I was at P I in the summer & early fall of ’56 too; was in 3 1/2 active years & was a Sgt. E4 when realeased from active duty. Am now 82 and the Corps experience is the foundationof my adult life! When I visited the “Island”in in 1997 I was surprised to learn how different it was. I was told DIs could not touch recruits, supposedly were not supposed to swear at them either & the old 3rd Battalion quonset huts were gone! No matter the changes /improvements of boot camp, I know some Marines who were at the “Island” in the ’90s and early 2000s. They are just as good as we were, perhaps even better because they use much more advanced weapons sytems than we did. One thing that does surprise me is that so many entries on Face Book center on boot camp with little commentary about exeriences in the “real Corps” away from tranining commands.
Semper Fi brothers and sisters, LDD Sgt. USMC 1555451
I heard some scuttlebutt that someone wanted to shut “The Island” down. Please say it ain’t true. Harry 1371
Ok, I just read that The Marine Corps wants to shut down P.I. and San Diego and construct one base to train men and women recruits together. There is a bill in congress called The Parris Island Protection Act to prevent the closings. Harry 1371
That’s not good. Many states and cities across the country are still effective from those prior round of U.S. Military base closure.
I hope they leave P.I. alone plt 3036 1969 5 novenber Semper FI
I was in 3rd Bn at PI in 1956 as well. From July 29 to October 29. Wondered what platoon you were in?
Unlikely. Parris Island is currently the only RTR for women, and MCRD PI and MCRD San Diego are in close proximity to Lejeune and Pendleton (respectively) for reasons. And, both RTR’s have historical significance.
I too just heard about the possibility of closing both MCRD’s and was surprised but did verify it with an article in Military Times. In that particular article it mentioned there will be one MCRD location with facilities to train both sexes. It even mentioned the possibility of having co-ed barracks! What a cluster @#$& that would be. I was at PI June, July, and August 1962 and there was one platoon of Women Marines training then and they went to great strides in making sure we DID NOT co-mingle.
I’ve been back to PI several times and would hate to think the idiot politicians would close down something so effective.
Cpl Richard Henderson 1962-1966
Semper Fi
There’s several issues here: The closing of MCRD San Diego and/or Parris Island and the perceived need for co-ed training and deployments.
Leaving the latter for another day, the harsh reality is ‘things change’ and military bases, no matter how historical or filled with memories, get left behind. There’s reasons why Fort Ord, Alcatraz, Treasure Island, Moffett Field, Camp Matthews and the Naval Training Center in San Diego were left. There’s also reasons we let go of wooden ships, muzzle loading rifles, battleships, biplanes and the Rocks & Shoals of discipline …
I love the spirit – the sense that the men and woman who served there have left a part of themselves – of old, abandoned military bases; the faded pictures of Quonset huts, hangers and formations of troops who went before us …
But, sometimes, we have to change with the times. MCRD San Diego still has its patina of old glory but has changed. Sea School, the brig, the Grinder, the housing units, the drills and training methods, and weapons are not as in WWII, Korea or Vietnam. As long as the mission of MCRD is to make Marines, it can be done in a Walmart parking lot. It’s the Marine DIs who make Marines, not the location or the trappings.
Some good points ‘Stoney’ but as an 8511, location and basic methodology remain inherently unchanged. I see the same core principles every time I go to P.I. as they were when I was on the field.
“The Corps” is downsizing. They are in the process of eliminating all of the tank battalions, most of the arty batteries and some infantry regiments. They have already eliminated all float bridge companies. “The Times They Are A Changin.” Paul S. 0311