Sgt Grit is a place where Marines can come and meet other Marines, share tattoos and stories, keep up with Marine Corps news, or shop for USMC gear.
Recruit Training, United States Marine Corps, officially comprises three definitive phases. First Phase concentrates on orientation, study of military subjects and physical training. Second Phase includes marksmanship training, combat exercises and long hikes. Third Phase is service week, final polishing and, finally, graduation.
Sgt. Grit, I just read the news letter (JUNE 8, 2001) and I thought I would die laughing at the story of the D.I.. Well, at MCRD in 1990 going through Boot Camp platoon 3014 Our, Jr. D.I. was Sgt. Dickson, he was big and had a voice that would put the fear of GOD in you, no matter what you were doing. I had a lot of respect for him and for the other D.I.’s of our platoon.
I’m sure most of you from “K” Company, 2nd Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC, could look at your DD-214’s and see that 44 years ago today, you enlisted in the finest major fighting force in the world. That decision alone to take such a large step is impressive enough. To finish Boot Camp and become a Marine is even more so. We all know inside ourselves what it took to overcome what fears we might have had. For some, it was being away from home and family for the first time in our lives, for others it was self-doubtcould we cut the mustard? What if we didn’t make it? Would we have to go back home and admit we failed? Maybe some worried about being sent to war. After all, the Korean War had ended just 6 short years before.
In 1965, one special career Marine had excelled as a leader of men. Yes, he had claimed membership in “the few, the proud”, but more than that, he was gung-ho, a hard-charger, a member of the “Old Corps”. At age 37, Sgt. J.R. Mickel was senior D.I. of Platoon #135 Company, 1st Recruit Battalion. To most raw recruits at Parris Island, he might as well been God Himself. He not only commanded their respect; he led them beyond the call of duty. As an 0300 infantryman, he’d earned the Silver Star for bravery in Korea, with combat stars for time of actual enemy encounter. The recruits knew all of this, although he, himself, never told them.
I enlisted in the Marine Corps April 23, 1965 under the 120 day delay program while in the senior year at Stevens High School, Claremont, New Hampshire. Shortly after graduation I shipped out for P.I. My father was a retired Marine M/SGT and I had been a service ‘brat’ so I knew what I was in line for. There were no surprizes at Boot Camp.
Sir Private (Jones) request permission to speak to the drill instructor.
(LOUDLY)
Speak Maggot
Sir Private Joe (Jones) requests permission to make a head call, sir.
Is it and emergency head call Maggot
Yes sir.
Then sound your siren and go
Pride in the Marine Corps arose from the depths of Sgt. P.D. Crocket’s soul. You saw it in his eyes when he was singing “The Marine’s Hymn.” He looked like Kate Smith when she sang “God Bless America”. That summer of 1965 was hotter and more humid than usual at Parris Island. Sweat poured off everyone as Crocket realized he had a flair for acting, for the dramatic; even for comedy. But his leadership technique was unique. His goal was indoctrinating the recruits with discipline, and he achieved it one way or another.
To take charge of this post and all government property in view.
To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.
To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.
The National Personnel Records Center maintains all records on former Marines. By contacting them, they can send you information from your SRB (Discharge papers, Medical Records, etc.).
National Personnel Records Center
9700 Page Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132
(314) 801-0800
(866) 272-6272 (Toll Free)
To Marine Aviation the Ace of Spades symbolizes some of the greatest exploits and some of the most outstanding names in the Corps. It is the insignia of VMA-231 whose history virtually epitomizes the story of Marine Aviation.
From the remnants of the Northern Bombing Group which served in France in 1918 and transferred to old Curtis Flying Field, at Miami, Florida in 1919, emerged, on 8 February of that year, 1st Division, Squadron D. Before the month was over the newly activated squadron arrived in Santo Domingo for duty with the Second Brigade where, under various redesignations, it served until July 1924.