I was a member of Series 3100 (honor platoon), graduating 10 November 1966. Senior DI Panach(?) during each night’s “free time” repeatedly told us that the only woman we should write letters to was our mother. One night after mail call, he call the entire platoon to attention, then told us to open that letter we just received from our girlfriends, “Rosie Rotten…..” and look up at the upper right corner of the letter. He said to call out every letter that had been written on a Friday or Saturday night. Not one called out. He then concluded the lesson by explaining that Rosie didn’t write on a weekend because she was out bangin’ some draft dodging Joe College (of course there are an few more descriptive terms). BUT your mother wrote regardless of what day of the week it was. “She was the only woman you can trust”.
Category: Main
Messes up your dope huh ?
While on rifle range guard duty at Paris Island in 1965, my sling slipped and my M14 fell muzzle first to the ground. Thinking this may effect my marksmanship qualifying efforts, I mentioned this unfortunate event to my junior drill instructor thinking he may have some sound advice. He took my weapon and asked me to show him how it fell. My confusion was answered by him instructing me to fall exactly like my rifle did. At that point in my stay at PI,my instilled blind obedience took over and I fell over but used my hands to cushion the impact. he barked “no maggot, your weapon does not have hands, do it again.” The second time was without hands and it did in fact “mess up my dope”. Lesson Learned !!
Slide for life
In September 1962, we were on the confidence course, the DI had us in formation, and had us count off by fours. I was a four, and he told us every “4” would come to attention when we were coming down the slide. Now truthfully,I thought “good” because it looked impossible to to . So I get going,and I changed a couple of the moves,and I thought , shit I can do this. Well I heard the DI call me to attention, but I kept going, because now I knew I could finish. When I got down ,the DI called me over,and asked for an explanation. Well I gave him a lame ass excuse, ” Sir ! The recruit didn’t hear the Drill Instructor Sir”. I foolishly thought that was it. We Returned to the barracks, and lined up for a head call. About ten recruits ahead of me was passing a hatchway and a fist came out at blinding speed,and hit him square up side the head,and knocked him across the passageway. Now I knew what awaited me for my disobedience. But for better or maybe worse I knew what was coming! I got up to the Hatch,and the fist came out, and also knocked me across the Passageway a lesson learned, but I was glad I had completed the slide anyway !
NEW WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY TO LIGHTEN LOAD FOR MARINES
Marine Corps Systems Command’s Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad Team has partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory to create a boot insert prototype to help improve the performance of Marines.
The Mobility and Biomechanics Insert for Load Evaluation, or MoBILE, technology is hand-made by the bioengineering staff members at Lincoln Labs with the Marine in mind. MoBILE helps detect changes in mobility and agility, which will help MCSC make informed decisions on material composition and format of athletic and protective gear.
Corpsmen Never Forget
Every time I hear news on the television that one of our servicemen was killed overseas it brings to mind my time when I served as a corpsman with 2nd Bn 5th Marines in 66 and 67 in Vietnam. Our Battalion had lots of Marines killed and wounded and I personally was involved with providing medical care to many of them either in Hotel Company or while at the Bn Aid Station. The Marines depended on their corpsmen to perform their duty when the time came. Far too often, many of the wounded had horrific wounds from mines or other high intensity explosions and our best was not good enough to save their lives.
Nick Names
In the early 60’s at P.I. the battalion nick names were:
1st batt.—“Dodge City”
2nd batt.—“The Twilight Zone”
3rd batt.—“Disneyland” (the new brick buildings)
I have no idea when these nick names started or if they have been changed over the years only other Marines can answer that so all you alumni from P.I and S.D. from the “Old School” to today send in the nick names they were using when you were in boot and list either P.I. or S.D.
Most Riky Tik
I was sitting outside my hooch, at Marble Mountain, late 1968 or early 69. I had a clear view down towards the showers and out- houses ( the polite name ). A Marine was going to the showers, wearing only a towel, and stopped off at the out-house to do his business. What he was doing was fairly clear since the door and upper half of the walls were just screens. I could not hear what happened, but from his actions I can guess. He lifted the lid, turned and ran through the door, fell and did a high crawl at high speed. He had gotten about twenty feet from the door when green smoke billowed out of the out-house causing myself, and others with me, to nearly die laughing. Tough humor for tough times.
Bob Hope At Freedom Hill
I was with 7th Comm. Battalion on hill 10, just outside Dogpatch, Christmas 1967. We all made plans to see Bob Hope at Freedom Hill. We were looking forward to all the “Eye Candy” he would bring to our part of the world. We made the trip along with about twenty thousand other swinging D-cks. We were so far up the side of that mountain all we could see was Mr. Hope’s red baseball cap.
Marine Corps Shooting Team Hosts 2017 Championships
The Marine Corps Championships, hosted by the Marine Corps Shooting Team, was held at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, May 3-12, 2017.
Although this particular competition was primarily designed to recruit Marines to come to the shooting team, one of the most important aspects of the competition is for competitors to become ambassadors in marksmanship knowledge and skills for their fellow Marines.
Health And Comfort From The Red Cross
Sgt. Grit,
My Youngest Son gave me a Birthday card that was as Nice a card as this eighty six year old has ever received. Pinned to the card was a Large pin back button that said, “I’ve Survived D-mn Near Everything”. I mounted that pin on the back of my desk. I looked at it today, thinking back to when I was sent to the Pacific during World War II. I landed on Guam after the island was secured and remember this seventeen year old that had never left the state of Colorado and was now on a tropical island where the enemy was still being hunted down, captured or killed.