Passage of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act as part of the larger PACT Act has focused attention once again on the contaminated water at the base between 1953-1987. Our own Ron Gionta--USAF veteran, retired VA Outreach Specialist Ron Gionta, and the VBC's resident "Veteran-in-the-Know"--shared the following information about Camp Lejeune water contamination claims. From
← BACK TO VBC BLOG Why Didn't Marines Wear Helmet Bands in Vietnam? The Army called it "Band, Helmet, Camouflage, US" and issued it to soldiers in Vietnam. The USMC didn't. Why? Left: 17-year-old USMC Private Richard Coggins waits on the beach during the Marine landing at Da Nang, 1965. Right: Army Sergeant
. . Alex Yawor served with the US Marines in the Pacific during WWII. Painter Yawor produces portraits of killed military personnel Your Content Goes Here
. . Bob landed at Parris Island at a hard time for the Marines. The Corps was so short of manpower that the teenage Bob soon became a drill instructor, barking orders at recruits a dozen years older than he.By 1944, Bob had transferred to the new 24th Marine Regiment,
. . Regis Wessell of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania wanted to be a marine, like his uncle who served in WWI, but the recruiter didn’t think the young lad had the right stuff. “Go join the Boy Scouts,” the gruff Sgt. barked, belittling Regis for his small stature. Besides, he was only seventeen.
