Category: Marine Corps Stories

MCRD-SD Graduation, January 21, 2011

Some friends and I who served at the same time in Korea with the 1st Division recently attended graduation at MCRD-SD, and had a very wonderful day.  We ate lunch at the O club, visited the museum and then headed home.  I have enclosed a couple of the photos I took for your review and publication, if you like.  The marine in the middle received the Navy Cross, the ones on either side received the bronze star and they all received one of more purple hearts.   Semper fi.   S/Sgt  I. J. Oshana, (RET)

Problems with Recruit Training

Sgt Grit,   If you need to paraphrase or condense the following document you  have my permission and the reason is because it is important to  me to get this changed and I realize that it is long but I have  a mild TBI and it now takes me 15 words to say something that  might only take 5 words. I also want you to know I explained at  the Battalion Level that the reason I wanted to pin my son was  because when I was injured he would help put my legs in the car,  get my pants on, tie my shoe, let me put my arm around him when  I got tired and he would help me walk. It is rare to see that  kind of dedication out of a 16 year old kid and then to turn  around and after seeing his dad almost die and all the struggles  with PTSD and TBI and still want to be a Marine I can't put into  words the amount of Pride I have for my son. (I also have two  other kids who without them I wouldn't be here and one of them  is serving in the Army and I am also extremely proud of him for  wanting to join the Army.)    I don't want Marine's who come behind me with the same issues  and be denied. Nothing can give me back what I was robbed but  hopefully we can change the future.   On a personal note I just want to say thank you for your  service. As a Vietnam Vet you have opened up your heart and  lives for those of us returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and  let us know we will be OK. There are days I don't know if I am  going to make it in this world and I think of you and know that  if you can survive over 40 years then I will be OK. I love you  and thank you for all you do. Welcome Home Marine.   Semper Fi, Nick Bennett    P.S.  There is 20 years difference between our oldest and youngest so  I have dubbed this Picture Past, Present, and possibly the  future!   …..   Sgt Grit, I am writing to inform you of disturbing trends in our beloved  Marine Corps and hopefully with enough coverage we can implement  some changes in Recruit Training.   Some background information first. I am a retired Marine Staff  Sergeant having been wounded by a 107mm Chinese Rocket in Iraq  on 11 November 2004. I have had over 26 surgeries and still  suffer from being in a combat zone. In spite of everything my  kids have seen my two oldest boys have followed in their dads  footsteps by joining the Armed Forces. My 20 year old is  proudly serving his Country with the Army in Alaska. My 22 year  old just graduated from Parris Island on the 21st of January  2011 and the reason I am writing.   My son went to college and earned enough credits to be a  contract PFC. Since we were going to family day and graduation  I emailed his Senior Drill Instructor and asked if I could pin  PFC on him and explained my background as a Marine. To my  horror I was told that a contract PFC doesn't have a ceremony so  the answer was no.    After talking it over with my wife and fellow Marine family I  decided to try and find someone in the chain of command that  might be able to help me promote my son. Needless to say Semper  Fidelis doesn't apply to anyone I talked to at Parris Island and  was told by one Sergeant that I would have an opportunity in 9  months to try and pin LCpl on him.    In spite of all that, I did find out that if you graduate  Meritorious they do hold a promotion ceremony. My question and  maybe someone can help me is when does getting a rank not  warrant a promotion ceremony. My son worked just has hard to  get PFC along with the other Marines who graduated as PFC and  was robbed of one of the greatest traditions in the Marine Corps  and that is a promotion ceremony in front of your fellow  Marines. I am sure I am going to hear all sorts of excuses like  there is no time in boot camp and every second of every day is  accounted for but there is time for some Marines so why are they  special? They can't hold a promotion ceremony for everyone but  there is time to go to the museum, as evident at the following  location, what is more important? If you look at the Parris  Island website and look at the training cycle you will see:  Recruit Training Matrix: Phase III    T41 (Training Day 41) Museum Tour – To assist with reinforcing  what they have learned about Marine Corps history, and to help  them learn about the history of Parris Island, recruits visit  the Parris Island Museum.   I was only asking for a 5 minute ceremony and maybe I should  have asked for the Company Gunny or First Sergeant to see about  being able to promote him. I did talk to someone at the  Battalion level and at the Company level and was brushed off  both times. I just want to say thank you for robbing my son and  every other Marine who has got promoted and not giving a proper  promotion ceremony. I can't believe you teach classes on  Customs and Courtesies, Leadership, and all about Marines being  Brothers and Sisters and then cheat them out of a promotion  ceremony and to add insult to injury holding a promotion  ceremony for just a select few.   The second issue I had was in regards to Graduation. Since they  have implemented the Crucible the Recruits are now given the  Eagle, Globe, and Anchor and called Marines for the first time  almost a week before, Graduation has been reduced to nothing  more than a ceremony. There is no more significance to it and  in theory you could do away with Family Day and make it  Graduation Day instead. The issue I have is the fact that as a  Marine I missed out on the greatest milestone of my son's life  and that is him being called A Marine for the first time.    Parris Island did a terrible job of explaining the significance  of what happens after the Crucible in regards to the Eagle,  Globe, and Anchor Ceremony and the recruits earning the title  Marine. I would have loved to see them play a video of them  receiving the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on Family Day while they  stood in formation and explained to the families the importance  of the ceremony while the families were given a brief on the  Recruit's time on the Island. I bought a challenge coin of the  Crucible with the date on when he earned the title Marine and my  son's eyes started to leak along with mine when I presented it  to him and said welcome to the family. I realize they have a  lot going on but even my son missed the significance of that  moment till I explained it to him.    On Training Day 68 they have what is called "Share the Legacy."  There is also an important moment when Marines, past and  present, come visit and "Share the Legacy," passing along their  experiences, and telling the new Marines how the Corps' core  values have shaped their lives. After the Marines get secured  from Family Day what a phenomenal time would this be for the new  Marines who have family that have spent time as Marines to come  in and talk and answer questions about the Marine Corps. Can  you imagine the wealth of Marine Corps History that could be  handed down from Marines who have been there and done that?  This is all above my pay grade to figure out but it can be  accomplished.    I would like to hear from other Marine families and Drill  Instructors on these issues to see if it is just me or if there  is and should be an outcry to try and get this implemented so  that everyone has a promotion ceremony and families get to  witness one of the most important milestones in their kid's life  when they are first called Marines.   Semper Fi, Nick Bennett SSgt USMC Ret 1988-1996, 2004-2007

2 rtbn plt 2014

Im a new marine, i graduated boot camp on january 28th 2011   fox company platoon 2014.  when i arrived at boot camp i thought i had made the biggest mistake of my life, i tried to find ever reason to quit, but my senior dril instructor and cheif drill instructor convinced me to stay a little longer.  after two weeks i loved it and i had a blast een through the pit and pt periods.  I understand now why we have such a close bond with all marines wether we hate or love them.  i want to thank all drill and senior drill instructors for their time and sacrifice.  and a special thanks to my fiance who supported the the entire way.  read more

How to Become a Marine

Easy>>>Just ask "Big Brother".  In my case "Big Brother" was my eldest brother MSGT B. C. Mc Nulty USMC, who at the time was the local Marine Corps Recruiter here.

He told me to bring along another family brother and we could get 2 for 1.  I did this and brought my brother Russell with me to the Recruiting Office.  The attached photo was printed in the local newspaper in 1948.  A sad note to this was that Russell was KIA in Korea in 1950.  Big Brother B. C. went on to serve some 30 more years in 3 different Wars. read more

Marines back in the 20s and 30s

Sgt. Grit,

Last month my brother-in-law, retired Navy CPO Don DiRienzo, passed away. Before he passed, he mentioned that his father was a Marine back in the 20's and 30's, and had fought in the Banana Wars in Nicaragua and elsewhere. After his discharge he became very active in the Marine Corps League. The enclosed picture of his MCL detachment, the Theodore Roosevelt Detachment in Boston, taken in the 1930's, shows some Old-Old Corps Marines. Sgt. Michael DiRienzo is second from left, front row. Note the man on his left wears the fourragere over the arm, signifying that he was actually at Belleau Wood when the French awarded it. The rule is, over the arm, you were there. Under the arm, you are authorized to wear it, but were not there. I have been trying to research Sgt. DiRienzo, but have been unsuccessful. I was informed that the detachment does not exist any more. Anyone knowing anything about him or the detachment is asked to contact me here, through Sgt. Grit.     Semper Fi Paul Lindner Cpl. 1959-1963

Trip back to San Diego

I must be getting old, for the life of me I cannot understand why I did not post this when I came home from California in October 2010.   After many years my wife decided we were going to visit my sister and her husband in Anaheim, California. I had not been to California since I got back from Nam in 1966 on my way to Quantico, VA. She also planned all the spots we were gong to visit and asked me if there was one place I wanted to see. I told her in no uncertain terms if we were going to Southern California we had go a little further south to San Diego and visit MCRD and watch a Recruit Graduation. The only one I ever saw, I was in and did not get to see much as I, along with all the other recruits were a little busy that day.   The Quonset Huts that I remember in 1963 were for the most part gone and new shiny two story barracks were there. The Grinder was newly prepared for this graduation and was as spotless as I can remember. Other than that all of the area around that area has not changed in 47 years. Told the "BOSS" (wife) we will be going back in 2013 for my 50th anniversary of graduation from Basic Training.   I realized that I was old when I saw the Drill Instructors, (Sgt.'s, Staff Sgt.'s & Gunnery Sgt.'s ) looking so young, Even the Sgt. Majors I saw had to be in their mid to late 30's and looked so young.   I did get to talk to a couple of Drill Instructors and really do not remember them to be that friendly. LOL   "Semper Fi" Paw

Tie Tac

Sgt. Grit,   Just wanted to submit this pic of my latest creation. I purchased this Tie Tac in the PX at Parris Island in 1967. My mother passed away and she gave me her diamond Ring that she wore for years. I got the idea of using the Diamond for a better purpose. I drilled out the Globe of our Beloved Emblem and glued in the diamond. It sure turns some heads as it glows like it’s on fire. The picture doesn’t do it justice. I am really proud of it. Everyone wants to buy one and my reply is that, This is one of a kind just like the Corps. Civilians don’t get it and they never will.   “Semper Fidelis”   MSgt. Dicik Bowers, USMC Ret’d.

Not the “K-bay” of old

I can commiserate with SSG Mike England about his attempts to visit K-Bay last November.  I was assigned to the Station Operations and Maintenance Squadron (SOMS) from 74-77 and finally made it back to Hawaii and K-Bay while on a business trip in 2008.  I retired in '93 so I was able to show my ID and gain access to the Base.  The Base has changed so much – new streets build, old street gone – that I literally got lost trying to find our old buildings, which by the way, once located were now a pile of rubble.  New streets, new barracks, all new housing, gorgeous PX and Commissary complex (Hey Mike, remember the old Quonset hut Commissary that was down near the airfield?  It's history now).    Of course, all my beloved F-4 Phantoms were long gone, replaced by rows of parked Navy P3s left over from when NAS Barbers Point closed.  Sorry Mike, you shoulda clicked your heels together earlier.  There's no place like home, there's no place like home.  Here's a couple of "wuz" and "is" shots of K-Bay for you from an old "Winger".   Jeff Howards Sgt, SOMS/MCAS K-Bay 74-77