Note: Here are some training photos and other miscellaneous pictures from an old friend of mine during the 1960s. He was only seventeen when he signed up for the Marines. He even got to shake President Kennedy's hand during a ceremony. I met him when he was much older, he was full of the craziest stories. He lived his life to the fullest and was one of the coolest people I ever met. I was honored when he gave me the stuff seen here, his medals, pictures, etc.

Here is a bit of information for you to digest:
'In 1995, the Vietnamese government released its estimate of war deaths for the more lengthy period of 1955–75. PAVN and VC deaths were reported as 1.1 million and civilian deaths of Vietnamese on both sides totaled 2.0 million. These estimates probably include deaths of Vietnamese soldiers in Laos and Cambodia, but do not include deaths of South Vietnamese and allied soldiers which would add nearly 300,000 for a grand total of 3.4 million military and civilian dead.'

Over 58,000 Americans died in Vietnam, many of them drafted to fight in a war they didn't even understand. A war that it seems America didn't want to win. They were held back from victory many times, or used to take senseless hills over and over again. It was a proxy war between the USA and Russia. They tiptoed around one another flexing their muscles.

It's interesting and ever so ironic that the USA fought communism for fifty years after WWII. The Germans could have stopped it once and for all, but the USA propped the Soviets up and ensured their survival, thereby condemning millions to their death in the decades to follow. It's a scar on America's soul. One that will never heal.
But here is a glimpse into the boys who would later fight communism in the jungles of Vietnam.

[Above: 'Leathernecks', 'Devil Dogs', 'Jarheads', or just 'Marines'. My friend is in the front row, third from right.]

[Above: An explantion to this photo is written on the back, seen below. 1/8.]

[Above: 'This is my squad, firing on the bunker, the man standing up is SS/gt Paxton, he's my squad leader, he's throwing a white phosphorous grenade at the bunker, I'm way down on the end.']

[Above: 2/8.]

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[Above: 6/8. My god look at the reach of that flamethrower!]

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[Above: Explanation of photo below.]

[Above: 'This was taken up in the hills during the problem, the guy in the t-shirt was my platoon sergeant.']

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[Above: 'This was our platoon headquarters during the problem. The vehicle that we're loading is called a mule, each platoon had one. The guy in the window with the white band is an umpire. How would you like to live in a house like that all your life? We rented it for 13 days for 2 packs of cigarettes. Haha.']

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[Above: 'Me at one of our defensive positions.']

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[Above: 'The hill in Kawai.' ]

[Above: 'C-rations - this is what we eat in the field.']

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[Above: 'This is the picture of the guy repelling out of a helicopter.']

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[Above: You can't see it, but there is a whole platoon of Marines there... okay, I'm only guessing here, hehe.]

[Above: One of my favorite pictures of him.]

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[Above: My friend is on the right]

[Above: My friend is in the middle.]

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[Above: Haha, a good photo. You can't really see it clearly, but on his arm is a tattoo of an eagle and USMC (United States Marine Corps).]

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[Above: 'Iwo Jima - 18th Anniversary - Price 20,000 Marines - Sarabachi - Taken from Fantail - USS Noble' The battle for Iwo Jima was one of the bloodiest battles in WW2.]

[Above: These guys look BAD ASS! HAHA! Awesome. I wish I knew the story behind this. The guy on the left is carrying an M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). I'm not sure who he is or what unit he is with, he is wearing strange camouflage. Anyone know who this guy might be with? Check out the guy on the right's jacket, it is covered in marker!]

[Above: A certificate making my friend a Sergeant.]

[Above: A certificate of completion of a vehicle course.]

[Above: Some sort of test certification.]

[Above: A tactics certificate of completion.]

[Above: Honorable discharge paper, December 1966.]

[Above: Book of the 'First Battalion Honor Platoon 104'. Here is an explanation of what an honor platoon is: 'While most platoons are presented their respective guidon, one platoon proudly receives three, representing their platoon, series and company, identifying them as the company's honor platoon. Honor platoons gain the title by winning various competitions between the platoons in a single company.']

[Above: An old America, gone forever.]

[Above: I wonder how many of these men went on to the Vietnam war and never came back.]

[Above: Hehe, a pretty funny photo.]

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[Above: The M1911, also known as the Colt 1911. My favorite pistol. It's a beauty...]

[Above: 'Let me see your war face!']

[Above: Here's a picture of my friend from the book above.]

[Above: Explanation of photo below. ]

[Above: 'One of the machine guns, in our company's weapons' platoon. This gun will fire 550 rounds per minute.']

[Above: Rest in peace, comrade. Until the final battle.]