Carl's Tavern

02/16/2026

Come on in to American Legion Post 365 for an Olympic Gold Medal class Meatball Sub on Tuesday. Buon appetito

10/07/2025

https://www.stripes.com/veterans/2025-10-06/gulf-war-illness-cdc-19340971.html

The symptoms affect up to a third of the 700,000 troops deployed during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm more than 30 years ago.

08/25/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19sQv6Fw9r/

It's National Waffle Day! In 1920, a U.S Marine defeated a U.S Army soldier to earn the title "Champion Waffle Eater in the World" by consuming 26 of the corrugated pastries in 30 minutes. He warmed up for the match by having a porterhouse steak, fries, doughnuts, and coffee.

05/05/2025

Come on in to American Legion Post 365 in Vista on May 11th and treat Mom to a great breakfast. We love you Mom!!!

02/28/2025

RIP Gene Hackman (USMC) 1930-2025

Gene Hackman Joins The Marines

Hackman left home at the age of sixteen and lied about his age to enlist in the US Marines. In 1947, he completed boot camp and was quickly sent off to serve in China as a field radio operator. He spent four and a half years as a field radio operator and was stationed in China for a time before being assigned to Hawaii and Japan.
Hackman’s unit assignments were:
1947: Signal School Battalion, San Diego
1947-48: Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
1948-49: 3rd Marine Regiment
1949-50: Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division
1950-51: 2nd Signal Battalion, 2nd Marine Division
1951: 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion
1951-52: Fleet Marine Corps Reserve
During his time in the Marines, he got into trouble for fighting and was demoted from the rank of corporal three times for leaving his post without permission.
Hackman missed the Korean War due to injuries from his motorcycle accident. Hackman crashed a motorcycle into a tractor that had no lights, breaking his right leg, right shoulder, and left knee and leaving him unfit for active service. By age 20, he was back home in Illinois, discharged as a disabled veteran. As he once said: “The difference between a hero and a coward is one step sideways.” Perhaps his perspective on bravery and fear was shaped during his years of service.

02/24/2025

My good friend Dan Ricci recently passed. He retired from the USMC and went to work at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) and when it closed down worked for the US Postal Service. I first met him at Carl’s Tavern in the late 1980’s and we became close friends.

11/07/2024

American Legion Post 365 and VFW Post 7041 will celebrate the 249th birthday of the United States Marine Corps on Sunday November 10th at 2:00 PM. Join us at 1234 South Santa Fe Avenue in Vista, CA. OhRah!!!

08/05/2024

Stanley “Stosh” Buczkowski DOB 9/26/1926
Date of Enlistment 3/4/1944
Died August 2024 Age 98
Stanley was our “Oldest Marine” at the Legion/VFW Marine Corps Birthday celebrations from 2010 to 2023.
He was a retired Sergeant Major, USMC and prior to the Birthday Celebrations at the Post he was always the “Oldest Marine” at the Carl’s Tavern Marine Corps Birthday Celebrations from 1982 until 2007.
L-R: Clark Graichen, Lelo Hernandez, Stanley Buczkowski, Bob Bunce, Robert Moyer

12/12/2023

https://www.historynet.com/marines-bad-rations-vietnam/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=hnt-hnn-theme&%7Bprofilevarse

This Major faced a choice when the Marines “infiltrated” the 1st Cav’s chow line.

07/16/2023

Today, Sunday July 16th, 2023 we celebrate the 16th Anniversary of the closing of Carl's Tavern. Go get a cold beer and celebrate the great times. Semoer Fi. God Bless you Tom Morton.