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Best Friends MSGT Wilbur Bestwick (LATER TO BECOME THE FIRST SGTMAJ OF THE U.S.MARINE CORPS); MSGT Mike Esposito: MSGT Archie Harloe.
Best Moment CROSSING THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE AT 40 DEGREES NORTH LATITUDE & THE 180TH MERIDIAN LONGITUDE, THUS BECOMING A 'GOLDEN DRAGON' ON 25SEP52.
Worst Moment OPENING A HATCH ON THE STARBOARD SIDE OF THE MSTS "MARINE SERPENT" DURING A TYPHOON, ONLY TO SEE A GIGANTIC WALL OF WATER ABOUT TO SLAM INTO THE SHIP. I SHUT THE HATCH AND DOGGED IT DOWN JUST BEFORE THE WAVE HIT.
Other Memories 1. I CHECKED IN TO CAMP PENDELTON DURING JULY 1952 WITH THE RANK OF TECHNICAL SERGEANT. A FEW DAYS LATER WHILE SEATED IN THE OUT DOOR SCREENED IN HEAD ANSWERING A CALL OF NATURE, I GLANCED AT THE DECK AND SAW A DOGEARRED BROWN EDGED PAGE OF THE "PENDELTON SCOUT". I PICKED IT UP AND READ THE HEADLINE DATED 1 JUNE 1952. "HQMC ANNOUNCES ENLISTED PROMOTIONS", AND THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE WAS MY NAME FOR PROMOTION TO MASTER SERGEANT (TEMPORARY). I IMMEDIATLY GOT MYSELF SQUARED AWAY, TIGHTENED MY BELT AND HEADED DIRECTLY TO THE 3RD REPLACEMENT BATTLION HQ.TENT, THERE I PRESENTED THE CRUMPLED PAGE TO COLONEL BRADY. HE HAD MY PROMOTION CERTIFICATE TYPED OUT, SIGNED IT AND PRESENTED IT TO ME THEN SAID "LEATHER YOU ARE NOW THE SGTMAJ OF THIS BATTALION." FACTORS AFFECTING THIS INCIDENT: A. UPON BEING TRANSFERED FROM SAN DIEGO I WAS GIVEN 40 DAYS LEAVE & AUTHORIZED TO TO CARRY MY SERVICE RECORDS BY HAND. B. THE DAY BEFORE I ARRIVED AT PENDELTON THE ROSTER FOR THE AUGUST REPLACEMENTS WAS CLOSED DOWN. SO, I BECAME THE FIRST MARINE IN THE SEPTEMBER REPLACEMENT DRAFT. 2.AT AGE 24, SIX YEARS OF SERVICE AND ONLY ONE HASH MARK, I WAS GIVEN THE POSITION OF SGTMAJ (MOST SGTS MAJOR I KNEW WERE OLD WITH HASH MARKS FROM WRIST TO ELBOW) AND MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT 96 OFFICERS; 2161 ENLISTED; 84 CORPSMEN: TOTAL OF 2341 TROOPS WERE TRANSPORTED FROM CAMP PENDELTON TO SAN DIEGO AND ALL LOADED ABOARD THE MSTS "MARINE SERPENT" BEFORE PULLING UP THE LADDER AND SHIPPING OUT. 3. LIBERTY IN KOBE,JAPAN ON 2OCT52