Prologue: In 1975 I was attending “The Basic School” which is a 6-month infantry training program required of all new Marine lieutenants. The end of TBS culminated with an division-size, real-life amphibious assault off Onslow Beach, South Carolina. As I’m sure you’ve all seen, beachhead assaults during WWII were via the old landing craft where the front ramp drops down and the Marines rush out in the open - like in Saving Private Ryan - and needless to say the casualties were almost 100%. Fast forward to 1975, where tactics were changed from LSTs - landing craft- to amphibious tractors so Marines would load inside to be driven onto the beachhead, be more protected from gun fire and therefore reduce casualties.
The amphibious tractors are loaded in the bottom of a transport ship and when they are ready to launch the attack the front of the ship opens up, the water comes rushing in, and the amphibious tractors drive out. So, we are in the bottom of the transport ship waiting for orders to launch the attack, sea sick from not only the motion of the ocean, but also from inhaling the diesel fumes from the tractors running. Now when you have to puke it’s only natural to find something to vomit in. Right? Lining the sides of the belly of the ship were these galvanized tool boxes and Marines were raising the lids and puking in them when an irate, crusty old Navy boats-in-mate appears shouting out, “You stupid ass jarheads, don’t barf in our tool boxes! Barf on the floor! When the front of the ship opens up the water will rush in and wash out the puke!” I’m 74 years old and I’ll carry that memory with me forever.
The amphibious tractors are loaded in the bottom of a transport ship and when they are ready to launch the attack the front of the ship opens up, the water comes rushing in, and the amphibious tractors drive out. So, we are in the bottom of the transport ship waiting for orders to launch the attack, sea sick from not only the motion of the ocean, but also from inhaling the diesel fumes from the tractors running. Now when you have to puke it’s only natural to find something to vomit in. Right? Lining the sides of the belly of the ship were these galvanized tool boxes and Marines were raising the lids and puking in them when an irate, crusty old Navy boats-in-mate appears shouting out, “You stupid ass jarheads, don’t barf in our tool boxes! Barf on the floor! When the front of the ship opens up the water will rush in and wash out the puke!” I’m 74 years old and I’ll carry that memory with me forever.
