Sgt. Mike Viet Nam Humor

[steelslaver]

I will never forget that sgt. He had several wart like deals on his face that I am sure sick bay would have done something about if he had requested. He would regularly go of on some tirade that only made sense at the very beginning, then fractured into a million pieces. I am quire sure he was going to have some problems in civilian life and the Marine Corps was just trying to get him his retirement fro what he had done.

I was a lucky guy in the Marine corps. I got a great MOS, for the most part after the first year or so had some great senior staff NCOs who helped me out. In general the Marine Corps did look after their own. I saw some lifers go out of their way to try to save guys from their youth and stupidity. My one stepson retired a few years back from the Navy as MCPO. Once he described himself as mostly a glorified baby sitter.

 

[AJ]

My younger step brother was in 4 years and never was a PFC. He went home from time to time without taking leave.

When I was the corporal of the guard on the main area of Camp Pendelton the Sgt of the guard had almost 18 1/2 years in. He was on permanent guard duty until retirement. He had quite a few combat awards etc and was unbelievably Gung HO. But, also kind of an idiot to be blunt and a bit of a legend for his over the top actions.

In the month I was on guard duty he pulled his 45 twice. Once 2 guys (not on guard duty) missed morning roll call, he went to their barrack, woke them up and marched them to their captain in their skivvies with his 45. I am sure it left a lasting impression. Then, I was in the mess hall with him, we were both armed and therefor had our covers on. He jumps some S bird pfc (faded utilities, unshined brass and boots etc) for having his cover on. Pfc responds you have yours on, so, Thurston whips out his 45 and says "yes, but I am armed". Serious as the heart attack I almost had.

The most interesting rank thing I ever saw was while I was going to school in Quantico, The barrack next to us had guys waiting for discharge. One of them was a PFC with 6 hash marks. I wondered if they were all he got left or if he had been promoted from being busted to PVT

Most all of the birds that got busted were transferred out and we never saw them again Did have one guy get court martialed, for what I do not remember. They decided to make an example of him. Had a squadron formation, and just like in "Branded", they cut off his chevrons, took the USMC emblems off his uniform and cut the buttons off his blouse Then marched him to the front gate, his gear was waiting there for him.........

 

[AJ]

Good Morning, Gentlemen.............

The last one is a bit off, I never heard a Drill Instructor say "Please".

 

[Llance]

Went down to 32nd st naval station in November of "69" for diving school. Saw a navy 3rd class PO with hash tags for 27 or 28 years. I never did talk to him, but I've always wondered what he did to get busted after that long in the service.

 

[AJ]

Went down to 32nd st naval station in November of "69" for diving school. Saw a navy 3rd class PO with hash tags for 27 or 28 years. I never did talk to him, but I've always wondered what he did to get busted after that long in the service.

At one time there was not a minimum rank at which someone could retire. I figure you are correct in your assumption. But I have seen 2nd Class PO's that were over 20. B-I-L was a SeaBee, he retired as a 1stClass PO. He would pass the test for Chief and there would not be enough slots for him to get promoted. They called it "Passed, Not Advanced". Dangled Chief in front of him to get him to reenlist, but he had had enough by then.

 

[Greyman50]

Really Proud of Grandson, he's made E-5 in less than 4 years in the Navy, betting he will be E-6 in another year.

 

[AJ]

Coffee and a bagel with the cartoons?

 

[AJ]

Today's offerings.......

 

[AJ]

Today's group. Also a question. I have about 25 more days of Sgt.Mike's. Do I continue this with other cartoon books from Viet Nam (I have two others) or let ths wither on the vine?

Never liked the Press. Had several dealings with them, not good!

 

[Bekeart]

Please Continue

Please Continue

Bekeart

 

[Retired W4]

Please Continue

Bekeart

I second the motion. I'll throw in a couple from Choi Oi from time to time if you don't mind.

 

[steelslaver]

Continue. Some of them jog old memories.

As you know in the 60s and early 70s the Marine Corps had some interesting characters show up. A good percentage of enlisted Marines reason for being in the Corps had a Judge involved, a HS diploma was not needed. I meet guys who had been in Harvard, those who could not read, ones who had been in prison, poor, rich, characters of every sort, guys from other nations who wanted to become citizens.

There were some interesting "sledges", some because of genetics and /or environment others by choice.

One fact always remains. Once they step on the yellow foot prints they are never quite the same. You never really know just what some of them are capable of.

When I first got to Philly a college educated guy who had been busted from L/CPL to pvt was shipping out to Oki. Him and a cohort had gone to the Army/Navy game, Got drunk, stole a Navy bus and proceeded to drive around picking up passengers. When I got to Oki he was a PFC again, but getting an award and meritorious promotion the L/CPL for saving a civilian child caught in a rip tide. He made CPL and got accepted and went to Officers candidate school some months later.

 

[AJ]

I second the motion. I'll throw in a couple from Choi Oi from time to time if you don't mind.

Any and all cartoons dealing with Viet Nam are more than welcome.

 

[Wrangler Rich]

I try to check in daily, but it often doesn't happen. So I have to backtrack a couple days, but it is always worth the effort. Please keep doing what you do.

Thanks,

WR

 

[AJ]

Continue. Some of them jog old memories.

As you know in the 60s and early 70s the Marine Corps had some interesting characters show up. A good percentage of enlisted Marines reason for being in the Corps had a Judge involved, a HS diploma was not needed. I meet guys who had been in Harvard, those who could not read, ones who had been in prison, poor, rich, characters of every sort, guys from other nations who wanted to become citizens.

There were some interesting "sledges", some because of genetics and /or environment others by choice.

One fact always remains. Once they step on the yellow foot prints they are never quite the same. You never really know just what some of them are capable of.

When I first got to Philly a college educated guy who had been busted from L/CPL to pvt was shipping out to Oki. Him and a cohort had gone to the Army/Navy game, Got drunk, stole a Navy bus and proceeded to drive around picking up passengers. When I got to Oki he was a PFC again, but getting an award and meritorious promotion the L/CPL for saving a civilian child caught in a rip tide. He made CPL and got accepted and went to Officers candidate school some months later.

Had a friend that was a Com/Nav Tech on A6's in SEA. He was a CPA in civilian life, had got tired of it and wanted some adventure, so he joined the Corps.

Had a Sgt. that worked for me in Calif. He was nine credit hours of having a BA degree from Arizona State. Got tired of school and joined the Corps. He was happy as an 0311 Sgt. We tried to talk him into finishing his degree and go to OCS, no dice. Last I heard of him he was seen at the U.S.Embassy in Kuwait City when it was liberated.

 

[quikdraw67]

I'm not a veteran, but I enjoy these. Please keep posting, it gives some perspective to us civilians. Plus I was born in 1967, so it's a gateway to the past as well.

I remember my neighbor's dad having a cartoon book called "Mox Nix", which was about life in the Army in West Germany in the late 50's. His Dad was a tanker IIRC.

He also had a book of comics called "Hubert" IIRC. Kind of like a Willie and Joe. My neighbor's uncle was in WWII and that might have been his.

Anyway, thank you again.

 

[Llance]

AJ, thank you for these postings, as I said earlier many of these are first time views for me. Usually we didn't get S&S until many months after it was on the stands, if we got it at all, so please do continue with the comics. It does indeed as others have said bring back a memory or two.

 

[AJ]

Gentlemen, I will continue posting until I run out of cartoons. I have two books of jokes/cartoons for Viet Nam that I picked up while there. If anyone else want to contribute please feel free. The books I will continue this with are "Sorry 'Bout That!" by Ken Melvin and "Nguyen Charlie" by Corky Trinidad.

 

[AJ]

Today's selections....

 

[phulklip]

Thank you so much for the daily posts AJ. Yours is the first post I look for every morning. Brings back some good memories. Thanks again
Paul