USMC – Outlaws, Outrages and Outright Lies

Golden Gate

On calm blue waters we sailed along, Left My Heart was our favorite song. With Subic, the Rock, and the jungle behind, We hoped that somehow that lost year we’d find. Two weeks at sea, seven time zones, The salt-water showers freezin’ our bones. Then up above a seagull did soar, Continue reading “Golden Gate”

Hollywood Marine

He was a Hollywood Matine, At the USO Canteen. Hung out with movie stars, With big old fancy cars. Smoked his Lucky Strikes, On bivouacs and hikes. He proudly wore dress blues, And made the hometown news. Had some medals on his chest, One proved he was the best. Hollywood was not for him, AndContinue reading “Hollywood Marine”

A Storm Called Vera

“We’re going back to The Rock on this thing?” I gasped. “At least it ain’t the Henrico.’ A grunt from 1/9 opined. “You think the Henrico was bad? You should have been with us on the Greasy George Clymer. Fifty-seven straight days of cruising off Vietnam on that miserable excuse for a ship. Hotter thanContinue reading “A Storm Called Vera”

Wake Island ©

A tiny tropic atoll, awash with surf and sand, Not the kind of place to make a final stand. The Oriental Clipper that was Manila bound, Landed in the bay and taxied all around. Marines in dungarees watched the empty sky, And manned their naval guns with a big Aye, Aye! TwentyContinue reading “Wake Island ©”

A Village Called Kin

Little village by the sea, the simple life was the key, A sandy beach, a coral reef, the China Sea, its own motif. Farmers, fishers, hard workers all, soil to till and fish to trawl. Sweating in the bath house steam, refreshing tropic island dream. Children in their sailor suits, off to knowledge, their pursuits.Continue reading “A Village Called Kin”

Soldier, We Love You

(Jarheads Too) There were no bands. Nobody spat on me. We drove out the gate. Just Mulliner and me. I couldn’t cheer. He had to go back. Job, college, family. It didn’t much matter. I was alive. I was free. In Da Nang, the locals lined the road. As they did when I landed. Cheering,Continue reading “Soldier, We Love You”

Mission Lounge Angel

A place in Santa Ana called the Mission Lounge, is where lonely Marines can often be found. My car’s in Montana, and I’m ridin’ the bus, back home my girl says it’s the end of us. Barmaid pours drinks, my spirits run low, Lance Corporal pay is easy to blow. “Where ya’Continue reading “Mission Lounge Angel”

Vampire Liberty

Halloween of Sixty-three, no Dinero do I see, Just a humble P.F.C., posted at M.C.R.D. Payday’s just a day away, but in the hut, I must stay, Can’t even go out to play, can’t even hit old T.J. Buddy Ron gets a thought, evil scheme he has wrought, “I know where blood is bought, atContinue reading “Vampire Liberty”

“Doc”

We never used his name, we just called him “Doc”, He was my outfit’s Corpsman when I hit the Rock. Like the one’s before him, kept us all on track, From Iwo to Khe Sahn, they always had our back. Held Sick Call for the slackers, gave out APC’s*, Mecuricome got slapped on all theContinue reading ““Doc””

Humble Al’s Grenade

We called him “Humble” Al, I was proud to be his pal, No matter what went down, you could sure depend on Al. In Sixty-Five we sailed off to war while playin’ Crazy Eights, Not knowin’ where or when we’d ever see the states. His weapon was a solder gun, the .45 is just forContinue reading “Humble Al’s Grenade”