It was Christmas Eve 1965. I had
been called to St Louis by the
draft board along with three
Guys from my little town in
southeast Mo. After arriving
And completing a day of tests etc.
A army Sgt separated us some
To go home some to go to be
Drafted. You guessed it I got the
Second group. While waiting
For the bus I was laminating
About it being Christmas Eve
Guy next to me said there is a
Marine In the hall if you enlist
You can go home til after the
New year! Yes I Did and went to
San Diego in Jan of 1966. I was in
Nam Jan 67. Made it back and was
Ordered to Twenty nine Palms. Discharged and no regrets.
SSGT. USMC PROUD
Funny story, Ron. I wonder how many guys used the same system to make things just a little easier. Semper Fi!!! Top Pro
I was in college night classes with 9 credits in December 65. I hung out in the same diner as the Marine Recruiter and had talked to him about enlisting but the draft was 2 yrs and Marines were 3 or 4. I got my draft notice for 13 Jan 66 and reported as ordered. They said they needed 4 for the Marine Corps and asked our group of about 32 for volunteers. Two did, I was not one of them. A few minutes later my recruiter friend entered and called out 4 names. I was one of them. He only took one of the volunteers and he never went to Nam. He gave me the orders and we were off to bus and train to Parris Island. When I called my mother to tell her I was in the Marines the phone went to dead silence. Three of us were to leave June 1 for Third Marine Division, 0311. After a language appitude test I was sent to Vietnamese Language School 29 May. The other two went 1 June. One was in S1 a company clerk and my closer friend ,Walt, went to A Co 1/9. He had a purple heart by October and earned a Silver Star. He came home a Sgt and was sent to Quantico as an MP until 12 Jan 66 when we got out. I followed him to Nam 25 Aug 66 and ended up as Intell Asst S2 HQ Co 1st Marines. I have Requiter Paul Quinn to thank. He changed the direction of my life. I met with Walt a few years later and we talked for hours. He was on the DMZ and I was on the rocket belt south of Danang. We were in different wars. Semper Fi
And people want to see my dad because I was a ssgt over 5under 6