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Thread: USMC Pilot Photographer J.R. Todd

  1. #41

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    Re: USMC Pilot Photographer J.R. Todd

    Quote Originally Posted by bloodhoundbob View Post
    Although intelligence units were about as non-military as it gets, this was not the case at Ft Holabird. The Commander was a Major General who LOVED parades. Every Friday afternoon we had to hit the parade ground and march for him while he watched from his Jeep that had white-walled tires. We had a contingent of Green Berets who were all E-6 and above who were there for intelligence specialist training. He loved watching them march, as they were NEVER out of step.
    I never was in a parade for the 3 years that I was active duty!
    In basic at Lackland they had formations and parades every Sunday. For some reason that was never explained I was appointed as a Chaplain’s Assistant which meant that I got to march any and all recruits in basic to the chapel every Sunday morning. The services and return march to their barrack’s area was just long enough to arrive just after the morning parades and formations were over.

  2. #42

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    Re: USMC Pilot Photographer J.R. Todd

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Salomon View Post
    I never was in a parade for the 3 years that I was active duty!
    In basic at Lackland they had formations and parades every Sunday. For some reason that was never explained I was appointed as a Chaplain’s Assistant which meant that I got to march any and all recruits in basic to the chapel every Sunday morning. The services and return march to their barrack’s area was just long enough to arrive just after the morning parades and formations were over.
    Bob, I was never fond of marching or parades. That problem was solved for our graduation parade at the end of basic training. While practicing for it, our first sergeant caught me laughing out loud at a cracked joke from one of our platoon sergeants. For punishment, he had me cleaning M-14s instead of marching during graduation, which suited me fine. I never had to march again after Ft Holabird, as I was in spy units in Germany and Vietnam, the latter in covert status. One of my buddies at Ft Holabird told me I marched in a most un-military fashion, which I took as a compliment.

  3. #43

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    Re: USMC Pilot Photographer J.R. Todd

    Quote Originally Posted by bloodhoundbob View Post
    Bob, I was never fond of marching or parades. That problem was solved for our graduation parade at the end of basic training. While practicing for it, our first sergeant caught me laughing out loud at a cracked joke from one of our platoon sergeants. For punishment, he had me cleaning M-14s instead of marching during graduation, which suited me fine. I never had to march again after Ft Holabird, as I was in spy units in Germany and Vietnam, the latter in covert status. One of my buddies at Ft Holabird told me I marched in a most un-military fashion, which I took as a compliment.
    At least you got to see a M14. When we had to qualify they only had WW II M1s! The next time we had to qualify was at Hurlburt Field, 2 years later and they again only had M1s!

  4. #44
    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
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    Re: USMC Pilot Photographer J.R. Todd

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Salomon View Post
    At least you got to see a M14. When we had to qualify they only had WW II M1s!!
    Indeed, the straight-sided cartridge 30 caliber carbine. That was my issue, too. I qualified as Expert Marksman the first time out, but I had been shooting since eight years-old. It was such a wimpy weapon until we realized it was intended to wound, not kill, according to a Geneva Convention ruling. Maybe.
    --
    JJS, USAF SSgt, Medical Corps, 1964-1970

    Aside: Col. Edward A. Crouchley was my uncle. A subdued hero who flew B series and B-52 for decades.
    .

  5. #45

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    Re: USMC Pilot Photographer J.R. Todd

    Quote Originally Posted by Jac@stafford.net View Post
    Indeed, the straight-sided cartridge 30 caliber carbine. That was my issue, too. I qualified as Expert Marksman the first time out, but I had been shooting since eight years-old. It was such a wimpy weapon until we realized it was intended to wound, not kill, according to a Geneva Convention ruling. Maybe.
    --
    JJS, USAF SSgt, Medical Corps, 1964-1970

    Aside: Col. Edward A. Crouchley was my uncle. A subdued hero who flew B series and B-52 for decades.
    .
    I loved, and still love, the M-14. I had one of the highest scores in our company in basic and was one of first to qualify. I was rewarded by being assigned to filling magazines for the others to qualify, which took hours. I kept my M-14 in my bedroom closet in Vietnam and only took it out once, to go fun shooting with it on full auto. I bought a Thompson submachine gun which was a battlefield weapon, which was also fun to shoot. I almost shipped it home before coming to my senses.

  6. #46
    http://www.spiritsofsilver.com tgtaylor's Avatar
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    Re: USMC Pilot Photographer J.R. Todd

    It's funny that I don't remember the fully automatic capability of the M-14. It was the rifle that I went through basic with and my assigned rifle when I was in Korea where my job was patrolling the DMZ: 3 days and 2 nights out, back in on the 3d day and back out for 3 days/nights on the next - over and over for almost 8 straights months. But at the time possessing fully automatic weapons in the DMZ was a violation of the 1953 cease fire so maybe the army eliminated the automatic option on the rifles. North Korean infiltrators ("UI's") on the other hand always carried fully automatic weapons. Watching the winter games from PyeongChang is a real treat for me - makes me proud of both the South Korean people and my service in Korea. I'm glad I got to experience Korea and its people when it was in transition to becoming a "modern" nation at a time when it's economy was considered a "miracle."

    Thomas

  7. #47

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    Re: USMC Pilot Photographer J.R. Todd

    Quote Originally Posted by tgtaylor View Post
    It's funny that I don't remember the fully automatic capability of the M-14. It was the rifle that I went through basic with and my assigned rifle when I was in Korea where my job was patrolling the DMZ: 3 days and 2 nights out, back in on the 3d day and back out for 3 days/nights on the next - over and over for almost 8 straights months. But at the time possessing fully automatic weapons in the DMZ was a violation of the 1953 cease fire so maybe the army eliminated the automatic option on the rifles. North Korean infiltrators ("UI's") on the other hand always carried fully automatic weapons. Watching the winter games from PyeongChang is a real treat for me - makes me proud of both the South Korean people and my service in Korea. I'm glad I got to experience Korea and its people when it was in transition to becoming a "modern" nation at a time when it's economy was considered a "miracle."

    Thomas
    Thomas, I'm glad the M-14s in basic didn't have a selector switch, as some of the guys had never shot any type of firearm before. I traveled frequently in Vietnam, both by air and ground and normally carried my Thompson with me. Full auto is hard to control, which is probably the reason the Army changed the M-16 from full auto to a maximum three round burst. I didn't know about the restrictions at the 38th parallel, so thanks for adding that. One of my commanders in Vietnam had been the XO of a 105 howitzer unit, and from the stories he told gave me a whole new level of admiration for Korea vets.

  8. #48

    Re: USMC Pilot Photographer J.R. Todd

    Thank you, goamules, for your lovely memories of my stepdad, MGySgt James R. Todd. I thought that I had replied here years ago, but could not find it.

    He was a brave man and I did all that I could to make sure he was pampered and respected in his last year. There were so many items that were beloved, but I could not keep them all. It was difficult not to take everything but, alas, my home is modest, and there were no other relatives who wanted his things. I did keep many important things of his, and I look at some of them daily. He told fabulous stories of his exploits! I was always enthralled, enjoying every one of them. Among his things, I recently found a handwritten account of his time in the military. In the rush of handling his estate, many of his things were put into boxes for me to go through later. He didn't like to get rid of anything. I'm now going through them.

    My husband and I, with the help of a professional advocate, took care of him during the last year of his life. I want all those who care about his story and history to know that he lived a comfortable, respected life to the end. His last request was, as he put it, "Put me in a box, fly me to Nancy, KY, and bury me in the Mill Springs National Cemetery." I did. The wonderful people at Mill Springs National Cemetery made a video of his interment ceremony and sent it to me in Arizona. Interestingly, one of his relatives participated in the ceremony. He would have appreciated that.

    Here are a couple of memories I recall:

    He used to fly to Cuba before Castro took over. He earned the nickname, 'Rumrunner Todd', because he would fill his drop tanks with rum on his return to the States.

    He had quite the gun collection and taught me how to target shoot when I was a teenager.

    He loved to read and had over 3100 books in his library.

    He attended many Flying Peon reunions over the years, until so many finally passed away.

    Once (or maybe several times), he and his co-pilot were flying some young recruits somewhere. He carried a pretend book titled: How to Fly, and his co-pilot carried a six pack or more of empty beer cans. Every once in awhile, as they flew, they'd open the cockpit door and let one of their empty beer cans roll down the aisle. This must have caused some interesting consternation with the soldiers and a lot of laughs for my dad and co-pilot.

    He was born in 1922 and would have been 101 this year. I miss him to this day.

    If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to write me at: artoday123@gmail.com (Melinda) Click image for larger version. 

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