Skinner's Poop Sheet April 1998
A/1/7 Korea Poopsheet Apr98
Dear Stable Able,
Do hope all is well with you and yours. My Marie had a very painful leg
that bothered her for months but I'm pleased to report she's back on full
duty status.
Seems like "Incoming" for the "Poopsheet" has dropped off since San
Antonio but do have a few items I'll relay on to you. In fact so little
input that my first input for the "Poopsheet" was flat out rejected by Gunny
Ellie. Being a little "Off my feed" I hadn't entered into writing with
enthusiasm. Well. the Gunny sent me an Email with some of her words in bold
letters that indicated to me me she was in a snit. Now, since it's been many
years that I've outranked Gunnery Sergeants, I was of the opinion that a
Gunny wasn't gonna rattle my cage anymore, but lo and behold, I now figured
I'd better get with the program and write up a whole mess of more words. If
she was one of those knuckle dragging Gunnys be assured it would be a
different story but how can I refuse Gunny Ellie? Come on fellas, send me
info for the next Poopsheet and keep the Gunny off my back. A short note
just so I can mention your name and the rest of Able will know you're still
terrorizing the non-Marine type would do.
Seems I missed that James Dearing was at San Antone and I didn't mention
his name. Sorry about that Marine! Maybe you were the Marine that looked so
dang familair to me and I keep asking him his name but dang if I could
remember it more than a few seconds. Any more out there I didn't list as
being at SA?
Know your memory supposed to go first but can't remember what comes next.
Jim Thomas says regardless of rumors he ain't dead and hopes to be in
Florida in September. Hope so Jim as we didn't have you to kick around in
San Antone and we missed doing that.
Luke and Mary Laird hopes to make Florida this year. They were in Europe
during SA. Hope they had better accomodations and travelled higher on the
hog then what we Marines travelling to Europe had.
"Doc" Gillett sent a letter in which he reminisced about Sam Bass. He's
talked to "Smiley" Scheidigger who was expecting a new grandson. "Doc" and
Peggy have a new grandson as of Nov98.
Know that that Major Bud Hampton was to visit Iwo Jima again last
February. How did it go Skipper?
John Fryer sent some photos and an article about his activities over the
last 35+ years into infectious diseases of Pacific salmon. He's accomplished
much in that field. Shortly after the last newsletter I received a land line
from Philip Ruppel, (PltLdr, 2nd Plt) and he wanted the grid coords on John
which I furnished him. It really pleases me to get a call like that and able
to take a part in uniting old shipmates. Expect them both to be in Florida.
Receive LL's from Colonel Smith. He says he's doing OK after the knee
operation but believe he won't turn down any jeep rides. One foot in front
of the other Skipper! And then repeat!
Frank LiCausie called after SA but hasn't given me a shout for awhile
now. Hope the rascal's doing OK.
Heard from "Rip" Collins. "Rip", "MPR" is Monthly Personnel Roster. I
sent you copy of the one you wanted so if you didn't get it let me know and
we'll try that drill again. "Rip" had a quadruple heart by pass right after
Xmas. He says he enjoyed the reunion at SA and intends to be at the 98
reunion. He lives in Nashville so hoping you and yours fared well during the
toronado "Rip".
Received a LL from John Ontiverous and learned he now has Email. He has a
son and daughter near here in NC and plans to visit them while enroute to
the reunion this year. Hopefully I'll be able to see him and Mary Jane while
they are in the area. Kinda wondering what happened with John and the Email
thing as haven't heard from him since we first established two way comm. You
know some people let this hi-tech stuff scare them. Figure John's at least
6 foot 4 tall and shouldn't be in awe of this computer stuff and know he has
plenty of guts as Eddie Arechiga says in the next paragraph. What's the
matter John, you need a bayonet lug on the front of your computer so you'll
know which way to point it?
Passed the word of John's Email address to those of us with Email and
received an Email back from Eddie Arechiga. Eddie tells the story of how
John got the nickname of "30 Clip Onti". Eddie says the first action he and
Harry Alfeo particpated in was on the east coast, Oct/Nov51, around hill
884. The NKPA attacked and were at the wire. John, who was their squad
leader, 3rd sqd, 1st plt, turned into a raging, mad, fighting Marine! Eddie
and Alf were scared s---less. Watching Onti in action filled them with awe
and a fear that was what the Marines were going to expect of them. He fired
his M-1 at such a rapid rate he was known as "30 Clip Onti" from then on.
Not stopping all the NKPA by rifle fire, Onti jumped from his bunker and ran
down into their midst and with a specially sharpened carbine knife, killed
those remaining. Eddie believes 16 dead gooks were counted around his area
and that John received a "Bronze Star" for that action. Eddie expresses his
admiration for John and says John is what he expects a Marine to be. That is
a mighty high compliment coming from another Marine!
Received a nice letter from Colonel Bell. He spends a great deal of time
in his large garden growing vegetables. He enjoys growing things better then
killing things now. His son, Captain Doug Bell, has orders to Fort Benning
infantry school in July. His brother is a retired Marine living at Cherry
Point so he and Hilda will be sure to visit this area and they hope to visit
Marie and I. He's looking forward to the reunion in September. He sends his
very best to the great "Warriors" of "Stable Able".
Assume all of you received Bill Powers letter concerning the naming of
the post office in Wakefield, RI for Champage on 29May98. That's the 46th
anniversary of David's action and death earning the "Medal of Honor". Hope
many of Stable Able will be in attendence. Know Bill and former Skipper
Carl Ullrich will be there. Well done Bill!
GySgt. Donald Hare, USMC, (Ret) called me after he received Bill Powers
letter wanting some info. He was sergeant when he joined Stable Able from
the 18th ReplDrft and believes he recalls Champange. I wasn't much help as I
was with Bn and rotated the next draft. Did recall the truck that got blew
up by a mine just after we moved into Camp Penghau (?). He was near that and
was almost blown away by that but returned to duty. Enjoyed my chat with
him and learned he retired from the Corps and is living here in Jax,NC.
Hear from the "Ice Cream Kid", Bob Licker, and Shiffty Shifflette via the
Email. It's sure great to have that mode of comm and able to keep in touch.
Harry Alfeo also has a new Email address. Sure Gunny Ellie will include the
Email addresses in the newsletter.
Bob sent a copy of an Email from MGySgt Scott Welch who is Senior
Enlisted Advisor for Commander, Marine Corps Forces, Korea. He's part of the
staff making preparations for the 50th year Commemoration
in the year 2000. Bob and Mickey plan to attend that. Master Gunny Welch's
father was William R Welch, A/1/7 Sep50 thru Dec50. He was medevaced on
4Dec50. He passed away in Dec87. MGySgt Welch would sure like to hear from
those that knew his Dad. Anyone needing his address contact Bob or me. Bob
has sent him an "MPR" with his Dad's name on it.
Realize todays date is 23Apr98. Forty seven years ago Stable Able was in
close combat and again attacking to the south. Very beat up we were. Lost a
lot of fine Marines and Corpsmen and sad to remember. Will say a prayer
tonite for our Marines and Corpsmen that didn't that make the march out with
us. Captain Nat Smith was Skipper, sorry Skipper, Able Six at that time.
Each of us cope with the memories of what we went thru in Korea in our on
way . I've pushed the gory details way back in the brain group and instead
remember the proud and humerous moments almost vividly. I appreciate the
info Arechiga passed on "30 Clip Onti" and just maybe some of you might have
a tale worth putting in the "Poopsheet". Just remember to make it brief and
to keep the words suitable for the ladies and our grand kids to read. Some
of what I thot as humerous wouldn't fit that but I think I have one that may
so I'll use lotta words and make the Gunny happy.
Ding Dong sported a mustache that reached the edge of his lips you may
recall. I thought the handlebar was more fitting to me and would just maybe
strike fear into the gooks. My handle bar had been "Cultivated" about 3
months, we all had about 3 months growth of hair and beards due to the
"Situation and terrain" you may recall. Well there came a time that we were
off the lines and camped by a stream. Taking advantage of the "Situation and
terrain " again we bathed, got haircuts and trimmed the "stashes". Ding Dong
suggested to me that we trim each others "stashes". He also suggest that I
wear mine to the edge of the lips such as his. I didn't go for that, my
"stash" was a wild looking thing, red and scraggly but I spent a lot of time
twisting it and admiring it in the little metal mirrors some of us were
lucky to have or borrowing one while waiting on trail to move up or what
ever, besides, as I was only 26 years years old it help give me the mature
and wise look befitting a First Sergeant of a Marine rifle company. Ding
Dong had me trim his first and I did a decent job. I won't fall for that
again! He started on mine and would exclaim "Drat, cut too much off on that
side" then he would trim and again cut off too much and he did this again
and again till all I had was a "Stash" to the edge of my lips! Won't say it
ticked me off but it just weren't me! Went to the stream and cut it all off.
I was so young looking then that I had a hard time convincing the company
that I was indeed the First Sergeant!
May God bless you, yours, our fallen comrades and theirs.
Take care of yourselves "Stable Able" and strive to make Reunion 98 best
ever!
SEMPER FI !
Semper Fi !! Jim