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Bruce Day
08-04-2011, 03:03 PM
Greg Moats, a PGCA member, author of Sporting Clays articles, and former USMC captain sent me this.he Looks like sniper training to me, where some of the best of the best attend.

I had the privilege and honor of marching with some of these heros when I did the Bataan Death March Memorial Marathon last March in southern New Mexico at the White Sands Missile Test Range . Let me know if anybody wants to join me in 2012.

Angel Cruz
08-04-2011, 03:25 PM
That's one hell of a bipod. It sort of put things in perspective. Thanks for posting Bruce.
Semper Fi!

Dean Romig
08-04-2011, 03:48 PM
Almost looks like Roger Coger's cheek piece... hmmm...

Francis Morin
08-04-2011, 04:15 PM
Can't tell for sure- opened in 1976 with Gunny Hathcock as NCOIC-- This brave Gyrene exemplifies the "never give up" espirit de Corps we have and treasure- in "grunt" terms he is utilizing a "FIR"- that's Field Improvised Rest to you Non-Quals- (below 190 out of 250 on qual day) then only think in USMC parlance lower than a "Non-Qual" is whale poop!! Semper Fi!!:bigbye:

Bill Murphy
08-04-2011, 06:44 PM
When Carlos Hathcock returned from his second tour and finally retired from active duty, he became a bit of a fisherman. One of his fishing companions was Colonel Willis, an imposing Marine who served as Commanding Officer of the Marksmanship Unit at Quantico. I don't know what Hathcock's professional connection was with Willis, but I assume there was one. One weekend, during a Preliminary Olympic Tryout at the Quantico Skeet Range, our squad was test firing at station one before beginning a round. All International shooters test fire once or twice before each round, just something that is done by tradition. At my turn, I fired once into the air and once in the general direction of a blue jay flying in front of a field a great distance from me. To my astonishment, the blue jay dropped like a rock. I felt bad about the blue jay, but surely did not expect the the bird would be harmed. When the round was finished, I put my gun away and began walking toward the newly built multi hole, multi sex outhouse. Approaching me, coming from the outhouse was Colonel Willis in full fatigue uniform. I was surprised that the blue jay had recovered somewhat and was walking on the road about equidistant from me and the Colonel. I was fully expecting the Colonel had been told of my transgression and would be chewing me a "new one". I was quite relieved when he kept his gaze well above the level of the wounded blue jay and gave me a friendly greeting and inquired about my shooting. I returned his greeting and we both went on our way. I don't know, to this day, whether he saw the bird or not, but a blue jay on asphalt is hard to miss.

Francis Morin
08-04-2011, 08:43 PM
Gunny Hathcock was badly burned- rescuing five brother Marines from a burning Amtrac- NW of Da Nang Sept 1969--that ran over a 500 lb. Gook planted box mine-their Co, 2nd. Lt. (Hyland if memory serves) waved them onto a set of tracks, and made the fatal error of many Jr. Ossifers in their first weeks "In Country"-- rule Numba One- NEVER take an existing trail- you ain't tracking deer in the Adairondacks- rule Numba Two- NEVER EVER take the same track back out that you took in-- He was badly burnded, saved five Marines, was med-evaced to Da Nang, then to Yakota AFB in Tokyo, then finally to the burn center at Brooke AH in San Antonio. His CO had nominated Carlos for the Navy Cross, but Hathcock declined it- saying that the other Marines were the real heroes--

After he served his 20, he did take up shark fishing off the Carolina coast, and supposedly had read Hemingway's novel "The Old Man and The Sea" and felt a kinship with another "Carlos"-- Hemingway's first mate on the Pilar, after whom the Old Man's character in the book was modeled.


There have been many Marines. There have been many Marine marksmen. But there has been only one Sniper- Gy/Sgt. Carlos Norman Hathcock. One Shot-- One Kill.

Semper Fi- Gunny-- for a long as a Marine's best friend is his rifle, your legend will live on forever..

Bruce Day
08-05-2011, 12:03 PM
In today's military, we have a lot more understanding and humane way of handling those brave soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen who have disabilities incurred in service. If they can pass the PT tests and do what is expected of them physically , they get to stay in. In my day, you lose a foot, you were out. I greatly admire these people, they are inspiring. I've seen them. Some of them get to stay in but are somewhat protected and given the less strenuous jobs, but they have to pass the basic tests. Whatever they do, and even if they are not able to stay in, I am so proud and thankful for them.

Mark Ouellette
08-05-2011, 12:47 PM
Bill,

Colonel Willis was himself a sniper when he was enlisted.

I can assure you that the Colonel knew that you shot the Blue Jay. He knew everything! Had the Colonel been pissed at you, your face would have been under the Blue Jay. If he wanted to give you a warning he would have told you, "Do that again and I'll flush you down the toilet." Trust me that no one who heard those words doubted their fate should they get out of line ever again!

Also, when you type the Colonel's name you better be at a modified position of attention!

Semper Fi to you, soldier
Mark

Bill Murphy
08-05-2011, 01:44 PM
Mark, I was and am well aware of Colonel Willis' capabilities and demeanor. Thanks for the entertaining vignette.

Mark Ouellette
08-05-2011, 01:52 PM
Colonel Willis always had at his side a German Shepard named Bruno. His Brunos were trained and provided by a connection he had at Fort Leavenworth. A young Captain was briefing the in the Colonel in his rather large office. Bruno was lying on his mat on across the office from the Colonel's desk. The Captain looked toward Bruno and saw the Colonel's faithful companion licking his private parts. The Captain tried to make a joke saying, "I wished that I could do that!" The Colonel replied, "Go over to Bruno really easy and he might let you."

Bruce Day
08-06-2011, 03:55 PM
Well of all things. This was sent to me by a USMC friend and it went out to his buddies and one wrote back that he was the father of this kid's company commander and personally knew of this young man. He just made sgt, is in the 3rd Marines at Kaneohe HI, qualled as a sniper, and just passed a PT test and will stay. He did a 2 mile run in 14 min.

And we have a couple graduates from our BSA troop who are muddling their way through college, don't really want to be there and occupy their time playing electronic combat games on their gameboys or whatever they are. I've asked them what about the military and been told that they don't want anybody telling them what to do. With that, I conclude that they are not good candidates for the military and I wish them the best of luck in finding jobs where nobody tells them what to do. I know that young men like this Marine are our true national treasure.

Francis Morin
08-06-2011, 04:49 PM
[quote=Bruce Day;47792]Well of all things. This was sent to me by a USMC friend and it went out to his buddies and one wrote back that he was the father of this kid's company commander and personally knew of this young man. He just made sgt, is in the 3rd Marines at Kaneohe HI, qualled as a sniper, and just passed a PT test and will stay. He did a 2 mile run in 14 min.

And we have a couple graduates from our BSA troop who are muddling their way through college, don't really want to be there and occupy their time playing electronic combat games on their gameboys or whatever they are. I've asked them what about the military and been told that they don't want anybody telling them what to do. Bruce- I recall maybe 14 years ago, my nephew with an IQ of Mensa range- I asked him what games he liked (hoping maybe Baseball or even straight pool) and he said- "Uncle Francis, I like to play computer games (Super Dooper Mario brothers, maybe?) with my friends" I then asked him- did they take turns (like a poker group maybe) and rotate from house to house to play these "games"-- "Oh, no" he replied- "Not at all- we just sit at our computers and play from our own rooms"-- Took him 5 years to graduate college- quit his first job because his boss (also his ex-girl friends father) asked him to do something he didn't want to do--

For every good invention, the ultimate results can be chaos- We have Al Gore's Internet- and hackers like the Limeys that worked for Rupert Murdoch- we have our PGCA website- but there are porn and other garbage sites out there also--I think the computer age has, to a great extent, made many of us "social hermits"--

Now as for the 2 mile in 14 minutes (Full pack and rifle?) as our DI's said at MCRD San Diego (51 years ago for me) would have said-- "Out-%^#$*@%-standing"!!:cool:

Dean Romig
08-06-2011, 11:05 PM
I know that young men like this Marine are our true national treasure.

And, the future of this great country!!!!

I couldn't be more proud of the young men in our military.

Bill Murphy
08-07-2011, 01:07 PM
I don't know if this is national news or local news, but Walter Reed Army Hospital had a closing ceremony this week and now Walter Reed is part of the Naval Hospital at Bethesda, MD. An immense building program has been in place for several years at Bethesda Naval. I guess the new, modern complex is a good thing for the patients. Bethesda is a better venue for off campus activities than Walter Reed was. There is a lot of history in both facilities. My Dad was a guest at the dedication of the Naval Hospital in 1940, a big event attended by many dignitaries including FDR. Until recently, I had in my collection, a beautiful program commemorating the event, including the list of attendees. I framed it and gave it as a retirement gift to the senior NCO of the Dental Section at Bethesda. The retirement ceremony was held in an auditorium at the hospital and the reception, attended by more high ranking commissioned officers than I have ever seen in one place. Linda works in a dental office with this gentleman's wife and is acquainted with the whole family. I suggested the gift and he was quite impressed. Because of the proximity of the two facilities to local sporting clubs, Wounded Warrior events are regularly held in our area.

david ross
08-08-2011, 05:47 PM
Hi All.
My god those USMC boys have got some guts.

Bruce Day
08-08-2011, 06:26 PM
Shoulder to shoulder with the SAS, David. Competance and courage.

You know, we have a member in Tasmania who has come over here and hunted with us on the plains. Borrows a Parker since the gun laws in Australia are so restrictive. He can get his Parker into the US but he is afraid he could not get it back into Australia. Think about it.

Ran into a ret. SAS Sgt a couple years back. Came over, bought a Harley and was spending time riding from coast to coast , north to south and up to Alaska, a great adventure.

Francis Morin
08-08-2011, 08:00 PM
Shoulder to shoulder with the SAS, David. Competance and courage.

You know, we have a member in Tasmania who has come over here and hunted with us on the plains. Borrows a Parker since the gun laws in Australia are so restrictive. He can get his Parker into the US but he is afraid he could not get it back into Australia. Think about it.

Ran into a ret. SAS Sgt a couple years back. Came over, bought a Harley and was spending time riding from coast to coast , north to south and up to Alaska, a great adventure.-- USMC Semper Fidelis- SAS Royal Marine Commandos-"Quid Audere, Vincere"!!

Robert Delk
08-13-2011, 08:56 PM
I remember running the PRT in June of 1965 at MCRD and I did the 3 mile with combat gear in 23 minutes and 45 seconds and that was after doing all the rest of the stuff. I will probably be bragging about that until they cart me away. In those days all I did in off duty hours was run and go through the obstacle course.Good thing too as a couple of months later I was humping a radio with 3rd Recon in Vietnam.Our young people always seem to be up to the task when duty finally becomes an imperative and they put away childish things.

Steve McCarty
10-01-2011, 05:43 PM
My Co, at Pensacola, FLA when I checked in to start flight training was Colonel Don Conroy. He was a giant, maybe 6'4" and pretty thick. He was very blond with a crew cut and had a voice that could be heard all over the base. When he got mad, which was all of the time, his neck turned bright read and the veins stuck out. When he spoke the building trembled. We were all scared spitless of him.

His son Pat, wrote a book about the colonel entitled "The Great Santini". It was mostly true. Then man was bigger than life. Google Pat Conroy's funeral oration of his dad.

Years ago I found an old "Life" magazine, dated 1946. Inside was an article about Pappy Boyington's return to Pensacola after he was released from a Japanese prison camp. He was in uniform. They met at the San Carlos hotel in P-cola to have a few. There was a Life photographer assigned to photograph the event. In one picture Pappy is sitting on the shoulders of a huge marine, all singing and shooting their watches (making 'handies' their hands being airplanes). The man holding up Pappy was none other than the Great Santini himself. He was one hell of a Marine. Pappy wasn't bad either.

I flew in the Marines for nine years and it almost ruined by life. Nothing seemed worth while after that. Nothing nearly as exciting. If someone wasn't shooting at you, well; who cares? There is a sound that you hear in the early morning in the Marine Corps that you will hear no where else. It is the cadance call of the sergeants as they march their platoons to morning chow. To an old Marine it is the sweetest and most sturring music on earth and I'd give anything to do it all over again.