A Big Happy 246th Birthday to One of the Best, the USMC

The history of the United States Marine Corps began on November 10, 1775, when two battalions of Continental Marines were formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

They were a force of infantry which could operate on both land and sea (and now air).

All across the United States and the world today Marines are celebrating the birthday.

An old Marine tradition.

I will be going to a Marine Birthday celebration at the Fox Lake (Illinois) American Legion this Saturday.

WLS Top Ten for Week of August 16, 2021: 'Liar'

Fifty years ago, these were the songs on Chicago's WLS, 890 AM.  If you remember these when they came out, you might be getting a little old.

1.  RIDERS ON THE STORM--  Doors

2.  TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS--  John Denver

3.  SWEET HITCH-HIKER--  Creedence Clearwater Revival

4.  SMILING FACES SOMETIMES--  Undisputed Truth

5.  SIGNS--  Five Man Electric Band

6.  HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART--  Bee Gees

7.  MAYBE TOMORROW--  Jackson 5

8.  UNCLE ALBERT/ADMIRAL HALSEY--  Paul & Linda McCartney

9.  MERCY MERCY ME--  Marvin Gaye

10.  LIAR--  Three Dog Night   (Again, this song and "Take Me Home Country Roads" were my Quantico Summer USMC Camp songs.)

***********************************

DEBITS/HITBOUND

24.  WHATCHA SEE IS WHATCHA GET--  Dramatics

25.  ALL DAY MUSIC-- War

29.  THE NIGHT THEY DROVE OLD DIXIE DOWN--  Joan Baez

30.  STICK UP--  Honey Cone

***********************************

ALL HIT BOUND--  George Harrison

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Almost Heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Take Me Home Country Roads"

Get Ready to Go Back Fifty Years to August 1, 1971

From 9 am to noon tomorrow, August 1, Bob Stroud will be traveling back a half century, to August 1, 1971 when he plays the songs that were on our radios and in our record collections for his Part 3 of his annual Rock and Roll Roots Salute to the Summer on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM.

I always look forward to this trip back to my past.  And, speaking of the past, I will be recording the show on cassette tapes.

It streams at www.wdrv.com  from 9am to noon and again from 9 pm to midnight.

Central Daylight Saving Time.

What were you doing fifty years ago tomorrow?  

I had just gotten back from Quantico, Virginia, where I had been six weeks in the USMC Platoon Leaders Class.  I was also getting ready to start classes at the University of Georgia after having attended freshman and sophomore year in college at Northern Illinois University.

Let's Go Back.  Let's Go Way Back.  --RoadDog

LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE:  LAW OF THE ALIBI:  If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire.

WLS Top Ten for Week of July 5, 1971: 'Nathan Jones'

Fifty years ago on Chicago's WLS AM, 890, radio, these were the top songs and debuts.  WLS and WCFL still ruled the air waves as far as the younger generation was concerned.  FM radio was just getting started.

1.  IT'S TOO LATE--  Carole King

2.  YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND--  James Taylor

3.  HERE COMES THAT RAINY DAY FEELING--  Fortunes

4.  DON'T PULL YOUR LOVE--  Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds

5.  INDIAN RESREVATION--  Raiders  (What?  No Paul?)

6.  MR. BIG STUFF--  Jean Knight

7.  DRAGGIN' THE LINE--  Tommy James   (What?  No Shondells?)

8.  NATHAN JONES--  Supremes

9.  HIGH TIME WE WENT--  Joe Cocker

10.  GET IT ON--  Chase

*************************

DEBUTS

27.  NEVER ENDING SONG OF LOVE--  Delaney & Bonnie & Friends

28.  TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS--  John Denver   (This became my Marine Corps song this month back in '71.)

29.  MERCY MERCY ME--  Marvin Gaye

30.  RINGS--  Cymarron

**  All Hit Bound

RIDERS ON THE STORM--  Doors

MOON SHADOW--  Cat Stevens

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Now Because You Wear All Those Fancy Clothes."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Mr. Big Stuff"

Happy 245th, America's Strike Force, the U.S. Marines

Today marks the 245th birthday of one mighty fine fighting machine, the Marines.

They were formed by resolution of the Second Continental Congress on November 10, 1775.  The Corps' commander was Samuel Nicholas who raised a battalion of 300 by December of 1775 in Philadelphia.  By January, they went to sea under the command of Commodore  Esek Hopkins.  

In March, they undertook the first of many amphibious operations in their illustrious career, at the Battle of Nassau in the Bahamas, occupying the British port of Nassau for two weeks.

On January 3, 1777,  the Marines arrived at the Battle of Princeton attached to General John Calwalader's brigade.

And, you know what tomorrow is.

--RoadMarine

Back to Summer 1970, Fifty Years Ago-- Part 3: "Woodstock"

These were songs on your radio and in your record collection fifty years ago.

COMING INTO LOS ANGELES--  Arlo Guthrie
WOODSTOCK--  Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
GET READY--  Rare Earth    Blue-Eyed Soul with an old Tempts song.

WHISKEY TRAIN--  Procul Harum
MAMA TOLD ME NOT TO COME--  Three Dog Night
LIAR--  Argent     One of my two songs in the Marine Corps summer 1971, but by Three Dog Night.  The other one was "Take Me Home (Country Roads) by John Denver.  Our platoon song was "Fixin'-To-Die-Rag" but on the sly.  Man, if those sergeants heard us, it wasn't pretty.

RIDE CAPTAIN RIDE--  Blues Image
TEACHER--  Jethro Tull
UP AROUND THE BEND--  Creedence Clearwater Revival   My favorite 60s band here in the 70s.

MAKE ME SMILE--  Chicago
LOVE LAND--  Watts 103rd Street Band
THE LETTER--  Joe Cocker

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Want Some Whiskey In Your Water, Sugar In Your Tea?"    Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Mama Told Me"

Music Deaths: Freddie Hart, Country, "Easy Loving"

FREDDIE HART, 91

Died October 27, 2018

Had a country crossover hit with "Easy Loving"  )#17-1971)

Born Frederick Segrest in Alabama.  Entered the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II at age 15.

"Easy Loving" won the Country Music Academy Song of the Year award.

All told, on the country charts, he had 48 hits, including six #1s.

"Thank God For The United States Marine Corps"

I put up my U.S. flags today in honor of two things.  The first was the 243rd birthday of the USMC.  The second was the end of World War I one hundred years ago and Veterans Day tomorrow.

This quote is from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1945.

"The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen.  Thank God for the United States Marie Corps."

I'll Second That.  --MarDog

I'd Celebrate That!! November 5 to 11: Saturday Is the 243rd Birthday of the USMC!!!

**  I'd celebrate that.

NOVEMBER 5, MONDAY--  American Football Day**  Doughnut Day**  Especially those Britt Donuts at Carolina Beach, N.C.

NOVEMBER 6,  TUESDAY--  Election Day**  I'll sure be celebrating the end of it.  It's been a long year and a half.   Nachos Day**

NOVEMBER 7, WEDNESDAY--  Job Action Day   Not sure what this is.   Hug A Bear Day**  Well, not the ones out in the wild, but those lil' cuddly teddy bears.

NOVEMBER 8, THURSDAY--  Cappuccino Day**  Especially pumpkin spice cappuccino,  99 cents for a large at Thornton's.  (I'll probably never know how to spell it without looking it up.    Parents As Teachers Day**   Let's hope parents are doing some teaching.

NOVEMBER 9, FRIDAY--  Scrapple Day**  Never had any, but I hear it is really good.

NOVEMBER 10, SATURDAY--   U.S. Marine Corps 243rd Birthday**  The best.  

NOVEMBER 11, SUNDAY--   Veterans Day**  Fly Those Flags.

Happy 243rd, Marines!!   --RoadDog

Tom Grosvenor Marine Corps Birthday Breakfast-- Part 3: The Cake Ceremony

Continued from November 10.

The one aspect of the proceedings that I always like the most is the presentation of the birthday cake with the USMC emblem, provided every year by Lovin' Oven Cakery in Round Lake Beach, Illinois.

The oldest Marine present and the youngest are ushered to the front of the room.  This year it was Bobbi Briggs, a World War II veteran of the Marine Corps Women's Reserve, who turns 94 later this month.  The youngest was one of the active duty Marines who was born in 1994.

Four extremely squared away Marines in splendid dress blues escort the cake up to the front and then the Commandant of the Marine Corps Lake County Detachment 801 takes the ceremonial sword and cuts off a piece.  He then gives it to the oldest Marine who takes a bite and then passes the piece to the youngest who takes a bite.

This symbolizing the passing of knowledge and tradition from one generation to another.

A Very Striking Tradition.  --RoadDog

Doing My Bit for the Veterans and Marines

What with the USMC birthday yesterday and Veterans Day today, I have been busy.

SATURDAY, NOV. 4

I attended the USMC birthday/Toys for Tots breakfast at the Fox Lake, Illinois, American Legion (See the Tom Grosvenor posts in this blog).  Later, in the afternoon, Liz and went to the Legion to see a band.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1O

Since this was the Marine Corps' 242nd birthday, I posted about the Marines to all seven blogs.

I went to the flag-raising for Lance Corporal Matthew S. Medlicott at Waukegan, Illinois, High School.  He was killed in Iraq in 2007.

I also saw the movie "Thank You for Your Service" at Fox Lake Theater.  This was a hard movie about problems soldiers faced with PTSD on their return to civilian life after posting to the Middle East.  Later, we met the Usual Suspects at the Legion for the 50-59.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11

Since this is Veterans Day, I posted about veterans on all seven blogs.  (Yesterday, I posted about the Marines on all seven blogs.

I went to the 11 a.m. ceremony at the Fox Lake train station honoring veterans, complete with speeches and a 21 gun salute.  Later tonight we will go to the Legion for the Lakes Area Swing band show with all that great World War II Big Band/Swing music.

Can't Do Enough For Our Veterans.  --RoadDog

Tom Grosvenor Marine Corps Breakfast-- Part 2 All Stood

Tables were set up for World War II veterans and we had six in attendance as well as eight for the Korean War and quite a few Vietnam veterans.

We had the presentation of colors, the U.S. and Marine Corps flags, by the Lake County Marine Corps League and then the National Anthem.  Unlike so many of the NFL players, everybody stood except one man sitting at the Vietnam veterans table.  But he sure had an excuse.  He was in a wheelchair and missing a leg.

We then had the message of General Lejeune read and listened to the Commandant's message.

--RoadDog

Marine Corps Turns 242 Today!!

A big happy birthday to those men and women of the United States Marine Corps.  It was on this date November 10, 1775, that the Continental Congress authorized that two battalions of Marines be raised.

Thanks Marines for all your service.

Tom Grosvenor Memorial Marine Corps Birthday Breakfast for Toys for Tots-- Part 1

This past Saturday, Nov. 4, the Fox Lake American Legion was the site of the 34th annual Tom Grosvenor Memorial Marine Corps Birthday Breakfast for Toys for Tots.  The Marine Corps runs the Toys for Tots.

It cost $7 for breakfast consisting of really black and strong coffee, SOS and scrambled eggs.  You either made a donation or brought along a toy.

I sat with Ben Floyd, one of the original thirteen Marines who met on Saturday, November 10, 1983 at Hoff's Kitchen in Grayslake, Illinois, as a way to get together with other Marines, talk over old times, help Toys for Tots and enjoy the camaraderie.  This annual tradition continues on to today.

Seventy-five years ago, Nov. 4, Marines took the airfield on the island of Guadalcanal and though fighting would continue for another three months, this was a big turning point in the hard-fought battle.

Marine-Backer  --RoadDog

Who Are the Real Heroes? The NFL or Our Veterans

Today, when all those NFL players take a knee and indicate to our veterans what they think of them, let's think of the real heroes.

Yesterday I attended the 34th annual Tom Grosvenor Memorial Marine Corps Breakfast for Toys for Tots at the Fox Lake, Illinois, American Legion.  This coming Friday, November 10 is the 242nd birthday of our Corps.

Everyone stood during the presentation of the colors and National Anthem except one man.

He was at the Vietnam War veterans table...and he was in a wheel chair,  He was missing a leg.

Certainly a reason not to stand, but I know he would have if he could have.

Something to think about today when you see that offensive show of disrespect out on the sidelines before the game.

I wonder who paid the price so those football players could make their millions of dollars?

We Know.  --RoadDog

Vietnam Vets Remember-- Part 2: Operation Union II

Pete Haley was almost killed in Operation Union II.

It was a search-and-destroy mission in the Queson Valley and involved the 5th Marine Regiment.  It lasted from May 26 to June 5, 1967.  The North Vietnamese lost 594 killed and 23 captured according to U.S. counts.

The Marines lost 110 killed and 241 wounded.

Facing a battalion of North Vietnamese Army regulars, Marines in Haley's unit called in an artillery barrage.

As the enemy got closer to the Marines, so did the artillery shells.  An air burst shell rained shrapnel down on the North Vietnamese and Marines alike, and Haley caught a piece in his arm.

Corpsmen patched Haley up there, and he stayed in the fight, he said.  When it was over, he went to the rear for medical treatment, and he received the Purple Heart medal.

--RoadDog

Tom Grosvenor Memorial Marine Corps Birthday Breakfast-- Part 2; Oldest to Youngest

Along with celebrating the Marine Corps, the breakfast also raises money for the Corps' Toys for Tots.  Last year it raised $10,000+ for them and overall, the program provided 21,000 needy children across the country 107,000 toys.

There is quite a ceremony for posting of the colors, remarks from the Marine Corps Commandant and, most impressive, the presentation of the birthday cake and cake cutting.  This is done with a full-size sword and involves the oldest and youngest Marines present.

This year, the oldest was Duke Adella, born in 1925 and World War II veteran.  The youngest was Ruben Martinez, born in 1991 and on present duty.  The oldest Marine takes a bite of the first piece and then passes it on to the youngest who also takes a bite.  This signifies the passing of wisdom and knowledge from the old to the new Corps.

World War II veterans are invited to have breakfast first and there were four present.  Then we had Korean War and I counted nine.  I lost count of the Vietnam veterans but there were considerably more than 20.

Breakfast consisted of coffee, scrambled eggs and s.o.s..  The eggs are a bit dry as always, but passable with liberal additions of Frank's Hot Sauce.

This was the 32nd year for the breakfast.

--RoadDog

Tom Grosvenor Memorial Marine Corps Birthday Breakfast-- Part 1: Happy 240th Birthday to the USMC

Saturday, November 14th, I attended the annual breakfast at the American Legion Post 703 in Fox Lake, Illinois.

This was to celebrate the 240th anniversary of the USMC and to raise money for the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots.

This year, they had tables for the World War II and Korean War veterans, but I was happy to see several tables set aside for Vietnam War veterans for the first time.

A Resolution of Congress created two battalions of the Corps of Marines on November 10, 1775.  In the 240 years since then, Marines have been action for 90 years.  Also, Marine Corps training facility at Parris Island, S.C., opened 100 years ago in 1915.  Today, Marines also receive basic training at San Diego and Quantico, Virginia.

--RoadDog


NEWSPAPER ERRORS:  It was incorrectly reported last Friday that today is T-shirt Appreciation Day.  In fact, it is actually Teacher Appreciation Day.

Happy Birthday USMC!!

The United States Marine Corps was established by the Continental Congress on this date, 239 years ago.

November 10, 1775.

Happy Birthday.

Cold, But Good Times

FRIDAY, DEC. 13TH:

Enjoyed Christmas lights in Wauconda and stopped at Main Street Outfitters in Wauconda, Illinlis, and saw Terry and Greg Spizzirri perform for a couple hours.

SATURDAY, DEC. 14TH:

Morning and early afternoon spent preparing for tomorrow's Bears party at the house. In the afternoon we went to the American Legion for their Annual Army-Navy football game party. Enjoyed talking with friends and sure wish Army could have done a better game. I'm more a Navy/Marine fan, but with Navy's dominance over the last eleven years, I wanted Army to win. I tend to always pull for the underdogs. Then, we went to the Captain's Quarters pot luck dinner party.

SUNDAY, DEC. 15TH:

Final preps for Bears party. We figure we had 30 people attend and the Bears, despite some mighty poor play, even were nice enough to win. Everyone was impressed with the new TVs. Afterwards, about ten people stuck around for Name-That-Tune and watched the Packer game (even though some of the ranid Bear fans were pulling for Dallas to win). Last folks left at 8.

Good Time. --RoadDog