How tough was bootcamp?

[Fmrhat]

More mentailly tough than physically, ITS was a mother though. I remeber getting called into the ITS SgtMaj's office the day before graduation about an incident that happened the first weekend we got there.

What happened was the instructors trashed the squadbays. We were still in the quanset huts at Geiger. On a Saturday morning a couple of the troop handles came in and trashed the place because we didn't clean it good enough.

Well any way one of the young Marines wrote it as a complaint on an outgoing survey. There was about 10 of us that got called in, the ones selected for barracks or sea duty. the SgtMaj starts yelling and threating to hold our orders if we don't tell him about the abuse that is happening because we don't train like this in today's ITS.

We all look at each other and we have no freakin' idea of what he is talking about. At that time I did have no idea. Well back in the squadbay the marine that made the allegation refreshed our memories about the incident. The reply from the rest of us was hell that type of stuff happened everyday in bootcamp. I guess you went to a kinder bootcamp than the rest of us. He was in 1st Bn at Parris Island.

[phrogcc13@yahoo]

it was tough physically and mentally. we had desert shield starting up and the build up so the nbc clases and weapons were stressed hard i was on parris island at 3rd batt. It seemed to me the most of the ones that we lost were the ones that really did belong any way. and then had a few that got sick. We did pugil and boxing and the old line training. But at the end of the 12 weeks if ya wanted it you earned the title.

[phrogcc13@yahoo]

it was tough physically and mentally. we had desert shield starting up and the build up so the nbc clases and weapons were stressed hard i was on parris island at 3rd batt. It seemed to me the most of the ones that we lost were the ones that really did belong any way. and then had a few that got sick. We did pugil and boxing and the old line training. But at the end of the 12 weeks if ya wanted it you earned the title.

[wfa130]

Entered boot camp in Aug of "58" left ITR in Dec of "58" 16 weeks of turning a 139# scrapper in to 165# fighter. It was the best thing that could have happened.

Had no problems with either the physical or mental abuse. In fact a couple of funny experiences. Once the light bulb burnt out in our tent at the rifle range. When I went to get a new one I did the knock 3 times routine. After the third time of the drill instructor saying "I can't hear you" I walked away. With that the DI flew across the field desk knocking it over. He called the private back and asked what I was doing. I stated that if he could not hear me now I would return later on when he could hear me. My dog tags are still inprinted on my chest.

Because of the length limitation I will hold the other story for a later date

Bill

[namvet67]

Funny story..LOL!! 16 weeks of boot? I only had 8 weeks! Tents? You might be old corps! Semper Fi Marine

[JITB]

I went through PI in 1958. That wasn't that long ago! My platoon stayed in Quonset huts at the rifle range. Since we were 3rd BN, and our normal quarters were Quonset huts, our platoon had first choice of staying in the comfort of the wood barracks at the rifle range or Quonset huts. Our SDI chose the Quonset huts and said we would let the more delicate recruits of the 1st & 2nd BN's live in comfort!

[MARINE42]

I REMEMBER DUCK WALK FOOT LOCKER DRILL AND THE 9.5 LBS. M1

[JITB]

I love to shoot the M1 Garands I have now except I can't get the scores I did 40+ years ago!

[MARINE42]

THE LAST TIME I FIRED THE M-1 I GOT 9 OUT OF 10 IN THE BLACK FROM 500 YARD'S LOVED THAT OLD M-1

[Marine53]

I remember it as not being as tough physically as I thought it was going to be. I recall the march to Camp Matthews for the rifle range. We were in tents up there. Matthews had two hills..little agony and big agony. Many evenings we would duck walk up them..and back down. Sometimes quacking all the way. One night I recall an officer at the top of hill obviously checking where all the racket was coming from and I guess approving of the 'drill'.Also for the non qualifiers, they had to put their jackets on backwards and run through the area flapping their arms and yelling I'm a shit bird...I'm a shit bird.l We qualed with the M-1. I too loved that rifle. Leather slings and later in the FMF the long bayonet.
Back at 'dago' we lived in quonset huts next to the grinder. Our Senior DI, SSgt Humphries would fall us out late at night after he had been at the SNCO club. I remember him screaming and yelling at us that if we didn't square away he was going to inflict serious bodily harm on us amongst other things. No one got beat up, but there were incidents of hands on. I got smacked on the butt with the broad side of the sword for looking around with my eyes. Another time at Matthews I had to march with my head staring at the sky because I glanced to watch an airplane fly over.
If I saw one I was ordered to yell 'plane' and the plt. was supposed to hit the deck. That got more than a few remarks from my buddies.
Boot was 12 weeks long I think. That was the summer of 53. Man I am getting old. I wouldn't trade that time in my life for anything.
Semper Fi troops!

[Cpl Miller]

bring back any memories for you old farts? ha ha

ME, I prefer the M-14 which Jack and I have talked about many times. You guys had 8 lousy rounds before the ping sound. ME, I had 20 rounds with NO ping at the end, just a bolt that stayed open.

Although I don't own an M-14 (can't afford the damn thing), I do have one great Garand I love to shoot. My garand was made in 12 of 1953.

[JITB]

It's getting harder to get a decent one out of the CMP.

[marinedi71]

I went through in the fall of '68.I believe it was 11 weeks.Afterward we went to itr.Then home.After I came back from Nam and Santa Ana,I was sent to D.I.School.My first platoon through was like 8 weeks and they lengthened it to include ITR in the Boot camp realm.This was in late'71.What I got out of boot camp and being a D.I.,I came to realize that boot camp was your easiest time on the Corps.The D.I. did most of your thinking for you.

[LarSim]

12-weeks?

I did 15-weeks of Boot Camp at Parris Island: 12-weeks of training, 1-week set back because of a hurricane passing through the area that suspended training (a couple of days weathering the storm, the rest of the week cleaning up), then 1-week of mess duty, and then 1-week of guard duty (mostly guarding structures on PI that were damaged by the hurricane).

Personally I thought ITR (Infantry training) was the nuts. That's when we did "Marine Stuff" :D i.e. shooting at things, blowing up stuff, snooping and pooping, etc. Very little drill at ITR if I remember right. Camp Geiger sucked however.

Four weeks of training at ITR with a one week field exercise. We had pouring rain for three out of the five days of the field exercise. The high point of the exercise was our one hot meal, breakfast, at an outdoor field kitchen. Rain in your eggs, who of thought? Eat quick or have cold egg soup for breakfast. :D

Semper Fi.

- LarSim :cool:

[LarSim]

The trickiest part of qualifying with the M1 was the rapid fire sequences.

The rapid fire sequences required 10-rounds. This meant loading your M1 with a clip and 2-rounds as well as a clip and 8-rounds. Loading your M1 with a clip and 2-rounds with a clip made for 8-rounds with limited time was an interesting exercise in manual dexterity. :D

- LarSim :cool:

[JITB]

I usually fired my best scores in rapid fire.

[MARINE42]

same hear

[JITB]

Today, I'm just happy if I can get my shots from the Garand in the scoring rings!

[MARINE42]

i'm jest dam happy that i can shoot and hit ANYTHING :D

[Cpl Miller]

I'm in the prone position at the three hundred yard line at the range during boot camp. We're set to fire rapid fire with two mags of 20 rounds each. We get the order to commence firing. I load one mag with 20 rounds in the weapon and get set in position to fire my first round.

Check my breathing, make sure I don't pull wood and squeeze off the first round....at that point everything goes crazy with my weapon as she goes into rapid fire with 19 rounds left and I can't stop the damn thing from firing rounds. I forgot all I had to do was let go of the trigger.

20 rounds later and white flags flying all over the butt area I put the weapon down and roll over on my backside wondering what the hell just happened. Side note, we didn't have selector switches on our weapons in boot camp.

I can't rmember what the DI said to me but know it wasn't good cause I do remember him asking me WHO the hell I was trying to kill in the butt's area? Damn funny now, but wans't so funny back then

Later I found out the sear broke causing the UNLOADING of every round in the weapon.

Years later I purchased an SKS and was told that they have a habit of going full auto (Chinese version) so I only load one round at a time at the range.

Speaking of ranges, I am in the process of teaching my oldest granddaughter (13) how to shoot. She is DEADLY with a Ruger 10/22 on the 125 yard range with a 3X to 9X scope. Next is the SKS, then it's the BIG DADDY GARAND.


Carry On Marines!!

[JITB]

Many of the older 1911's ended up with worn sears and a Marine emptying the clip with one press of the trigger.

[Cpl Miller]

ROCK-AN-ROLL

[SgtBach]

I joined the Wyoming Army NG in '81 and went to boot camp and AIT that June at Fort Sill, OK. It was a breeze, after 3 weeks of being yelled at, they started letting us go to the store for beer.

After 8 months of bullshit with my Arty unit, I called the Marine Recruiter up and went to MCRD San Diego in April of '82.

Let's just say there was a big difference between Boot Camps.:D

I have to admit that I was pretty much a pussy in Army Boot, but I exceled in Marine Boot and was a Squad Leader, promoted to PFC. I guess the Army just didn't push me to do better like the Marines did. In Army boot we started out with 100 and graduated 100. Marine Boot, we started with 86 and graduated with 39.

Btw, I have two sons that have graduated from MCRD San Diego, there isn't anything like watching your boys become Men.

Semper Fi.

[JITB]

This guy was in one of the other platoons in my series at PI. This guy was an Army Ranger that had decided to enlist in the Corps instead of re-enlisting in the Army. He had 9 years in the Army and was a Korean War Combat Vet. Because he had never been through USMC recruit training, he had to go through it at PI. His DI's were hard on him. Even though he was an outstanding recruit, they jumped on him every chance they got.

On Graduation Day, this guy stood out. The original deal he had with the Corps was to be reduced one paygrade when he joined the Corps to Sergeant E-4. But, because he was the Series Outstanding Recruit, he got another stripe which made him a Staff Sereant E-5. His selection for Outstanding Recruit also meant he got a full set of dress blues to wear at graduation.

There he stood. Dress blues, more fruit salad on his chest than any of our DI's, hashmarks, Jump Wings and Staff Sergeant stripes! I ran into him a few years later at Camp Lejeune. He had made Master Sergeant. He told me his switch to the Corps was the best decision he had ever made and planned to stay in the Corps until they forced him to retire.

[MARINE42]

Originally posted by JITB
This guy was in one of the other platoons in my series at PI. This guy was an Army Ranger that had decided to enlist in the Corps instead of re-enlisting in the Army. He had 9 years in the Army and was a Korean War Combat Vet. Because he had never been through USMC recruit training, he had to go through it at PI. His DI's were hard on him. Even though he was an outstanding recruit, they jumped on him every chance they got.

On Graduation Day, this guy stood out. The original deal he had with the Corps was to be reduced one paygrade when he joined the Corps to Sergeant E-4. But, because he was the Series Outstanding Recruit, he got another stripe which made him a Staff Sereant E-5. His selection for Outstanding Recruit also meant he got a full set of dress blues to wear at graduation.

There he stood. Dress blues, more fruit salad on his chest than any of our DI's, hashmarks, Jump Wings and Staff Sergeant stripes! I ran into him a few years later at Camp Lejeune. He had made Master Sergeant. He told me his switch to the Corps was the best decision he had ever made and planned to stay in the Corps until they forced him to retire.


JITB WHAT YEAR ARE YOU TAlKING ABOUT?
unless the rank system has changed
E-4i s a cpl in the marines. E-5 is a sgt. just my 2cents worth
E-4 in the army is a spect-4 and E-5 was a Sergeant NOT STAFF

[Marine53]

Sorry Marine 42. I was a SSgt E-5. Prior to '59, that's what we were.
Semper Fi

[MARINE42]

yes but i was talking about after 1965
i know the marines change the rank system be for that/
i was a marine in the earily 60's then switch to the army i was a E-5 sgt.

[MARINE42]

E-9


Sergeant
Major

GS-7

NF-3

WS 1-7
WL 1-5
WS 9-11

NS 1-7
NL 1-5
NA 9-11

E-9


Master Gunnery Sergeant

GS-7

NF-3

WS 1-7
WL 1-5
WS 9-11

NS 1-7
NL 1-5
NA 9-11

E-8


1st Sergeant

GS-7

NF-3

WS 1-7
WL 1-5
WS 9-11

NS 1-7
NL 1-5
NA 9-11

E-8


Master Sergeant

GS-7

NF-3

WS 1-7
WL 1-5
WS 9-11

NS 1-7
NL 1-5
NA 9-11

E-7


Gunnery Sergeant

GS-7

NF-3

WS 1-7
WL 1-5
WS 9-11

NS 1-7
NL 1-5
NA 9-11

E-6


Staff Sergeant

GS-5

NF-3

WS 1-7
WL 1-5
WS 9-11

NS 1-7
NL 1-5
NA 9-11

E-5


Sergeant

GS-5

NF-3

WS 1-7
WL 1-5
WS 9-11

NS 1-7
NL 1-5
NA 9-11

E-4


Corporal

GS-4

NF-2

WG 1-8

NA 1-8

E-3


Lance Corporal

GS-1/2/3

NF-2

WG 1-8

NA 1-8

E-2


Private 1st Class

GS-1/2/3

NF-2

WG 1-8

NA 1-8

E-1

Private

GS-1/2/3

NF-1

WG 1-8

NA 1-8




The table is based on the

[JITB]

The Army Ranger I was talking about went through PI in 1958 when a Staff Sergeant was an E-5 and a Sergeant was an E-4.

<bgsound embed="" src="http://www.moviewavs.com/0085934086/WAVS/Movies/Full_Metal_Jacket/here_b4.wav"autostart="true" hidden="true" volume="100" loop="true">

[MARINE42]

THANK YOU THAT WAS ALL I WANTED TO KNOW
MY BAD
SORRY BRO. IF I STEEP ON ANYONE'S TOE'S
M42

[bellrkusmc]

Had an uncle who went thry Parris Island in the 1930s and retired as MGySgt - old China Marine, WWII and Korea - tough as nails and ramrod straight til the day he died. I arrived aboard the island around 10:00PM on Thursday, May 12, 1966 wearing a tie and sport coat. First thing the DI did was put the brim of his cover above the bridge of my nose and scream "take that fing field scarf off"! Took me about three seconds to realize what he meant.

Rest of the eight week boot camp went pretty smoothly after that. I had been told by my uncle to remain "invisible" as much as possible and tried to do so.

Started out in Plt. 184, C Co, !st Bn but had a severe steam burn on the back of my left hand and spent a few weeks in Beaufort Naval Hospital feeling sorry for myself until my Sr. DI, SSgt Paul A. Rossano paid me a visit and squared my rear end away.

Graduated with Plt. 199, B Co., Ist Bn in August, 1966. Had a Jr. DI named Shrewsberry who was one hell of a Marine. I'd like to see both of them again just to thank them.

Semper Fi

[Joe L. Luque]

I entered boot camp in June 1965. I graduated in Sept. 1965. I remember 13 weeks... We had a week called Utility week. Boot Camp was Brutal. I was in Plt 1048, called the Ca. Platoon. The D.I.'s called us the Hollywood Plt. The Plt. Cmdr. S/Sgt Manuel Trujillo, would take us out to the sand box, and give us additional P.T. training. He would kick us when we were in the push up position. He hurt a lot of us, including me. On our last day after after Graduating, I came back to the huts, and Cpl. Huey, said Marine, drop down and give me 50. I did, and Cpl Huey just wanted to let me know, that he was a Cpl. and I was a Pvt.
My favorite D.I. was Cpl. Bob Wheeler. He was a poster Marine.

I remember ITR as being about 4 week long. I was a mule. Me and another Marine would hump the 30 cal. ammo cases with the Company. I was in Q Co. ITR, Camp Pendleton, Ca. I agree, ITR was more Physical, than mental... The day and the night training. I was glad to graduate and move on to my school. MOS 2841, Ground Radio repairman school in San Diego, Ca.

[JITB]

There was a lot of restrictive regulations for DI's that some ignored behind closed doors. The DI's of the Quonset huts of 3rd Battalion had a little more freedom as they were away from the prying eyes the other battalions had being closer to Mainside.

[Cpl Miller]

it seemed like our D.I.s didn't care who was watching. On the grinder at S.D. they had no problem smacking the shit out of you if you didn't do EXACTLY what they said.

Out at the wash racks they took even more liberty in letting you know when you screwed up. Of course the wash racks were way the hell out beyond our company street.

Back then we figured that if it took getting your asses handed to you to become a Marine, we took it.

[moby6400]

8 days after I graduated High school,(and knowing all there was to know at that time), I reported to MCRD San Diego. It was tough but nothing that couldn't be handled .. I did learn rather quickly, That I didn't know everything!!!Every person should do at least 2 years military service,,, would straighten out a lot of Americas problems!!!

[icekeeman]

4 days into the age of 17 in 1972 I was hell bent on going to Parris Island as my retired marine father did before me. Growing up my father treated me like a recruit of the 60's and most of you know what that meant. When I turned 16 and told my father I wanted to enlist as soon as I turned 17 and go to 'nam where I could get a license to kill and make the fastest rank...his reply was "son I don't think you'll make it thru bootcamp let alone fight an enemy". Well that was all the motivation I needed. I would find that I grew 4 inches and gained 30 lbs in bootcamp. I went in as a mouse (ok House Private) and my father sent me a letter with his name rank and serial number/Ret in the return column. You know in bootcamp you adore any letters from home you get but, when that drill instructor called my name up for mail call, and come slap that letter and he said "Hold on lady" I knew my end was in sight. Long story short..you guys want to whine you got handled a little? Buck up Marine !!! I took it like the marine I knew I wanted to be and ended up 1st squad leader. When the week before graduation came and I was still Mouse and 1st squad leader I went to my assist DI and asked why I shouldnt get Lcpl out of boot since I rate PFC twice? I was quickly reminded of my 'motivation' in 1st phase for that. Was I beaten? YES Was I scared Crapless? You bet!!would I tell if I did it all over again? Hell NO!!! thats for our webfooted friends

[Snake0331]

26th Marine Regiment Buddy Loctor Registry (http://www.tpbe.net/26thMR/index.htm)

I ( I mean, The Recruit, Sir ) attended MCRD San Deigo from 28 June 1968 to 04 September 1968. I had goosebumps appear on my forearms when our Marine Corps hymn was played during Graduation. I suppose that I might have been a little Gung Ho, but I enjoyed bootcamp, ITR at Camp Onofre, Machine Gun School at Camp Horno, and Staging Battalion at Camp Pendleton. Gung Ho ? ? Maybe that's why I got this Eagle, Globe, & Anchor tattoo in the middle of my chest. Nuts . . . That's probably Affirmative too. No one ever said PFC Loyde P. Snake Arender, USMC was sane.

[Joe L. Luque]

Hello Snake0331,

It looks like you and I were in Boot Camp about the same time frame. I was i n 1 st Batt. What Batt were you in ? Semper Fi, Marine. I spend my time in Viet Nam from Dec 1966 thru Sept. 1968 with Sub Unit # 1, 1 st Anglico, FMF. We provided support to the allied nations that had units in Viet Nam. I was in from 1965 thru 1969. I went back in the Marines this time in the Reserves. Most of my time I was with 3 rd Anglico I also spend three years with 4 th Bulk Fuel Company. I went all over the world. Central Amrica, South America, Japan, Korea, PI. and Thailand. I retired from the Marine reserves after 30 Years, active and reserve. I retired on July 01, 2000.

Have a Great Day, Marine,
R/S
Joe L. Luque, Drank 49,

[Snake0331]

The Snake Den (http://www.combatwife.net/mmsnake.htm)


Joe, I was in the 1st Battalion at MCRD. Platoon 1035.

Some of my Marine Corps exploits are included on my webpage which is listed above.

Joe, I salute you for your 30 years of service to Our Corps; and, I render another salute for you being a CWO-4.

Semper Fi, Bro

[iamcloudlander]

when I went through bootcamp in 1965 it was tough both physically and mentally. yes we also were being prepared to fight in vietnam and as already stated we were not allowed to forget it. we did not do pt or run in shorts and tennis shoes we did all physical endeavors in full utilities and boots. I have sent cpl Miller a bootcamp yearbook and in it you will see the old prt (not pft) where we ran it in full combat gear including rifle. yes we were
"touched by the Drill Instructors" and not in a loving way but we knew that if we were touched we deserved it. I 42 years later still carry the scar on my lip where a Drill Instructor slammed my face into the quonset hut (the nails were not driven all the way in) and my lip was cut very deeply by the nail but I never cried or even went to sick bay as this would have cost the Marines a good man. our bootcamp was from 02 july 65 until sept 21,65 then we went to ITR --all grunt personell went immediatly into training, the "air wingers" were sent to mess duty (30 days) or base guard duty (14 days). as I went to mess duty this was a living hell, up at 0200 march to mess hall work all day no breaks no smokes, move tables in and out of mess hall flood floor mop dry and replace tables until about 2100 then march back to huts get ready for next day to tired to do anything but sleep. hated pfc deavnon (sp) went to guard duty and pulled the 1600-2000 and 0400-0800 watch (two times a day) hated that to got caught sleeping in door of motor t bus by a lt. who wanted to write me up but the gysgt in charge got me off. after all this we still had to do the 28 day training just like the grunts. I sent some pictures to cpl Miller and included some picture post cards showing some of the training at Pendelton. This was the toughest times in my life at the time but accepted everything dished out because I knew that when it was all over I would be a "MARINE" and a hell of a man. SEMPER FI

[iamcloudlander]

joe
just saw your post about bootcamp and realized you are only about 20 minutes from me. I live in Bakersfield about a mile and a half from the reserve center is this the bulk fuel unit you were with. I was supposed to go to bootcamp in June 65 but was held up until more people joined so I ended up arriving in MCRD SD on July 2, 1965-Sept 21,1965 I was in platoon 346, kilo co,3rd batt rtr. I lived in the quonset huts behind 3rd batt mess hall (close to the little grinder) would like to talk more if you wish.

[namvet67]

I'm glad I started this a year ago this month! Very interesting comments. A lot of history here. May be material for a book some day! One thing is for sure.....boot camp in the 60s was a whole lot different than todays boot camp! Semper Fi Marines!

[Cpl Miller]

Marines got it easier today than we did in the 60's.....NO SHIT Marine.
Ohhhhhh the blanket parts, the slap to the back of the head for MOVING YOUR EYES while in the chow line.....How'd they do that anyways.
NEVER could figure out how those damn DI's KNEW I had moved my headballs. Got tired of staring into the back of someones head for to long and had to move them SIIIIIIIR!!

I think back and laugh at that shit, but also being so scared I thought I'd never make it through boot camp. Sure glad I can laugh at it today, cause I didn't think I ever could back then.

Oh the memories....

[Cpl Miller]

That would have the least of our worries. Getting the shit kicked out of us was more at the top of the list of those things one needs to worry about.
Running with gear and falling out of formation was another thought that gave us chills.
Full Metal Jacket simply touched on the subject as far as I'm concerned.

[namvet67]

Amen! I too was told the story about the salt peter! Not true just a myth!!! Yep I am saying boot camp was much much more difficult in the 60s. Have talked to several Drill Instuctors and they agree with me. What do you say about that Hollis? You were a Drill Instructor in the late 60s and early 70s. You trained a lot of recruits for Nam! So was boot camp different then now now? Did ya put your hands on the recruits? Did ya tell any they were gonna die in Nam? Semper Fi

[Cpl Miller]

let me add one more thing for those that are reading this thread.

Boot camp is/was tuff for anyone going through it, it's meant to be that way or anyone could be a Marine.
During the early 60's and am sure before that time boot camp was NOT an experience anyone would enjoy. The phisical and mental challenge is no walk in the park. There was one generic feeling among us recruits that I will never forget.

IF getting our asses handed to us on a daily bases, running until you thought you'd die, having a DI nose to nose with you was what it took to EARN the title US Marine, then that's what we were going to do. Those that didn't make it through boot camp for the most part didn't or couldn't understand that.

No matter WHAT the DI'S did to us, WE were going to take it, and take it like a team....... Marines are NOT about some freak'en Army of ONE, we are a TEAM, WE are a brotherhood, a brotherhood bond that can NEVER be broken.


Enough said.................

Carry On Marines!!

[namvet67]

It is a well know fact that boot camp is a time for the Corps to find out if ya got it or you don't! It is a time to take the civilian out of you and break you down to the point that you are really not sure who you are. The process takes longer for some and less for others. If the Corps can't find a way to break you then you will be issued your walking papers to go back to where ever you came from. Marines act on orders and do not hesitate or even think about the order. Trust is instilled in you from the beginning that if the order is given it must have been well thought out and there is no reason to think about it. Your leaders will do the thinking for you untill such time you can think on your on. At that point the rebuilding process begins. You learn that you are part of a team and you act together all the time for the good of your brothers and the Corps. Yes...some orders may result in the end of your life but....maybe so someone else may live and complete the mission. This is how a Marine thinks and this is what sets us apart from other branches of military service. Killing machine? Yes! Semper Fi

[namvet67]

Short and to the point. I'm sure there are plenty of your recruits out there that would like to find you and say thanks for what you taught them. Must make you proud to make a Marine out of what you had to work with. You don't appreciate your Drill Instructor until years later. Must have been a tough job. Semper fi

[tripledog]

How tough? Toughest thing in my life. Period!
I jointed in Oct 60, arrived Diego and the dam corps had not gotten enough suckers like me to join, so I lived in receiving barracks until Feb 5, 1961. How would you like to live in receiving barracks for 4 plus months? Standing at attention outside the dam door from 5.30 am till 8am, then breakfast, then shining all that dam brass and copper in the HUGE head for all these stupid ass di's and brass butts. Cleaning that dam concrete floor from one end to the other TWICE a day with a dam toothbrush! Man, the things those assholes made me do. Christmas day, scrubbing the dam windows of every office, while they were home eating a great meal with their families.
BUT I LEARNED !!!
Then 13 weeks of holy hell and then 6 weeks of ITR .
How tough was it? I would not go back and do it for 1 BILLION dollars, BUT I would not take 100BILION for the education.
Hit on every part of my body with swagger sticks, beat on every inch with the black belts, done enough pushups for 10 platoons, pullups for 20. Ate more sand than the dam san fleas. Got my ass kicked by every DI pugil stick lover in diego.
First day, we line up by height, DI R.D. AMOS is 5ft8in, 195 lbs of pure grit, old salt, around 30ish. We line up by height, Im 5ft 4in , 135 lbs of pure shit. H.L. HUNT recruit from Houston Texas is 6ft2in, 235 lbs football hero with two front teeth out. Sgt Amos stand in front of him, "Whats your name maggot and where you from?"
Hunt replies, "sir Hunt, H.L. from Texas"
Sgt amos "My gd sorry ass wife who I loved more than life, ran off with a gd Texan, get down and give me 100"
Gets to me , light years later it seems, I say, sir "________ (now I am from dallas, tex , so get this" I am from Ohio sir. "

Best dam decision I made in boot camp!

[Cpl Miller]

YOU was in MY platoon in boot camp in Diego. 1964 was no different than 1960. Damn DI's was pure hell on two freak'en legs.

[Ken Rohlff]

In the 50s they could beat the crap out of You in P.I. I got knocked down by a big Indian D.I. for eye balling while at attention in front of my bunk.
They did get pissed when recruits at P.I.drowned in Ribbon Creek.
We had Congressmen all over P.I. asking if anyone has been harassing or hitting us? We all answered NO, heck I only got hit and kicked twice.
Many D.I. were Alki's, they would close up the bars and come in at 3:00 and harass the crap out of us.
But I survived "PERISH ISLAND", as we use to call it.
Semper Fi. Ken

[namvet67]

So ya got hit by a DI? So you were in boot in the 50s? Wasn't much different in the 60s. Alcohol ya think was the problem...doubt that Marine. Sure we knew when our DIs had a hang over and we knew that day was gonna be tough. Never ever saw a DI report to duty while intoxicated. Only time a private (recruit) got hit was when he fucked up! Do everything right and ya don't get hit......well....we ain't perfect! S/F Gary

[Stepetroni]

Well, I guess it is all in your perspective. At the time, I was miserable not because the DI s were abusive but because I was a kid away from "MY MAMA" for the first time. LOL, constantly being told to forget my "hog" (not a Harley then) cause she was out with "Jody" probably didn't hurt either.

Worst happened to me, one of my DIs kinda shredded a rolled up newspaper on my cheeks for laughing when he made the Platoon screwup put on a pair of panties. Abuse? I don't know, it wasn't as PC then and I still laugh about it today. The fact that I can't remember which DI did this to me to this day (41 years later) says alot about it too.

[JITB]

Many of today's recruits can relate incidents that would not be considered "PC" by media standards. The reason you don't hear about those incidents is the prime focus of a recruit at Parris Island or San Diego is to become a Marine and they mostly accept anything a DI puts them through.

[Cpl Miller]

can, and will be different for each of us. Some may remember their experiences that differ from others, but we each have our stories.

As I write a book about my experience I keep hearing the wife in the background saying, "honey, be as truthful as your memory will let you, and did this REALLY happen this way"?

Boot camp in 1964 was no cake walk even if it was San Diego for me. But I will say that even though it's been over 40 years for me I remember it as if it happened yesterday, and that includes the smell of the chow hall, or the Canvass tent material that filled the air.

Bottom line, boot camp was tuff for all of us.....

[JITB]

And, who knows what other perks you "Hollywood" Marines got?

[namvet67]

Ya know i have heard that before but when i was in boot from Feb 67 to Apr 67 we were not issued sunglasses! The only glasses that were issued were for those that needed corrected vision. Isn't wearing sunglasses while in uniform against the regs?

[Cpl Miller]

Jacks is just fucking with you Marine. No one received sun glasses at San Diego... PI Marine are just jealous they didn't get to play in the sun and get to SURF on their free time. ha ha

[Stepetroni]

Well, having attended Marine Corps Basic Electronics School and some advanced courses in San Diego, I can assure you the weather and visible "outside world" was more pleasant than sand flea drills at Elliots Beach. Unless they imported humidity and stinging insects, isolated them from the rest of the base and put blinders on the "crunchies" while they drilled, I think they may have been deprived of at least part of the boot camp experience.

Have to admit though, watching the drilling from a comfortable position and being able to appreciate, from outside the whirlwind, the finer points of Drill Instructing with a cool drink in hand, was amusing even if the weather was conducive to a tan.

[namvet67]

Cpl Miller.....hell who knows about the sun glasses. Each platoon was different. The PI vs SD saga will never die. I don't know what is worse.....PI where ya got the sand fleas and never see the outside world until you graduate OR....SD where you always see the outside world and watch the big birds coming and going every day and the squids across the way getting up later and going in earlier and the bus trips to pendleton etc. I do know this...when we got Nam it was not a issueif you were PI or Hollywood....Amen!

[packy46]

Boot Camp - Tough, Yep I suppose,but damn I don't think the crucible they have now looks like any picnic.
Amtracs, 12 Wks. Boot. 4 Wks ITR.
S/F
Tim.

[packy46]

I was an rifle instructor at the range at Lejeune in 67/68.
True story shortened up.
Thurs,Pre qual day, foggy ....
Range Officer, "All ready on the right... All ready on the left ....
All ready on the firing line....
Shooters watch your targets.... Targets....
From the tower comes, CEASE FIRE -- CEASE FIRE,
"DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT"
A six point buck runs past at high port......
Thats right,one each safe deer.
S/F
Tim.

[freekick]

Graduated SD in 11/72. Remember "the pit"..."out there havin' fun in the warm California sun"....just when you were soaked in sweat... "I think we're about to have a sandstorm, ladies...Ready, do it!!!"...then squat thrusts til ya die...lovely sand abrasion in every pit, opening, and joint of your body....
My son did PI this summer....they still do it, except FIRST you coat yourself in sunblock, then into the sandbox to PT!!!:D

[JITB]

When I went through PI in 1958, we did "Squat Jumps". After a few dozen of those, your legs felt like somebody was sawing them off just above the knees. That's when the DI would tell you to do 50 more! If he was mad enough at you, he would make you do them until you lost control of your bladder and bowels. I can remember having to crawl back to my Quonset hut from the DI's Quonset hut because I couldn't stand or walk.

[Cpl Miller]

our young Marines of today just don't understand what boot camp was like years ago...Lucky for them

[freekick]

We did ITR right after the rifle range, SD Nov72. Have a very clear memory of the SDI, while we are in formation, asking Pvt. Estes if he'd shaved that morning, and having Pvt Estes make the mistake of saying "The Private did not need to shave this morning, sir!" The SDI proceeded to "Slap the whiskers back into" Pvt Estes face...probably 20 or 30 hard, full swing slaps. It hurt to watch it.
We all made sure that we followed the order to "shave closely"...very closely... after that. Negative reinforcement, to be sure...but, it was a very effective learning event. Follow orders quickly, accurately, and completely. Lessons like that probably have saved a Marine or two in combat....

[Cpl Miller]

boot camp should not be easy, or everyone could make it.

As I think back to my transistion in becoming a Marine I remember the phisical experiances I went threw. It wasn't easy during those first four weeks or so. It was hell until you got the hang of things.

I didn't think the hiting part was always needed though.
In the end we ( recruits) felt that IF that's what it took to be a Marine, Bring it on!!

Started our little platoon with 113 guys, graduation day we counted 67. Shiiiiiit, what ever it took, some just did't have it......


The bigger question would be, are todays boot camps creating the kind Marines our nation needs? In my book, HELL YES.

These kids today don't look any different than the kids I was in boot camp with in 1964. We were young too back during our days, Korea, Vet Nam, and we did good....

The Iraq war our young Marines are fighing has provine time and time again, they got their shit together.



Carry On Marines!!

[packy46]

Squat Jumps.....
Were are my nitro pills!!!
That might just define "Old Corps"
S/F.
Tim

[JITB]

But, I think I know why. They gotta fall into the category of "pure torture"! 10 or 20 were bad enough. But DI's used to like to order recruits to give them 50. And, when the recruits forgot to include an extra one for the Corps, they would tell them to give them 50 more.

[Cpl Miller]

Are these the same as squat thrust?

[JITB]

Squat Thrusts are what the Corps went to in boot camp when it was decided that Squat Jumps were too cruel.

[freekick]

Agree, the pointless abuse was not necessary...we just took it as a rite of passage...
Having just come back from a PI graduation in August (youngest son), I will say Marines still look basically the same physically...however...I think that the Corps definitely has upgraded in terms of the intelligence of the average enlisted Marine. In 72, we had some...shall we say "intellectually challenged" (i.e. dumbest MFs) I have ever met in my platoon! I hope we never go back to that...we should insist on only allowing the most qualified in going forward. I would like to believe that the radio op in my son's outfit is calling in the right coordinates for that air strike, if you get my drift....

[freekick]

Of course, I'm so smart...I posted the same thing twice...sorry!

[Trapper]

When I was inn boot, Dec 85 to Mar 86, we still had "contact" with Drill Instructors. There were recruits that got hit on occasion, but no one really cared about it. We did have one recruit while in 1st phase that one of the juniors did not care for a Private Crutcher. Crutcher and the Cpl, yes we had a Cpl Drill Instructor, were always butting heads. One day we came back from the thrashing in the pit and making it snow. We were running up the steps to the third deck and the junior was strolling up as only Drill Instructors can. That slow deliberate gate...Ol' Crutcher was running without really looking up, trying to get up that ladderwell as fast as possible, as we all were. The junior saw him coming and deliberately got in his way. Crutcher rans smack into him. The junior hauled off and tagged him (I forget where he hit him though) and Crutcher fell down a few steps. It got up to the Series Commander and the junior got busted to PVT and obviously kicked out of the Drill Field. Then we got a guy nicknamed the Tasmanian Devil. We quickly found out why Sgt Lugo was called that. He was about 5 foot nothing, but a ball of fire with gas being poured on it.

Alsop had a blanket party for this one $hitbird in the platoon. I did not participate out of fear of reprisals by the Corps, but saw a kid get held down by his blanket and clubbed a few times with soap in socks. The kid did not freak out like Full Metal Jacket and kill anyone, but did get his act together.

I did think that boot was more mental than physical, though. Once I set my mind to wanting to do it, which took a few weeks..., I had no problem with the physical part.

We had one private pull a big time stupid. His dad was a Marine Colonel somewhere on base. The dumba$$ decided to split for a while and go see his dad. Miss a roll call. Man, you want to see a few Drill Instructors flip! And it only got worse once the kid came back! I never saw someone get thrashed like this kid did that day. He must have been on the Quarterdeck for an hour!

[dennismorrow]

I don't remember Boot being all that tough. (went thu in 81) DI shoved us around a little, once in a while somebody got tagged, but I never got tagged any worse than Dad tagged me. You just had to get used to the idea that life is different in the Corps. I remember us getting into more trouble because of someone laughing than anything else. ITS was far more physically challenging than boot camp.

[krusty]

I went to MCRD SD in late December 71. It was brutal. I graduated PFC (a squad leader...which was a hellish job). One DI was particularly bad....he broke several of my ribs when somebody screwed up in my squad when we were at San Onefre ITS. He liked to choke recruits until they blacked out. Years later I heard from one of the other DI's in the series that they had a lot of trouble with him. The other DI's and SDI (they were called 'platoon commanders' back then) didn't mind whacking you if you screwed up....but they were more balanced about it.

They were all 'Nam' veterans then...many with multiple tours, and I think highly motivated about either hardening a recruit into a disciplined mean-ass marine...or breaking you. I just gritted my teeth, and stuck it out through all the "Full Metal Jacket" boot camp reality of that era. I am, however, amused (amazed or incredulous?) when I hear old marines of that time period say they never saw a recruit smacked around during their time as a recruit, and wonder if they were in the same marine corps I experienced.

I don't think it turned out better marines, but the experience sure gave me some survival advantages over the past 35 years.

[Ken Rohlff]

I'm with You Crusty. While standing in front of My rack at attention, I got caught "eye balling" by this big Indian DI, He slugged Me and knocked Me down, another time I got kicked.
Boot Camp was pure Hell, At that time We had Congessmen crawling all over the place, because of the Recruits that drowned at Ribbon Creek.
While in formation they asked each of us If anyone was hurting or harrassing us. Being a good Marine, I said "NO SIR"
Any way I got my revenge, while at LeJune, I see this Big Indian
walking guard duty. I thought darn that's Sgt Longchase, which was now a Private. I said HI ASSHOLE.
Some times Life is good.
Ken Rohlff 1626455 56-59

[John Perez]

I got to MCRD in Feb.1974 and when I got on the Yellow Foot Prints and S/Sgt came out yelling, I thought to myself oh God I've done F^&%#$ up. But after we left receving and got in step with what the DI wanted. The hurry up and wait was the hardest, because I hated to stand on the parade ground waiting to go into some kind of class it seem we always got to the class about 1 hour to early and we had to be at attention for an hour and the rest is just finish every task and blend in with the green ( blend in with the green is don't F^&* up). At ITR mount M/F was the hardest. When I got to my duty station with the Air Wing at El Toro. I said is was all good. I also met one of DI's at El Toro when he was kicked off the Drill Field and we set at the E-Club and had a few beers and talked about the abuse he gave the platoon, after that talked with him, I really understood why the Marine Corps is the best on everything we do. And if I could do it all over again I would

[JITB]

A little over a month into training at PI, our DI came into the squadbay. After everyone jumped to attention and sounded off, he told us "AT ease!" We were dumbfounded! He then told us that the United States had been attacked by the USSR. They had nuked New York, Washington DC and some other major U.S. cities. He said our boot training was being cut short and we were going straight to ITR for Infantry Training and then would deploy to a combat zone. We were told to pack up everything and to fall out onto the parade deck to wait for the buses to pick us up.

We fell out with our rifles, packs and seabags and waited. And, we waited. And then, we waited some more. We saw other platoons going to morning chow. We waited and then saw other platoons going to noon chow! About mid-afternoon, our DI stuck his head out of the window and told us "You idiots get back inside! There's no war!"

[stan wahl]

I went through boot camp in july thru sept 1966.Plt 3069.We didn't have to sign anything.The d.i.'s did say that 50% would not return from Nam,and that alone scared the shit out of alot of the platoon.I did two tours in nam from 3/67 until 12/68.I was proud to be there and I don't regret it one bit....................
Ooooh Rah Semper Fi

[corky0566]

Remember the boxing matches while at the rifle range? Did your D.I. match you up with someone your size or someone rather large because he didn't like your ass? If I remember, they called them "smokers" boxing matches which was platoon against other platoons in your series....Bobby Graves in our platoon 207 was overall series Champion, but later was found to be a "Golden Gloves" champion before entering the Corps....

[Hollis Mckinley]

Those who have been here on this site long enough and have read the comments in this section, I am the Hollis referred to in some of the post's. Whew diagram that sentence. I pulled all my posts off one time, got a case of the redass (put in one word, where ass wouldn't stand out too much. Having been layed up in this house since Oct 1, 2005 and now being able to get out and make two solid footprints again got a better attitude.

If I could put the posts back up, I would. Never knew how to turn a computer on untill I was given one. Laying there on my belly, I figured out the dang thing and since got a new Dell. To make it short, wouldn't have one now if not for that deer hunting on my bike. Another story all together.

Went through boot camp at PISC and graduated Oct 1962, Plt 244 K Co. 2nd Bn. Picture posted in the boot camp data base. I didn't make PFC out of boot camp, spent 54 months in grade as a Corporal, was selected and on the M/GySgt list when I retired. Wouldn't have at the time to take the rank and spend the two years in grade(required to retire with such)at the time. Don't know how it is now. Wore two women out that I was married to those 20 years, I am not of the Morman faith but I had another wife. Married to the United States Marine Corps, that meant climbing over heads to make rank. Twas that or be one of the slime buckets and retire with 30. Never regretted and wouldn't change a thing for I laugh all the way to to the bank every month.

Was at Parris Island for 5 years, training recruits or working with training them, spent 3 years on recruiting duty. NamVet67, I still as of yet had only one recruit actually call me. All he wanted to know if I had a platoon pic of the hoggy bunch from New Jersey that I didn't really think graduated, we just put them on the bus for Geiger to get rid of them.

I asked when I first posted the ten platoon pictures on this site for someone to get up with me if they had a pic of the couple misssing on the end of the line. Got too tired of picking them up, nothing. Guess I'm still not on any of their Christmas Card list, for I know all of them didn't get zapped in the nam farce. Just doing my job that the Marine Corps payed me to do. Only thing I regrett, wasn't a little harder, maybe more of them would have come back walking instead of a body bag. Now, since my attitude has improved by at least 300%, still don't care. By the way, I did take typing in high school on a bet. I didn't let them know it in recruit training though, didn't want to be no office pinky, wanted to kill and scrrew things up, Ha. Last but not least, boot camp? I got my feelings hurt a few times along with everyone else. Other than that, being a farm boy from lower Alabama, do the math. Semper Fi and do carry on. Can say it and mean it, without getting paid for it, like the phony in hollywood. Enclosed the last piece of woodburning I've completed.

[Thumpboom]

Went thru MCRD summer 1964. Plt 151 Sr DI Staff Sgt Gogue, jr DI Sgt Gonzalez. We all were routinely punched and kicked. Sr DI was relieved of duty for giving a recruit a black eye.

We were one of the last platoons to receive rifle training at Camp Mathews. I especially remember the hike (run) up to the tent camp.

Anyone remember the 3 mile run in full combat gear? Think it was called CMC run, that was tough.

Came out off MCRD in great physical shape, I think this training is necessary and I would not have had it any other way.

Semper Fi

[corky0566]

BOOT CAMP AT P.I.S.C., APRIL 1959, PLT 207, K COMPANY...WAS WHAT I EXPECTED AND SOME NOT EXPECTED. DIDN'T SMOKE OR DRINK BEFORE. AFTER WATCHING SMOKERS GET BREAKS, DECIDED I WOULD TRY IT. THE BOXING MATCHES AT THE RIFLE RANGE WAS A LOT OF FUN AND THE COMPANY SERIES TRACK AND FIELD CHALLENGE WAS EVEN GREATER.....DIDN'T WITNESS ANY BRUTALITY OR ANY RECRUIT GETTING KNOCKED AROUND OR PHYSICALLY PUNCH IN THE HEAD OR MOUTH. SOME WERE GIVEN THE GRAB AND PULL, PUSH AND SHOVE BUT ONLY TO GET THEM IN STEP OR IN LINE. EVERY PLATOON HAS ITS WEAKNESS AND SOME RECRUITS JUST DIDN'T GET IT. BEST EXPERIENCE ANYONE CAN GET IF YOUR LIFE IS AT A DEADEND AT A YOUNG AGE. WOULD DO IT AGAIN....OOOHRAH!!!!!

[Admin]

Thumpboom,

Remember the runs well, and yes it was called the CMC run. Camp Mathews was where we went as well.

THEY HIT YOU? Just kidding, getting a little wack here and there we figured was part of the deal back then.....WHAT EVER IT TOOK, was what we figured was part of the deal in becoming a Marine.

[JITB]

I actually think my last duty assignment put me in the best shape I was in while in the Corps. I was in 2nd 8" Howitzer Battery (SP). We didn't do a lot of the normal PT Grunts do but a day at the gun park or a week or two on a shoot gave us more exercise than most people see on a parade deck or PT field. One thing a lot of people don't realize is heavy artillery means a lot of work. Especially those self propelled units. Ask any (SP) artillery guy or tanker how much work goes into "breaking track" and they will tell you it's a lot. And then there is the shoot. That means handling 205 lb rounds and powder canisters that probably weigh about 30-40 lbs.

[wlkin]

Memories fade, but boot camp was tough, more mental then physical, to me. When I went home after boot camp, I found out my neighbor joined and washed out. This surprised me, but he was in good shape. Found out later that he could not handle it mentally.
After boot camp, the Commandant took it easy on me and assigned me to the Landing Force Training Unit at Coronado, California as a clerk/training assistant. Oh, the hard life we have to live at times. :p

[Cpl Miller]

being in supply wasn't what I signed up to do in the Corps. Every Marine does what he/she is assigned to what the Marine Corps wants you to do, easy duty or not.

THANKS for serving your Corps, and your country..

By the way, WELCOME aboard Marine

[snuffy106]

Originally posted by Cpl Miller
I FORGOT all about the night fire training section. THAT was one impressive demo of fire power. All I remember is every swinging dick was on line shooting at the side of a mountain that had tanks and trucks for targets.

We even had 105 self-propelleds on the little mules that looked like go-carts with a flatbed.

I have never seen so many tracer rounds in one place at the same time...HOT damn it was a kick in the butt.

Hey guys got on this one a little late them little " 105 self propelleds aint 105s " they were 106 recoiless rifles , anti Tank weapons , 0351 MOS relaced in 1977 with the DRAGONS between 1973 to 1977 I was 106 platoons with 1/4 then 2/7 then back to 1/4 then to 3/2 in 1975 we hand carried one of them 106s over the high Sierras up at Bridgeport we was attached to Fox CO 2/7 we got wrote up in the 200th year issue of Leatherneck Magazine

[snuffy106]

I went thru 13 weeks boot in 1973 then 8 weeks ITR wound up a 0351 , we had the M14s , boot camp was still tough an the DIs would knock the attitudes right outta ya in a heart beat , any time anyone was around that might see or report , on our DIs , we were required to Holler out " Sir SPY in the area:" that way our DIs didnt get caught doing things they werent suppose to. After boot I went home , talking crap about how tough boot was, to my Father Charles White he was with 7th Marines at Chosin Resivoir ,also to my Uncle M/sgt Auzie White , he served in Korea an 2 tours in Nam then retired , also to my Uncle Donnie White ,he was at Khe Shan with the 12th Marines , my Uncle Lonnie White a sgt Marine reservist, and my Uncle James VanNess he had 2 tours in Nam and a former DI ( he died in a Marine Training exersize ) and then there was my uncle Larry VanNess He was a Marine grunt in Nam also ---- Dang it sure was hard to convince them guys I had it tough in Boot Camp

[Cpl Miller]

of Marines. Regardless of how hard boot camp was for you or your family, YOU can still stand tall knowing you're one of the best, even within your own family.

Semper Fi Marine

[DLB]

I started out in Feb. 66 with plt. 248 but because of the death of my mother 7 weeks into the 8 we attended, I graduated with plt 251 I think. Those few weeks are a blur and I really don't remember the platoons number. For me it was a mental and physical challange. Physical because up until I enlisted, I was diagnosed with a heart murmur. Apparently, it magically disappeard upon my phyisical at San Diego. Amazing!! The mental part was convincing myself I could do the physical part. I used to chant to myself "I can run for ever" over and over while doing so. It was vitally important to me that I made it thru boot as I had been told for years that because of a bad heart valve, I wasn't good for much when it came to the physical stuff. Boot taught me that I can do anything I chose if I put my mind to it and that type of thinking has served me well all these years.

[Cpl Miller]

was if I fell out during a run, these crazy DI's are going to KILL ME. ha

[Easyrider]

I got to PI in Dec 1976--3rd batt I Co. We started TD-1 with 92 recruits
and graduated 42 Marines 13 weeks later. I made Guidon Carrier in my 3rd week only to lose it in week 5. Boot Camp wasn't that demanding physically,
but it was Mind Game. The DI's were there to weed out Weakness, both Physical and Mental. :GI9:

[JITB]

I got to PI in Dec 1976--3rd batt I Co. We started TD-1 with 92 recruits
and graduated 42 Marines 13 weeks later.

It's unusual that a platoon would lose 50 recruits and not add a few from other platoons that had recruits being set back!

[Easyrider]

It's unusual that a platoon would lose 50 recruits and not add a few from other platoons that had recruits being set back!

We did pickup a few along the way but a whole bunch washed out.
We lost quite a few to the MED PLT for injuries.
42 graduated Marines.

[JITB]

I only asked because I had been set back because I spent a couple weeks in the hospital about a month into training. I was lucky because they put me into a platoon that was only a week behind my original platoon. They may have done that because I did have to go to a hearing before I was released from the hospital. At the hearing, I was told that I could press charges against the DI that put me into the hospital and would also be given the choice to stay in training or be released from active duty. I chose not to press charges and told them I wanted to stay in the Corps.

[corky0566]

I only asked because I had been set back because I spent a couple weeks in the hospital about a month into training. I was lucky because they put me into a platoon that was only a week behind my original platoon. They may have done that because I did have to go to a hearing before I was released from the hospital. At the hearing, I was told that I could press charges against the DI that put me into the hospital and would also be given the choice to stay in training or be released from active duty. I chose not to press charges and told them I wanted to stay in the Corps.

Good for you...OOOHRAH!!! :GI7:

[JITB]

I decided not to press charges since I selected to stay in the Corps. I was smart enough to realize that pressing charges would not be a good idea if I was to continue training.

[corky0566]

Did you ever run across the D.I. at a later date? If so, did you "Thank him" or did you bring your incident up? :GI10:

[JITB]

Did you ever run across the D.I. at a later date? If so, did you "Thank him" or did you bring your incident up?

Nope! In fact, even with the fact I've been very active on the internet on many Marine Corps related forums for a lot of years, I've never run across anyone I was in boot with. I think the problem is many Marines my age or older don't do computers. I'm somewhat different as my experience with computers and the internet dates back to before many here were born and that include the "WEB". I was cruising the internet before they came out with pretty, GUI interfaces and even before they started calling it the "internet".

[Easyrider]

I only asked because I had been set back because I spent a couple weeks in the hospital about a month into training. I was lucky because they put me into a platoon that was only a week behind my original platoon. They may have done that because I did have to go to a hearing before I was released from the hospital. At the hearing, I was told that I could press charges against the DI that put me into the hospital and would also be given the choice to stay in training or be released from active duty. I chose not to press charges and told them I wanted to stay in the Corps.

OOOHHRAAAA..Great Choice !! Glad you did..:GI1:

I got in trouble twice in Boot..Once for fighting and once for
leaving my Foot Locker open..My Senior DI found it and was reading
my Mail to the whole PLT when I returned. Man, was I pissed.
He PTed me till he was tired then let me go with a warning.
He and I were stationed together in Iwakuni in 78..
We talked over a couple beers and I understand now why he did
what he did. he was just testing me. I passed thankfully..:D

[GunnySan]

Nope! In fact, even with the fact I've been very active on the internet on many Marine Corps related forums for a lot of years, I've never run across anyone I was in boot with. I think the problem is many Marines my age or older don't do computers. I'm somewhat different as my experience with computers and the internet dates back to before many here were born and that include the "WEB". I was cruising the internet before they came out with pretty, GUI interfaces and even before they started calling it the "internet".

A little Off-Topic, but, remember the 300 baud modem. A "screamer" in its day.

[Cpl Miller]

while working for NASA Ames research center in Mt View, Ca we started with the 300 Baud modem and graduated to the 1200. Can you imagine running a SUPER computer from home on one of these....Hell ask Jack, he used hand signals in his day. yuk yuk

[JITB]

A little Off-Topic, but, remember the 300 baud modem. A "screamer" in its day.

Hell, when I started off on my TI-994A Home Computer, I had a 150 baud modem!

[devildog-64012]

Hell, when I started off on my TI-994A Home Computer, I had a 150 baud modem!


Would that have been the "ACOUSTIC" model. :GI9:

[JITB]

Would that have been the "ACOUSTIC" model.

As a matter of fact, it was! You had to put the telephone handset on the two cups on top of it. I went through various modems as they became available to me. From the 150 baud, I went to a 300 baud. The next modem I had was a 1200 Baud. I then went to a 2400 baud and then a 9600 baud. When modems became available higher than that, it was some time before there was any advantage as the phone company had limits that didn't give you much over 9600 baud.

[GunnySan]

Hell, when I started off on my TI-994A Home Computer, I had a 150 baud modem!

That's what I meant about the 300 being a "screamer". "Twice" the speed!

[GunnySan]

I went through PI in '46. The only 'hands on' I recall was from the Senior. We had 2 Drill Instructors, a Sgt. and a Cpl. (they would be E4 and E3 today). Both were WW2 vets. The Cpl would march us with the Sgt covering the rear. The Sgt would crack the Feather Merchants over the head with a walking stick he carried to keep us in step. I went through 3 or 4 Pith Helmets. That was it, none of the punching or kicking that has been reported in later years. Maybe they had already seen enough violence. Of course, the Cpl. did cause us to smash the rear door and the railing on the 2nd Deck. He would have the back door closed then order us outside. We could not slow down to open it.

[pisc69]

my DIs beat the living snot out of us in 69
friend from back home was one week ahead of me - saw him at mess and he shoved his chow tray at me and said he was too sick to eat because his platoon just did 600 bends and thrusts - I thought oh no hope we don't have to do that
next week my platoon did 1000 of them - some kind of ritual

first time a mortar round hit close or I slept under a poncho in a monsoon downpour I'd have gone back to sweet old PI in a rikky-tick
all them nice racks with sheets - toilets - and the DIs weren't allowed to shoot us

boot camp was playtime for babies

[JITB]

Marine Corps Boot Camp has gone through an evolution where some things have changed over the years for good and bad reasons. But, I have met a good number of Marines that recently gone through basic training and the Corps is still turning out Marines to be proud of. The point made by pisc69 is a good one. However hard recruit and Infantry training may be, it is to prepare Marines for much harder tasks.

[pisc69]

indeed Jefe-

sending a man into combat without PROPER and SUFFICIENT training is an act of criminal negligence - there should be special prisons with big rocks and teeny hammers in Death Valley for any responsible for making training insufficient

I think they were so rough in the late 60s because they realized we just didn't measure up to the caliber of a Dan Daly, China, Saipan, Iwo, Chosin Marine

- or a GunnySan

[GunnySan]

indeed Jefe-

sending a man into combat without PROPER and SUFFICIENT training is an act of criminal negligence - there should be special prisons with big rocks and teeny hammers in Death Valley for any responsible for making training insufficient

I think they were so rough in the late 60s because they realized we just didn't measure up to the caliber of a Dan Daly, China, Saipan, Iwo, Chosin Marine

- or a GunnySan

Referring to me? Thanks, but I'm nowhere near Dan Daly's caliber. No, the purpose of making Boot Camp rough is to make sure the kids have a chance at achieving that caliber without getting killed. No recruit has or ever will measure up, hopefully that comes later. Many have.

[Cpl Miller]

Could it be that the reason boot camp is/was so hard was due to the fact we all had to be ready on a minutes notice to head out to anywhere in the world where our type of fighting force was needed, hence the tuff training.

I've heard from many of Marines that their boot camp wasn't like others who talk about DI to recruit contact, many say it never happened (DI's smacking recruits). I can only speak for my experience in 1964.

In 1964 we all knew Viet Nam was heading our way, and as such felt the DI's were hard on use so we could fight and survive. Each of use recruits felt that what ever these crazy guys handed out it was part of becoming a Marine, and we took it. Did the DI's smack us around? Your damn right they did, but it wasn't to the extent that it was out of line for the most part.

You have this shitbird screwing up the whole platoon, he gets a blanket party that doesn't change his ways, now the DI's step in to help him get his shit together. Extra PT, extra attention at inspections, and those little talks that the DI has with him behind the barracks.

Can DI's get a little out of hand, damn right they can AND do. I still stand here after all these years when looking back at my time in boot camp and say they saved my life as a punk kid going nowhere. All my accomplishments I've made over the years can be directly related to Marine Corps boot camp and how it changed my life.....

I believe the recruits of today are like the rest of us, hard charging men and women trained to do what most could or wouldn't do.....FIGHT



Carry on Marines!!

[outlaw0013]

Graduated from PI 37 years ago today. Was the Senior DI's house mouse and they did beat the snot out of us, but unless you wanted to be known as a RAT platoon nothing was said.

I'll never forget the first words in heard from another recruit while standing on the yellow footprints. A guy walking fire watch yelled out from above "YOU'LL BE SORRY ".

[danno2621]

PI Apr 81 - Jun 81. If it's any consolation, they hit us then too. We had one DI in particular who liked to "thump". To this day I have a scar right between my eyes that is in the shape of an M-16 front sight assembly. This bonehead made the mistake of hitting a Private from another platoon who told on him. Investigation ensued. None in our platoon would rat on him although he was a shitty DI (couldn't march us, couldn't call cadence, no command presence). He had us bullshitted that we would all be on legal hold forever, so nobody ratted on him. At that time, nobody cared what they did to us as long as we got off that island as quickly as possible.

[pisc69]

Everytime I got thumped I had it coming.
I was a stupid punk candy ass who didn't listen living in a fantasy land.

The DI who thumped me most was at the siege of Khe Sanh and if I'm pissed about anything its that he didn't kick my sorry bag near enough - but I didn't think about that then.
One night he told us how the flat hats all read Navy Times to see the KIA list at the end - looking for cruits they'd ridden herd on.

Don't know about anyone else but I love those mean bastards who tried to make a marine of me. That's right - tried - they just didn't have enough time - it didn't happen until I met North Vietnamese grunts, up close with AKs.
I wouldn't be here tonite if not for those sterling men who got me ready enough to survive. I owe them every day and every minute since then.

Sank home when I started reading Navy Times and saw names of guys I went through boot with.

Damn right about them Rats - they need putting on Point.

God bless those flat hatted bastards, every dang one of them.
Best damn men who ever lived - United States Marine Corps Drill Instructors.

[pisc69]

I think the point to keep in mind was that by 1969 the brass were beginning to worry that we might lose our first war.
The thumping sure made us a lot meaner and I think that was what they wanted to communicate to our enemy.

The buzz among the grunts I heard in 69 was that Khe Sanh and the Rockpile were both solidly back in NVA hands, and the enemy was getting their confidence back after the gutting we gave them in Tet.

We needed to get as mean as they could get us if we were going to hold out during that long awful withdrawal.

We are about to see if they had the right idea.

[Cpl Miller]

here is that we all had our own experience in boot camp. Good or bad those that made it to graduation knew they had given it their all in taking what ever was given to us by those crazy DI's. At least I thought they were all crazy at first.

After going threw the first few weeks of boot camp and starting to get or understand the program and what was expected of us things started to change. Working as a team in all area's like PT, or marching gave us that feeling of something bigger than ourselve. We were marching as one, every foot hit the ground as one, running for miles wasn't about ME, it was about US. The feeling of this great brotherhood started to take shape in our minds, and our actions.

If one recruit took a hit, we all felt it, it made us tighter as a group. How many times do you remember when during a run or the obstacle course when a fellow recruit fell behind or couldn't make it up the rope climb did another recruit come to his/her aid.

Each of us came from different backgrounds, each of us had our reason's for putting up with all the shit that was dished out to us during boot camp. But the bottom line here is these DI's took young kids and in a short period of time made us what we are today, MARINES in mind and body for the remainder of our lives. And for that I can only say one thing....THANK YOU to every DI that made us what we are....



Carry on Marines!!

[MIDDY]

Ahhh yes,, boot camp "jan55" we were in the wooden barracks on the parade ground. into the showers and wash off all that cheep civilian shit. Oppps came out without permission, drying and talking. get between the bunks, on the floor. now crawl all the way around till you came back to your bunk. [i think there were seventy guys in that group] it took weeks to get the elbows and knees healed up. :( "middy"

[MIDDY]

One more while im on a roll. YOU lost the keys to your foot locker!!! How damn stupid are you??? Go get it. came back with my loot locker. He says put it on your shoulder. He then hands me a clothes hanger bent in a circle :( with everyones extra key on it. Go on open it up. Ya the key was laying on the tray inside. " middy "

[JITB]

I got the priviliage of bunking in a few different accomidations at PI. The first month I was there, I was in Platoon 198 in the white, wood barracks of 1st Battalion. But, due to an unfortunate confrontation with the SDI, I spent a couple of weeks in the hospital and got set back. I ended up in Platoon 344 and the 16 man Quonset huts of 3rd Battalion. I did luck out though. Platoon 344 graduated only a week after Platoon 198 in 1958.

[JITB]

I believe that when 1st BN put up the present brick barracks, they kept one of the white, wood barracks to turn into Battalion offices.

[Cpl Miller]

As I look threw my graduation book I have to laugh at some of the pictures they took of me during training...Check it out.

[GunnySan]

The barracks had POLISHED decks? Not when I was there. We had wood inside and out.

[Cpl Miller]

concrete floors in the quansit huts I was in. 20 recruits to a quansit hut, TWO pails of sand each, one pail of water each.
These two ingredients along with a scrub brush will produce a concrete floor you can see your face in. Why do I know this, cause I was there, been there, done that. ha

[JITB]

Yup! GunnySan speaks the truth. The wood barracks of 1st/2nd Battalion and the rifle range at PI had wood floors. Quonsets huts at 3rd Battalion and the rifle range had concrete floors. I remember going to the rifle range with Platoon 344. The rifle range only had a few wood barracks so any Platoon from 3rd Battalion had first choice for the wood barracks because we normally lived in Quonset huts. Our DI told us he declined the offer of the wood barracks because he didn't want us living in luxery while we were there.

[JITB]

If you have a problem with what somebody posted, take it off of the forum threads and do a Personal Message or email instead of doing a "Shout" post. I was tempted to do an "Infraction" for the above post or simply clip it. But, I'll leave it up to Gary to decide what he wants to do about it.

[Cpl Miller]

the member took his own action...thanks

[cannoncocker]

More mentailly tough than physically, ITS was a mother though. I remeber getting called into the ITS SgtMaj's office the day before graduation about an incident that happened the first weekend we got there.

What happened was the instructors trashed the squadbays. We were still in the quanset huts at Geiger. On a Saturday morning a couple of the troop handles came in and trashed the place because we didn't clean it good enough.

Well any way one of the young Marines wrote it as a complaint on an outgoing survey. There was about 10 of us that got called in, the ones selected for barracks or sea duty. the SgtMaj starts yelling and threating to hold our orders if we don't tell him about the abuse that is happening because we don't train like this in today's ITS.

We all look at each other and we have no freakin' idea of what he is talking about. At that time I did have no idea. Well back in the squadbay the marine that made the allegation refreshed our memories about the incident. The reply from the rest of us was hell that type of stuff happened everyday in bootcamp. I guess you went to a kinder bootcamp than the rest of us. He was in 1st Bn at Parris Island.

Check it out.....
Free New Book-http://sites.google.com/site/mystoryusmcbootcamp57

[cannoncocker]

You ain't snapping in long enough.

[cannoncocker]

It's free, read it........
Free New Book-http://sites.google.com/site/mystoryusmcbootcamp57

[txjimmy]

Put it this why wouldnt want to do it agin

[trinajd]

Weren't no worse than growin' up on a farm.

SF, Jay

[JITB]

Being a city boy, I'd have to compare Marine Corps boot to going to a Catholic grammer school taught by nuns. The Daughters of the Holy Ghost made what Marine Corps DI's dished out kinda easy.

[Cpl Miller]

WHERE did you two go to boot camp? Them (DI's) son's a bitches kicked our butts until I thought I'd never live through it......and I was a very STREET smart kid. Easy??? YOU'VE got to be shitting me!

[MIDDY]

Cpl. Miller,,, lov that shot of washing your clothes outside on those concrete tables. we had those behind the wooden barracks. i think i missed the answer to what year did they paint the yellow foot prints,,, and where,,, up by the px ??? seems like thats where we got off the bus. i came in 55. " middy "

[Cpl Miller]

is the date they started to use them.

[JITB]

I can't say I remember the Yellow Foot Prints when I got off the bus from Yamassee. But, I do remember it stopped in front of Recruit Receiving at mainside PI. The MP that was on our bus shouted "I want two rows of corn!" Over the doorway to Recruit Receiving was a sign that said "It it here that we turn boys into men and men into Marines"

[Ken Rohlff]

"Perish Island", Plt. 259, 8/6/56. Because of the Ribbon Creek affair, we had Politicians and Brass all over the place, but it didn't stop the hitting. A big Indian, named Sgt. Longchase, slugged me, for eyeballing around, I just got up and kept marching, To the beat of the same drummer, HAHA.
I got slugged a few times, but never complained, I figured it was the rite of passage.
A few mos. later, while at Lejune, I spot this big Indian Private, walking guard duty. It was ex-sgt. Longchase. I approached him and said "Hi asshole" as I was a Pfc. it was good. We talked and laughed for quite a while.
Looking back they did me a favor, It made us what we are today, I finally stopped drinking and got my life back together. Semper Fi, Ken Rohlff

[Dick Shewmake]

Have to add my two cents about boot MCRD San Diego Jan 1964.I had no idea of what
was going to happen after standing on those YELLOW FOOT PRINTS so many years ago.
My only warning came from a former Marine who was in during the 50's.I saw him a
couple of days before I leave for BOOT. His comment was with a very serious face.
"They won"t Kill You". I recalled his comment a few times during my training.I was in Plt 305,and had a Sgt Jack Cohen who I just found out recently was Pacific Fleet Weight
Lifting Champion.Did he like to punch us any time.I recall one day during PT,he didn't like the way I did Push ups.He squatted down while I was in the prone position and hit me on the chin,airborne I went over 2 ranks and landed in the ice plants out cold for 10 minutes.I saw the light and changed my way real fast,made a man out of me quickly..
Dick Shewmake - Vietnam 65-66 ..came out a Corporal in three years.

[danno2621]

If nothing else you learned how to do a correct Marine Corps pushup, lol. Nothing torques me off more than somebody that says they can do 100 pushups and they aren't Marine Corps pushups. Ha, ha, Semper Fi.

[Dick Shewmake]

Hi you are correct danno 2621,I was a slow learner but one crack on the jaw
loosened the cob webbs in my head.Semper Fi back at you,stay well...
thanks Dick Shewmake 04-21-10 7:15pm AZ time.

[dlittle]

I was at PI in 1991, June 21-Sept 6. Basic was hard. My biggest mistake when I got there was thinking everything was one big mind game, and trying to blend in and not be noticed. Just be middle of the road and make it through in one piece. Well, that made me stick out more than being 6 ' 4" would. When we got to the rifle range I had my attitude adjusted in more ways than I can remember...shot expert and wsa squared away the rest of the cycle. I won the "Spirit Award" for most overall improved recruit in our Co. Proud of that.

We got thumped. Some worse than others. I got poked in the eye becuase my DI was so mad at me...I had found a uniform that was supposed to be a the tailor shop, but it was crammed in the bottom of my sea bag (we just got back from the range) and he bit his lower lip and pocked me right in the eye. I think he was trying to poke my forehead, as in to say "You dumbass!...i was sweaty and his finger slipped off my forehead and right into the top of my right eye.

Never in 1000 years would I have reported it or anything else that happened to us. We got hazed like it was no ones business, and I don't think anyone else would have either. We were becoming Marines and this was just part of it.

[Cpl Miller]

that I am sure everyone had. What EVER it took to become a Marine, we took it.

[rmeunier1]

Some of the unpleasantries of boot camp helped me to be a better person today. Those things that stand out the most in my mind are 1) PT, 2) Sand Fleas, 3) In the summertime, P.I. is one hot place, 4) I was also scared to death of Senior DI Thompson.
(Remember, WMs' aren't promised a rose garden either.)
But, even today at 41, I can still do pushups better than most male counterparts in civilian life, (unless of course they're former marines), and at my present job, we need to requalify with weapons each year, and most former marines usually leave a fist size grouping center mass, (one fist sized hole in the middle of the target). P. S. I wouldn't have traded any of it for the world. Semper Fi / Regina Meunier

[Cpl Miller]

being a male or female has little to do with how tuff boot camp was. They (DI's) kicked all our asses, some more than others from what I remember. Being clasified as a shirtbird had NO extra benefits from what I remember, well other than getting extra attention.....OH HELL NO!!

Can only remember openning my mouth once in my 12 weeks of fun in the sun, NEVER did that again. Also like you I had one DI who scared the shit out of me until he hurt one recruit so bad they assigned him to another platoon. That was the best day in boot camp....well until Sgt Hill took over. He was fair in his treatment of us, the problem though was trying to keep up with this Marine. The man was an ANIMAL with PT.

Like you Regina, the Corps instilled so much in us during boot camp that most, if not all of use carried ourselves differently after boot camp. Even to this day at 63 I'm in better shape than most my age.

Semper Fi Marine

[greenhaven]

MCRD-San Diego/May 1966
I'll never forget the bus ride from the airport to MCRD, especially the DI's who boarded the bus. That's when the yelling began and the run to the yellow footprints. Since VietNam was raging, bootcamp had been reduced to 8 wks and we even had draftees (they were segregated).
I'd say Boot Camp was more of a mental challenge, although the physical part was difficult. Our DI's (like most) were brutal. One DI broke a kid's jaw and blood was gushing from his mouth for screwing up. One day, while sitting on bleachers during a class at the rifle range, I dropped my rifle through the bleachers and onto the ground. Crap!! The instructor rushed over, grabbed me by the collar and dragged me out of the bleachers. He made me field strip the M14 and open and close it 10 times, using the bridge of my nose. Needless to say, I ended up with a broken nose. Never dropped a rifle again! Another guy was made to read a "Dear John" letter he received in front of us during the evening. The next day, he blew his brains out during qualifying at the range. That was very tragic.
Overall, it was a great experience, as Boot Camp built a solid foundation for me as a Marine. Although those of us who graduated from MCRD San Diego were referred to as "Hollywood Marines", we had it tougher than the slackers at Camp Lejeune. We also had Camp Pendleton to endure in addition to our Boot Camp!! LOL!

__________________________________________________
3rdMarDiv 67/68 (Phu Bai, Quang Tri, Dong Ha)
1st MAW 69/70 (Chu Lai)

[rmeunier1]

Dear Greenhaven, - Hollywood Marine? Just an affectionate nickname. You guys were tough. Thanks for your Vietnam service. Semper Fi. / Regina Meunier USMC 1987-1991 (P.S. - I guess I was just a baby when you were over there.)

[JITB]

rmeunier1

I see you're from Providence. That's where one of my favorite restaurants is. Hemenway's Restaurant. Back when I was working for NCR Corp., I used to go to one of their schools in Providence fairly often. I always made it a point to do dinner at Hemenway's Restaurant while I was there.

[rmeunier1]

JITB, Excellent restaurant, plus several others, including Twin Oaks in neighboring Cranston. Which leads to, in spite of how tough boot camp may have been, the chow wasn't bad. Only wish we had more time to eat it. Regina M

[JITB]

which leads to, in spite of how tough boot camp may have been, the chow wasn't bad. Only wish we had more time to eat it.

"Take all you want but eat all you take!"

[rmeunier1]

Learned early on that you don't waste the taxpayer's money. You take it, you eat it. If so much as one recruit broke this rule, we all paid for it. We all PT'd until most of us were puking up what we had eaten. Learned to take a little less in line, for 2 reasons; 1) So I could eat it all, 2) And in case we PT'd immediately after chow, I'd have a better chance at keeping it down. I guess it was just part of the Corps' weight control program. LOL / Semper Fi, Regina M

[JITB]

Even back in 1958, WM's had some pretty physical training. After our graduation in December, they kept my platoon there another week so they would be able to give us holiday leave. To keep us busy, they put us on a detail delivering food to the messhalls on PI. One of them was the WM messhall. We usually got there when the woman recruits were out for PT. I was always surprised to see that the women got PT that seemed to be tougher than what we got in training!

[rmeunier1]

JITB, Similarities far outweigh the differences when it comes to comparing male and female recruit training. Recruits are pushed both mentally and phsically. We've probably all at one time or another thought our gear was stowed, folded, and exactly as it was supposed to be, when it got tossed into the middle of the squad bay along with just about everyone else's. What a discouraging sight to see a mountain of gear piled up just waiting for us to sort it out. Do unlocked padlocks ring a bell? All those unlocked padlocks getting locked to each other and left on the deck for us to figure out. In 5 minutes, or it's off to the sand pit for PT. I wonder if this is why I still run in the AM, and hit the gym several times a week. Must be a glutton for punishment. / Semper Fi Regina M USMC 1987-1991:GI7:

[Cpl Miller]

one of the lucky one's. Never had my shit dumped out, but I sure did pay the price when everyone else's had the stuff dumped on the deck.

A question does come to mind though, did WM's have to carry weapon's during boot camp like their male counterparts?

[rmeunier1]

Gary, I guess that when it came to making a pile out of our personal gear, each DI had their own standards. Maybe it had something to do with the way their day was going. Our weapons became a part of us also. On some PT, but not all. When not used, weapons were secured to bunk. / Now, SDI Thompson had her own version of "This is my rifle, This is my gun", just for WM's. I need your permission to share it, but I will censor the parts that need censoring. Leaving soon for work. If I have the moderator's permission, will post it tomorrow. Semper Fi / Regina Meunier USMC 1987-1991

[Cpl Miller]

to share ANYTHING you feel good about sharing Marine.

[Cpl Miller]

Maybe it had something to do with the way their day was going, if this was true then we had a bunch of DI's that had BAD days EVERYDAY. Never could figure out WHY they were ALWAYS pissed off at us. Little did we know it was how it was suppose to be. I will admit after the rifle range things got a LITTLE better. yuk yuk

[stan wahl]

Funny story..LOL!! 16 weeks of boot? I only had 8 weeks! Tents? You might be old corps! Semper Fi Marine

I was with Hq.Bn. 11th Marines 1st Marine Div DaNang from March 67 to December 68....Semper Fi Brother...........

[tripledog]

I read these posts and laugh.

I went to MCRD DIEGO in Oct 1960. If any of you on here have ever been to boot camp there, you know the receiving barracks, right?

Anyone want to guess how many went in Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan ?

Anyway, I arrived there on Oct 16th, and I was the ONLY FRIGGIN DUMB MARINE to join that month I guess.

I lived in that dam barracks from Oct 16 until enough other Dumb Asses like myself showed up to form a Platoon. On Feb 5th we finally got enough idiots to start.

Can you even imagine living in that barracks that long? Can you guess how many dam times I polished the dam pipes in that crapper? How about how many hours I was made to stand at attention outside the office?

God what a waste of time.


Was it hard in boot camp? Hardest thing I had ever done to that point. But it got harder later. My DI, Sgt R.D. AMOS, was the hardest hardass I had ever met, and let me assure you, I was one hard ass myself. On our first day, he told us all the story of how he was from Ohio, and his wife, who he said was a 10, had left him and went with a Dam Texan.

Uh, yea, Im from Texas.

Remember when they would come up to you in line and ask your name, and where you were from? Well I was on the end of the third line and when Amos asked me where I was from, I quickly replied "Oklahoma sir".

I would not take a million dollars for my experience in boot camp, but believe me, I wouldnt go back thru again for 10 million dollars and his wife.

I was guaranteed aviation and that did not sit well then with the DIs, and they make us fly boys pay the price.

But what the hell, I survived it and a hell of a lot more.

[Shered]

Wasn't hard enough I survived