SRB - 3 -- Ronald J. “James” Martin -- 2097678 -- 1964 to 1980

Disclaimer: The information presented here is most probably not accurate, and in no way should be construed as an official USMC document. It is a reconstruction from memory, which even in my younger days was faulty. Anybody reviewing this presentation that remembers things differently, please e-mail me (rjamesmartin@yahoo.com) with the true scoop. I can’t find my DD-214, but I don’t think it would help. The Air Force Chief of Staff would never be called: AIRMAN The Chief of Naval Operations would never be called: SAILOR The Commanding General of the Army would never be called: SOLDIER The Commandant of the Marine Corps is proud to be called: MARINE

March 1964 - I enter USMC(R) under the 120 day delay program while a senior in high-school. This made me an automatic PFC after bootcamp graduation. Note to Capt. Ford -- Sir, you were absolutely correct. I was too skinny and underweight. Boot Camp was tough as hell. June 30, 1964 - I take the oath of enlistment with the entire “San Diego, City in Motion” platoon (platoon 255) at the San Diego Civic Center. The oath was administered by our Congressman (Lionel VanDeerlin.) Note: I reported to Receiving Barracks in a Navy ambulance, because I ate no breakfast, and locked my knees during the ceremonies. The passing out led to a pretty good bump on the head. I can still see my DI’s face; “What sort of weenie are they sending me, when the oath of enlistment is too rough?”. (The day before was my 18th birthday; could that have anything to do with it?) We are the last Series to go through the Camp Elliot Rifle Range for quals. Camp Elliot became the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) campus. Our platoon qualified 100%. Somewhere around the 8th week, went to Sick Bay with cellulitus of the right heel. Ended up getting dropped from 255, sent to physical rehab platoon, picked up by and graduated with Platoon 265. Another note to Capt. Ford - I reported to MCRD San Diego at 6’1”, 153 pounds, and a 29 inch waist. When I finally graduated, I was 6’3”, 196 pounds, and a 32 inch waist. Having three personal-fitness instructors (wearing Smokies) and a double-diet sure works wonders. ITR was a breeze. I had spent the previous summer at Camp Pendelton as a USMC(R) Devil Pup. About the only difference between Devil Pups and ITR was the live fire stuff. Same no-sleep, run everywhere course. 1965 - NAS Memphis - Aviation Fundementals and Avionics “A” schools. Although I had requested Radar Phase, I was selected to attend Photographers Mate “A” School in Pensacola, FL. 1965 - PCS to Pensacola - This was a new program to get the photo types ready for the RF-4B. The old RF-8 types only got “C” schools. Us new types got AT”A” and PH”A”. Gordon Raufeisen and I were the 5th and 6th selectees for this program. Note: The PH"A" barracks was directly across the street from the Aviation Cadet Indoctrination/Reception barracks. PCS to MCAS Beaufort. It seems that the assignment people hadn’t heard about the RF-4B program. Gordon Raufeisen went to MCAS Yuma, I went to MCAS Beaufort. We were both in the AT”A” and PH”A” cycle, but got regular 4631 billets. The rest of the Marines in PH”A” got sent to VMCJ-3. (Ribbon Checker at http://kepler.egr.duke.edu/USMCRibbons.html) 1966 - PCS to RVN. What a trip. Went through Replacement Battalion (refresher ITR) at Camp Pendleton. Ocean voyage aboard the USNS General William Weigal on its first trip out of moth balls. Broke down twice on the way to Pearl Harbor, twice more on the way to Okinawa. The first abandon ship drill saw some of the cork rafts sink. I also experienced my first burial at sea. Went ashore at Da Nang harbor via Mike boat March 10, 1966. Assigned to VMCJ-1, which had RF-8s at the time. Joined on our flight line by VMF(AW)-235, who I thought I had left at MCAS Beaufort. Before the RF-4B types replaced the RF-8 squadron-in-place, we saw the ARVN march on Da Nang (May '66) and shell the VNAF, saw the USAF abandon Da Nang (temporarily), construction of a new runway, and some of the finest airmanship I can recall. My RVN tour went from March of ‘66 thru August of ‘68 (6 stars on the ribbon; 1 silver & 1 bronze [service period chart]). The time period saw me promoted to Corporal twice (don’t ask), then to Sergeant. I reenlisted for VMJ-4, located at NAS New Orleans when I requested orders, but ended up at NAS Olathe. 1969 - Back working on RF-8s, with the reserves of VMJ-4. McNamara’s realignments saw us move to NAS Dallas, where I was selected for SSgt. Somewhere along the way, I got married. Note to Top Muldoon: You were right, I should have let the Corps issue me one. 1970 - PCS to MCAS Iwakuni, assigned to VMCJ-1, TAD to H&MS-15; NCOIC IR Shop. 1972 - PCS to MCAS Beaufort, MABS-32, TAD to the Station Photo Lab. At least one field deployment with VMA-542 (AV-8 Harrier) to Camp Lejeune, NC. Served as "Company Gunny" of MABS-32 while in the field. 1974 - PCS to MCAS Iwakuni, assigned to VMCJ-1, TAD to H&MS-15; NCOIC IR Shop. Got my first hospitalization with Deep Veinous Thrombophlebitis (DVT). Med-evac back to Ft. Leavenworth Army Hospital. 1975 - 1978 -- PCS MCAS El Toro, assigned to VMFP-3, TAD to H&MS-11; NCOIC RamVan Complex, NCOIC Camera Repair Shop, NCOIC IR Shop, NCOIC ComNav Shop. Many other bouts with DVT. Made Gunny in 11 years. Temporarily out on TDRL. Attended Southwest Missouri State University; graduated cum laude while carrying 21 credit hours per semester, except for 11 credit hours during summer semesters. Discharged with permanent disability May 1, 1980. (20% U.S.M.C., 30% VA) Looking over the above, it seems pretty uneventful, but I sure do miss the people and the duty.

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