-back-to-the-States Marines told us. Well, I never gave it much thought, and crossed it off to just plain B.S.

On my third or fourth patrol, we left the MLR in darkness and headed out into no-man’s land to set up an ambush. There’s nothing quite like way below zero weather, and lying on the deck for hours waiting for “Luke” to make a move. After a certain period of time, you start seeing things that aren’t there! Ya gotta blink your eyes often, and focus correctly before you drive yourself nuts.

Then it happened … the breeze was blowing our way, and I could swear I smelled garlic! … and, I wasn’t alone! The kid from Pittsurgh whispered, “I know it ain’t pizza, but it sure smells like Mama Mia’s Restaurant!”

We waited … we waited … and heard noises heading our way. Being in a perfect position, we could have nailed “Luke” as he and his crew came over the skyline. Just as we thought we were in the middle of “Mama Mia’s Restaurant”, the garlic smell went away! A few hours later, we were back in our bunkers on the MLR, and damn glad of it.

Now we were the salty ones, and could tell the new troops that garlic meant Gooks, and to stand by for a ram! The kid from Pittsburgh laughed in our warm bunker, and said for the rest of his life whenever he had Italian food, he’d think of our patrols into no-man’s land.

Well, my spaghetti was superior, and Trigger had a slice of garlic bread to go with the Slim Jim. I, too, thought of the aroma of garlic blowing in the sub-zero wind in Korea!

Stay off the skyline, and I’ll trade you a can of fruit cocktail for a can of those wonderful greasy sausage patties!

Semper Fi …… The Gunny

You’re All Riflemen in My Marine Corps!

September 15th, 2009 by Jack Orth | FLASHBACKS | | 0 Comments

A Jarhead friend of mine called me, and made my day! “Gunny, my grandson is in the State Highway Patrol after his four-year tour in the Corps. He invited both of us to complete a fire team of four, and head to the police range to ‘lock & load’! Don’t bring Trigger, as he hated the noise last year when we went.”

That was it for me .. I went to the seabag and pulled out my Leatherneck Square

Gave Trigger an extra treat, along with clean water and orders to be on fire watch for a four-hour shift .. then, I’d relieve him of duty. Looked in the mirror, saluted myself, as I looked so damn good in the “Five Ring” shirt, and headed for “Tank” for the ride to the range .. then, I had a “flashback”!

I was back in Yemassee, SC getting off the train to board the “cattle cars” for Parris Island. After our welcome there, we were all speechless, and wondering what the hell we had done when we decided to join the Marine Corps!

Parris Island was nowhere near as bad as we had dreamed .. it was far worse!

The weeks went by quickly though, and we were actually half way through boot camp and getting ready to head to the rifle range. After the short march to the range, our head D.I. let us know right up front what we were there for. “You maggots, if you ever become Marines, will all be riflemen in “my” Marine Corps. You may be an office pinky, a cook, in the M.C. band, motor transport, etc., but that’s not your main job. You’re all riflemen, and don’t even think differently!”

Then, another D.I. let us know in no uncertain terms, that we would all qualify as either Marksman, Sharpshooter, or Expert on qualification day! “You maggots will see platoons in formation around the rifle range, and some recruits will have rolls of toilet paper tied around their neck, or a bucket over their heads. Those maggots didn’t qualify .. they shot under 200 out of a possible 250. We want, and will have, every recruit in Platoon 263 qualify! Do you hear me?!” “Sir! Yes, Sir!”

Three days of “snapping in” .. hours and hours in the prone position, sitting position, and off hand position. Then, live fire from 200-300 and 500 yards. The day before qualification day was perfect. No wind .. sunshine .. the next day, rain and wind! Thankfully, most of us qualified, but we had a few wearing the unwanted badge of a non-qualifier aound their neck!

Got to the police range, and it continued to bring back memories of P.I. and range at Camp Lejeune, where I qualified a year later. Had many comments and Semper Fi’s about the Shooter’s Shirt, and I swear it helped me fire what would have been about 230 at Parris Island! Well, maybe not .. but, we sure didn’t have any “Maggie’s Drawers” waving in the breeze!

Told Trigger all about it over a cold one back at the C.P., and he completely understood that as you get older, it’s nice to feel “macho” again! All ready on the right! All ready on the left! All ready on the firing line!

Semper Fi …… The Gunny

The Zephyr of Camp Pendleton

September 8th, 2009 by Jack Orth | FLASHBACKS | | 0 Comments

All dogs love to ride in cars, trucks, whatever. My great dog, Trigger, is no exception. There may be only one thing he likes better than getting in the car with me, and that’s a bowl of S.O.S.! After we finished our patrol of the area the other morning at 0600, I asked if he wanted to go in the car with me in an hour or so. Well, he immediately stood at attention, and marched over to the front hatch to wait for departure time!

Threw on my NCO Sword Vest, and we headed for the car. The lightweight vest is sort of in the style of an old-time flack jacket, but not as heavy. Since we didn’t expect small arms fire or incoming, it was perfect for the mission of going to get an oil change in “Tank” .. yeah, we call our car “Tank”! Oh, the Leatherneck Square USMC logo on the chest incorporates an NCO sword with Marines & Semper Fidelis on it. Very cool, as my grandson says!

The guy who owns the repair shop and always changes my oil, was a Jarhead, so of course, we exchange a “Semper Fi”, and I sit down with Trigger to wait for the car. A guy walks in and says he’s having a problem with the clutch slipping on his pickup truck. Quick as a wink, I have a “flashback”!

I’m back at Camp Pendleton with orders to head for Korea after cold weather training, etc. .. and

we had just bought a 1939 Lincoln Zepher with a stick shift for 50 bucks from a Marine who was headed to Korea on the draft before we were. Three Jarheads chipped in for the car, and for a few wild weeks, it was ours!

Only one problem .. you could push the clutch in, but it wouldn’t come back out without the help of a rope tied to it! However, just pull the rope and you were on your way! What a car! Never a maintenance problem, and six or 8 Marines headed for Hollywood most every weekend!

Upon reaching the first objective, we each would down one or two “zombies” in large glasses, and that set the tone for the weekend! Before we headed off to the next watering hole, a guy at the bar set up the second round of “zombies” for us. Come to find out he was Jack McGrath, the great race car driver who won many national races, and was always near the top at the “Indy 500″.

Well, Jack took us all to Jack Teagarten’s bar, which was one of the hot spots in Hollywood then. Teagarten was one of the best trombone players ever, and a close friend of Jack McGrath. We spent the entire evening and early morning at Jack Teagarten’s, and all the drinks and food were on the house! Then, “Jack Mac” had us all over to his house for breakfast with his wife. She must have been real happy to see six loaded Jarheads come in, with her husband in the same condition .. but, she treated us like kings, as Jack did. When we sold the car six or eight weeks later for 50 bucks to another Marine who was headed for Korea, it was with great sorrow. The Lincoln had treated us well!

A few years back, I was invited to a past champions dinner in Daytona Beach, FL. When I asked about Jack McGrath, I was told he had been killed on a dirt track in Indiana in the late 1950’s or early 1960. I shall never forget the way he and his wife treated six Marines in 1952 in Hollywood!

When you fall out tomorrow morning, wear a smile .. for we’re all able to be around to do just that!

Semper Fi ….. The Gunny

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