The Rent-A-Battalion blog

from the president "Mick"

by Donna Fuller on 09/07/23

Marines,

We're putting the pieces together for a Reunion in Savannah in 2024. Would like to nail down the details early so we can begin looking to the West Coast for 2025.

We had some glitches in Branson:

1. Lack of transportation between Springfield and Branson.

2. Lack of a hotel shuttle as well as taxis and car service.

3. Somewhat erratic operating hours at the bar and restaurant.

4. "College of the Ozarks" tour should have been done, if possible, on a day when their famous on-campus restaurant was open for business.

5. "Train Trip" was a bust. No stops for scenic views. No food/beverages in each car. Encouraging passengers (some 80+ years old) to walk between moving cars to get a bottle of water doesn't seem sensible. Spotty air conditioning.

6. Shirts and hats not made in the U.S.A. White color and quality of product drew some attention.

7. The heat in Branson, MO in August can be "intense".

On the plus side:

1. The two dinners we had didn't suck.

2. The folks who staffed the hotel were excellent.

3. Most rooms were OK.

4. Hospitality room seemed to work well.

Company Representatives please canvas your Marines. What are their thoughts for the Savannah (2024) reunion?

We are currently looking at a hotel that has shuttle service to/from the airport, shuttle service to nearby attractions, free parking, a hospitality room, and decent prices for rooms, banquets, and Association functions.

Staying downtown in Savannah usually involves higher prices for EVERYTHING and smaller, often older, rooms and facilities.

Please survey your Marines about Savannah and get back to me by noon on 9/18/23. Negative reports also appreciated. That means, if none of your Marines have ideas about Savannah in 2024, let me know that. There is no obligation to contribute to this process.. Only this request.

Thanks for your assistance. Semper Fidelis. Mick

From President Mick

SF Poness

Comments (1)

'H" company

by Donna Fuller on 08/30/23

H company:

Please e-mail me your Name and E-Mail address. I will try to keep you informed on happenings.

H co Rep. Ron Poness

rponess@rochester.rr.com

Comments (0)

Reunion covid/china

by Donna Fuller on 08/27/23

Greetings Marines, Company Reps, would you please notify your Marines of the following.

We arrived home safe and sound last night.

This morning I felt lousy. Not drop-dead lousy but a but out of sorts.

I tested with a kit that had expired 14 months ago. It indicated "positive" for the disease.

My doctor's office is closed for the weekend. We'll confer on Monday.

I've had the 2 shots of Moderna and 1 booster.

I wish you all good health and if you get covid, I hope it's just a bit of a blip on your radar.

Semper Fidelis

Mick

SF Poness

Comments (0)

Reunion covid/china

by Donna Fuller on 08/27/23

Greetings Marines, Company Reps, would you please notify your Marines of the following.

We arrived home safe and sound last night.

This morning I felt lousy. Not drop-dead lousy but a but out of sorts.

I tested with a kit that had expired 14 months ago. It indicated "positive" for the disease.

My doctor's office is closed for the weekend. We'll confer on Monday.

I've had the 2 shots of Moderna and 1 booster.

I wish you all good health and if you get covid, I hope it's just a bit of a blip on your radar.

Semper Fidelis

Mick

SF Poness

Comments (0)

Happy 4th

by Donna Fuller on 07/03/23

To all my Brothers,

Have a happy and safe 4th. Be thankful for the freedom we all fought for. Remember our fallen brothers.

Semper Fidelis

Poness

Comments (0)

Happy Birthday Doc

by Donna Fuller on 06/17/23

From Mick with all our thanks

It's been 125 years since the founding of the United States Navy Hospital Corps.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEVIL DOCS! Semper Fidelis

SF Poness

Comments (0)

From Mick Hughes

by Donna Fuller on 06/17/23

This is me in 1966 sometime after July at the ripe old age of 18 as a gunner or assistant gunner in the 81mm Mortar Platoon. I hadn't yet been issued jungle utilities, just run of the mill, stateside utilities (work uniforms). There was a delay getting us "jungle boots". The "jungle boots" were great; synthetic uppers, synthetic soles with steel shank and self draining. Leather boots just rotted in the conditions encountered. Usually the stitching between soles and uppers went first. Ironically, some of the larger villages were selling U.S. jungle boots on the black market.

The 81mm mortar fired a projectile about 3 1/4" in diameter with an effective range of about 5,000 yards depending on a number of variables. Many experts qualify a weapon that fires a projectile measuring over 80 millimeters as artillery. The U.S.M.C. didn't get that memo. Our "guns", carried in pieces and put together in action, went with us by foot. Helicopter's. boats and trucks only took Infantry Units to "drop off" points. Motorized anythings were not capable of going where we went.

It wouldn't be too long before I yearned to be "put up" in a tent. From here on out we would spend a lot of time in "fighting holes" constantly on the move hunting down our adversaries as operational tempo picked up significantly.

Looks like a cigarette in left hand. The U.S. Government kindly included small packs in our "C rations". Did about a pack of day from 1964 to 1969; except for Boot Camp in 1965. Quit on my own. That's a story for another day.

No Infantryman was fat. By August 1967 at 6 foot tall, I weighed 135 pounds.

Currently in the military, even thought we're in no wars, enlistments are way down. Even the Service Academies are having trouble putting fannies in classroom seats. The U.S.A. is heading to a place where no one will step up to defend it. VERY dangerous and sad. Not much "leadership" from our elected representatives or bureaucrats. And way too many "Americans" with their heads so far inserted into places where they have no idea if it's day or night. mh

SF. Poness

Comments (0)