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| "Salty Marines" by Easy Ed Flynn |
The epitome was the marine with one stripe up and a hash mark down, waring a china
occupation.
We spent endless hours with Brasso and steel wool rubbing ever so carefully the black
enamel from the emblem, shining belt tips and buckles. Going to a local tailor to have
the center cloth cut out of the garrison cap and spit polishing boondockers.
During the period of 48-49 they issued the cheapest, non-descript utilities, not the
herringbone of yesteryear. We would press on the globe and the anchor and USMC on
the left pocket and also the utility cap. You just had to look "Salty".
We left San Diego aboard the USS Montrose. The USS Montrose was a troop
transport from WWII or WWI, whichever came first. This ship was a Communist secret
weapon. There were so many Marines aboard that you would stand in the chow line for
breakfast. After breakfast you would get back in the same line for lunch, then repeat
the process for dinner. The cooks delighted in serving green pea soup at all meals.
Seasickness started with some of the guys before we left San Diego Harbor. Your
know what followed after they looked at the green pea soup.
We heard from rumor control that if you left clothes in salt water they would really look
"Salty". So Floyd Finch, myself and a few others took our ugly utilities, tied a line
around them and had them drag behind the ship. Obviously we left them in the water
too long because when we retrieved them all that were left were the seams, belt loops
and the waist bands. Oh well!!!
After 24 days we finally landed at Kobe, Japan. Our feelings were, let's get to Korea
because it couldn't be worse than life on the Montrose. Little did we know.
occupation.
We spent endless hours with Brasso and steel wool rubbing ever so carefully the black
enamel from the emblem, shining belt tips and buckles. Going to a local tailor to have
the center cloth cut out of the garrison cap and spit polishing boondockers.
During the period of 48-49 they issued the cheapest, non-descript utilities, not the
herringbone of yesteryear. We would press on the globe and the anchor and USMC on
the left pocket and also the utility cap. You just had to look "Salty".
We left San Diego aboard the USS Montrose. The USS Montrose was a troop
transport from WWII or WWI, whichever came first. This ship was a Communist secret
weapon. There were so many Marines aboard that you would stand in the chow line for
breakfast. After breakfast you would get back in the same line for lunch, then repeat
the process for dinner. The cooks delighted in serving green pea soup at all meals.
Seasickness started with some of the guys before we left San Diego Harbor. Your
know what followed after they looked at the green pea soup.
We heard from rumor control that if you left clothes in salt water they would really look
"Salty". So Floyd Finch, myself and a few others took our ugly utilities, tied a line
around them and had them drag behind the ship. Obviously we left them in the water
too long because when we retrieved them all that were left were the seams, belt loops
and the waist bands. Oh well!!!
After 24 days we finally landed at Kobe, Japan. Our feelings were, let's get to Korea
because it couldn't be worse than life on the Montrose. Little did we know.
KSLI in Korean War
| Troops 50's |
