Corporal Costello was the junior DI of my platoon, 373 in 1965 at Parris Island. “Private Kelly, report to the drill instructor.” I hurried to the desk setting at the end of the squad bay where Costello was sitting. “Sir, Private Kelly reporting as ordered, Sir!” “Private, I want you to go next door to platoon 375, see Sergeant Lowell and bring back a bucket of back blast. (At that time I had no idea what back blast might be). He also wanted me to deliver a personal message to Sergeant Lowell from him calling him a vulgar name. I grabbed my bucket (all recruits had a bucket that was used as a seat etc). When I entered the other platoon’s squad bay a nearby recruit screamed “worm in the barracks,” at which time I heard another voice order “kill the worm.” I was immediately grabbed by several recruits and roughly brought to see Sergeant Lowell. “What are you doing in my squad bay, worm.” I gave him the message from Corporal Costello. It was not received well. I also asked for a bucket of back blast. Sergeant Lowell’s remarks to me can not be repeated. Afterward I was literally thrown out of the angry platoon’s squad bay. As any Marine of the era knows, when I returned to deliver back blast to Corporal Costello and didn’t have it I had to do “push ups until I almost died.” It is a true story.
Bucket of back blast
Just making one comment on this weeks stories. Love them! That’s the stuff we need! Tanks to all the writers! Harry 1371
That’s great, J.R.!! Do you know the difference between a fairy tale and a sea story? A fairy tale starts out, “Once upon a time…” and a sea story starts out, “Hey, this is no shit man…” When I was the Supply/Logistics Chief for Comm Support Co, 1st Marine Brigade, we would often get FNGs at the supply counter asking for the proverbial “left handed monkey wrench,” dark black paint, for 2 ft. of Fallopian tube. The guys would always send them back to me for further inquiry. I usually would send them to another unit supply with the same request, ad nauseam. You’re only a boot and FNG once, so everyone has to take advantage of it. Semper Fi!!! Top Pro
After being in country about a week and just before before going into the field for the first time, I was sent to the armory to retrieve a flash suppressor for an M-79! Paul
Glad to see the link is up. In Communications/2500/2800 we would send newbies out of C&E Schools for frequency grease. Sent one on a quest for a BA-1100-N and told them if the Supply NCO couldn’t find it/them to look over by the TR-(double) EE’s. My first duty station was Tustin LTA. On Guard Detail, tried to send me to armory for a shoulder holster for a 106 RR. Also, as it was Air Wing, had new Marines show up in Comm shop looking for Prop/Wing Wash or Flight Line.
Sent to service company warehouse to get 5 gallons of “slack”. Harv.
Shore Party “boots” were sent to supply to get 100ft of shore line…..Bob 1381 Vietnam 1966/1967.