THAT'S WHAT THE 8 ROUNDS ARE FOR
This is in reply to Chuck Sarges comments about falling out to witness a Marine being “Drummed Out”. I was also in the 2nd Service Regiment, H&S Co. Engineer Maint. Plt. Building #308. In fact I was sent to Lejeune the day after my graduation from P.I. I spent the next three years there in the same squad bay, April '54 to Jan.'57. I only remember one such incident. The reason I do is because the pvt. getting the D.D. had been someone I had to
pick-up at the brig and march back to his company to take care of some private matters before he was discharged. In those days whenever you pulled guard duty , you had to serve as prisoner chaser also. I was only a PFC at the time and the whole matter made a lasting impression on me. I remember being given a clip of 8 rounds for my M1 Garand and being instructed by the Sgt. of the guard to load my rifle as I left the brig and march three paces
behind my prisoner and to allow no one to get between us. I had arrived at the brig at noon chow so I had to wait for my man to finish his work detail. While I was there one of the brig guards asked if I had chow yet. It was something I'll never forget. Being a PFC I was not used to being waited on .I can still see those prisoners waiting on me as if I was “Chesty Puller”. What is still vivid in my mind was the way they moved about, it was a half step ,it was called of course a brig step. Before I left the brig I got more instructions from the duty warden that made me realize how serious this duty was. He told me that this man was under my command, he only did what I said he could do. He said no one was to talk to him while in route and once we got to the company only those in command there could talk to him. The warden continued telling me that the circle on his back was my bull's-eye and if he tried to escape , well that's what the 8 rds. were for, and if he did get away I would have to serve his remaining time. I don't know if that last remark was true, but it impressed the “h*ll” out of me. Anyway it was a long walk from the brig[ in those days it was across the street from the base theater] to the 300 area. I started out at port arms but before I got out the gate one of the brig guards told me it would be a lot more comfortable to rest the butt on my right hip and hold the rifle by the pistol grip with my right hand. This I did and I got through the detail
without a hitch. The man getting the D.D. was in a company down the street from mine, I was in building 308 he was in 310 or 312 and some times he would act as regimental bugler. I remember his name but I don't think it would be proper of me to mention it. I don't know what he did to warrant his D.D., but I hope he was able to get his s-it together in later life. He wasn't a bad kid, thats what we all were 18-20 year olds, he was little to wild and had a problem with booze.
Jim {Hap} Harrington Cpl USMC
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