I was wondering how many out there remember duck walking around their area for a few hours in the middle of the night? At Parris Island many moons ago I was a f-cking recruit in the 5th Bat. We had 92 in our platoon. Half from the North and the other half from the South. Resulting conversations were priceless. And one of those led to 3-hours of duckwalking around our huts, in formation, counting cadence from 1am to 4am. We finished up as the Depot Honor Platoon in spite of our backgrounds and the fact that in 13-weeks we had 13 ddifferent Drill Instructors. In that 13 weeks we only lost 2 kids who could not make the grade and one of the Drill Instructors knew that from the beginning. Him, I'll never forget, Sgt Weatherford. He may not remember me, but he and his attitude helped make me a Marine. I am very proud to still carry the title at 77.
Category: Other USMC
I Got Caught
While fixing a little batch of my favorite snack I couldn't find my
wife's mixer, but I did find one of the blades. She was busy and I
didn't want to bother her, so I did what any good Marine would do.
You might say I got caught with my hands in the cookie jar.
Good Number Of Misguided Recruits
Dear Sgt Grit,
Sgt. Dennis Warn's comments about D.I.s and San Diego International
Airport (aka Lindberg Field… see SW corner) brought back a few
memories from my time at MCRD (June-Aug 1968).
MCRD formed a triangle… along one side was the Interstate, along
the base of the triangle was a pond… with the Navy boot camp on the
other side… and the airport on the third side. Perhaps not as
grisly as P.I. for a recruit trying to "flip the fence" but tough
enough. Airport security turned over a good number of misguided
recruits to SDPD who returned them to the Depot.
Seagoing Marines
Sgt. Grit,
As most of your readers will know, the United States Marine Corps
provided fighting men aboard Naval vessels since the beginning of the
Corps, but some may not know that in 1988, then president Bill
Clinton, removed the last of the seagoing Marines from ship's
detachments.
Many Squat Thrusts
Hey Sgt Grit,
I shot these photos late summer of 1968, flying out of San Diego. I was at MCRD for Radio/Electronics school.
The first shot is of the Quonset huts at the south end of MCRD; I was there for boot camp, Plt. 152, A Co., 1st Bat. The close proximity of the airport is obvious. I remember waking up to the sound of jet engines starting and the smell of jet exhaust.
Cactus Air Force Marine
Our brothers who have gone before us beared greatly on the fabric of
the Corps we are privileged to wrap ourselves in as Marines past and
present. It saddens my heart as I read the letters in Sgt. Grit and
learn how those from the greatest generation diminish in numbers with
each passing year. I have been blessed to cross paths with a few of
these Marines and cherish those events.
Sea School Class E-7
As promised, I am attaching a photo of my sea school class. We were class E-7. We graduated in December 1962 and I received my ship assignment to the USS Shangri-La in February 1963. Most of us got our sea going orders in January after spending Christmas leave at home, but a few were assigned in December 1962. I can identify some of the Marines in the photo, but I am having some difficulty attaching names on some of them. If anyone can name anyone in the photo, please respond. I am the first on in the third row. I believe four or five of the people in the photo served with me aboard the "Shang".
PISC Receiving barracks
I am hoping someone will see this post and respond since I do not know where any of my old receiving barracks crew members are. I am posting a photo of the entire receiving barracks crew from 1966. I am first on the left side of third row (second row standing).
GySgt Richard Cruz 81′-01′
Hello, I am trying to help my hubby find his friends from the Corps. He was in the Somalia Era. His MOS was Artillery. He was also a close combat instructor. Please feel free to email me at wildcatsupply[at]gmail.com. Thank you.
They Always Come Back!
The "Freedom Bird" story in February's newsletter reminded me of the saying our platoon commander (Platoon 3096,Dec. 1967) had regarding the airport being next door to our MCRD San Diego company area. Of course he was refering to those "chickensh-ts" that went over the fence cause they couldn't take it anymore. "They Always Come Back" has stayed with me for the last 46 years! I have repeated that phrase to all those who have been foolish enough not to take my advice in all manner of situations whether military or civilian.