U.S. Navy SEAL (Sea Air and Land) Philip “Moki” Martin checks out a Stoner 63 Light Machine-Gun (LMG) while deployed in-country during the Vietnam War. While more commonly called the Stoner 63, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) officially designated the weapon as the XM207. Designed by Eugene Stoner, the Stoner 63 started development in 1963 as a modular weapon that could serve as a rifle, carbine, light machine-gun (LMG), squad automatic weapon (SAW), as well as a vehicle mounted weapon. An evolution of the earlier 7.62X51mm chambered Stoner 62, the Stoner 63 used the 5.56X45mm NATO ammunition. Testing was undertaken by both the U.S. Army and the USMC with the former finding numerous flaws which needed correction while the USMC appreciated the light weight and high ammunition capacity. Stoner modified the weapon based on the Army's recommendations as the USMC retained an interest in the design even though the Army declined to accept it. Despite the rejection, Stoner took the improved design, the Stoner 63A, to the Army in 1970 and after successful testing, the Army put in a small order for the XM207 and issued them to a small number of Special Forces units. However, by 1971, the higher maintenance needs for the XM207 saw no further orders. The USMC first mass deployed the Stoner 63 in the rifle and carbine variant (designated the XM22 and XM23) with Lima Company, 3rd. Battalion, 1st. Marine Regiment, 1st. Marine Division in addition to the company using some of the weapons in the LMG and SAW versions. But the USMC wasn't the first to use the weapon in the Vietnam War as that went to the SEALs. The SEALs were also the last users of the Stoner 63, adopting the “Commando” variant as the Mark 23 Mod 0 machine-gun, and finally retiring the Stoner 63 in the late 1980s when the USMC accepted the M249 SAW into service. The LMG model weighed 11.7 pounds, was 40.3 inches long, had a gas-operated, rotating bolt action, and used simple iron sights. The weapon could accommodate a disintegrating M27 ammunition belt or a 75, 100, or 150 round drum magazine of which the larger drum is shown in the photograph. Maximum rate of fire was 1,000 rounds per minute out to an effective maximum range of 1,000 meters.
As for Martin, he was born in September 1942 in Paia, Hawaii and in 1960, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After graduating from basic training in San Diego, he was posted to the USS Orleck (DD-886) which was a Gearing-class destroyer where he served as a steam engine operator. Within two years, he earned his promotion to Petty Officer, 2nd. Class. Martin had wished to go to the Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) training but enrollment was limited and he wasn't able to get in. It should be noted that UDT teams existed as far back as World War Two and they were the forerunner to what would become the SEALs when the latter was formalized in 1962. Returning to Martin, the advent of the Vietnam War saw the expansion of UDT training opportunities and late in 1964, Martin was selected to attend as part of Class 35. The training commenced in September 1965 and of the 130 men who started the training, only 36 passed and Martin was one of them. Martin was deployed to Vietnam where he was able to see the new SEAL teams in action. Intrigued, Martin was able to enroll in the intense, 8 week SEAL training program and successfully graduated. He was then deployed to the Mekong Delta where he was involved in reconnaissance operations, raid missions, and prisoner interrogations. In 1972, he was promoted to Warrant Officer but as the SEALs did not have positions for him at that rank, he returned to the U.S. Navy Fleet but by 1975, he was a Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) instructor. In all, he served seven tours in Vietnam, four of them as a SEAL. Among other decorations, he received two Bronze Stars and three Navy Commendation Medals. After the Vietnam War, he returned to San Diego, still with the Navy but in 1982, Martin was involved in an accident that resulted in him becoming a quadriplegic. As a result of the injury, Martin was removed from active duty but as of 1983, he remains on Active Retired status and has the rank of Lieutenant. Today, he lectures at the Naval Special Warfare Center, is an lecturer to students on disability, and he is an accomplished artist.
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