As usual, the Kilo crew seemed to miss their scheduled activities. We thought that the activities at the 3/5 Battalion area were changed to the afternoon. They weren't. We arrived at the battalion area around noon and everyone was at chow.

The current 3/5 Battalion Sergeant Major, Mark Brummer graciously took some time out of his busy schedule to visit with and look over this web site. We received gifts of challenge coins and 3/5 beer mugs from him, for which we were very grateful. Thanking him for his time, we headed off to the current Kilo company area.

We met the current Kilo Company Commander, Captain Minter V. Ralston IV. He was very gracious and respectful. I found him to be the epitome of what a Marine Captain and Company Commander should look like. If the recruiting posters need the image of a Marine officer, here was the man. What else would you expect from a V.M.I. graduate?

We took our leave from Kilo company and continued our tour of the area. We stopped at the Vincent R. Capodanno memorial Chapel at San Mateo (62 area at Camp Pendleton). We spoke to Chaplain Villanueva who graciously got the painting of Father Capodanno out of storage for us to look at and photograph (the interior of the chapel is undergoing cosmetic restoration). We also photographed the interior of the chapel as well as the bell tower. The pictures are below.

Leaving the chapel, we walked over the the range simulator, where Marines train on computer simulated weapons. The officer on duty gave us permission to tour the facilities. We were treated to the works. Not only did we get a tour, we got to go through a simulated qualification firing with a computerized M-16. 200 meters was a decent range to shoot at. 500 meters was a bit much. I think I'll stick to machine guns. We thanked the Sergeants and Staff Sergeants for the tour and the firing exhibition, and headed for Tracers, the local watering hole.

Tracers was supposed to open at 1600 hours (that's 4 o'clock in the afternoon for you civilian types). We were early. We visited with the 1st platoon commander of Lima company. He and Joe McLaughlin hit it off, since Joe was the Lima 1st Platoon Sgt. at the battle of Hue City. They visited until it was time for the bar to open. It didn't open. A phone call revealed that the person to open the bar wouldn't be there until 1630 hours. We waited. It still didn't open. At 1645 we hit the road looking for a watering hole that was open.

Down the road we found the 1st Marines watering hole "Heroes" open for business. We walked inside and were welcomed warmly and showered with cold cans of the beer of our choice. The warmth was genuine, the respect heartfelt and conversation lively. We had found a home again and were adopted by the officers and men of the 1st Marine Regiment. Some of the enlisted men even went so far as to invite us to share the hospitality of their squad bay if we had one beer too many and no place to sleep it off. The current Marine Corps is in good hands and still filled with the finest men on the face of the earth.

In the course of our conversations, I brought up the subject of one of my experiences in calling in artillery. At the end of the conversation, a Warrant Officer came up to me and introduced himself as one of the F.O.'s (forward observer) of the 11th Marines, an Artillery Regiment. He then invited all five of us to celebrate the St. Barbara's Day festivities with his regiment. We thanked the officers and men of the 1st Marines and hit the road again. This time bound for Camp Las Pulgas.

Our arrival at the Las Pulgas mess hall was timed perfectly. The dedication of the meal and festivities to Saint Barbara (the patron saint of artillery men) was just commencing. We were taken inside and seated with the officers and men of 5/11. We old timers had been adopted again by our brother Marines. All we had to furnish was a container for the free flowing beverages.

Thank you, Thank you, Sergeant Major Brummer for providing our drinking vessels!

The meal was again as superb as it had been two days earlier at the same location. The festivities were, however, a little more boisterous than our previous experience. Toasts were made to Saint Barbara, the Corps, and most of the chain of command. There were skits lampooning most of the field grade officers present. Mind you, lowly Second Lieutenants were not immune either! On this night everyone and everything was fair game, including us grunts. There were ceremonies of investiture in to the various orders of Saint Barbara, a reading of the history of Saint Barbara and even the search for the formula for the secret "Artillery Man's Punch". After the meal and some of the activities, cigars were passed out and the smoking lamp was lit in the designated smoking areas. Long and not so serious conversations were had over beverages and cigars. An excellent time was had by all. Thank you again, 11th Marines for taking us in as strangers and letting us leave as close friends.

I personally would like to express my thanks to a certain Staff Sergeant and to one of Gunnery Sergeants of 5/11, who assisted me in the taking of "2nd Men's Head"!! This courageous act shortened the line at the primary head by at least 25%. Much to the relief of those in that line.

We were on the road again. This time to the beach houses and sleep.