Author: Cpl. Beddoe

Cpl. Beddoe, USMC ’81–’85 Marine Corps Blogger. Chronicling the legacy of the Corps. MAG-12 Iwakuni, MAG-16 Tustin MOS 3073 Computer Systems Operator POPASMOKE.COM Webmaster 1997-2023 @thesucklife @since1775
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Green Side Out, Brown Side Out

In the United States Marine Corps, every phrase carries weight. Some are barked as commands, others whispered…

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Keto: The Unlikely Marine of 1776

Jonathan Martin, also known as Keto, holds the quiet distinction of being the first documented Black Marine…

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Roll Call: Sgt. John Beeman, 1964-1970

John Beeman MCRD San Diego | Sergeant | 6400 | 1964 – 1970 Then Now The Journey…

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Roll Call: Cpl. Wally Beddoe, 1981-1985

Wally Beddoe MCRD San Diego | Cpl | 3073 | 1981-1985 Then Now The Journey Begins I…

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Discipline’s Dark Night, 1956

On the humid night of April 8, 1956, Staff Sergeant Matthew McKeon led his platoon of fresh-faced…

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The Few, The First: A Night at Tun Tavern, 1775

Setting: Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, December 1775. It’s the coldest winter in recent memory, but inside, the heat…

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“Rush Act”, The Last Extraction

Que Son Mountains, South Vietnam, November 1970 The jungle doesn’t whisper, it swallows. Rain clawed at the…

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Smoke’em If You Got’em – A Boot Camp Story

The plywood walls of the target shed pressed in around me like a coffin as Staff Sergeant…

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The Quiet Valor of Colonel William R. Higgins, USMC

Colonel William Richard Higgins was born on January 15, 1945, in Danville, Kentucky, and raised in Louisville,…

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Every day in Vietnam seemed like a Monday

Every day in Vietnam seemed like a Monday, because the weekend good times were over, and you…

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Resurrecting the Few: The Navy Act of 1794

When the muskets fell silent in 1783, and the Treaty of Paris declared American independence a reality,…

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Guadalcanal: The Marines’ Crucible in the Pacific

The Battle of Guadalcanal (August 7, 1942 – February 9, 1943) was the first major Allied offensive…

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Sunrise at 12,388 Feet: A Marine’s Journey up Mount Fuji

The sun broke over the horizon in a brilliant display of orange and gold, painting the clouds…

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YT-14: The Last Helicopter Lost in Vietnam

At dawn on April 29, 1975, the CH-46D Sea Knight, known as YT-14, stood ready on the…

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How to Register and Submit a Guest Post on TheSuckLife.com

Whether you’re a Marine or Corpsman with a story to tell, a patriot with something on your…

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THESUCKLIFE Takes the Mic on Gunny G’s Podcast

I recently had the opportunity to join Gunny G on his Pit-Talk Podcast, where we discussed a…

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Bea Arthur, Hunter College, and the First Women Marines

When we think of Marines, we often picture the sun, bleached sand of Parris Island or the…

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Zulu Company: Marines on the Perimeter

During the turbulent years of the Vietnam War, the U.S. Marines were not only called to engage…

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Protocols and Sacrifice: The CH-46 Tragedy of 1999

On a seemingly routine training day in December 1999, a Marine Corps training exercise turned into a…

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The USMC UH-34D’s Last Flight Operations in Vietnam

From the late 1950s until the CH-46 entered service in 1965, the UH-34 operated as the mainstay…

Photo By: Cpl. Angelica I. Annastas
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Poll: Why did you join the Corps?

The results are in, the poll has closed, but the voices behind each vote still echo with…

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Need Your Help: CH-46 Crash in A Shau Valley 03-MAR-1967

Marines, Corpsmen, & Others, I’m assisting Jack Kull, HISTORIAN/Contractor for SNA International, working MACVSOG losses for the…

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Rediscovering My 1982 FNG Jackets

When I was in Iwakuni in 1982, I had a couple “FNG” jackets made up. Found them…

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Goodbye Hair, Hello Corps: A Buzz Cut Memoir

There are few experiences that mark a transformation like the moment every boot-ass recruit steps off the…

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The Story of Emmylou Harris’ Father, A Marine’s Marine

Some men live their lives as if they were forged from something stronger than the rest of…

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Inside the Psychological Transformation of Marine Recruits

Marine Corps boot camp is one of the most grueling and transformative experiences a recruit can go…

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The Crayon Joke: Just Another Battle We Win

You’ve heard it. I’ve heard it. Every Marine has heard it. “Marines eat crayons.” It’s the go-to…

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You Are Stronger Than the Darkness

You’ve been through hell before. Maybe in a combat zone, maybe in your own head. Maybe both….

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The One-Eyed Ugly Angel, A True Marine Corps Legend

Post Image: Christmas 1967, Khe Sanh, Celebrated Ugly Angels style! By Elaine Zimmer Davis, www.BringingJerryHome.com An upside…

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Dream Sequence: Where Antiques Find Their Forever Homes

As a father, nothing brings me more joy than watching my children pursue their passions. Today, I…

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Marine Corps Movies

The United States Marine Corps has been immortalized in film for decades, with stories of heroism, sacrifice,…

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50 Unwritten Rules Every Marine Lives By

50 Unwritten Rules Every Marine Lives By: The Complete Guide to Surviving The Suck Look, we all…

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Roasting the Navy Is Tradition, but Corpsmen Are Untouchable

The relationship between Marines and their Navy Corpsmen, affectionately known as “Doc,” is one of the most…

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USMC MOS Designations 1960-2000

USMC MOS List from the 1960-2000 Era USMC MOS Designations 0100 Basic Administrative Marine 0101 Basic Personnel…

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Every Marine a Rifleman: Warriors First, Specialists Second

The Marine Corps principle of “Every Marine a Rifleman” isn’t a marketing slogan. It’s a fundamental combat…

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Gas Chamber: No Mask, No Mercy

There are certain memories from Marine Corps boot camp that stay with you forever. The first time…