While many argue that their basic training or boot camp was “treacherous” and harder than those of military personnel to follow, a general consensus is that these perceptions are often personal exaggerations that are as old as soldiery itself.
However, one cannot deny the harshness of training when it costs a significant number of human lives in a single moment- a moment that -64 years ago to this very day- would forever change the course of history for the US Marine Corps.
In the chilly darkness of April 8, 1956, US Marine Staff Sergeant Matthew McKeon growled at members of Platoon 71, a class of recruits training at South Carolina’s Parris Island.
Feeling unsatisfied with the quality of his recruits and having had a few drinks of vodka prior, he decided to toughen them up by ordering them to grab their equipment and march into the darkness until he determined they were worn out enough to learn a lesson in discipline.
Platoon 71, just one of many platoons in “A” Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, would change history as they disappeared from view of the camp’s lit area.
With almost no moonlight to speak of, the recruits followed McKeon, who was often considered a superb leader. A former Navy man who served aboard the USS Essex in World War II, McKeon later joined the Marines and spent fourteen months in the Korean War as a heavy weapons squad leader.
Something was different on the night of April 8, however, and as the unit approached one of the many tidal streams on Parris Island, a lack of alertness would turn to tragedy.
Ordering his men to follow him across Ribbon Creek, McKeon likely did not fully appreciate the swift waters that occur when the tide changes, resulting in some men vanishing into the water- many who couldn’t swim.
“Anyone who can’t swim will drown,” he shouted. “Anyone who can swim will be eaten by the sharks!”
Moments later, six Marine recruits -Private Thomas Curtis Hardeman, Private First Class Donald Francis O’Shea, Private Charles Francis Reilly, Private Jerry Lamonte Thomas, Private Leroy Thompson and Private Norman Alfred Wood- were missing, presumed dead.
In the immediate aftermath, the Beaufort County Sheriff and several Marines were dispatched to locate the missing. The following day, Beaufort County Sheriff J. Ed McTeer furnished dragging equipment to a shrimp boat, dredging the creek and pulling up five of the recruits. The day after, a Marine DI donned diving gear and discovered the last Marine, stuck in a hole of water around 15 feet deep.
The reaction from the press was relentless and brutal, and no sooner than the bodies were shipped off to their respective families, a court of inquiry was assembled.
Soon, the entire nation was divided- there were those who despised McKeon for what had happened and those who felt he was just trying to toughen up his men.
McKeon was given pro-bono defense by Emile Zola Berman, a savvy attorney and highly-decorated World War II veteran from New York City who pointed out that harsh treatment by DIs was common, and that McKeon was simply a scapegoat.
The highest-profile moment of the case was an appearance by Marine legend retired Lt. Gen. Lewis “Chesty” Puller.
On the stand, Puller referred to the Ribbon Creek Incident as a “deplorable accident,” but noted that Marines must be trained to a high standard of discipline, lest they resort to mob-like behavior.
In private, however, Puller allegedly gave McKeon a verbal lashing.
McKeon was charged with Drinking in enlisted barracks, oppression of 74 recruits, culpable negligence in the deaths of six recruits, oppression of the six dead recruits, drinking in front of a recruit and negligent homicide.
By the end of the trial, then-Secretary of the Navy Charles S. Thomas sentenced the DI to three months in the brig and reduction to private. Given that the original sentencing was much harsher and involved a Bad-Conduct Discharge, the now-former staff sergeant took his punishment.
Thomas noted in his decision that McKeon’s recruits stood up for him and spoke well of his character.
“I could not help but be impressed how recruit after recruit, who were in his platoon, who had followed him on that fatal night march, testified concerning his character,” he said. “They were initially prosecution witnesses, and their testimony had the ring of sincerity. All of them, college men and men with little schooling, described him as a ‘very patient man’, an ‘extremely patient man’. A number of them stated he helped them with their personal problems. He was always ready to give his recruits ‘the breaks.’”
“I, in my mind, am sure that Sergeant McKeon never meant to harm his men,” Thomas continued. “I am convinced that a punitive separation from the service is not necessary as punishment for this man, nor would the interests of the Marine Corps be served by such a separation. For him, I believe that the real punishment will be always the memory of Ribbon Creek on Sunday night, April 8, 1956. Remorse will never leave him.”
Private McKeon served out his brig time and returned to the Marines, often doing side jobs to make ends meet due to his pay reduction. Eventually, he returned to the rank of corporal, but was medically retired due to a back injury. It was reported that he was well-respected by most Marines who knew of him, and many never brought up what had happened in 1956.
True to Naval Secretary Thomas’ words, McKeon was haunted by the Ribbon Creek Incident for the rest of his life. In 1970, he told Newsweek that he prayed for the lost recruits’ souls nightly, and begged God for forgiveness.
In an effort to re-vitalize the tarnished image brought upon them by the incident, the USMC introduced the distinctive DI campaign cover and Recruit Training Commands, among other reformations designed to separate the “old Corps” from the “new Corps.”
In popular culture, the 1957 film “The D.I.,” directed and starring Jack Webb as the title character with a screenplay written by a Marine veteran, was made with the support of the USMC in hopes that it would highlight the need for hard training.
Retired Corporal Matthew McKeon would later work for the state of Massachusetts as an inspector of standards. He died on November 11, 2003.
Wow. What tragic story. To get the finest steel it must be forged and tempered. The impurities removed. The methods and processes of producing United States Marines is incumbent upon the drill instructor. With the end result always being the finest steel. (UNITED STATES MARINES) It’s not an easy task. We moved to a modern barracks after spending 1st phase of boot camp in quonset huts. Indoor communal shitter showers and pissers on the 3rd floor. In the dead of night we were awakened by pounding on the door of the duty hut. I observed our drill instructor bolting out of the barracks clad in his white skivvies and drill instructor campaign cover. My whole platoon ran outside and saw a recruit on the ground. He apparently jumped off of our third floor balcony. Our drill instructor was hovering over him, hand on hip feet locked at parade rest with his right arm extended towards him pointing at him with an open hand berating him! Whooa! He bellowed aagh! “So you think you can take the easy way out by jumping out the building!” Hah! The only way out is marching out with your platoon or in a pine box! I was stunned! I jumped into my rack thinking of what he said. Our drill instructor knew that everyone was watching. During 3rd phase just a week before graduating we marched by a 1st phase platoon unbloused ragtag undisciplined mob going past us. 3ft behind the platoon was that private marching in running shoes starting 1st phase all over as we were about to graduate! May God bless the souls of those recruits who died trying to become United States Marines, and may God bless the soul of cpl. Mathew McKeon. SEMPER FIDELIS.
Hey Kapena. what year were you at PI? I was also 3rd Herd. Paul
That event changed a lot on how recruits were trained. We were pulled from overnite stay at Elliots Beach because of cold weather. That probably would have never happened before the swamp incident. Nick 0311
Nick I went through PI Jan 66-Mar 66 2nd Bat Plt 213. When we went to Elliots Beach it was cold and raining but we stayed through the night. Semper Fi Brother!
Another good take on recruit training back in the day. Has a chapter that speaks about the Ribbon Creek Incident as well as other incidents in which recruits died or were severely injured by DIs.
https://www.amazon.com/Private-Sixteen-Weeks-Parris-Island-ebook/dp/B00D5EO5EU/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=tom+neven&qid=1587309977&sr=8-3
I work with Mat before i join the Corp in 65. He treated everybody with respect. To me he was a great guy. I ended up in Plt. 290.
John 6332 RVN. 66/67. 68/69
If this D.I. can get 3 months in the brig for 6 Recruits deaths,then why did Gy/Sgt Joe Felix get 10 years @ Leavenworth for a Recruit committing suicide.This was most unfair and if this country can let out hundreds of if not thousands of Felons,why isn’t the Gunny now a Pvt,get some love and be set free.Felix had 14 years in the ‘crotch’ and I feel he deserves to be let go.In my mind,he didn’t do anything that every D.I.who walked the turf @ PI had not done.Their job is to push Recruits to the maximum in order to weed out the non hackers that can’t make the grade.Joe Felix got a raw deal and should be released.I’ve written to VP Pence and FLOTUS about the Gunny and have yet to get a response other than they have received my email.
On the Drill Field First BN., PI 68-69 then DI School (Drill Master) 69-72 The pressure the DI’s had was never fair, some one would alway’s wait for a mistake or late for a class so they could turn you in. DI’s (not all) never got a fair deal. I myself would not change a thing, I loved the pressure . What great feeling when the recruit got his emblem at his graduation . It made you proud to be DI.
Gunny Sergeant Frank Graves, USMC/RET
Always told my kids ” The only fair I know is where you ride the Carnival rides”. Now when I complain about something my youngest, a Marine like her old man, says ” Suck it up buttercup”. Always knew she’d make a good Marine.
Semper Fi.
Amen.
Lets face it folks, going through Marine Boot Camp is NOT an easy task!! I can remember when I went through Boot Camp back in March of 68, we had one of the recruits in our training unit cut his wrists, while another when we were almost completed with training killed himself. True to form our DI’s never showed one ounce of compassion, just the opposite they used these as examples how there boys were weak and not fit to be Marines. While at the time, it seemed cruel, I soon realized that their intent was to help us understand that the Marine next to us HAD to be counted on to do what they were trained for, NOT to show weakness at the first sign of pain. I am proud of the men I went through Boot Camp with and more importantly the Drill Instructors I had who made me the Marine I am still proud to be.
Semper Fi
Sgt. T. Golden
I was in Plt 321 1966 and after a punishment PT period one recruit got a blanket party and laid in his cot as we went to chow. When we returned he was found laying on his bunk with his wrist slit. The DI went to him and said something to the effect ” You poor excuse for human being don’t even know how to commit suicide. Only pussies slice their wrists across. Then he took his hand, put the bayonet in it and told him real men stick it in the middle of the forearm and pull it down to the hand.” He then went in his hooch and was heard calling the corpsman to get this useless piece of shit out of his area, The maggot was cluttering up his area.” Even when they were taking him out on a stretcher he was still yelling at him. I thought to myself “and I have 6 more weeks with this psycho.” The next night at mail call he said “now you all know that I had nothing to do with what happened to Pvt ____. That’s when I realized he was concerned.
Summer of ’69 MCRD San Diego. I was in 1st Batt. Plt 1142; Quonset Huts, several times while in my rack I would hear ” Sgt (or Cpl) of the guard” and the clanging of the fence as recruits would try to go over the hill. We had a guy drink Hoppes rifle cleaner also. I cannot remember if it was in ITR, or where but, when we were throwing grenades the instructors were real nervous, cautious because a recent guy from I believe a Platoon from Guam, milked his grenade , and supposedly killed himself , the instructor and I think a few others. My knee-jerk reaction to the tragedy at PI was to hang that so and so, but after reading about the testimony from others about the DI, I just don’t know.
I was in Division NCO school at the time of the grenade incident. One of the guys in my class was from the range instructors at ITR. He told the class that the instructor was married, lost, I believe both legs, and an arm. He had a Bronze Star and a purple heart. Because of the design of the grenade pits, they were the only two injured. I don’t remember if the trainee was killed or just severely injured.
USMC The best thing that ever happened to us. The one thing No One can ever take away.
Semper Fi
Sgt J Burridge
69-73 VN
I was in boot at MCRD San Diego in ’67 and a DI at PI 3rd Bn in ’70, ’71, ’72 and my brother was in MCRDSD in ’69. Neither of us recall some of these stories. The “slit your wrists” was something a lot of us told our recruits. One of my uncles first heard it in 1950.
Sgt. Manos: A lot of us got in trouble for simply “adjusting the proper position of your head while at attention” (I know a lot of you know what I mean). The truth is things tightened up on D.I.’s for decades after SSgt McKeon. Being on the east coast, we were in the headlights of the Pentagon, the FBI, Congress and the Senate. Now the NCIS has a facility on Parris Island, not far from the Lyceum.
James Headrick: I thought your response was not only honest, but compassionate. I was a Drill Instructor and I felt the same way, but in the end I’m not God and I pray for all of them.
One of our Jr. DI’s got caught by the Series Commander slapping the crap out of a recruit in the stair well of our barracks (3rd Bat. at PI) Lost a stripe and his DI position and got an immediate transfer out to some other location and no contact with any recruits. All said as tough as the DI’S were they cared about their recruits unless they were some kind of sadist. Harry 1371
Thanks Harry. Our hope was that you all came back alive. Sadly, it didn’t always happen.
Haven’t seen you and Murray on the posts for awhile, getting worried. LOL SEMPER FI!
G. Willard, I had a friend that Served pretty much the same time as you and he also was a DI when he came back from Vietnam (late 69 early 70). He was at the west coast though. I was wondering if you ever had any boots go UA in boot camp. I think he had the record, while at the rifle range at Edson over half his plt. went over the hill. The next night 20 more split. They tried to write him up. He was only on a Four hitch, they final just let him out. Murray 1371
Read all your posts….even the one or two that were bulls**t (can’t you do something about them Harry and Murray?? LOL). The rest of you Marines know which ones. Loved them all!! Made me wish I was back at P.I., good times. Good times because when we D.I.’s got off you could find us at NCO/Staff NCO clubs, the Marine Corps Ball, or partying at one of our houses after graduating a platoon or in Savannah. Just really good hearing your stories.
Good to see you and Harry still on the posts. I went through Boot in MCRDSD. I was a Hat at P.I. and we didn’t see an abnormal number of UA’s there. Not too many places too run. Ribbon Creek, Broad River, swamps. Got called to identify a recruit once, wasn’t one of ours. Tried to get off the Island at night. Tide came in and he got stuck in the mud and drowned. Apparently couldn’t raise fingerprints.
My brother was at MCRDSD and Pendleton in ’70, I was flown from P.I. to MCRDSD in ’70 for a week, and neither one of us heard anything like that. I’m sure that if 50 or 55 out of 65 or 70 went over the hill, that would have been big news in our D.I. world, and that would have absolutely been an Article 15 or a summary court martial at the very least. Anyhow, the only MCRDSD D.I. I knew was Lee Ermey who sadly passed away 2 years ago almost to the day. Semper Fi Lee!!, and you too Murray.
Yeah . We need to wind this place up a little. All in fun of course. Heard any good stories lately? Maybe a joke or 2 . Been trying to hold back a little but there is still some BS on this site and, they know who they are. Harry 1371 SEMPER FI.
G. Willard, I went to high school with the MARINE, I believe him. He was facing court marital, you have to remember that a lot of the boots at that time were not there because they wanted to be there. Wood Stock had just happened, Kent State was coming up, and the war wasn’t popular. I don’t think they would want something like this be to public. I have seen many things that don’t go along with the way they want you to believe things happened. Operation Buffalo (2Jul67) they told us not to say anything about it. Then they did their PR about it so people would not know what to believe. A lot of the Marine Corps Motto’s went by the way side on that operation. Guess the big thing about it was they say we got the bodies after two days, it was at least five days. We couldn’t even move up for two days. Anyway Murray 1371.
Murray, I’m just saying that Drill Instructors a very small, tight group. We know that Marines like to think they know everything about us and why we did what we did. We don’t have a problem with that but we were privvy to things that most weren’t, unless you carried our MOS. What happened in SD reached us overnight. When we took a big hit in 3rd Bn in ’71, they knew it the next day in SD before the dust even settled at JAG. It wasn’t even a whisper across the Corps outside our D.I. world. I walked the walk with my brother and sister D.I.’s and I’m telling you nobody lost 50 out of 65 recruits and walked away, not when simple hazing charges drew Special Court Martials….AND MY BROTHER AND I WERE BOTH IN SAN DIEGO IN ’70.
As far as Vietnam you’ll get no argument from me there Murray, and Asia wasn’t the only place. The numbers didn’t seem to jive with me when they threw me on a Medevac chopper with the rest of dead and wounded. I’m just glad to see that today they report every death overseas, whether by accident or in direct combat.
Got to tutor my grandson and transport Veterans to Tampa.
Be safe and we’ll hookup on the next Grit letter.. I’m 10-7. SEMPER FI.
Watched a good you tube video of the brick barracks before they were destroyed. Video was taken by an “OLD CORPS” Marine that got permission to tour the and video the emty barracks after a graduation ,really brought back memories Harry 1371 ( PI Plt. 3056 10 Oct 67- 12 Dec 67) Semper Fi
Lot of us (D.I.’s) were there before it came down and shot videos. An eery experience, a thousand images, sounds, recruit voices and faces racing thru my mind. We got bricks when it came down. Marine Corps Rifle and Pistol Team was last unit to occupy 3rd Bn.
On February 14th 1956, I arrived at Parris Island for recruit training and assigned Third Battalion Platoon 63 . Our lead DI was T/Sgt. W. E. Muldrew, SDI, T/Sgt. J.W. Draughon, CDI, !st Lt. V.M. Rimkus, Co. Off., Co. C, 1st Lt. C.H. Knowles C. O., Co. C, Sgt. C. Howell, JDI & Cpl, D. L. Palmer JDI. all tough Marine Instructors. We were assigned to the rifle range at the same time as Platoon 71. After the fatal march, the scuttle butt was that Sgt. McKeon was upset with the discipline of his men and blamed himself for the problem. That he had the opinion that Marine Recruit Training was too harsh on many occasions and he thought a more human approach to training should be followed. The day before the incident of the drowning, we had barracks inspection that failed as we were informed by our DI that sand buckets were spilled on the floor during that inspection and Sgt. McKeon was held responsible for this by one or more of our DI’s. Whether this was true or not, I never knew for sure. I do know that the s___t hit the fan big time the next day when we were informed of the incident by our DI’s. Our training continued with harsh discipline in the way of the old Corps until our graduation. I came out of PI a much better man in many ways and have always been thankful for the honor bestowed upon me with the tilal of being a U.S. Marine. Semper Fi may brothers.
I went through PISC in July 1961 and have always been proud the toughness of my D.I.’s on us recruits (maggots) as anyone higher then a recruit called us. One southern D.I. who I met in Dec of 1965 invited me to his house in base housing for some talk and Christmas cheer he was a 2nd Lt. then but I regret not going as he was joyful that I remembered him. He was the only one who thumped me and he even chocked me with my towel after taking our first shower at receiving. He even called me “A G.. D…… Yankee” That was 59 years ago and still love it. Semper Fi
In ‘67 I went to MCRD San Diego I was in plt 1068 Just before we went to the rifle range our senior D. I. got orders to Vietnam Nam and we got a new senior D. I. just back. I remember the first Sunday night “chat” period that he gave scared me at least. He spoke very softly about Nam and some of what we would experience. He made it clear that he would train us to survive whatever it took. Some of the things he did was brutal we thought but in hindsight he showed us how to be Marines and work together, to help each other, to survive. The Marines (I) lost a lot of great people and friends over there but I feel it could have been worse without the dedication and sincerity of D. I. s like him to take the pain of their losses and try to make us the best they could. I am now and always have been and always will be a proud MARINE. To the D. I. s of yesteryear and today THANK YOU.
SEMPER FI MY BROTHERS.
I was a boot at Parris Island in August 1956 to November 1956 and we were all very much aware of what happened in April re. the recruits who drowned before we enlisted. That however didn’t stop us from enlisting. I also was in the 3rd Recruit Battalion, Platoon 275 and my Head D.I. was TSgt. T. L. Smith. A WW2 and Korean War Vet, that I idolized, Sgt. W.M.Davis the meanest Sgt. I ever knew who couldn’t walk without limping after machine gun fire cut him in half in Korea. and Cpl D.W. Reeves. All real men who earned their stripes the hard way and all of them were my idols. The old Corps was not what the new Corps is and that’s just a fact. I spent my last year in Okinawa 3rd Tank Bn. 3rd, Marine Division. Okinawa then and Okinawa now are like day & night.
I Joined the Corps in Oct. 25, 65 on my birthday. Man what a birthday present! I was in 3rd Battalion Platoon 3007 . I was a house mouse. Spit shining all the DI’S boots. As I remember our Drill Instructors were hard in many ways but they made MARINES out of us !! In high school was involved in track and cross country. I remember that I out ran my Senior drill instructor . When we got back to our quonset hut . I was called into the DI’S DUTY HUT and the S**** hit the fan !!! Wow my Senior drill instructor began to knock the air out of me. You all know where that spot is on your body. That’s when I became HIS house mouse! Well in saying all of this in Boot Camp oh yes I forgot to say I was at MCRD San Diego . ITR was hard especially hiking up HILL Mother F****ker if you all remember! Went over the pond landed in Okinawa camp Hansen then down to VIETNAM 67-68-69 3rd MAR DIV in the I Corp . My MOS was 0311-0317 . I will always love the Marine Corps (THE SUCK) Brothers for ever !! Oh ya BROTHERS don’t forget those YELLOW FOOTPRINTS and a good HAIRCUT!! SEMPER FI !!!
I never served, but my father did. I maintain that the greatest complement he ever gave me was “You’d have been a good Marine.” He graduated USNA in ’61 and then into the Marines. As he raised us kids, alot of that training got bestowed on us – determination, discipline, attention to detail, and (of course) an artist’s approach to motivational profanity! As others have said, even when telling me what I did wrong, there was always a (re)constructive foundation. I did not fully comprehend this until later in life when I played semi-pro soccer and was coaching. When I started raising my own sons and daughters it hit me full center. God bless all Marines, and thank you for your service. This story is a sobering reminder that the profession of war and death requires hard men, but we must never forget that God’s mercy protects and saves.
That story reminds me of the experiences that happened in & around my training, at MCRD-SD 4031 ’82 & Camp Pen. (while I was at 1st Training School).
1st incident: a fellow recruit died on track at Initial Physical Test.
2nd incident: Shortly after arriving to Infantry School, former fellow recruit (now Marine) ended his training via Showerhead.
3rd incident: later during our Infantry School training, we saw Earth Moving Eqpt. taking down the top of Mount MF, the hardest hill climb at CamPen. So we inquired, we found out that during a night hike, 2 recruits & 1 DI died while traversing it. It is now only “half” of it’s former glory, and renamed “Mt. Hump”; as I was told by a newer Marine that never heard about the incident until I told him.
I Thank God for all my experiences, and ask All to be Blessed!
MCRD-SD recruit 1982
3rdBtln “I” Co. 4031
Whenever i hear these stories of how tough boot camp was ‘back in the day’, I think of the tale of Tun Tavern and Captain Samuel Nicholas signing on the first enlisted Marine. Nicholas hands the new recruit a musket, a bayonet and a handful of musketballs and says, “Wait out back”
Ten minutes later, the second new Marine walks out to join the first, carrying a pint of rum and all the other gear. Marine Number 1 sees the pint of rum and says. “You new guys just don’t appreciate how tough it was in the Old Corps.”
Stoney Brook
Plt 371 MCRD San Diego Sept-Dec ’61
I read another version of how the “Old Corp” began.
Captain Nichols was signing up the first recruit at Tun Tavern and asked him if he had a rifle. The recruit replied that he did. Captain Nichols then gave him a quart of whiskey and $5.oo and told him to wait outside.
Captain Nichols then interviewed the second recruit and asked him if he had a rifle and the recruit replied that he didn’t. The Captain then issued him a rifle and a quart of whiskey and $5.00 and told him to wait outside.
When the second recruit went outside he met the first recruit and the first recruit asked him what he got for joining. #2 said he got a quart of whiskey, $5.00 and a rifle. #1 said in the “Old Corp” you had to have your own rifle.
Semper Fi, Stoney
1957 Aug-Dec Plt 256-276 1st Bn
I arrived at PI on June 17, 1963 Platoon 340 a 17 year old wet behind the ears . We had 3 DI’S who we all thought were the toughest and craziest DI’S on the planet. Sgt.Egge, Corporal Rath& Corporal Tomalka who would later give the ultimate all in Nam. We were asked as a Group if we wanted to go through PI the SOP way or the old way . We all chose the old way . We got knocked around and verbally and physically abused by today’s standards but to a man none of us would change a thing at 75 now I look back and if I could meet all three of my DI’s I would shake ther hand and buy them a brew. I know each one of my fellow Marines had my back. Semper Fi to all Marines past present and future. Don’t change a thing our lives depend on it.
Semper Fi my friends
Bill Souza 63 to 67
Arrived at MCRD SD on Halloween 1967, We lived in the GP tents set up in the 2nd. RTR area. I don’t know if the other two regiments had tents.
After ITR I went to Comm school at MCRD SD. There we learned that there was an attempted suicide every week, and a successful suicide once a month.
As I tell others, especially after “Full Metal Jacket” came out, boot camp was meant to turn young, stupid civilians into Marines who would face the harshness of combat. It is far better that recruits fail physically, or mentally, in boot camp, than in combat where they will cost other lives. It’s not supposed to be a frat initiation, it is supposed to do what it does, prepare us for combat, and to give us the best chance to survive that combat. Anyone remember the signs, “The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war.”
There was one obstacle that was a water filled pit about 15′ square. The water was covered in a gross looking scum. A wooden beam was built above, and across the pit, with 4 ropes hanging down. The first man had to jump and grab the rope and swing across. He then swung the rope back to the next man in line. The DIs warned us that no one knew what germs were in that water, and we’d better make it across. It sounded like typical DI bluster. Our last time on the O course there was another Plt on the course. One of them fell into the pit. The man was pulled out, the two corpsmen striped him naked on the spot, and poured several canteens of water over him. Then they wrapped him in a blanket, put him in the ambulance, and took him to sick bay. With the Corpsmen gone, all activity on the O course was halted. We graduated shortly after that, and we never learned what happened to that recruit.
May ’57 to May ’80
3 tours in VN -first one 62/63
loved every Second.
semper fi
I’m a 74 yr old San Diego Marine. Feb.1964/Sept.1969. RVN 65,66,69. The lessons I learned in boot camp are still echoed today. Hated getting my a— beat but what a lasting impression. One old Marine to another, Semper Fi brothers. 0311/2311.
in 1969 plt 3036 left parris island and i still remember my senior drill instructor telling us this story . we marched to that aera to take a look and to be reminded.
I was a Corpsman with D 1/4, 3rd MarDiv, RVN (’68-’69) Three DI stories. 1) We had a Staff Sgt. named Jackass. (Actually, his name has been changed for the purpose of this story – it was something quite close to that, however.) Had real crappy looking teeth, and all he could ever talk abut was when the was “pushing turds at PI.” What a loser. Never finished a single operation. Three or four days out and he was heading to Vandergrift for something. 2) I had a friend, an exceptional man, who was at PI around 1965 or so. His DI beat a man and got reported for it. There was to be an inquiry, and his company was instructed to lie if/when they got called before the hearing and say it never happened. My friend went to the DI and told him he would not lie for him. (Can you imagine?!?!) So they found something for him to do that day to make him unavailable. And guess what – he was offered OCS upon graduation. 3) When I went through Field med at Pendleton before Viet Nam, our DI was a Sgt. named McKesson, if memory serves. He had been wounded in RVN and saved by a Corpsman, and he wanted to be a DI at FMS to help us all learn how to stay alive out of his appreciation for Corpsmen. He didn’t put us all through the crazy crap some others did. His purpose was to teach us how to stay alive. We respected him a lot for that.
Daniel Miller, MCRDSD, Plt. 3105 Sept-Dec. 1974. Our D.I.’s were: Plt. Commander Sgt. Thymes, Sgt. Parrish, and Sgt. Brundige. Sgt. Thymes was the D.I. who would let us “Skate” once in a while but that man could call cadence like no other and you couldn’t help but march. Sgt. Parrish was the D.I. who didn’t let us slide at all and was the “disciplinarian” at the “Pit” and he knew his job well. But the D.I. who gave me the proper motivation during a Plt. run in third phase was Sgt. Brundige. Not sure why, but I just couldn’t stay with the Plt. that day and kept falling back. Sgt. Brundige kept telling to fall back into the platoon which I did but again I would begin to fall out of the formation. Sgt. Brundige dropped back, came up behind me and gave me a motivational “Tap” just above my right kidney and shouted “ don’t you fall, Miller, don’t you fall!” I just shouted “Sir,yes Sir” and caught up to the Plt.
My Father was a Marine during WWII in the Pacific (Guadalcanal, Tinian, and finally Okinawa) and he told me Marine boot camp was the hardest thing I would ever do. He didn’t lie. I hold NO animosity towards ANY of my D.I.s for what they did or said. They did their job which prepared me for a long career in Law Enforcement (34 years). Thank you, Sgt.’s Thymes, Parrish, and Brundige for making a man out of a boy and giving me all the tools required to take me through this life that I chose.
L/Cpl Miller (no longer on active duty)
Sept. 74-76
Semper Fidelis!
A lot of great stories. My time in was well after many of yours PISC on August 13, 1981. I had trained in what had been one of the hottest heat waves in FL. Average temperature was about 104 each day. I had no issue running my 3 plus miles in it, and did the rest of my PFT with no problems. My recruiter had told me about the toughness of boot camp and I thought I was prepared.
Ist night in receiving after hours of haircuts, showers, paperwork (so much damn paperwork when you could hardly keep your eyes open. Then the DI ordered everyone to get out and line up outside. I slowed to let someone pass in front of my to avoid colliding into him. Turn the corner at a full run into the fist of the DI, Sternum (that is the part where your chest comes together that will take your breath out with one blow). As I am gasping the Di was yelling at me that he wanted to point out “he did not hit me, I hit him. In fact, I had assaulted his fist with my chest” Concluded by saying to NEVER be the last one out of his hatch again. I never was.
1st day of training we take our initial PFT and all was good for me. Next couple of days there were a few times when PT time was changed due to “Red Flag days”. Apparently, heat illness, exhaustion and heat stroke had come to attention due to recruits having died on severely hot days, without proper hydration. We always carried water for PT, and you drank it a quart at a time. Later we learned empty or full also helped with noise discipline.
Only other time I had with “improper” discipline was when I was laughing and couldn’t stop due to my Bunkie eating a whole nut, shell included, that his wife had mailed to him. Even with the DI cover in my forehead and his nose to my nose, every time I heard the crunch I laughed. A forearm across my neck pushing my back to the rack, stopped the laughter. Not a hard choice between laughing and breathing.
Last week of training we were drilling behind 1st BM, A company, barracks when a recruit jumped from the third deck, just as we were passing by. The DI halted us, locked up at attention, while he went to the recruit who was writhing in pain in the grass nearby. He berated the recruit for being so stupid he couldn’t even kill himself properly. He sent one of the squad leaders to go call an ambulance. Meanwhile, he criticized the stupidity of the recruit, who had compound breaks on both legs (at a minimum) and provided instruction…He could have drank bleach or drain cleaner. Broken open a razor and gotten a blade, and a few others. Meanwhile, while not trying to break attention, we are rolling our eyes to the side to see what was going on. Turned out the breaks healed and that recruit was seen recycled back into training as we were leaving the island.
My Grandfather joined the Corps in late November 1941. Went to PISC on DEC 3, 1941. Never knew about his service until I enlisted, then it was like I was accepted better by him. He told a lot of boot camp stories. doing manual of arms with mops, having buckets over their head get banged on when they messed up. Every story ended with “that was 40 years ago, I’m sure everything has changed”. He came to my graduation in NOV 1981, recognized the “receiving barracks” that had been DI housing in his day. The “Iron Mike” statue from WW I, the Quonset huts that had been the “slop-chute” (enlisted club) which was now supply for us. The parade grounds we graduated had been hard packed for tents when he was there. So a few minor changes, but not much in the training. Better equipment and weapons. Same can be said for Marines today. They are better equipped, better trained and for the most part better educated than Marines in any of our days. All must be at least a high school graduate and score high on the ASVAB ( Is it still called that?) than most any other service requires. They are volunteers, after over 18 years of our country at war, some of whom were not even born prior to 9/11.
In my volunteer work with my DAV Chapter as a driver, I have seen vets from all generations, going back to WW II. I have met a few of the Iraq/Afghanistan generation, because only a few of them have actually gotten into the VA system and need the assistance of our free transportation network. I have seen the signs of PTSD that my grandfather displayed (before such a term existed), through the gaps of generations of veterans I have served ( a FEW of them are Marines). No matter what branch of service they were in, they are in the veteran boat now. I point out to them we are all in the same boat, sometimes it is good, some times it sucks, but we all have to row, bail the water or do whatever is needed to keep it afloat and moving in they right direction.
In my time in service, and the Marines I serve with in the Marine Corps League, I have worked with privates through generals who have been there and done that…some long before my time, a few during, and some a long while after I got out. The OLD CORPS! I used to use that phrase with great frequency, and in the right company still do. On one particular trip to the VAMC Salisbury, NC I ran into a WM who worked there. I was posting flyers for some fundraiser or event, and she commented on being a Marine. I have the EGA on my volunteer vest, hats, shirts…so she knew I was a Marine. She made a comment that most Marines would not even return her statement of Semper Fi. So, I gave her a big Semper Fi, with a smile. We spoke for awhile and I learned she had served her 4 years a good while after I got out from my time that ended just shy of 12. I mentioned something about the OLD CORPS and she started of with don’t sell me any of that crap about how your Corps was different from mine. I explained as it had been told to me many years ago as a young Marine, The Old Corps was just before you became a part of it. It was a phrase mostly used to let the old salts know who the FNG’s were, and put them in their place (lower on the rung)
I drove a Marine who enlisted two months before I was born. He went in in JUN 1963, I was born September 16th of that year. He retired in APR 1994, a year after I was medically discharged. MSGT Solomon Boyd spent the first 30 years of my life on Active Duty. 12 of those years overlapped with mine. He spent over 15 years as a Drill instructor, at PISC and TBS. In between he spent a couple of tours in Vietnam. Whenever he rode with me, it was like a piece of history talking with him. When I first started driving him over 4 years ago he was still ramrod straight and had that strong command voice and presence. The last time I drove him he was having difficulty walking and spoke softly. He no longer practiced his manual of arms with his sword in his backyard to the entertainment and delight of his neighbors, their children and grandchildren.
Outside of NCO school and ceremonies, I never bought my sword until long after I got out. We talked about the fact that we still knew the manual of arms, though I’m not sure I’d trust not to loose my grip and hurt someone anymore. He stated that he used to practice the movement for “carry sword” by flipping a brick upward in his hand. He stood about 5′ 8″ and was still lean, but only acted mean. No one on the van had ever heard him laugh.
The lady who coordinates our trips not only has two disabled vets of her own. Husband, Army/Vietnam. Daughter, Marine/Iraq and Afghanistan. She also schedules, and coordinates transportation with several dozen veterans and the volunteer drivers on a continual basis. One day Solomon had an appointment that had not gotten scheduled for a ride and she called everyone to get him where he needed to be. The driver of course made accommodations. Solomon told her she was “The First Lady of the Van” then just started laughing a great rolling laughter that she got caught up in as well. The next time I saw I him I mentioned the First Lady wanted me to say hello and I got a small chuckle. Apparently, my delivery was not as good as his own.
On a few conversations, I mentioned the fact that I was a novice coin collector. Knowing that the tradition of the first salute an officer received from an enlisted man (strangely, it was his drill instructor) would get a silver dollar. In his early days of service actual “silver: dollars were still in service. I told him if he ever wanted to sell any I would pay a fair price. He told me he could still picture the faces of many of the officers they came from. Apparently, he had them in holders with the officers name and date given on them.
I have met and served with Marines who were at the Frozen Chosin with Chesty Puller. Solomon Boyd claimed to have trained his son during Vietnam. Lewis B. Puller, Jr. did not have a long lustrous career as a Marine as his storied father. However, he did serve his country in a number of ways after being severely injured shortly upon his arrival in Vietnam.
John Marjinov (SP?) was the caretaker of MCMWTC Pickel Meadows when it was closed down during Vietnam. He moved his trailer onto the base and lived there for the remainder of his life. When I came aboard to be the Radio Chief/Communications instructor in NOV 1990, he was a legend. Everyone reverently referred to him as “SIR JOHN”. Story was that he had been knighted for actions taken in Korea that saved the lives of civilians, Marines and British troops. Sir John, would always say he was no damn knight, and tell you stories of the OLD CORPS while drinking on his stool at the E Club.
After he passed away, generations of Marines who had served at Bridgeport travelled back for the services, which of course was provided with full honors. I did some research after I heard of his passing, there was some talk of others who were trying to put a book together. After several months of calls, letter writing (last century), and emails when they came around. I was finally responded to by the British Embassy. After extensive research it was found that he in fact had not been knighted by the Queen. He had received the MBE, Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. According to the information I was given he could have only gotten knighthood had he been an officer, not a Sergeant of Marines. Nowadays, actors and idiots get knighted, but not a Combat Engineer who saved hundreds of lives. Crazy world…pre Corona even.
Okay, kind of got a little off topic there. Back to the basic. I spent some time as a Recruiter 1986-89 in Jackson, TN. Which was almost exactly the middle on I-40 between Nashville and Memphis. I put a good many of good young men into the Corps, and a few women. I always made sure that I found well qualified potential Marines that I would not hesitate to serve with. I told them straight scoop about BOOT and the Corps after, and most made it through okay. I had a couple of tough talking, football players who joined on the buddy program but weaseled out before swearing in and shipping out. I had one young woman who was discharged for having a mental issue in boot camp, she was on the buddy program with her friend who went on to earn the title, but the incident severed their relationship.
I met four people from my HS class of 1981 while I was in. Two were Marines and the spouse High School sweet hearts. One is still on Active duty. Having passed the 30 year mark Major General Russell Sanborn is still on Active Duty as far as I know. I saw him when he was a 1st lieutenant as he was coming about Iwakuni, Japan in NOV 1990 with his harrier squadron on a 6 month training rotation. The next I heard about him, was that he had his harrier shot out from under him in FEB 1991. While I was training reservist and recalled retirees at 29 Palms with the recently stood up SouthWest Asia Training Group (SWAT-G) to deploy for Desert Shield/Storm. He was in country. shot down, and a POW. Read the accounts of the POW’s in Iraq. I met Russ in 3rd grade when I moved to FL in 1972. His wife has been had been his girlfriend since before HS. They have 5 daughters. I believe 3 are in service 2 Naval Academy, 1 Navy/1 Marine, another Air Force Academy. He overcame his being shot down, POW that resulted in burst eardrums, fractured eye socket and a list of other injuries that kept him from flying a bit. Ended up being CG 1st MAW, and other significant commands. Last I heard he was in charge of MWWR. In the OLD CORPS it was just MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation. I think the new W is Wellness). When I think of heroic and service I think of Russ, Linda and family. After all they have been through and seen, three of the kids now in service too.
I got orders to join with forces and deploy in support of Desert Storm in DEC 1990 before I had even checked into Bridgeport. Did check in/check out TAD on same day. 13 of us went to 29 Palms. We were pulled into SWAT-G instead. Spent the next couple of months giving classes on desert communications (first time I had ever even been in one), rear area security and the MULE (a Multi Use Laser that could light up target for the smart bombs being used at the time, first time I had heard of or seen one). You know the phrase “fake it til you make it”?. I did not want to fake it, so I went to Comm school and got up with the instructors. Got equipment and knowledge on how communicating in a desert was different from everywhere else I had done it from. Got a MULE and the manuals on it and put together some classes. I was listed as an Instructor after all. We all gave classes from time to time before I ever became a certified one, which was after the Gulf War.
For about 3 months we trained Marines and they shipped out to Kuwait to hold the line in the sand. Orders came down that this class was the last class and we were to shut down and deploy with them. However, that is not how it went down. Instead the war was over by the weekend. I watched it live on CNN in the TV room. Next week we were cut loose back to the mountains. At MCMWTC there was no training, all units on the schedule were in the desert. So the CO took the command up to the mountains to cross-train. Two weeks into training, I got hurt falling into a snow cave that had not been collapsed after demonstration. Ski tips first, full pack, bouncing down the side of the mountain.
Missed the dang war and get hurt training two weeks later that ended nearly 12 years of service. Finally selected for promotion to SSGT (I was the senior SGT on base with over 6 years in grade). There were instructors who were snipers/recon, I was the only non infantry instructor, with less time in service than I had in grade getting promoted ahead of me. I never enlisted anyone to be a Field Radio Operator, promotions were slooooow. Again, I get sidetracked. Got hurt, caused light duty. Docs couldn’t find root cause. Physical Evaluation Board gave me medical discharge without disability. VA found ruptured discs in neck and low back, degenerating disc up and down the spine and had a 50% rating on my first evaluation 3 years after discharge. Contacted Board of Naval Corrections and pointed out that 30% would have gotten me medical retirement. They pointed out in return, nothing stated on neck or back in medical records. Which was true. Doctors lack of experience got me good.
Pre COVID…that is gonna be a thing now. I volunteered my time as a van driver and fundraiser for my Disabled Veterans Chapter. Fundraiser and Supply Officer for my Marine Corps League Detachment. Just was elected to be Junior Vice Commandant. Will have to take oath of office over a conference call next month. Whenever people say “thank you for your service”, instead of giving a donation or help with whatever our cause at the time in. I always reply, “We may no longer be in the Service, but we are still being OF Service”.
Once a Marine, Always a Marine. I am proud to have done my small part of the 245 history. my local MCL has been going for 48 years of it. The oldest Marine in our Detachment enlisted during WW II. Additionally, served in Korea and Vietnam and retired after 32 years. He turned 100 in OCT. From Private to Major General Lloyd Wilkerson was around awhile. His son was also Major General Wilkerson, just shortcut promotion starting as a 2nd LT.
I have met and worked with some of the younger Marines of the Communications Company nearby. A few are in the MCL Detachment. They are still the Few and the Proud. Good men and women standing in harms way in support of the nation and its citizens. God Bless the nation and the Marine Corps.
Semper Fidelis,
Mike Clark
August 13, 1981-April 20, 1993 (27 years ago yesterday, damn I’m getting old)
OldMarineDAV@yahoo.com
I enjoyed your memories.
Esprite de corp
Semper Fidelis
USMC
89 -03