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Current Service Status
USMC Veteran
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Current/Last Rank
Sergeant
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Current/Last Primary MOS
3521-Organizational Automotive Mechanic
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Current/Last MOSGroup
Motor Transport
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Previously Held MOS
3516-Automotive Mechanic
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Primary Unit
1980-1981, 3521, 2nd MAW
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Service Years
1972 - 1981
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| Official/Unofficial USMC Certificates
Cold War Certificate
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What are you doing now:
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Other Comments:
Before going into the Marines, I started working at a Skating Rink and worked there for two years, as a repairer of skates and Floor Guard I also worked part-time as a burger flipper at a burger joint. When I turned 17 I went and joined the Marines in 1972 and they placed me on hold till Feb 12, 1973, when I was able to go to Boot Camp in 1981 I got out.. Then I started off working in 1981 as a Feed truck Driver in Hooker, OK. I worked there learning how to Doctor Cattle process cattle and operate heavy equipment did that for about 7 years, then moved north to Garden City, Kansas, and started working in a Plastic Fitting manufactory making PVC pipe fittings and had a job working part-time and worked in Radio. After having to stop working at the piping fitting shop. I went to full-time radio playing music and worked myself up to Program Director, then last year they switched to all talk radio and went to the satellite program 24 hours a day and they didn't need me anymore, so they let me go and then I went to work again in a feed yard In S.W.. Kansas and worked there for 12 years and had so many accidents from working there. They sent me to a Doc and he declared me unable to work, so he put me into retirement mode and that SUCKS !!!!!
One thing I'm very proud of is I am Very Conservative and not a Democrat..
Play bass guitar and in Bands called, Dale and the Bandits, Twin Country, Country Justice, and Born in the Barn. 20+ playing and making music for a little time 20+ years. The biggest thing, opening for Jason Brown out of Nashville TN. I also sang with Billy Walker from Nashville TN...I had a good time playing and making music.
The funniest thing that ever happened while playing at a gig. This young lady walked up as I was tuning my guitar and asked me this word for word, " Hey cowboy, what you doing after the show tonight, and no sooner than she asked My Wife to pop up and said he's going home with me Bitch!!! ah, the life of a Married man in a Band...
Now, after all my injuries have caught up with me, I'm having a hard time.. I'm limited on playing my Bass now and Planing on hand surgery to try and correct it. I'm working on a better range of motion and reach.
That really hurt because I really loved my music.
Now the only thing I can do is stay at home cook do some housework play on my computer try to replay my Bass, and help other Marines with whatever they need. I love helping others, It gives me satisfaction to help others who don't know how to do something or just to help during the period.
I now belong to a Facebook Page that helps Marines Find their Platoon books. if anyone wants information on finding that or other information, just follow this link.. https://www.facebook.com/groups/
marineplatoonbooks
Also, every now and then, I'll drive for car dealers and go and bring back new and used cars and trucks. Not a lot of money, but fun too. I'm able to see a lot of the country and have some fun..
Well, an update. I gave up car and truck driving because of my heart. Had to.
In the winter months of November & December & some of Jan., I portray Santa Claus all season long and have a great time doing it. I've been portraying Santa for 25+ years and professionally for 15 years. But now that everything has caught up with me, I have to give that up.
I'm Married to Debbie and she's a great wife and my Little Goddess ..
I really hope after my hand surgery I can start playing my guitar again..
My hand surgery didn't go as well and my hope to play was dashed.
Now I really have got into collecting Goebel and Hummels.
I have a collection of over 11- 5-tier bookcases. In all, I have over 1000 of them.
That does it for me now. See you later.
Oh, my own Marine Corps Cave wall.
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1973-1974, 3516, Motor Transport Maintenance Co, 1st Maintenance Bn
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1974-1975, 3516, WTS-17, MWSG-17
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1975-1977, 3521, Motor Transport Co, Service Bn, MCS Quantico
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1977-1978, 3521, 2nd MAW
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1979-1980, 3521, Marine Barracks Naha Okinawa
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1980-1981, 3521, 2nd MAW
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- Allen, Gorden, Cpl, (1943-1946)
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- Amos, Clifford, Sgt, (1953-1958)
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- Brady Jr., Buddy, SSgt, (1968-1972)
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- Murrary, Jewell, Cpl, (1958-1962)
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Reflections on Sgt Pilgrim's
US Marine Corps Service
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PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS.
What made me join? I joined because I had a friend named Frankie Sullivan. He and I were from Memphis, TN, and he said, "Let's go in on the buddy plan." I said, "OK, let's do it." Well, also, my Cousin had been shot down in a helicopter, and I  | | Once a Marine always a Marine.. |
wanted to get even at that time, so when Frankie said to go in on the buddy plan, we went in to join. We both went down to enlist and go. We took our swearing-in, and we had been put on a 6-month delay program. On Sept. 7, 1972, we took the oath, and on Feb. 12, 1973, we were to head to P.I. Well, one of us didn't show up, and you know who didn't. Well, the rest is History. I had wanted to go and fight in Nam. But the Marine Corps said no. After I got ready to go, I was on leave, and my father died on an operation table, So the Marine Corps re-cut my orders, and I ended up at Iwakuni, Japan. That's my dad and my mother in the picture below. I came from a long military background. My Uncle Connie was captured in Germany in WWII. He was later released and came home. My Cousin Larry came to live with us while he went to Middleton, Memphis, TN., for training. He then left and went to Nam. He got shot up and came back home. Now, he's the one person that really made me want to be a Marine. For some uncertain reason, my first wife made me get out.
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WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
Well, I went to Boot Camp at beautiful luxurious Parris Island on Feb 12, 1973, till May 1, 1973. Thirteen weeks of vacation at the Best Western of Parris Island, SC, where every day was a holiday for the young men and women of the Marine Corps. After graduating from Boot Camp, I went to Montford Point, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for Motor Transportation Maintenance School and to learn to operate and work on the jeeps and trucks they had. There we became 3516 mechanics. After finishing school, I received orders to Camp Pendleton, CA, where we honed our skills and learned how the real Corps operated at that level. We had to wear our uniforms to town and had to have liberty passes to even leave for town. After about three months, we all graduated and went our separate ways. I received an order to go to Camp Pendelton, Ca. I was supposed to go to 'Nam, and I went home on leave, and while I was there, my father passed away from open heart surgery. So then the Marine Corps recruiter re-cut my orders, and I got to go to Iwakuni, Japan. I arrived there just in time for the Cherry Blossom Festival, and a bunch of Marines and I went and got a little drunk, got wasted, to say the least. I traveled all over Japan to several sites, like Hiroshima. While I was there, I got to see the museum in the city of Hiroshima after the bombing had taken place. After a year there, I got orders to head to Quantico, VA. When I arrived in Quantico, VA, I was in heaven because I found the all-girls college in Fredericksburg, VA! There were some good times to be held there, let me say. Then I found the roller skating rink, and then the fun was on. I had the time of my life there. You would be surprised how many college girls went roller skating on weekends. Since I was a very good skater, I always had a date or someone to skate with. You see, I won a Silver Medal while I was in Japan at an Invitational, so I knew how to skate really well. After two years at Quantico went by, I got out of the Corps and was on the loose for 6 months. Nothing was happening for me, so I re-enlisted back in the Corps and received orders to Cherry Point, NC. I was with the Air Wing again and loved it there too. I was at Cherry Point for 2 years, then I got orders to return to Japan, but this time I went to Okinawa, Japan, at Futenma. I was there for just a while, then got TAD orders to Naha for the (CRSP) Combat Readiness Storage Program. I was there when they called us to unblock all gear to get ready to move into battle if we had to for the Iran Hostages, but that went bad, so we blocked everything back up. While I was gone, my ex-wife got a divorce from me, and she hit the road. I should have stayed in the Marines, but she said if I wanted her, I had to get out, so I did like a dummy. After a year, I got orders to go back to Cherry Point, NC, and that's where I finished my tour of duty. I really wished I had stayed in the Marine Corps. At least there, I knew who my enemy was and didn't really have to worry about who he or she was then. Now I have missed out on so many things in life that I could have gotten from being in the Corps.
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IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
Not really. The closest I got was 3 times being called up in Japan to go to 'Nam three times, but that didn't happen. Then, when the Iran hostages got taken, I was at Naha, Okinawa, in the Combat Ready Storage program, and we didn't go then either. I wasn't really needed.
I can truly say the closest I got to combat was standing on the sea wall and looking over at the Chinese coast. OH yeah, watching war movies and the story of Vietnam on TV.
So that's as close as I got..
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OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
My fondest duty Station was, by far, Quantico, VA. I was stationed there from 1975 to 1977. While I was there, I met and married my ex-wife and had the time of my life. I would swoop to Fredericksburg every weekend that I didn't have a duty and go roller skating to see my girl. We got married, and in 1977, I got out of the Corps and went home to Memphis, TN. Only to return to the Marine Corps in Aug. of 1977.
They always say Hindsight is 20/20.
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FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Being in Iwakuni, Japan, was the first time I was so far away from home and had a real wake-up call to a new culture. There was this place outside the main gate where you could get a BLT sandwich that was HUGE, and it was cheap back then. One would fill you up, and every weekend, I would go and have one with a root beer. I learned that all the Japanese didn't like us there either. I once had a woman in Hiroshima spit in my face and cuss at me. I also saw other Japanese protests against us being on the land at Iwakuni.
One time we had a jerk at Montford, Point, who wouldn't take a shower, so after a couple of weeks of him smelling of high heavens, we gave him a Shower Party!! After that, he was the first one in the shower to get clean.
Another time I was pulling mess duty at Pendleton, CA, there was this tall asshole who was a PFC in charge of Pvt Ely and me. We were in the washroom, where the guys brought the mess trays and all the other dishes every day. He said, "You ladies better hurry up, or you're not eating today." So we would hurry up, and when we got to go eat, almost everyone was sitting down. Ely and I were going to sit down when he stuck his leg out and tripped me. He and his buddies laughed at me and started saying, "What's wrong, boy? Can't you walk?" I got up, and when he started to say, "Get your ass up and clean up your mess." I smacked him in the face and beat the heck out of him.
That same day my 1stSgt wanted to know what had happened, and Ely and I we told him. He laughed and said, "You're fired from mess duty." The 1st Sgt then gave me a liberty pass to town, and so I went.
That PFC never bothered me again. I wonder why?
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WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
I didn't receive any special awards because I never got to do anything that would merit an award for it. The only medal I received was the Good Conduct Medal, and that was because I never got caught. Hahahahahaha
I did, however, get my G.E.D., and that was a major for me as I have Dyslexia and couldn't read very well at all.
I went to Japan in 1978. While I was there, I won a Silver Medal for speed competition along with three other men from the base.
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OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
The best one is my Rifle Badge for shooting Sharpshooter. I was so happy about that because, in Boot Camp, I only made Marksman.
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WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
My Senior Drill Instructor S/Sgt R. Fields! He was one Bad Marine, but he was very fair. If one of the Drill instructors tried to mess with us, he would let them know real fast. They would rather sandpaper a bobcat's ass in a telephone booth than to f*ck with his recruits. He didn't take shit from anyone. I was always respected by him. SSgt Field was great at calling cadence and making it sound like it was part of him. He could sing to you and make you take pride in your marching in formation. He was the reason we won the drill competition at Boot Camp. He was that good. M/Sgt. Wene was also one of my Drill Instructors, and we served together a total of three times. Each time after Boot Camp, he was very nice to me and didn't try to act like I was still in Boot Camp anymore. My Assistant Drill instructor was Sgt Quinn. He was the worst cadence caller I have ever heard. He couldn't call and keep in step worth a sh*t, but he was one hell of a Marine. I would like to meet them all and let them know how much they meant to me.
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LIST THE NAMES OF OLD FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATIONS, AND RECOUNT WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
I really miss my old friend S/Sgt Hoff. He and I served together twice, once in Iwakuni, Japan, and at Cherry Point, NC. MstSgt Wene. He was My A.D.I. in Boot Camp. We served together at Quantico, VA, and Okinawa. In Iwakuni, Japan. We use to go to the E-Club and listen to the USO shows and acts that came in. We had a lot of fun running around Japan on the train to Hiroshima and other little towns around there. One of the very best was in Naha, Okinawa, Japan. We went to the E-Club, and Billy Walker was performing live. A lot of other Marines and I were able to watch him perform and sing. Then he asks me, along with other Marines and Corpsmen, to sing with him on one of his songs. When he was through, he said, "You should look me up when you get home." But I never did.
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CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
One time in Iwakuni, Japan, they had these Japanese that were protesting at the back gate. They would throw shit over the fence at us. We had one guy that was just so freaking crazy that he bought a bunch of bottle rockets. He made two-stage bottle rockets and would light them and aim them up, and when the first stage burned out, the second would kick in just as the rocket would start to fall toward the ground and then hit the little houses over the fence. He never got caught.
Several times this one asshole would throw stuff at us, and one time our buddy lit his rockets up. It went up, and as it started to fall, the other lit up and went straight to that asshole's front door.
It was so funny we all laughed so hard.
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WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
After I got out, I went to Oklahoma and started driving feed trucks at feed yards. I did that until I was forced to retire from work. All total, I did that for 27 years. I learned to play bass guitar and learned that I could really sing well. I got hooked up in bands and played music for a long time, and I still play when I get the chance. Our band even opened for a country star from Nashville named Jason Brown. He said we should just play, and he would watch, but that didn't happen cause he got the money and we didn't. The funniest thing that ever happened was one night we were playing at a gig in Western Kansas at Coolage, and we had set up and tuned our guitars when this really nice-looking lady walked up. She looked up at me and said, and I quote, " Hey, what you got going on after the dance tonight?" and without any wasted time, my wife, who was standing next to her, said, and I quote, "He's going home with me Bitch." Needless to say, all the guys and their wives started laughing. That poor woman was so embarrassed that she had to find another date for herself that night.
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WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
American Legion # 9, Garden City, Kansas. Well, I learned a lot about how the V.A. Worked and about its benefits. And ran for office several times and won several times. And after a while there, I started portraying Santa Claus. I found out I was really good, so I did that for over 25 years.
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
I have learned to adapt and overcome almost anything that came up in front of me. Life really is like a box of chocolates. You never know what's going to happen from one day to the next. You know you plan on living happily and having a great life with your wife and kids, and the next thing you know, something takes it all away from you with no warning. You go to work and work every day and come home and see the wife and kids if they're still there, and you spend time with your wife telling her what happened at work, and really she may not care about what happened, but she loves you enough to listen anyway.
So what the Marine Corps taught me was to adapt and overcome any, and everything life throws in front of you.
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BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE MARINE CORPS?
Stay in and get yourself 20 years or more and retire. Times are tough out here. Right now, if you get out you might go hungry and have to start a life of crime to survive. Stay in and make the best out of it. Get your education also while you're in the service get as much as you can. That's the best advice I can give.
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
It has allowed me to find others who like to tell jokes and who like to shoot the breeze as much as I do. It's helped me to learn that there is a life after the Corps. It has let me connect with others from T.W.S. whom I would have never met or talked to. It has let me really remember the fond memories also. I know how much T.W.S. means to me, and hopefully, others will learn that, too. KC 11.6.23
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