Sgt Grit's Marine Air Wing BS Vol. 3

VMA-311-

Dear Sgt. Grit,
In your 28 Aug newsletter you ran two photos of an AV8b Harrier that were submitted by GySgt Eddie Puente with VMA-311 Ordnance Division, currently deployed to Al Asad, Anbar province, Iraq. My son, PFC Bryant Combs, is also with VMA-311 Ord. Div., and he had previously sent me a picture of the same bird with an honored guest. At least part of the reason the jet was painted in its current scheme was to commemorate the February '08 visit to MCAS Yuma by (former) Marine/NASA Astronaut/Ohio Senator John Glenn and his wife Annie (notice the name painted beneath the canopy in this photo). Senator Glenn flew with VMA-311 in Korea. It's comforting to know that the Marines are putting the Harrier to good use rather than saving it as a display piece.

Brent Combs
Canal Fulton, Ohio

P.S. I may not look so tough, but I raised a US Marine.

Grunts and Wing Wipers

In reference to some grunts having a lack of respect for wing wipers, they eventually grow out of it. In August 1968, I reported to Staging Battalion, Camp Pendleton and was assigned as squad leader to a group made up of young grunts straight from ITR/High School. Even though I gained respect by being a Cpl, holding my own during field training and pulling the ham & limas out of the C-Rats before they had to pick, they still ragged me a little about being from the Air Wing. (Saving them from the ham & limas carried the most weight.) Fast forward to October 1969 and I ran into 3 of them outside the Deli at Camp Butler, Okinawa on our way home. They had been humping mortars for 13 months and had a new appreciation for the Wing. Seeing the Marine Air-Ground Team work together with sacrifices on both sides does wonders for the attitude. Today www.popasmoke.com , the reunion organization for Marine Helo crews, receives emails from grunts offering thanks for saving their lives and the Wing Wipers have tremendous respect for those grunts who serve on the ground. MAGT is the ultimate team.

Wayne Stafford
USMC 66-70
RVN 68-69

Formosa 1958

H.A. Mc Mahon sorry I'm sooo late with reply. (Sgt.Grit, 19 Oct.06) I was stationed at K-Bay, Hi. Mag 13. '56 to '58. I landed Nov. 1956 due to go stateside Nov. 1958. But Oct. '58 MAG 13 was sent to Atsugi, NAS to replace your outfit. Like you can't find much about this. Search MAG 13 history not there. Don't understand why not history was made by MAG 13. See attach file.

J M O'BRIEN
1599752

Cherry Point

Here are a couple of items that bring back fond memories of my service. I was stationed at Cherry Point (mostly Bogue Field) from 67-69.

Semper Fi! Peter A Swanson, Sgt. 1966-1970

That'll buff right out!

Typical Aviator - this gunner may have his Air Medal rescinded. I wonder what the pilots were thinking when this happened?

Photo of F-9 "Flying Boxcar"

This is a picture of Wille Dog 744, an R4Q-1 Fairchild Packet ("flying boxcar") from VMR-253 in Korea in 1953. It had just come in from Itami Air Force base in Japan and was preparing to return. For some strange reason VMR-152 and VMR 253 were mever listed as having "served in Korea" on the old Marine Corps web site. Maybe because they were actually based out of Japan and technically listed as having been based out of El Toro California I'm told.

Love Mom

Here's a picture for the news letter that speaks for itself.
LCpl: Rosilier, MAL16

God Bless our Marines,
Love. MOM

HEY MARINES!

My grandfather, CAPT. THOMAS JOHN ROWLAND (Cherry Point Tom), flew the Corsair with Ted Williams and had some wild adventures around Cherry Point.

I have photos of Ted Williams sitting around the dinner table with my grandfather and this squadron photo of them. Ted Williams is back row, fifth from the right (tall Marine without the tie) and my grandfather is to his left. Enjoy a little piece of Marine Corps history only my civilian family and you Devil Dogs have seen! SEMPER FI,


CPL. ROWLAND

Night at the E-Club Japan

I am getting old and can't remember these guys names.

I am center and with a printed shirt. This was the Refueling crew for Hot Jet line at MABS 17 1st Maw Iwakuni and a night out at the EClub. Great times had by All.

Leo G. Munford 1391
MSgt Ret 1979

Marshall Island

Mag 22 Engebi, Marshall Island Edward Haywood

Parris Island

my brother and I/ air combat crew men there are a few of us left with fine figures of Combat Air Crewmen, although we may not be Them....Thank God for my Jacket....
MIKE

Washington D.C. Rolling Thunder

Memorial day 2000

Leonard Cole (left,Jim Casey (right) First reunion in 30 yrs, at Popasmoke booth. Both of us were members of Hmm-263(69-70)

Danang

Two HMM-263 pilots, and Danang airbase. I have the understanding that the pilot on left died a few yrs. ago of cancer.

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