Category: Marine Corps Stories

Bloused trousers

The story in the March 28 newsletter, "What Saved Us", reminded me of another "Butterbar" encounter.

I was a wingwiper with VMFAT-101,an F4 Phantom squadron, at MCAS El Toro in '69 during which time a whole lot of Marines fresh from staging at Pendleton were being flown from El Toro to 'Nam.  If you were one of the many you remember standing around in formations in parking lots or grassy areas by the barracks across the street from the flight line waiting for your platoons to board the chartered airliners. read more

SD vs PI

I recently had the pleasure of watching my 17 year old son graduate from MCRD P.I. I am a Hollywood Marine. I went to San Diego from the Detroit area 30 years ago, Now they are going to P.I. from here. He had the choice to go to San Diego since I went there but chose P.I. because he signed up with a buddy who HAD to go to P.I. My SDI was SSgt Mance, assisted by SSgt Perez and Sgt Augustine, who by the way really had it out for me once he found out my MOS was 5811(MP) and he was always getting tickets for speeding in his hot rod. read more

Oldest Living Woman Marine

Sgt Grit,   This is a photo of Bernice Roberts of Mt. Dora, FL, in her Service "A" Uniform. She was born on Dec. 4th, 1908. She is the oldest living Woman Marine at the age of 104. I will be visiting her on Easter Sunday and I will take some more pictures to send in to you.   Semper Fi Cpl. '69 -'70 Vietnam

Men At Prayer

This had hung in my room for years as a kid, I recently got it back after it had been misplaced after my father passed away. I have never seen it anywhere else. "A painting by Capt. A.G. Raymond, USMCR, depicts in its impressive sincerity, the worship and reverence that our fighting men carry to the very battle lines… The strength of manly character typified by the American Marine is vividly portrayed in this factual interpretation of men at prayer."   Thought that I could share it with others.   Semper Fi Bob Belles '76-'78

Misconceptions About Boot Camp

In an attempt to clear up some of the misconceptions about boot camp assignments and the Mississippi River, I'm providing a map.   The country is split into two Recruiting Regions, East and West. Each Recruiting Region is split into three Recruiting Districts.   Maggots from the East Recruiting Region go to MCRDPI:   1st Recruiting District 4th Recruiting District 6th Recruiting District (notice the 6th District crosses the Mississippi river to include Louisiana)   Maggots from the West Recruiting Region go to MCRDSD:   8th Recruiting District 9th Recruiting District (notice the 9th District crosses the Mississippi River to include Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and part of Michigan) 12th Recruiting District   While that is the general rule, I've heard rumors of "legacy" recruits. That's a recruit who, because of location, would normally be assigned boot camp at one Recruit Depot, but because of a family member (father, mother, brother, uncle, etc.) will be allowed to go the other Recruit Depot for boot camp. I don't know if that's true or not. Maybe someone who has been or is on recruiting duty can clear that one up for us.   Forged on the anvil of discipline. The Few. The Proud. Jerry D.  "Oderint dum metuant." "Let them hate, so long as they fear." –Caligula

Flashy Elton John

Dear Sgt Grit,   Marines are Marines… no matter where they trained.  Back in the pre-WWI "Old Corps", Marines had been trained at various Naval bases like Puget Sound.  In WWII a unit of Samoans sworn in (USMCR) and trained in American Samoa.   As a "Hollywood Marine", I thought that I would settle this issue once and for all.  This petty bickering must come to an end. The accident of geography and weather should mean nothing.  The fact that San Diego has a Mediterranean climate and lacks surrounding swamps and swarms of sand fleas is a mere detail.  It is the training that makes boys into  Marines that counts.   First of all, when we arrived at MCRD in June of 1968, we were not "issued dress blues and sent on liberty into San Diego…"  This would have been irresponsible and injurious to the reputation of the Marine Corps.  First we had to go to the recruit barbershop to get a light trim so that we would present a military appearance when we went on liberty that night.   We were not issued "flashy Elton John" type sunglasses.  That is a cheap rumor.  We were issued basic aviator type sunglasses in high polished gold.  We were required to wear these day or night when on liberty.   We were not "bussed to Hollywood for dates with Hollywood starlets…"They were flown into Lindbergh Field in a charter jet.   Above all, we were not given 30 days leave immediately upon arrival. No matter what day of the week we arrived, we had to return from our first liberty in time for hard core Marine training… 1400, Monday.   I know that my brothers who graduated from P.I. are also faced with rumors by loose-mouthed people.  There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that "Hollywood Marines" are better looking than P.I. Marines. There is absolutely no truth to the rumors about the quality of Marine produced in either Recruit Depot.  There is probably no truth to the rumor that "Hollywood Marines" are smarter than Marine from P.I.   I hope that I have laid this matter to rest.   J.F. Owings 0311  1968-70

Lost and Found Newsletter 03 Mar 2013

Arrived at MCRDSD by bus on Aug-31-1966 and we all know what happened then, six days later I ended up with Platoon 2207 (pic attached) 2nd Battalion and graduated Oct-31-1966. Our Sr. DI was S/Sgt W. Salmond our other two DI's were Sgt. C.F. Hillinski and Sgt. R.B. Wallis.   I ended up being one of the House Mouses (this alone is another story) and would like to know if there's anyone out there who was also in the same Platoon.   Semper Fi to all my brothers and sisters Nam '67-'68 Torres R F

Youngest Marine Medal Of Honor Winner

Together We Served.Com had a gathering of Marines at PISC in April 2008. Jack Lucas, the guest of honor, happened to be in the room next to mine. He graciously talked with me for a while and autographed his book, "Indestrucible", (which should be a movie), I was blessed to be seated at his table for the main dinner. Even though he was quite ill, he had still had a good sense of humor and one hell of a memory. He had come to the reunion against everyones advice, but he told them that nothing would stop him from being with his Marines. read more

Platoon 1085 MCRD 10-76

It was one hot summer morning, we where practicing throwing dummy grenades. All of us recruits where doing pretty good,until we got to the grenade bunker to throw live ones. There were two recruits in each bunker, and the instructor. I was first to throw my pineapple grenade. I was told that I threw a bull's eye, "well done," I was told by my instructor. Next he called out to the recruit, What happen next I will never forget, the recruit pulled the pin out and drop the hand grenade inside the bunker, the instructor was yelling grenade, grenade. He picked it up,and threw it out the bunker, I was behind the instructor, as all you Marines out their know in boot camp, we can't be eye balling the area, almost always in attention. So their I was, doing what I was told to do. So while all this comotion was going on in front of me he grab me from behind my neck and pulled me to the ground, the grenade blew close to the bunker all this sand fell on us. Now my ear on my left side is damaged. The bad part of all this was that we where never sent to sick bay to get checked. It was just like, get back in formatoin, I'm 55 yrs old and wear hearing aids on each ear, well I guess that's all I have to say, It was an accident. So my fellows Marines out there, past, present, and future, stay safe and be alert. If what you see, doesn't seem right, report it, take action. Huurraahh! read more