As a Lance Corporal with 18 months service, I was put in charge of a dorm of freshly minted Marines at Naval Communications Training Center, Corey Field, Pennsacola, Florida. I’m not sure that I needed it, but I soon had an “enforcer” who helped me control the rowdy barracks crowd of probably 75. Kenny was always able to better gain the attention of the others, and help me control the chaos. He was a natural leader that everyone looked up to, PFC out of boot and an all around great guy that everyone liked.
We were being schooled to be “cold war warriors” and after some months, Ken for whatever reason was not able to pass into the advanced phase of training. ( I am certain that the reasons were not academic). He was sent up to 2nd Marine Division, and after arriving there began to box, eventually becoming All Marine heavyweight Champ. I understand that it was for the first time in his life that he had boxed. I have always wondered how far Ken Norton would have made it if he had done the Golden Gloves and Olympics like so many of the people he left laying on the mat.
Tom Piercy
Cpl of Marines
61-66
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Hi Tom – Having spent most of my career in the Corps as either a comm tech or operator, I was interested that you attended Naval Communications Training Center, Corey Field, Pennascola. What type of training did you receive there? I know that the Marine Corps used Navy schools for communications traiining for a very long time prior to the establishment of Marine Corps Comm/Elect Schools in San Diego, and I would be interested in hearing about Corey Field. Regarding boxing, the gym at Camp Lejeune had a very high reputation of producing good boxers for AAU and the olymics. When I was there in the mid-70’s, I remember literally running into Leon Spinks at the main PX. I can’t remember the name of the coach, but he was world reknown for producing great boxers. Semper Fi!
NCTC Corey Field was home to the Special Intelligence Communications courses (257x’s aka “spooks’)…Most of these Marines were sent on to one of our Radio Battalions, or to one of the special Marine companies within Navel Security Group
That’s kind of what I thought, but wasn’t for certain. Thanks for the info, Top. Semper Fi!
I’m guessing that you were a 28xx…It looks like we served during the same time frame…I was a 2891, and retired in February of ’87 after 23 years (ElMaCo – 1st FSSG).
That’s right, I started my career as a TTY Tech but was denied reenlistment in that field due to a glut of techs. So I switched to operational comm. Along the way I picked up secondaries as 3041 Supply Chief and 8411 Recruiter. When I retired in June ’84 I was a 2591 Comm Chief for Current Operations Branch/J6 USCentCom. Had a great career doing different things. Semper Fi!
Hi Tom, I was stationed at NCTC, Old Corey Field 1970-73 as a Remington Raider (Administrative Clerk). I enlisted in the Marines rather than be be drafted in the Army. I missed going to Nam by one week.
While stationed at the Mcalester OK Naval Ammunition depot after returning from Korea, we had 3-Round 3-Minute (Smokers we called them) with the inmates at the Big Mac Penitentiary. I don’t know how this got started. It was going on in late 1951 when I arrived. We had one Marine who was a former Golden Gloves guy who was really good. I don’t think he ever lost a bout. But the weird thing was that the locals who attended would cheer for the inmates. The local people didn’t have a high regard for the Marines being in their town for some reason? When we went to the Red Ball Saloon in town for refreshments, or other bars, the locals would like to get a little rowdy with us.
Hello Tom, the great Ken Norton did become the NABF champion in 1973 by beating Mohammad Ali . He was also the WBC champion in 1978. Incidentally, another Marine, Leon Spinks, beat Ali to become the WBC champion in 1978. However, Spinks refused to fight Norton the same year and was stripped of his title which was then awarded to Ken Norton. A little confusing. Hope this helps.
Ah, yes, I remember Ken Norton training at the Camp LeJeune gym in ’66. There were a couple of other Marines who many thought may be better than K.N. He learned a lot from Art Redden, also at LeJeune at that time. Then there was Percy Price, Never saw him box, like I did Norton and Redden, because I met Sgt. Price in Vietnam!
Gary, I remember the boxers you mentioned. There is another boxer that comes to mind. Maurice Frilot, a Marine who represented the U.S.in the 1964 Olympic games as a welterweight. Unfortunately he lost. S/F
Frilot was in my series at MCRD SD in 1959. I Was in Plt. 257. He spent a few weeks of his boot camp on the boxing team . We were lucky and got to go to the “smokers ” I recall he went to the boxing team at Pendleton
Hi Tom, Travis & Top Pro, I grew up in Pensacola when Corry was still an airfield flying SNJ’s in th as a e ’50’s. In the early ’60’s as a 3rd Force Recon Team leader I was sent to NAS Corry Station, by then a Communication Training Center to learn Morse Code. I also used Corry tarmac to qualify Marines who applied for jump school (2 mile run in 16 minutes or some such). I felt very much at home at Corry, it was only 2 miles from my parents home in Navy Point, Warrington. In the ’50’s I flew free flight model airplanes in a huge grass field south of Corry where the Navy Hospital is now. SNJ’s were still making touch & goes at the time. Corry also had a fenced paved circle for flying u-control model airplanes which we were allowed to use. One of my running mates dad was Commanding Officer of the USS Antietam aircraft carrier. Your comments about Corry Field brought back a flood of memories as a Marine and as a boy growing up in Warrington.
@ Top Pro USMC ’64-’84 — Judging from your comments, I should know you…Do you have a name to go along with the “Top Pro” ?? Get back to me on email direct — ke6ym@att.net
Inter-service boxing matches – 1971. The one I recall was held at a Coast Guard facility in Yorktown Virginia. It was a 4-way event that included Marines and Sailors from NWS Yorktown, soldiers from Fort Eustis and Coastguardsman. The bad thing was that many of the audience were pre-lit with alcohol before the matches began. After a couple of bouts fighting began in the audience as well as throwing wooden folding chairs, it was quite a donnybrook! Unfortunately there was also women and children in the crowd. I remember distinctly that there were only 2 Navy SP in the gym. It got pretty ugly.