Author: SgtGrit

Late Arrival At MCRDSD

All the letters about boot camp and DI's have me on memory lane of late. Of course my favorite is waking up after the late arrival at MCRDSD. I'm guessing we hit the rack about 3:00 AM and reveille was at 4:00 AM. My first thought upon waking was I've really messed up this time, only messed up was not the exact term I used. Funny, I remember thinking the same thought before we hit the rack. read more

50 Years To The Day

This picture was taken in front of the 1st Recruit Training Battalion Headquarters, On May, 19th, 2015, fifty years to the day, that I graduated Boot Camp. SgtMaj Molina, (3rd from left), the SgtMaj of 1st Bn., had the D.I.s from Charlie Co. (that was my company in P.I. with Plt 119) take this picture with me, 1stSgt Lytle, the 1stSgt of Charlie Co. is on the end, he's holding my platoon graduation book. Plus me being a Viet Nam Vet, I was treated with the utmost respect. The SgtMaj, made a copy of my platoon's graduation picture, and hung it up in the Battalion conference room, so, if anyone from Plt 119, goes to visit Parris Island, and goes to the 1st Bn HQ, they'll see our Platoon Picture on the wall. read more

Parris Island Reunion Plts 236-237-238-239 From 1962

"Our group of Marines all just got back from our Parris Island Reunion at the end of April 2015. Had another good turn out with about 27 Marines from PLTS 236-237-238 and 239 from L Company 2nd BN. We arrived at P.I. on June 15th and Out Posted on Sept 13th, 1962. After P.I. we then all when to Camp Geiger ITR to Hotel Company. I still have my Company picture of that group of Hotel Company. Then we all went to our assigned MOS's. This is the 2nd Reunion we have held. The first was in 2013 and was our first trip back since 1962 as a group. I am so sorry to see that our old wooden barracks have been replaced with brick ones. We have had a great time at each of these Reunions. They just get better each time we do a Reunion… This year we opened the Reunion for other Marines that wanted to come and got 1 that had been at the Island in 1968 also. He fit right in with our group of Marines. read more

50 Years Ago

50 Years Ago

I raised my hand and swore an oath
I rode the bus to MCRD
I stood on the yellow footprints
I had all my hair cut off
I was assigned to a platoon – #3007
I wallowed in the sand pit
I cleaned the heads
I did mess duty
I did squat thrusts until I dropped
I got yelled at day and night
I ran PT courses until I was strong and able
I polished my brass and boots until they shined
I read and re-read my little red notebook
I drilled until the D.I’s cadence was embedded in my brain
I double timed wherever I went
I fired my M 14 in the rain-and hit what I was aiming for
I learned what it meant to stand for something
I learned how to be part of a team
I stood at attention and was finally called a Marine
That was then and this is now – and I’m still a Marine read more

My Battlefield Cross

The attached pictures are from a Memorial that I put up in my front yard every Memorial Day and Veterans Day as a tribute to my fallen brothers. My "Battlefield Cross"… (with the helmet, weapon, dog tags and boots of a fallen Marine/Soldier/Airman/Sailor…) are very special to me… I started doing this in my front yard many years ago but just never really shared it. Only the neighbors and people who drove by would stop and look and take pictures… And then I would take about 60/70 pictures just to find the perfect one to print and save. read more