Sgt. Grit:
I was fortunate enough to be able to revisit MCRD San Diego last week while on business. Although things have changed they still remain the same. Keep in mind I was in boot camp in 1969-70. Except for a few in the old 2nd Battalion area all of the old Quonset huts are gone. About a third of the parade deck is a parking lot but you can still hear a drill instructors voice from the far end. Most of the new buildings were constructed in the old Spanish style. The new barracks fit in nicely with the old pre WWII palisade.
The museum is nice but the old yellow footprints in the parking lot by the receiving barracks are gone. The planes still take off from Lindberg field and yes they still drown out the Di’s.
The one thing that I did find odd was Starbucks. Starbucks on the recruit depot? Does Parris Island have a Starbucks? California Marines can truly be called “Hollywood Marines” now.
What ever happened to the old melt the spook black coffee the Di’s used to drink?
Sgt. Jim Grimes