Gunny G: The Sayonara Marines Camp Fuji, Japan, 1954 and A Swagger Stick Story…. � ~ BLOGGER.GUNNY.G.1984 ~ (BLOG & EMAIL)

Gunny G: The Sayonara Marines Camp Fuji, Japan, 1954 and A Swagger Stick Story…. � ~ BLOGGER.GUNNY.G.1984 ~ (BLOG & EMAIL):

My dad was a corporal in 1954 at middle camp At Mt. Fuji, Japan when a fella brought in a broken tent pole. Dad replaced the pole, but then filed off the broken metal pieces. He then had an idea to saw a .50 caliber shell in half and cap the ends of the pole. He sanded and stained and varnished the pole into a fine piece.

He gave this to his commanding officer, Lt. Jesse Altman. Battalion Commander Colonel Frye saw it and wanted one for himself. Lt. Sharp – the Battalion mess officer wanted one, so Dad made on for him and subsequently received permission to straggle to chow. Long story short, every officer at Middle Camp wanted one in 1954 and Dad has long believed that this was the birth of this style of Swagger Stick which is proudly displayed in replica by Marines from that era.

He is now 72, and doesn’t do his own email, but would gladly share his stories by phone with any Marines. He was a corporal in headquarters and service company, 3rd battalion, 3rd regiment, 3rd Marine division 1954 Camp Fuji Japan. His number is.....
EXCERPT
*****