There has been many stories as the years have passed by of the origin of the snake and I am sure that even today there are varied stories.  The present Squadron has a live snake and is kept in the "Snake Pit" which is located within the Squadron offices at MCAS, Miramar.

Sorry I (Art Kamp) haven't gotten back to you sooner. Chemo has not left me too well this month. So, between Chemo, age, and other factors, you will have to forgive my short memory in the birth of the VMF 323 Squadron patch. Let me get to it: It was a very nice day in October, 1943 Butch 0' Hare and I were returning from New Bern to the base. Several miles from the base we ran over a six foot rattle snake. I stopped the car to look at it when an old farmer standing by the road cane up to me said, "Would you like to have that snake gutted?”I said, OK and he gave me the phone number of the fellow who would do this. He picked up the snake and brought it to his friend. Several days later, I called and went over to pick up the skin. I think he charged me $5.00 for the job. I brought back the skin and it was hung up on an upright post in our ready room. 

A few days later someone suggested that we should use the rattle snake as a part of a squadron insignia. I then drew up a round sketch showing a coiled rattle snake in the center and VMF 323 above and "Death Rattler" below. What happened after that is a complete loss in my memory. “