All Arizona Platoon #354 1964

Sgt. Grit

All Arizona Platoon #354's Sgt. J.P. Coen, JDI, in the letters from Robert Adams, Robert Eisenreich, and Charles Hightower in the Newsletters from the summer of 2007 about the movie, "The D.I." bring a knowing grin. Some time amidst the blows of basic training Sgt. Coen made an offer, "When you're a Marine I'll give you a chance to flight me."

True to his word on that final day he asked, "Any of you Marines want to fight me?"

A hand went up fast.The new Marine, barely 5'8" weighing about 135 had been waiting for this promised opportunity. Back when he was first down the plane ramp and smiled for the photographer taking a picture of the All Arizona Platoon he figured Mr. Body Beautiful 1958 (Coen) had it in for him.

Sgt. Coen said, "Meet me over there Marine."

There were a couple of others, but he was first inside waiting.

He knew. Only one good blow was all he would get. He got a firm grip on the back of a chair. When JDI Coen entered, he swung. It wasn't enough. He knew it wouldn't be.

He did walk out under his own power. Amid clamoring from the others to know what happened he answered, "I hit him in the face with a chair. He told me to send you in next."

Ronald E. Bennett, the he in this story, did two tours in Vietnam. His father was a Marine in WWII. His three younger brothers were Marines. His son was a Marine in Desert Storm. He even talked his nephew into becoming a Marine recently back from Iraq.

My husband, Cpl. Ronald E. Bennett, died in a vehicle crash in December of 2008 so the knowing grin at the beginning is mine. I've heard about the Davy Crockett cadence. I have the VHS tape of the movie, "The D.I." and every time we watched it. Ron laughed loudly saying, "That's exactly what basic training was like except we had Sgt. Coen, Mr. Body Beautiful of 1958."

Thanks to all of you for this memory.

I have the 1964 Platoon #354 book including a picture of Sgt. J. P. Coen, JDI . Please email me if I can make a copy of anything from the book rbennet3 [at] tampabay.rr.com Attached is a photo of Platoon # 354.

Karen E. Bennett, wife of Cpl. Ronald E. Bennett
1964 – 1967