Calling ALL Marines - Past and Present

I sometimes wondered about my decision to enlist on April 1st . . .

 

Was with MWSS-172 (Futenma), 3rd MLG (Camp Foster) and MSSG-31 (part of 31st MEU) down at Camp Kinser.

 

Damn, always knew the Hollywood Marines had it easier. At PI, we had to complete recruit training before we became Marines, not just step on the Yellow foot prints. LOL

 

Mountains > Sand Fleas

 

Fuck sand fleas they suck so bad.

 

Lol they might be worse, I’ve never seen one.

 

Had sand fleas and the mountains in afghanistan. I’ll take mountains every time. Those damn fleas bite till you bleed and if you scratch them you get killed in the pit.

 

I went to Iraq, which had neither, but it sucked in its own way.

 

Same here I hated Iraq more then Afghanistan. The food was better in Afghanistan. That was the tie breaker lol.

 

I'm just an Air Winger , give me break

 

My complaints (aside from the obvious) would be the cold weather (which we had no clothes for) and the constant fog that was so thick we’d get stuck where we were for long periods because they’d shut everything down. Probably not what people would expect as complaints from that place lol

 

Dust stroms Red Air, I was a Hawaii marine so where ever we go we bring rain. We had a dust storm and it started to rain mud. It did that for two days. I hated how cold it got at night in Iraq. Especially if we had the 8pm-12am patrol or the 6pm-12am post duty. Sweat your ass off then start freezing. The people were better in Iraq compared to afghan when they weren’t trying to kill you lol.

 

I was at 3RD MAW MCAS El Toro with MWSG 37

Now suffering from TCE / PCE chemical exposure from Aircraft cleaning solvent and also Radiation exposure . The VA won't recognize hazardous chemical exposure to any of the Marines who were there until the base closed in 1999

 

I did convoy security so 12+ hours in the turret at night in 30 degree weather was just about miserable. Of course that’s because in 2006 they took away our issued Under Armor because it was melting onto people, and of course didn’t replace it, so we were left with a flight suit and if you were lucky, long johns.

 

Yea I got caught wearing the under armor thermals in Afghan and had to fill sand bangs for a few hours lol.

 

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t still wear it sometimes..

One of my buddies wore a leather jacket on missions, no idea how he never got caught.

 

This is the Hangar i worked at

https://www.veteranstodayarchives.com/2012/03/10/marine-hangar-was-witches-brew/

 

In Afghan one of our platoons was a gear testing platoon that got so much cool shit. Then our platoon was supposed to be the test platoon in Iraq and they canceled the test. I still have my gortex top and bottoms, day pack, poncho liner, boots, and I still buy skivvy shirts because I like the way they fit lol. My wife threw out my silkies she hated them lol.

 

Hope all is well with you. Hope you still have all your organs and testicles.

 

Good gear? That sure is rare for the Marine Corps