Category: Marine Corps Stories

My Interpretation of USMC Boot Camp

Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California. My journey began on December 16 and as I sat in the white bus I heard the words that forever frightened me…..and then it began…

“Now without killing yourselves, GET OFF MY BUS!” These are the last four words you will hear prior to your life changing forever. The change begins immediately when you first mirror the yellow footprints. Whatever doubts you had if this is real are quickly gone as yelling is heard from all directions and your heart attempts to escape your frightened body. The night is young and so are you, but you will quickly learn that you have everything to learn once again. We have come from all points throughout the USA. From the big cities, to the rural farms. Different social backgrounds, Black, White, Hispanic, and Asian to name a few. We begin our journey into an elite brotherhood very different, but we will emerge as one, a United States Marine. read more

Graduation Day

When I was in Boot Camp on day one the instructors advised us that if we were to ever get with in arms reach of one of the Drill Instructors they would feel like we were about to attack them and they would feel forced to defend themselfs, so it was well known that if you were moving past a DI you would give them plenty of room or suffer the consequences.  A day or two before graduation we were all in our Chucks so the recruits blended in rather well with the drill instructors.  I was told by one DI to run to the other side of the squad bay and retreive something.  So moving with some speed I ran through a group of recruits not realizing that there was a DI just on the other side of the group.  The DI must have "felt threatend" because he quickly reacted by extending his right hand, in a fist, to the right side of my face, knocking me on my hind quarters.  A few days later for graduation I was left with a slight, yet noticiable, bruise on the side of my face from "running into my DI's fist."  After graduation I greeted my parents who were excited to see me and we walked through and I introduced them to my DI's.  Right as I introduced my mother to the DI who I had had the run in with my mother noticed the bruise on my face and asked me what had happened right in front of him.  His eyes got a little wide with surprise and looked at me with a sly grin.  I quickly told my mother, "you know me, I am a clutz and ran into one of the racks."  My DI slightly relieved gave me an even bigger grin which was the closest to a smile that I had ever seen him give in my three month stay.   read more

Marine Wife

Parris Island was my first home after I got married, I still remember the address of my first home, L 47 Ribault Village. I loved watching the recruits running down my street singing cadence, then go over to the parade deck and watch the graduations. I told my Marine that I really miss hearing cadence and watching recruits march. Unless you have been a Marine wife you can't understand the love that I have for the Corps, Marines are the top of the Military, first in and first to fight. OORAH! read more

Not a Swamp Rat

When I enlisted in the Corps pretty much everyone west of the Mississippi went to MCRD San Diego and everyone east went to MCRD Parris Island. I don't remember there being a choice. While I would love to perpetuate the myth that those of us who attended the prestigious west coast institution of higher learning wore sunglasses all day while tanning in our free time, this was not the case. In 1969 we had more sand than PI. In fact ALL sand. Sand to do pushups in , sand to get in our boots, pants , socks and everything else. Unfortunately we couldn't really see any beach, unless you consider a mop bucket with a dripping mop, the beach. As for a tan, I only remember my ears turning to bacon from marching on the tarmac, not a tree in sight. All you swamp rats can put the myth of us Hollywood Marines to rest, and those of us from Diego will surely rest easier after all that water from PI runs out of your ears and allows you to think more clearly. Semper Fi and we still love you even if the sweat and fleas did mess up your sleep patterns. read more

PFC GREENHATCH

Hello I'm YM/PFC GREENHATCH and I'm 10yr's old and I'm a SOUTHCOAST YOUNGMARINE out of MASS.I joined because I want to become an undercover police officer when I get out of HS, I'm a straight A and B student in school. I wear my uniform with pride and I am happy with the young man I've become. My mom has helped me all the way as a single mom she does all she can for my young sister and I. read more

Mom’s Cookies Almost Took Out the Tail Rotor

I have a U.S. Mail story that is a bit unique.  I was assigned to HMX-1 which is the Marine Corps squadron that supports “Marine One” the helicopter that transports the President of the United States. 

My mother use to ship me cookies about once a month.  Since the hangar where I worked was a high security area you had to open up any box so the guards could inspect the contents before you could take it into the hangar.  read more

Gummed Up!

I joined the Corps after my Brothers return from service with the Army from VN. My Mom decided to cheer me up by sending chewing gum hidden in a letter. If you were in the Marines you know what happened next Mail Call, my DI calls my name, I run up to get my mail and he is feeling it, smelling it. He said open the letter so we can all see what you got. Mom taped 5 pieces of juicy fruit to the 3 page letter. Since there is only 5 pieces you can't share with the rest of us. So eat the letter and don't forget the gum, no need to remove the wrapper. Don't swallow it until I tell you to. Well training continued and for 3 days I had this ball of paper and gum and foil in my cheek. On day 3 we are having a PT contest with other companies. Myself and another recruit were told by our DI to cheat on the rope climb by climbing for the fat bodies. Gunny who was the referee caught us and pulled us out of line. He said something like What in Chesty Pullers name happened to your Face? What? I can't understand you recruit. The private got a letter Sir ! He said which DI told you to do this? I told him it was my own idea. He told me to get rid of it before I choke to death. read more

My Son Survived Boot Camp!

My son signed up to become a Marine in May of his high school year. I was so nervous and sick to my stomach over it. He was told he would be leaving the following March, so this gave me time to deal with and accept it. Well when I got a phone call from him at the end of August, asking me if I was sitting down, I knew something was up. He then told me that his date had gotten moved and he was leaving in a week! My heart dropped but when I heard the excitement in his voice I put my worries and fears away and planned him the biggest going away party. He is my first and oldest son so this was very hard for me to do, but being a mom, I did it anyway. While he was in boot camp I wrote to him everyday letting him know how proud of him I was and I am very proud to say that he is now a PFC United States Marine! I love my son very much and I will be supporting him every step of the way! read more