Criteria The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon is awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps assigned to U.S. homeported (including Hawaii and Alaska) ships, deploying units, or Fleet Marine Force commands, f... The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon is awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps assigned to U.S. homeported (including Hawaii and Alaska) ships, deploying units, or Fleet Marine Force commands, for 12 months accumulated sea duty, or for duty with the Fleet Marine Force that includes at least one deployment of 90 consecutive days. MoreHide
Best Friends
Dave Burns, Brett Lassen, Dave Freer, Scott Monoghan, Dennis Smith, Mark Boyer, Sammy Chavez, Gary Cannon, Jefferey Welch, Vance Ross
Best Moment
the beaches, phone watch laying on a cot
Other Memories
pulling people out of the surf more than the lifeguards, swimming waves as high as your house, lifeguards swimming on their boards out to 'rescue' us, only to see it is guys from MACS-2 or MASS-2, then saying, "Oh, it's you guys", and then turning around because we were better swimmers than they were.
Criteria The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal is awarded to Marine Corps personnel who land on foreign territory, engage in operations against armed opposition, or who operate under circumstances deemed to mer... The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal is awarded to Marine Corps personnel who land on foreign territory, engage in operations against armed opposition, or who operate under circumstances deemed to merit special recognition and for which no campaign medal has been awarded. MoreHide
Comments
Awarded for extended period of conflict and political tension off the coast of Iran, 1981.
Criteria The Humanitarian Service Medal is an individual award, presented to individuals who are physically present at the site of immediate relief and who directly contribute to and influence the humanitarian... The Humanitarian Service Medal is an individual award, presented to individuals who are physically present at the site of immediate relief and who directly contribute to and influence the humanitarian action. The Humanitarian Service Medal is only awarded for service during the identified "period of immediate relief;" eligibility for the Humanitarian Service Medal terminates once (if) the humanitarian action evolves into an "established ongoing operation beyond the initial emergency condition." MoreHide
Comments
The 31st MAU picked up Vietnamese Refugees off Vietnam. many people got this medal.
Description Team Spirit was a joint military training exercise of United States Forces Korea and the Military of South Korea held between 1976 and 1993. The exercise was scheduled from 1994 to 1996 but cancelled Team Spirit was a joint military training exercise of United States Forces Korea and the Military of South Korea held between 1976 and 1993. The exercise was scheduled from 1994 to 1996 but cancelled in each year as part of diplomacy to encourage the Government of North Korea to disable the North Korean nuclear weapons program. The North Korea regime abandoned talks following the January 1986 Team Spirit exercises, and in late 1992, North Korea unilaterally withdrew from the South-North High-Level Talks on the pretext of the 1993 Team Spirit exercise.
Until 2007 the exercise had been called "Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration of Forces" (RSOI). As of March 2008, it is called Key Resolve. North Korea has denounced the joint military exercise as a "war game aimed at a northward invasion."... More
Description Valiant Usher is a combined U.S.-Australian live fire training exercise that takes place at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area. The exercise involves joint training between the US and Australian militarValiant Usher is a combined U.S.-Australian live fire training exercise that takes place at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area. The exercise involves joint training between the US and Australian military forces and encompasses a full range of military training, including beach-storming exercises. The exercise started in the 1980s and has had several iterations since then. Participating units have included the US Marine Corps' Bravo Company and the Navy's Expeditionary Unit. Valiant Usher is one of several annual military exercises conducted by the US 7th Fleet in the Pacific, which also include Tandem Thrust, Valiant Blitz, Keen Edge, and RIMPAC.... More
People You Remember
HMM-165, John Hamiliton, Crew Chief YW-23
Memories We didn't do much for this exercise but I did get to fly over Australia a couple days. Once, in YW-2We didn't do much for this exercise but I did get to fly over Australia a couple days. Once, in YW-23, we lost the oil in the nose gear box on the starboard side and had to make an emergency landing. It is quite a sight to see the men in the silver suits on the deck waiting for you to arrive.... More
Description Team Spirit was a joint military training exercise of United States Forces Korea and the Military of South Korea held between 1976 and 1993. The exercise was scheduled from 1994 to 1996 but cancelled Team Spirit was a joint military training exercise of United States Forces Korea and the Military of South Korea held between 1976 and 1993. The exercise was scheduled from 1994 to 1996 but cancelled in each year as part of diplomacy to encourage the Government of North Korea to disable the North Korean nuclear weapons program. The North Korea regime abandoned talks following the January 1986 Team Spirit exercises, and in late 1992, North Korea unilaterally withdrew from the South-North High-Level Talks on the pretext of the 1993 Team Spirit exercise.
Until 2007 the exercise had been called "Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration of Forces" (RSOI). As of March 2008, it is called Key Resolve. North Korea has denounced the joint military exercise as a "war game aimed at a northward invasion."... More
People You Remember
Lt Michael Simoneon 2nd Lt James Anderson Sgt Vance Ross Sgt Russ Ryks LCpl Dennis Smith
Memories
Being loaded up and ready to go on the flight deck and having it called off!
Description
Power projection exercise in Hawaiian waters with the Enterprise Battle Group and PhibRon 3/37th MAU. Amphibious landing at Kahoolawe on 27 June.
People You Remember MASS-2 DET-A, Lt Mike " IRON MIKE" Simonean 2nd Lt James Anderson Sgt Vance Ross Sgt Russell Ryks Sgt JamMASS-2 DET-A, Lt Mike " IRON MIKE" Simonean 2nd Lt James Anderson Sgt Vance Ross Sgt Russell Ryks Sgt James Bancroft LCpl Dennis Smith... More
Memories I got to hump a radio for RECON on this op, RECON had made a landing at Smuggler's Cove on KahoolaweI got to hump a radio for RECON on this op, RECON had made a landing at Smuggler's Cove on Kahoolawe and their boat got turned over in the surf, their radios went to the bottom and they had to dive and get them.
They brought them to the COMM unit because their PRC-47 didn't work anymore. COMM told them they just didnt know how to use it, they rightly got upset. So, their Lt was talking to MY Lt and told My Lt of their predicament, and MY Lt told their Lt that, "Hey, we've got a PRC-47 and I have a Sgt who LOVES to go out in the field!"
So, as an Air Winger, I got to hump a PRC-47 with RECON for a day. It was quite a thrill, and not as rough as I expected it to be, and all chipped in to help if I needed it humping a 70 pound radio and 50 pound battery pack.
I tried my best to do it all myself, I felt I had to to do my share anyways, but they told me that even they dont have someone hump it all themselves, either.
At the end of the forced march all night, slow pace, we sat down on a small hillside to call in Naval Gunfire and that got called off, so we waited for extraction.
While waiting for extraction, about 15 CH-47's came in with an Army Regiment to Kahoolawe, landing right in front of us. It was a sight to see, so many men all at once.
So, they all got out and ditty boppped, I thought not much of it, I mean, I was an Air Winger and had never seen Grunts en masse in the field, maybe it was normal to just mill around waiting for the word, you know?
So, they formed up in columns, marched about 100 yards and stopped, and were ordered to hold up for further orders.
AWL-Right! Off came the ALICE packs, the sateen shirts, off came the T-Shirts from underneath, on came the sunglasses and suntan lotion!
Out came the BOOM BOXES from their ALICE packs, the hair picks, small radios, potato chip bags, whatever.
I was stunned, but, hey, maybe they just were trying to enjoy themselves, affter all, it was Hawaii still, right?
So, after 5 or 10 minutes, some Army Captain came around and ordered everyone to saddle up! Get ready to move out!
It was what happened next that proved it to me: "What the motherfuck? We just got here! Got Dammit! Mother Fucker! Fuck This Shit!"
I was stunned. They all said this in earshot of that Captain. I mean less than 10 feet away from him, shouting it.
I just looked at the RECON guys and asked, "Have you ever see Army troops in the field before?
"Yes"
"Is it like this often?"
"All the time"
"My Gawd, even Air Wingers aren't like that!... More
Best Friends
TJ Harrington, McDougal, John Houston
Best Moment
The best good news we got from home then was the 1980 US Olympic Hockey teams victory. You cannot imagine what a morale booster it was for us.
Also going home from the float! It was great to return to the Unitd States during that time, even though Hawaii wasn't home, it was America.
Worst Moment
Hostage Rescue Attempt, Aprl 24-25, 1980 http://www.rescueattempt.com
Chain of Command
1980 was Col Bland, 1981 was Col Thirey
Other Memories
Seeing the world, the western Pacific.
Being made to scrub toilets for 6 months, they didnt know what to do with my MOS in that squadron, so in 1980, the First Sgt had us assigned to S-4 to do all the dirty work that no one wanted to do.
It was a morale destroyer, I went in highly motivated, I came out a short timer. I was too immature to deal with it, I should have let it go, but, because of the mistreatment by the squadron against my small unit, I got out of the Corps.
Best Moment
The US Hockey Team defeating the Soviets at Lake Placid, New York
Worst Moment
Hostage Rescue Attempt, April 24-25 1980
Chain of Command
Capt Jerry Strawn, Lt Braf Turner (later Gen Turner), SSgt Matt Shepard, Cpl Bancroft, Cpl Bill Misko, LCpl Jack Dudley, LCpl Marco Rodriguez
Worst Moment
We lost Lt James Oscar Hensley in a tragic crash.
"I was in the "snake pit" on the USS Okinawa when I heard a frantic "Man Overboard, Man Overboard!!! Five Souls in the water!!! I do not remember hearing a crash, just the man overboard [announcement]. I grabbed my camera and headed for the starboard side catwalk. I got there and waited for the boats to be lowered in the water. It was a relatively long wait. We all kept screaming for someone to jump into the water to get them. Since we were on the flight deck, we expected someone to jump from the hanger deck, but they waited for the divers.
[Finally] the boat was lowered into the water and they started picking people up."
"I literally ran up five decks and from the front to the rear of the ship. People still hadn't finished coming up for air. Gunny O was the last one. I was on the catwalk for at least a minute when I saw him pop up, face down. He was face down in the water for a LONG time before waking up. The [rescue] boat was brought back to the starboard elevator to be picked up."
"From back to front (aft to forward for you Salts), we see Maj. Wally Creel, who suffered a broken arm, leg, and several broken ribs. Then we see GySgt O'Halloran. The last one being pulled over the side of the boat is either Cpl. Leo Beery or Cpl. Kevin Doering. I don't remember which one this is, as one of them climbed a rope and the other got a ride in the boat. Doering is already on [one of the pages] for the year of 1979."
"In this photo (right), you can see one of our birds, as well as a rescue boat, continuing to check out the crash site. Note the oil and fuel slick on the water. Efforts like this continue until it is obvious that no others will be, or can be, found."
Chain of Command
Lt Col Bland, Maj Creel who was injured in the crash, replaced by Major Pederson
Other Memories
This was also the float where I was off Iran for the Hostage Rescue Attempt of 1980.
Criteria The Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal is awarded on a selective basis to enlisted members in the Regular Marine Corps or Marine Corps Reserve to recognize good behavior and faithful service in the U.S. ... The Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal is awarded on a selective basis to enlisted members in the Regular Marine Corps or Marine Corps Reserve to recognize good behavior and faithful service in the U.S. Marine Corps while on active duty for a specified period of time. MoreHide
Criteria The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal is awarded to Marine Corps personnel who land on foreign territory, engage in operations against armed opposition, or who operate under circumstances deemed to mer... The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal is awarded to Marine Corps personnel who land on foreign territory, engage in operations against armed opposition, or who operate under circumstances deemed to merit special recognition and for which no campaign medal has been awarded. MoreHide
Comments
For operations of Iran during the Hostage Crisis of 1979-1981
Criteria The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon is awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps assigned to U.S. homeported (including Hawaii and Alaska) ships, deploying units, or Fleet Marine Force commands, f... The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon is awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps assigned to U.S. homeported (including Hawaii and Alaska) ships, deploying units, or Fleet Marine Force commands, for 12 months accumulated sea duty, or for duty with the Fleet Marine Force that includes at least one deployment of 90 consecutive days. MoreHide
Description
for floating off Iran on WESPAC 1980 and WESPAC 1981
Description Operation Eagle Claw (or Operation Evening Light or Operation Rice Bowl) was a United States Armed Forces operation ordered by US President Jimmy Carter to attempt to end the Iran hostage crisis by reOperation Eagle Claw (or Operation Evening Light or Operation Rice Bowl) was a United States Armed Forces operation ordered by US President Jimmy Carter to attempt to end the Iran hostage crisis by rescuing 52 embassy staff held captive at the Embassy of the United States, Tehran on 24 April 1980. Its failure, and the humiliating public debacle that ensued, damaged US prestige worldwide. Carter himself blamed his loss in the 1980 US presidential election mainly on his failure to win the release of U.S. hostages held captive in Iran.
The operation encountered many obstacles and was eventually aborted. Eight helicopters were sent to the first staging area, Desert One, but only five arrived in operational condition. One encountered hydraulic problems, another got caught in a cloud of very fine sand, and the last one showed signs of a cracked rotor blade. During planning it was decided that the mission would be aborted if fewer than six helicopters remained, despite only four being absolutely necessary. In a move that is still discussed in military circles, the field commanders advised mission abort, which President Carter accepted and confirmed.
As the U.S. force prepared to leave, one of the helicopters crashed into a transport aircraft which contained both servicemen and jet fuel. The resulting fire destroyed both aircraft and killed eight servicemen. Operation Eagle Claw was one of Delta Force's first missions.... More
People You Remember I was off the coast of Iran from Feb 1980 to April 29, 1980.
My squadron was flying search and rescueI was off the coast of Iran from Feb 1980 to April 29, 1980.
My squadron was flying search and rescue for the mission.
I was with the 31st MAU, attached to HMM-165... More
Memories I have created a website dedicated to the event:
http://www.thehostagerescueattemptiniran.com
The bestI have created a website dedicated to the event:
http://www.thehostagerescueattemptiniran.com
The best good news we got from home then was the 1980 US Olympic Hockey teams victory. You cannot imagine what a morale booster it was for us.
I recently purchased the video MIRACLE, the disney movie on the Hockey Teams victory, it was awesome and I recommend it to everyone who served in that time frame, we all remember how good it was to hear we beat the Soviets at Hockey!... More
Description
The Combined Arms Exercise (CAX) program at the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), Twenty-nine Palms, California, is the Marine Corps' most advanced live-fire unit-level combined arms tr
The Combined Arms Exercise (CAX) program at the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), Twenty-nine Palms, California, is the Marine Corps' most advanced live-fire unit-level combined arms training program for ground and air fire support with maneuver at the tactical level. The Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command at Twentynine Palms is the premier live-fire base in the Marine Corps. Each year roughly one-third of the Fleet Marine Force and Marine Reserve units -- some 50,000 Marines in all -- participate in the base's training exercise program. It draws military personnel from all over the world for Combined Arms Exercises. A CAX involves several hundred Marines playing a war game against a fictitious enemy in which ground troops, armor, artillery, and aircraft engage enemy movements simultaneously.
The Marine Corps' Combined Arms Exercise (CAX) Training Program, developed to enable commanders and Marines to practice combat essentials skills, began in 1975 and allows for both brigade and battalion sized live-fire and maneuver exercises. The operating procedures permit Marines training at the Combat Center to maneuver both on foot and mounted on vehicles through live-ordnance impact areas. It further permits most air and ground weapons commonly found in a Marine Air Ground Task Force to be employed closely, in accordance with current doctrine in a combined arms setting.
The procedures taught at CAX (Combined Arms Exercise) are applicable across all terrain, not just desert warfare. Similar training is not possible aboard other bases. There are too many constraints," Taylor said, adding that "internal friction" such as broken equipment and loss of communications adds to the realism of CAX training. Marines can't effectively train for this set of target skills with MILES (Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System) gear or force-on-force exercises. With new technology, services have become more inclined to depend heavily on non-live-fire target training. Combined arms skills are perishable and demand frequent sustainment.... More
People You Remember
MASS-1 deployed to the EAF and up on top of the mountain
Memories Best Buddies Sgt Tom Willard, Mike Medieros
Best Moment Being taken on a flight in a CH-46, I didnt geBest Buddies Sgt Tom Willard, Mike Medieros
Best Moment Being taken on a flight in a CH-46, I didnt get to do that often
Worst Moment There was an actual medevac, my first, I was running the TACC alone with everyone either in transit to another location, or the officers at the O-Club. (Go Figure)
Anyways, some A-4's were sighting in on a FAC who told them a target was marked with WP, only the tank that fired, fired an HE round, so the A-4's sighted in on the smoke out of the barrel of the tank...
The first A-4 had 2 17 shot pods of 2.75 ZUNI, inert, and fired on the tank. The second A-4 had MK-82's, 500lbs!
The FAC screamed checkfire, the A-4 pulled off, but the shrapnel and rocks from the rockets had hit one Marine and he needed to be medevaced for impact injuries.
So, I was a LCpl, alone, and all the offiers were at the O-Club.
Pilots are officers, and some Col was screaming at me for a medevac.
So, I called the O-Club on the MUX line to tell my Gunner, Gunner Best what wa going on and how I could do nothing to help and could someone launch an aircraf to medevac the wounded man.
He assured me no officer was going to fly that day.
Other Memories I went on Palm Tree 2-79, flown in from Cherry Point to 29 Stumps for the exercise ... More
Best Friends
Bruce Daley, Steve Mohilowski, Phil Brown (deceased), Domingo Torrez, Jim McClain, Gary Ainsworth, John Hutton, Joe Callahan, Dave Chicoine, Collins the runner!, Waldron, Hughes, Steve Fox, Lt Jim Brothwell, Lt Stelly, Capt Sorrel, SSgt Harris... I want to welcome board all the 7242's and 7208's I know are here on this site: LtCol John Stelly, Maj Dave Maier, Borre, WO4 Lilienthal (NEW member) and new member and fellow boot camp Marine Joe Bourassa
Best Moment
many. Lt Sorrel saw me depressed one day, my warrant to LCpl was forgotten to be typed, I told him I missed being promoted, he had S-1 type it up and I was promoted in the CO's office that afternooon in private! Dennis Sorrel was one straight shooter!
Worst Moment
When that dork at the end of the barracks, that guy who looked like he never bathed? stole the picture of the German kid from my stack of pictures
Chain of Command
1st CO was Johnson, the X.O. was Palka, then Wilson was C.O. Who can forget R.A.G. Burns and his walking around with an Axe Handle!?
Other Memories
Solid Shield 1978, Northern Wedding/Bold Guard 1978, Smitty getting caught drinking on guard duty while I was Sgt of the Guard (and thankfully already relieved at the time!)
Your memories of this course
Best Friends
all of them
Best Moment
Graduation, also getting my first tattoo in Hollywood at West Coast Tattoos; a PANTHER on my right forearm
Chain of Command
SSgt Camp, Sgt Blandton
Other Memories
Marine Corps Communication and Electronics School, 29 Palms, and it was the ASOOC Course, Air Support Operations Operator. Having Sgt Blandton cry poverty to me in the E-Club and "HINT" that I should buy him a beer...I did.
Description Northern Wedding was a NATO Cold War naval military exercise, designed to test NATO's ability to rearm and resupply Europe during times of war. In 1978, it was described as being 'conducted every fourNorthern Wedding was a NATO Cold War naval military exercise, designed to test NATO's ability to rearm and resupply Europe during times of war. In 1978, it was described as being 'conducted every four years', but by the mid 1980s, Exercise Ocean Safari was being run in odd-numbered years, 'every other year, alternating with Northern Wedding. 1978 September. The exercise was conducted by 40,000 men, 22 submarines, and 800 aircraft from nine countries. Two amphibious landing took place, one in the Shetland Islands and a second in Denmark. After a brief stop in Palma (24–28 August 1978), USS Forrestal (CV-59) left the Mediterranean en route to the Atlantic and the North and Norwegian Seas to take part in the huge NATO exercise Northern Wedding (4–18 September). It exercised allied abilities to reinforce Western Europe in the event of an East Bloc attack. En route she put into Rota to allow RADM Norman K. Green, Commander, Carrier Group 6, to embark, and for RADM Smedberg to disembark and transfer his flag to guided missile cruiser USS Harry E. Yarnell (CG-17). Forrestal and HMS Ark Royal led separate task groups that steamed in a two-carrier formation to gain sea control and deploy their aircraft to support amphibious landings in the Shetland Islands and the Jutland Peninsula in Denmark. Heavy seas and high winds, however, curtailed flight operations during the first phase of the exercises, but conditions improved just barely enough in the harsh northern climes to permit the ship and her embarked air wing to support the planned objectives. The professionalism and dedication to completing their tasks which the British and Canadians displayed especially impressed crewmembers, who noted these specific allies’ pride in more than one report. Vice Admiral Wesley L. McDonald, Commander, Second Fleet, gave a news conference to a group of U.S. and international journalists in the carrier’s ‘War Room’ on the 9th, describing in some detail the significance of the exercise – normally held every four years – in preparing the allies to resist a Soviet-led attack against the West. After completing the exercise the ship returned to the Mediterranean, pausing in the Spanish port of Malaga (22–27 September).... More
People You Remember
MASS-1 deployed on the USS Lamoure County
Memories
Seeing Europe for free, getting my first ride in a CH-53 in Germany
Best Friends
Rob Jones, Rick Laboyne, Scott Lockhart, Bogle, McChesney, Webby, Tim Sexton, Joe Bourassa, and newly arrived TWS member Tim Waters!. . NOW, One of my Drill Instructors has arrived! Sound the pipes and welcome aboard GySgt Wayne Gulley! Also, as of recent times, also welcome aboard LCpl Keith morgan!
Best Moment
winning the 2-on-1 (as the single fighter) in Pugil sticks in 3rd phase twice in a row against 2212, then winning as a 2 on 1 against 2215.
Worst Moment
losing the 1 on 1 in pugil sticks in 1st phase against 2212!! I just couldn't stand in that sand, and that guy beat me I guess, I didnt feel he did, but, too many people say otherwise.
Also, 1st day of 3rd phase. Some asshole pissed in my canteen. I took a drink while entering the head, remember the mist in the air when 80 guys peed at once? Well, I thought the taste was that mist in the air, so, I took a second swig...and poured it out on my hand, saw the yellow and started puking.
Instructors
Senior Drill Instructor Staff Sgt Williams Drill Instructor Sgt Klass Drill Instructor Sgt Gulley Drill Instructor Sgt Collins Drill Instructor Sgt Stone
Other Memories
what happened 1st day of 3rd phase. I still think it was Lay. :)
Got no proof, though, and I am sorry you guys got so dogged for that, that was not my intent when I went to the Senior about my canteen.
Shermey's impressions of the Senior, that was classic.
I still think we beat 2212 in final drill comp!
I didn't get honor man, but what most of you dont know, Sgt Klass gave me that name plate, that piece of venetian blind, painted red, with his name painted in Gold on it? He gave me his name plate. That means more than anything.
Dave Burns, Brett Lassen, Dave Freer, Scott Monoghan, Dennis Smith, Mark Boyer, Sammy Chavez, Gary Cannon, Jefferey Welch, Vance Ross
the beaches, phone watch laying on a cot
pulling people out of the surf more than the lifeguards, swimming waves as high as your house, lifeguards swimming on their boards out to 'rescue' us, only to see it is guys from MACS-2 or MASS-2, then saying, "Oh, it's you guys", and then turning around because we were better swimmers than they were.