Best Friends ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
It is more than interesting that Sgt. John Mark Avery who was one of my Junior Drill Instructors when I went through Parris Island in 1965 had an 1833 MOS as an Amphibian Tractor Operator. When I graduated from The Basic School (TBS) at Quantico, Virginia in 1972 I was assigned an 1803 MOS as an Amphibian Tractor Officer and became a member of the “Amtrac brotherhood”. I wish I could have had the opportunity to thank Gunnery Sgt. Avery for the positive impact he had on my life while I was a Recruit at Parris Island. Drill Instructors were not your "friend" when you were a Recruit because they had a job to do in making you into a Marine. But Sgt. John Mark Avery, USMC was an individual who specifically had a great deal of influence in making this Marine. When I started working on Together We Served, searching for my Parris Island Drill Instructors to say “thank you” was one of my first tasks. I discovered via TWS that Gunnery Sgt. J. M. Avery had been killed in Vietnam when his Amtrac hit a mine as he was involved in combat with enemy forces in October 1968. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions in combat. At the time of his death Gunnery Sgt. Avery was a Platoon Sergeant serving with Bravo Company, 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion. Later during my Marine Corps career my last assignment with an Amphibian Tractor unit was as the XO (Executive Officer) and for a short period the Acting CO (Commanding Officer) of Bravo Company, 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion at Camp Schwab, Okinawa. “Thank you Gunnery Sgt. Avery for the part you played in developing this Marine”.
Best Moment After serving as an Amtrac Platoon Commander and Supply Officer with Delta Company, 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion, First Marine Brigade at Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station Hawaii, arriving on Okinawa was a cultural shock to start with. After checking in at the Camp Hansen Marine Base I was transported to the northern end of Okinawa to Camp Schwab. Following my check in at 1st Amtrac Battalion Headquarters, I was assigned as the Executive Officer (XO) for Bravo Company, 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion with Captain Hank McGee as my Commanding Officer (CO). I held that position from April 1975 until late January 1976. Being the XO of Bravo Company was a very fulfilling experience. It was a challenge working with some of the Marines – Officers and Enlisted, but overall it was a terrific organization. Captain McGee, the Company Commanding Officer, was great to work with, and he gave me plenty of latitude while he was the CO. When Capt. McGee rotated, I became the Acting Company Commander of Bravo Company for a short time.
Major Kozischek had a Battalion-wide swimming meet that was a relaxing time for all. It was not your traditional laps up and down the pool. Instead, it was the more combative swimming competition such as Water Camel Fights/Races, Inner Tube Races, 3-Legged Race/Swim Race and other assorted water oriented competition. Bravo Company won able to win several events - including the Camel Races. But it was H & S Company that won the overall combative swimming competition.
Shortly after Colonel Bieger arrived he had a 45 Cal. Pistol Match for both Team and Individual entries from across the Battalion. Generally each Company had at least one Team entry plus several individual entries. We were given several Pistol Range sessions to practice before the Battalion Competition actually began. Colonel Bieger made the rounds during the practice sessions giving many individuals some instruction and advice. I am glad to say that Bravo Company won the Battalion Team Competition, and I was part of that accomplishment. In addition, I was the winner of the Individual Pistol Competition.
While stationed on Okinawa I took Liberty to travel to Naha and visit several of the World War II locations to learn more about the Battle of Okinawa and the largest Amphibious Landing of WWII. Beside visiting the location where General Buckner was killed, the Japanese Navy and Army Underground Command Posts, and the Suicide cliffs near Naha. I also visited a Museum dedicated to the Battle for Okinawa. With my later travels to the Philippines and the Republic of Korea, I obtained a good view of these locations in the Far East.
Worst Moment Hearing that 2 Marines from the 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion had died in an LVTP-7 Amtrac accident when their Amtrac had sunk was a low point while I was stationed on Okinawa. Fortunately 2 of the crew had been rescued.
Having the Battalion Commanding Officer Change-of-Command ceremony in the pouring rain was not exactly a positive experience...for the troops or the out-going Major Kozischek and incoming Colonel Beiger - Battalion Commanding Officers. And because Captain McGee's replacement had not arrived yet, I was the Acting Commanding Officer of Bravo Company for the Battalion Commander's Change-of-Command Ceremony.
Chain of Command 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion Commanding Officers - Col. Bieger, USMC, Lt. Col. Molineaux, USMC; Major Kozischek, USMC Battalion XO - Major Hunter, USMC H & S Company CO - 1st Lt. Tim Hudson, USMC A Company CO - Capt. Ken Burns, USMC B Company CO - Capt. McGee, USMC B Company XO - 1st Lt./Capt. Phil Williams, USMC B Company 1st Sgt. - 1st Sgt. Raines, USMC
Other Memories
After being the XO of Bravo Company for about 10 month, and a short stay as the Acting CO, just like the situation at Delta Company in Hawaii, I had to move aside and make room for a new Executive Officer who arrived at Camp Schwab. Fortunately, I was given orders to become the Headquarters Commandant of a III MAU Tactical Exercise Control Group (TECG) that was being assembled for war games that were scheduled with the U.S. Marines, Filipino Marines, and Republic of Korea Marines. The TECG team assembled on Okinawa at Camp Hansen. After that we moved to the Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines. In the Philippines we organized for the upcoming war games and moved to Zambales Training Area on the northwest side of Subic Bay
My time as the TECG Headquarters Commandant was another great opportunity for both travel and the military experience. When the work with the TECG was completed we returned to Okinawa and stood down. Everyone received orders to return to the original organization. For me it was back to Camp Schwab and the 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion. Because my rotation date was soon approaching, I was a glorified Marine Corps Officer Gopher at Battalion Headquarters until my departure.
While not a "friend" because Drill Instructors were not friends with their Recruits, but an individual who had a great deal of influence in making this Marine was Sgt. John Mark Avery, USMC. It is more than interesting that one of my Drill Instructors when I went through Parris Island in 1965 was in Amtracs. Although I obtained a 1300 MOS as a Combat Engineer when I left ITR, when I graduated from The Basic School in 1972 I was assigned a 1803 MOS and became an Amtracer. When I started working on Together We Served I discovered that Gunnery Sgt. J. M. Avery who was one of my Junior Drill Instructors when I was in Platoon 183 at Parris Island in 1965, was also in Amtracs. But he was killed in Vietnam on 25 October 1968 when his LVTP-5 Amtrac hit a mine. At the time he was killedhe was in Bravo Company, 1st Amphibian Tractor Bn. Little did I know that 10 years later after Boot Camp, I would discover just how small the world and especially the Marine Corps are. During my time at Camp Schwab, Okinawa I was assigned as the XO of Bravo Company, 1st Amphibian Tractor Bn.
I wish that Gunny Avery and I had been able to sit down and talk, so that I could “thank him” for the impact that he had on my life while I was under his command at Parris Island. But to all, the world of the Marine Corps "band of brothers" is smaller than we think...if we will just take the time and look around us. All of this is to say to those who read this, don't wait until it is too late to say "Thank you" to those who have been a positive influence in your life.
