Being a former Marine, I have been right proud to see the Navy come fetch us off of some contested real estate a time or two. Having spent a little time aboard ship, I can testify to some of the sea stories that get told back and forth. But at the end of the day, the paycheck still says "Dept. Of The Navy" And while on assignment on board ship, the Marine Detachment acts as the Captains' own private little police force, something that does not endear them to all those sailors at times.

Prior to getting out I became good frineds with a group of Marines. We all got along great. One day they were talking about the weapons they had shot while at thier different duty stations and during Desert Storm. I told them I shot a gun once. Sgt Bartlett laughed and asked, "What shooting skeet off the fantail?" I laughed and told him, "Yes, and I was 10 for 10 too!" I had to buy the beers because of that one.

Hi Jim, Long ago, coming off an operation as our motley little group of Recon Marines clambered over the side of a destroyer transferring our gear and two Naval Fliers that we had recovered, a discussion was had as to what to do with what was assumed to be an overabundance of ordinance and weaponery. The XO took one look, shook his head and told the chief of the boat, "You better let them keep all that stuff, I have heard that Marines sleep better with their toys at hand." At that point, a rather loud group of explosions came forth from shoreside that lit up the area bright enough to be able to read on deck. Our Lieutenant looked at me and cuffed my shoulder, "I told you not to leave your toys laying about, now look what you did!" We had set a series of C4 "gifts" at the base of a set of fuel bunkers as a parting gift and to distract the opposition while we made good our departure. The Lieutenant turned to the XO and commented, "Think you better kick this pig and get us out of here sir. While we did disable a few of the shore guns, we may have missed a couple." I never saw sailors move as fast as that short of shore leave being called in Hawaii.