Sgt. Mike Viet Nam Humor

[AJ]

Whenever the Air Force planes would land at Chu Lai, the ground crews would help get the plane ready to fly. They would stencil VMFA-115 somewhere on the aft underside of the plane. After a couple of times we got a letter from the Air Force squadron CO demanding that we stop. They sure couldn't take a joke. The next time they came in, the pilots looked all over the plane before they got in the cockpit. Little did they know we waited until they were ready to start the engine. Most of the Air Force pilots did not know how to use the external starters. The had these explosives that fired to start the turbine to rotate. Oh the fun we had.

At Da Nang we would get Navy A6's that came into refuel from time to time. Usually we would change the name of the ship on the side of their aircraft. Birds from the USS Ranger, became the USS Danger and from the USS Forrestal became the USS ForestFire.

 

[Retired W4]

We took wars seriously as we were there. However, you needed to inject some levity or you would go nuts. It is the civilian contingent (for the most part) that does not, as they are not getting shot at, rocketed, mortared and whatnot. Our families did for sure, but the folks with "No dog in the Fight" did not.

But Col., I am taking it seriously. Just ask the VC.

 

[Retired W4]

A friend and I were going to the mess hall for lunch. He would on occasion not wear his cover. We were going up this dusty road when a Gunny stopped us and asked why he didn't have his cover on. His reply was "one of your fine Marines stole it". The Gunny than asked what's that it your back pocket? My friend reached behind, grabbed his cover and thanked the Gunny for finding his cover.

The other thing we would do was to not salute an officer on the way to the mess. After we passed them they would shout "Marines", we would stop turn around and give a really sharp salute. They would mumble something and then tell us to carry on. We would salute and go on about our business.
Oh the fun we had.

While stationed at NAS Dallas (Army side) I went across to the Navy side where they had a Burger King. I got out of my car to go inside when some young female Navy type declared "Sir, you are not covered." I looked down at my pants and said "Of course I am." She turned a nice shade of red and trotted away. I doubt she ever tried to scold an Army CW4 w/Master Aviator Wings again.

 

[steelslaver]

A real S bird lance corporal showed up in our barrack. Him another L/CPL and I are walking along, headed to the chow hall. with the sb a bit in the lead. We come up from the rear on a Colonel and a Master Sgt. The SB pushes between them without so much as a by your leave. My buddy and I come to a complete stop. The Master Sgt. goes Marine don't you salute officers, I am stunned when the SB answers "I didn't know I was supposed to salute ******** come up from the rear". WOW, the Master Sgt was getting his name and place of duty as me and my partner beat a hasty retreat. Nothing really came of it according to the SB.

When I ended up being a L/CPL for 18 months during a time when many made CPL under 2 years, I got pretty salty myself. Most lifers and officer could tell I was a lost cause, because of my hair, my stash and the general condition of my uniform. Then, for some odd reasons I got a meritorious promotion to CPL. They were on me like a pack of wolves. Luckily I had some senior staff NCOs who figured my work ethic made up for my "lack of military bearing" The fact that if you do really good at doing what you do and there are not many who can do do it, those in charge will look past your disregard for minor rules

 

[Retired W4]

How true. BTW, I had an uncle (RIP) who was a submariner in WW II and he used SB all the time. Kind of shocking for a little kid. He taught me a lot, including how to catch night crawlers at night. Grab that SB before he gets back in his hole. Unfortunately he took his own life at an early age. No telling what he went through in that can in WW II.

 

[Doug M.]

People who do dangerous and repugnant things have humor that those who do not will be incapable of understanding. In my office, quite often the women are worse, sometimes by an amazing amount. There have been times when I just leave and go to my office rather than reply ...

 

[steelslaver]

I can not imagine duty on a WWII sub. Nor the sheer terror of being depth charged. Firing torpedoes at a target was your job, knowing that doing so would result in being depth charged took a lot of guts. The stress had to be tremendous.

We had 263 subs in WWII, 52 of them were lost. Of the 16,000 men who served aboard subs 3,506 perished, nearly 1 in 4.

May all of them RIP

 

[Tom S.]

I can not imagine duty on a WWII sub. Nor the sheer terror of being depth charged. Firing torpedoes at a target was your job, knowing that doing so would result in being depth charged took a lot of guts. The stress had to be tremendous.

52 of them were lost. Of the 16,000 men who served aboard subs 3,506 perished, nearly 1 in 4.

May all of them RIP

I have been aboard the WWII submarine USS Torsk, on display in Maryland and can tell you that just being on the 'boat' was enough to convince me that you had to have a certain frame of mind to even sail in one during non-combat conditions. Things had be a living nightmare during combat.

It is also one place where being big and/or tall puts you at a real disadvantage. I had to duck everywhere I went, and I'm only 6'2".

 

[AJ]

Wasn't crazy about being on a ship for this exact reason.

 

[steelslaver]

Ships, tanks, helicopters, HQ, = targets

 

[steelslaver]

Found this one

 

[AJ]

When I was on a ship, I slept in a bunk. The only time I slept in a hammock was on C-130's crossing the Pacific or the Atlantic. Would put one up after talking to the Load Master between the pallets of gear and sleep on about 10 hour flights. Have seen a lot of sailors sleeping at the Fleet Landing (some were passed out).

 

[AJ]

Sometimes the Old Timers were worse than the replacements......

 

[Retired W4]

When I was on a ship, I slept in a bunk. The only time I slept in a hammock was on C-130's crossing the Pacific or the Atlantic. Would put one up after talking to the Load Master between the pallets of gear and sleep on about 10 hour flights. Have seen a lot of sailors sleeping at the Fleet Landing (some were passed out).

No ride in the back of a Herc is a good ride, hammock or not. Spending hours on those nylon troop seats is not fun. 130 sorties are best left to cargo and not people.

 

[AJ]

No ride in the back of a Herc is a good ride, hammock or not. Spending hours on those nylon troop seats is not fun. 130 sorties are best left to cargo and not people.

Had no choice, was normally the TransPac Crew or TransLant Crew. The hammock was better than the jump/troop seats.

 

[AJ]

Probably a lot of the recruits today!!! To many video games......

 

[AJ]

The folks nowadays spend a lot more on a coffee cup than I ever die. In the second two pictures I doubt if I have more than the amount mentioned in the cartoon wrapped up in all of them.

 

[AJ]

When I was on a carrier, I never had to "Man The Rail" as I was too senior. My Wife said it was impressive to see that big ship with the crew lined up all around the flight deck.

 

[AJ]

Very rarely did I tell my Marines "Because I said So!". Now in the new military I would imagine it happens a lot.

 

[steelslaver]

It usually works better if you can explain your "request". But, there are times when you need to just spit out orders and have them followed. Part of good leadership is having everyone know those times will happen and understand the need to do what you say and get explanations later when time allows.