I went through boot camp in 1962, just after the PURGE at PI, and experienced and witnessed abuse almost daily. The first time was when a recruit, the DIs called a porker, was striped to the pull-up bar with web belts and left hanging there, it seemed like a half an hour. The second was more personal. I was under 18 when I went to boot and my birthday came up at the rife range. The senior drill instructor called me to the duty tent. When I reported there he said he had a birthday present for me. His and the two other DIs give me three slugs in the goodie locker.
Sgt Grit wants to hear from you! Leave your comments below or Submit your own Story !
And, you are a better Marine because of it….
ooh-rah!!
Sounds like they had “snowflakes” back then too. I went through Dago in early ’62. No problem. Sure it was tough and yes, I got bounced around. So what.
Suck it up! What we used to encourage ourselves with. Sure we got beat up! But we learned from our mistakes! We were headed to Nam. Not Disneyland! Once more for the Corps, Ooh-Rah!
Moreno. MCRD Diego, 1967
I went to SD too, in1967, Nam in ’68, glad I had good training to fall back on.
What wrong with that SNOFLAKE? If he went thru boot in 62 then sounds as if he has taken a couple hard left turns in the last 55 years. I guess he thought strapping a recruit to a pullup bar may have hurt his SELF ESTEEM! The kid was probably a disgusting FAT BODY and needed a blanket party. SNOFLAKE needs to realize that ABUSE comes when ISIS or Taliban idea of a haircut is a beheading. SNOFLAKE needs a teachable moment as a former POTUS liked to say.
SEMPER FI !!!
ARE YOU CRYING ABOUT IT?YOU JOINED THE MARINE CORPS NOT THE CUB SCOUTS..
I agree we had one DI that was a real wack JOB. I know because I was one myself. I was a bully in High School a smart ass after High School Worked in a Steel Mill and construction by the time I was 20 I was on the wrong path. Thank GOD a good Judge gave me the choice jail (AGAIN ) or the Marines. I noticed that wack job DI the first week. He was all over the weaker guys in the platoon the same way I had been my whole life. Made me realize what an asshole I was. Changed my whole life around. At the end of 3 years I wanted to stay in the Corp but after spending 1 1/2 years in Vietnam my wife was afraid they would send me back to Vietnam again so we came back to Pittsburgh and the Steel Mill. The thing about boot camp was there were a lot of people to to young to be there. They had no business being there should have been in the Air Force or Navy. Never saw so many out of shape people. By the way when I was in Vietnam I met a guy that had that same DI after I graduated and he told me he killed a guy in their platoon with an M14 to the temple.
PI was purged? I was there in ’63 and I guess they hadn’t gotten the word. Sgt. Reed was no angel, but I suppose I’m a better man on account of him, and I know quite a few others can testify the same. No complaints here!
Marines aren’t wimps! They prepare you to do a job. The enemy will do that and more. It’s not abuse, it’s teaching you to survive! Or do you need a “safe zone” to go cuddle with your blanket?
Marines are dogs. A pack. They test new dogs to make sure they deserve their loyalty and a place in the pack. In boot camp, and ever after, you will be bitten by one or more of the pack. I’m not saying there aren’t bad Marines, or that laws have never been broken. However, I have full faith that good Marines are relentless learners and teachers, holding ourselves to a higher standard. We continue to get better with each new generation. What I hope will never change is that every man and woman must earn their place in the Corps, our pack, so that the Corps may live forever.
I was trackin’ until you went PC on me with that man and WOMEN and crap.
Do you not know that we have Women Marines, they go through a tough Boot Camp as we do. The WM’s deserve the same respect that you do (that is if you are a Marine and not some Pansy Ass Troll). USMC 1961—1969, Parris Island, Viet Nam 67–68.
Listen, Jack, I served as a Woman Marine in 1950-1953 snd recall a Sgt. Brooks, a male Marine, who was in charge of us every day of Boot Camp.
The female Sgts. made sure they carried through with whatever the male Sarges did, as well.
I’m in my 80s, now and my kids are proud to tell friends they knew what Boot Camp was like because with TWO MARINES FOR PARENTS, THEY LIVED
IN A BOOT CAMP. 🙂
I’M SORRY, FOLKS, BUT I SE NO DISRESPECT IN HIS STATEMENT
Glorious
WELL SAID, SIR. I WENT TO SAN DIEGO IN 66 AND NAM IN FEB 68. SURVIVED TET AND I BLESS MY DIs.
In 1956, a DI marched a platoon into Ribbon Creek on Parris Island. Eight died.; Some of the tougher DIs were then transferred to San Diego, I got one after enlisting in Oklahoma. So many young men enlisted that it took us a month to get on schedule, so platoon 3044 spent 16 weeks in boot camp. I never heard the word “abuse.”I thought that was why we joined. Enlisting was the best decision I ever made. I credit the Marines for awakening my ambition and developing my character.
I’m surprised that Grit published this without it being signed and the purge at PI was in 58/9 and long over by 62. I went through SD in 61, Plt 275, and was thumped a couple of times though it was always because I screwed up. There have been known to be sadistic DI’s but in 62, I doubt it. I spent most of 62 at SD going through ground radar repair school and never heard of the kind of mistreatment you are claiming so I say BS. You are probably one of the wuss POS I ran into in 1/1 in Feb of 63.
I went through Parris a Island in 1981 with platoon 2063 and I am sure it was not as tough in regards to the physical “abuse”, as it was in the 60’s and beyond, and I say the word abuse sarcastically, because I would have felt cheated if I got training any less tough than what I got. SSgt Krause, Sgt Ishmael and Sgt Mazenko were all tough and sadistic but, for shit’s sake, we’re Marines. We are different from every other branch and our boot camp, be it San Diego or Parris Island, is part of what makes us different. Anyone who bitches about the physicality of our training is either a pussy or just fucking jealous. Semper Fi Jarheads!!!! Cpl Mike Kunkel. 0331 81-85, Lima 3/8
Yep, June 81 SD. Thumpings were a part of life in PLT 1046,, actually I would rather deal with that then being screamed at and PT’d! Thumpings usually were over with quicker! Our Jr DI was a SR DI his next plt and he did get busted thumping on a pvt by causing a black and blue mark on his chest. I just always understood that was part of boot camp and expected it. Worst thing I ever saw was a recruit get a bloody nose, no big deal just part of life becoming a Marine.
The Corps saved my life! Yeah there were times when I got popped by one of the DI’s, but my experience forever changed me for the better. Vietnam was no walk through the park and I believe what we went through in boot made us survivors. If every branch in the military trained like the Corps, we would be unstoppable as a nation. The biggest problem with the Corps today is how the politicians have changed boot camp.
I credit the Drill Instructors I had in Boot Camp for making me a damn good Marine! I carried all those lessons learned through out my time in the Corps ( both active and reserve) and apply them daily. Without them, I would not have been successful in my personal life and career. God Bless them and the United States Marine Corps. Semper Fidelis
Once A Marine Always A Marine!! Suck it up butter cup. SEMPER FI
OOH RAH, BROTHER !!
Everything I have ever accomplished in life was because of the discipline instilled in me by the Marine Corps. Some of that was the result of “uniform adjustments” 😉 and a couple of times a punch to the old breadbasket. For that I say to my drill instructors, in all seriousness, “Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.”
SSGT KR THOMAS: A fellow Radar Marine – albeit a few years later… Please contact me at: mel(dot)huffman(dot)or(AT)iCloud.com There are a bunch of fellow radar marines that would enjoy connecting up.
Semper Fi!!! To be a Marine takes the ability to overcome whatever is in front, beside, and behind you. The training was what I expected and I was not disappointed. If you are signing on to be a Marine…research what it means to wear the E,G,A and be A Marine. We are trained to kill so that others may survive. Do we like that we have that ability…Yes. Do we want to do it….No. Will we do it if called…YES. Our DI’s and SGT. Instructors gave us their best so we could be their Brothers In Arms!! We ARE!!
I went to PI Feb 1960 and it was pretty tough. I got pounded on often , but those twelve weeks turned me into a Marine and a Man. I did have one DI that was cruel, Sgt. Gleason. We didn’t learn too much from him. He was borderline idiot.The other two, Smith and Shultz were very good instructors. They also were known to pound a few knots on my head, most I had coming. I am now 75. Would I do it over again? Heck yes I would
I spent 30 days in the FAT farm and the DI before he sent off said, “its not my (his) fault I was a couch potato” he was so correct. After those 30 days I could do anything Class of 1966
I have posted on this subject before. MCRDSD in Dec. 1960, plt 3010. After a week or so in boot camp the DI did his trash can lid wake up in the quonset hut and I was a little slow to rouse. Sgt gently asked me to get up and I sleepily said I would in a few minutes-oops! My presence was requested in the duty hut where I was introduced to Corporal/Sgt. attitude adjustment. Never slept in again. Some of my fellow recruits evidently needed some additional adjusting, because after a few weeks a couple of them were no longer there. Accurate information is rare in boot camp so we weren’t sure what happened, but about halfway through bc some of our DI’s were replaced. Our information came through the grapevine and was very limited but we put 2&2 together and got 5. Never did resent getting bounced around, did me good. Semper Fi till I die!
i went tomcrdsd in 1962 we had 5 dis one was a total asshole one was hard on me and i love him for it, thank you gydst rogers be cause of inyou i made sgt e-5 under 4 and fuck you cpl david h.smith you sick fuck, sgt t.a.dicks plt 164 mcrd sd 9/62 to12/62, sgt vance and sgt darner were good teachers and outstanding drill instructors semper fi to all marines
I had my 19th birthday at Parris Island in 1971 and didn’t know it. I guess I was too busy becoming a Marine.
I went through boot camp December of 1961 platoon 2003 and all I can say about the idea of abuse is ridicules those drill instructors were there to train you so you would be ready for combat or being a P.O.W. if that should accrue. Yes they put you through a lot but the purpose was justified. The drill instructors aren’t there to fluff your pillow, cover you up at night and tell you bed time stories they are there to train you. My three drill instructors were GySgt Meek, SSgt Ellis and Sgt. Enos
Ribbon Creek was 8 April 1956 I out posted PI 14 April 1956. So I did get hit in boot camp so what.
I hesitate to post this but in after thought,why not.I was a spoiled,rotten,kid.I was given the either or choice.My brother came home from his 1st tour in Nam.He decided for me.P.I. was the biggest mind blower in my life.My D.I.s’ took away fear and replaced it w/discipline and pride, that I wasn’t completely worthless.My 3 D.I.s’ also made it a point that there is no prejudice between religion or race.That we were all GREEN and our religion would be the Marine Corps.Everything else was secondary and did not apply as long as we were Marines.There was one prejudice remark by my asst D.I. when we 1st formed up.Pvt Shriver was from Mississipee.He asked Shriver what the speed limit in Miss.was.Shriver answered and the platoon cracked up.Big mistake.Shriver is a good Marine.They handed him an 0331 MOS.I’ll never forget the biggest smile on him and how he puffed out his chest full of pride that he got that MOS.Hope he is still around.Semper FI
I went thru Boot Camp at MCRD San Diego in 1964. Tthe best place for a whiny-butt like you is in the rear with the gear!
I got out of boot camp in December 1972. Full Metal Jacket could be taken from our platoon. I needed a foot up my butt just like a lot of others. It made me a man made to accept responsibility. No regrets ever. Semper Fi.
I was in Plt. 242, arriving Jan. 1967. I’d known enough Marines in high school to know what to expect, so no surprises. My father used to beat me as a kid, and I rumbled with my two older brothers, so I was already fairly “toughened-up” when I got there. The first time we were in our squadbay lined up before our racks, our SDI coldcocked some asshole who had smarted off to him. The maggot hit the deck and was dragged out. Word was he was sent to the motivational platoon. I always pitied those poor pukes. And yeah, I had my share of “correctional therapy” too. When I got to Vietnam with E/2/4 a few months later it all payed off. I made it back to “the World” alive, if not unscathed. Semper Fidelis!
My DI’s Sgt. Bell, Madison and Coen. Tough, you bet, I got punched slapped and all that goes with it. I became a man and better than that I became a Marine. Bell was Senior DI. I remember us sitting on buckets Sunday mornings. Bell would walk past us on the platoon street. I would shake I was so afraid of him. In the long run when we graduated Bell shook our hands and told us we were Marines. Wow. What a day. My training carried me through Vietnam Nam and is still part of who I am. I love my Corps and will to my last breath. Thank God for these special men called Drill Instructors. Semper Fi. Platoon 376.
Stanley: Where you part of the 376 series at PI in August – November 1964? I was in Platoon 379 of the 376 series, the 3 story Brick Barracks right on the edge of the swamp. Sgt. Wells was my Senior, and Sgt. Ricker the Asst. We had a Sgt. someone for about a week or two and he was sent back for added training. Sgt. Wells could yodel out on the Quad better then any of the DI’s , and Sgt. Ricker was 6′ and some from Texas who loved to run. I will say the training we received definitely brought a good number of us home as the following year most of us ended up in Nam. And that made PI look like a walk in the park. To be called Marine by our Drill Instructors on graduation Day, to have earned the right to wear the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. Thank you Sgt. Wells, Sgt. Ricker, you bought taught not only how to be a Marine, but a better man my entire life since then. Semper Fi to all my brothers and sisters. 1964 – 1968, Viet Nam 65 & 66, Sgt. of Marines
I was in Plt. 339 in San Diego, June, 1961. There was wide spread physical abuse by the DI’s; however, it made us all better Marines. One DI could curse for 30 minutes and never repeat himself! It was the first time I ever heard someone say, “Jesus F…ing Christ.” I probably would have been even worse as a DI if I had a bunch of green recruits. We received some of the best training available at the time. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat, but I would do things a lot differently! Semper Fi…
Tango Sierra, Prive! Three shots were all you got during Boot? The adjustments were necessary, and in my experience, usually well deserved. My favorite story not involving me was when one of our Scribes, who was delivering the morning report, got caught smoking an unauthorized cigarette. The D.I., a great guy named Barber, gave him the choice: Charge sheet or “Adjustment”. The scribe wisely chose “Adjustment”, and picked himself up 30 seconds later and nothing more was said. Ribbon Creek was an exception, not the norm by any means. If that’s the worst in 242 years, that’s better than most airlines and other occurrences.Plt. 140, May-Aug. 1973, P. I.
I was in SD 12/61 thru 3/62 Plt 2001 and at the age of 17 plus 2 months I owe my success in life to the USMC. The spineless recruit, I would not even soil the name of Marine on that piece of crap probably cried the whole time he was in Boot. I wonder if he even received a Honorable Discharge. I joined to become a Marine, one of the finest fighting units this country has ever seen. To this day the experience of Boot Camp during those days made a MARINE. To this day the proudest day of my life was when the DI called me MARINE. I have been unable to find any of my Plt and I am sure they would agree SD made us Marines and Men.
The same for me George. The proudest day in my life was the night before we shipped out to Camp Geiger AIT.The DI said goodnight Marines. What a feeling flooded over me. I will never forget it.
If you wanted to be in the army or air force you joined the wrong outfit. Being a Marine is the proudest moment of my life.
I arrived at MCRD, San Diego in late February 1964. My brother, who went through ‘boot camp’ in San Diego in 1949, explained to me what to expect. I thought I was ready, but, well, as all who have been there understand, it’s something that goes beyond an explanation. You have to experience it to fully appreciate it! It was definitely tough … sometimes even tougher. It’s not a Boy Scout initiation! It’s the Marine Corps, and becoming a Marine is not for everyone. The motto, “The Few! The Proud! The Marines!” is not taken lightly. It’s just how It is … Tough! Not for the ‘feint of heart’. How nasty were my DIs, you ask? A year and a half ago, I was ‘reunited’ with one of my Drill Instructors! Jim Stelling was a Corporal back then. He was a tough, hard corps, no nonsense DI! Yeah, he kicked my butt and pushed and cajoled me to limits I would have thought impossible before ‘boot camp’. But he knew what he was doing and his goal was to build/create Marines … and he accomplished that goal. From DI and ‘Boot’, today, we are simply, MARINES! Semper Fi!
Politically correct b s white card. My ass. That’s what wrong today marine corps bootcamp is supposed to be hard. It’s the marines. Not a sowing class Take it back to prior 1970. You’ll be better off better marines. Tougher
The Marine Corps DI staff must be able to physically , verbally and mentally correct the rebellious and self-entitled attitude of the recruit that comes into our world famous military organization of the Corps. I came in June 12th 1972 to assignment of SSgt. Celissa ( Italian decent) who was the senior DI of Plt. 3065. He was the meanest SOB you ever met. He smacked us whenever our eyes wondered from straight ahead, would make every recruit do push-ups or what ever discipline when ever anyone in the platoon messed up or thought about it. He made my mind and heart learn what it is to be a Marine and to put Squad, Platoon, Company, Battalion and Division: TEAM in front of all my thoughts and actions. I graduated from boot camp in San Diego in Septemberof 1972 and I left a strong and confident Marine. I really hated him but Iwas ever so thankful for him………..sort of like my mom and dad when they had to discipline me with a whipping. I had the Marine Corps emblem and philosophy branded in my heart and soul. Will the future Marines still have this sense of duty and brotherhood I really doubt it and it brings great sadness to my soul for the MC and our country. God help us all!!!
s.d., 1965. I certainly had my share of knocking around! no complaints, and I sure as hell did not go crying to anybody~!!
San Diego, platoon 2045. August, 1967. Eight weeks was what we got for training. The Corps wanted us fast. Viet Nam, was heating up pretty fast. There was plenty our drill instructors could do to us, and did. or make us do to ourselves, and did, that was ‘legal’. And it was still pretty damn awful. My chief fear was being dropped back into the motivational platoon, or getting injured and having to repeat for missing too much training. I sucked it up and put out 110% and made it out as a ‘personal friend of the colonel’ (PFC). On my boot leave, I got a hearty chuckle from my retired Air Force dad, when some genuine USMC salty language came out of my mouth as a conditioned response to something he said. I was proud of my dad for that simple laugh of acceptance. Semper Fi God Bless you Dad, RIP
When I flunked out of college in 1982 I decided that a soft, politically correct life was not for me. I needed some toughening up. I entered MCRD San Diego on 27 June 1983. Over the next 13 weeks no drill instructor ever touched me except to load me on an ambulance when I passed out from heat exhaustion. No, my fellow recruits did the dirty work for the DIs. They assaulted me when they thought I was running my motor mouth too much. Was that abuse. Yes, but so the hell what. It made me into a better Marine.
By the way, all of the hazing, harassment, and abuse worked its wonders on me. Not just in Boot Camp at MCRD-SD, but out in the Fleet. In 1984, a corporal and a sergeant in 2nd FSSG disliked my lack of respect for them right after I made corporal. I got thrown up against a wall locker, sustained a couple of shots to the gut, and then was read the riot act. I smartened up. As I said, it did wonders for me. I shipped over (re-enlisted) several more times and retired as a Staff Sergeant at MCLB Barstow, CA in 2003.
suck it up BUTTERCUP !!!!!!!!
You have got to be kidding!!!! After all theses years, you are still crying??? Shape up!!! You are the only SENIOR SNOWFLAKE I know. I was at PI in 1962. All of us took our lumps and turned out to be PROUD MARINES. I am 76 and I would do it all over again. Lumps included.
As Concerned Marine my belief Share your how to improve Disabled Veterans who is collected 100 service connected definitely need something that the Veteran Medical Centers don’t have a Health care for my belief is hired a Cosmetic Dentistry Dentist that know how to put in G4implants unfortunately they have not one works for a Veteran Medical Center as Marine always a Marine contact your Representative and Senators accept the things that you can not change but you can Change the Health care so with the word.
Well P.I. was no picnic in ’62 the D.I.’s were “Tough and Rough”. It was their job to “Make Marines” not Pansies. Our enemies do not fight fair and in a combat situation Marines are there to “Win”. If it was not for our D.I’s we would have not been hardened warriors when we left Boot Camp. You have to do what it takes to make good Marines…..
Aug. ’68 MCRD San Diego Plt. 1066. Was grabbed once by the stacking swivel and thrown through the back door of our Quonset hut because, I as 1st squad leader, was supposed to have secured the hatch with a pad lock and had not. My fault. I deserved the flight time through the hatch and never felt anything but complete respect for my Sr. D.I. No body promised you a rose garden. Join the Army, Navy or Air Force if you want the gravy train. I thank my hero my father and brother Marine for putting the notion in my head that I had what it takes to be a United Sates Marine. RIP dad.
I was at Parris Island in the summer of 1962 in 2BN Plt 238………….we had our share of weeding out the ones that couldn’t make it in Boot Camp. You were not the only one that got kicked around. Of the 75 men that were in 238………..we may have gotten 38 thru that started out together. The balance that out posted together on Sep 13th, 1962 was about 70 that had pickup in our Plt. But one thing I knew, they always had my back and in battle and would never run, but fight to the end with me……..that was what we were trained to do. I was a 0311 and proud of it in the FMF……….I have found 152 Marines from L Company 2BN Plts 236-237-238 and 239 from 1962. It was 55 years ago this summer we were there. We have had 2 reunions back at P.I. and we all keep in touch with each other now. There are only about 90 that have email addresses, but everyday we are in touch with each other in the form of a mass email. It took me about 2 years to find them all, but it was worth every minute. I have added on many other Marines and even a few other servicemen on my list…………it was worth every minute starting out a P.I. and it made better men out of all of us. Semper Fi!
I was in MCRD San Diego in 2003, was a fat body myself. I got kicked in the ribs while doing pushups. Also was smashed on the side of the head with my own rifle. GET SOME!!
It’s really simple, if you think about it. The Corps wants to make hardcore combat fighters who’ll be ready for war. Their formula for this is called ‘boot camp.’ (Note: all the other service-branches only call theirs ‘basic training’). The Corps’ mission is to breakdown the individual (mentally and physically), in order to determine if an individual can adapt and persevere through adversity. For this to be accomplished effectively, it must be done within the three realms of our learned reality — professionally, personally, and socially. The last realm is what politicians have been trying to change (the Democrats mostly). I’m glad I went through it, with much similar examples described in this forum (..either witnessed or experienced personally). I’m proud to have been a Marine. I still am..! –Pat (Marine ’81 to ’87… and beyond!)
That was 55 years ago, buttercup. And I would hope things haven’t changed.
Hey John Carr – – Had a Sgt Gleason as JrDI in Sep60. Small. facial scars. Was a good DI along with Senior SSG Lee (later met as Maj Lee on LPH) and SSG Patton. This lil runt made 13 yrs.
Platoon 1026 August 1967,DI took the four squad leaders in the head because the platoon was screwing up.We were standing at attention,he came in front of each of us and one at a time punched us in the jaw.I made the mistake of gritting my teeth and my back tooth got knocked out.Before I left for sick bay he yelled,what happened to you maggot,I yelled,PUGAL STICK SIR.I made it back from Nam.Thank you Staff Sgt O’Connor.SF
Parris Island 1st BN Plt 115. (1962). Thanks to my DI’s Sgt. Panish, Sgt Grelish, and Sgt, LaCouisere. I will never forget them. They were tough but they made me into a proud Marine and a successful person.
Thump call! I was in boot camp in San Diego in the spring/summer of 1963 and it did occur- not to everyone. I did receive thump call and just felt it was the “right of passage” to be a Marine.
I joined the Marines in 1957.I went into Marines fully aware that it was going to test me and push me to the limits of my endurance and Boot Camp at Parris Island exceeded my 18 year old expectations.I was “thumped ” when I deserved to be “thumped ,but overall if you did what you were told and when you were told you were treated fairly by our DIs. I not sure I could make it through PI twice ,but I thank God I made it through once.
OOORAH Bob, I’m glad I was tested, at 73, it is still in me. Definitely couldn’t make it through now but also mighty glad I made it through when I was 18 !
Parris Island 1962 ,Plt 262 ! The DI’s Were Rough and Tough, we got bounced around ,but they had to make you tough, because Marines don’t fight good guys. How else are you going to make a Marine out of the average American 18 year old ? We were tested,and when we graduated we were ready! I am glad I went to Parris Island, if I hadn’t,I probably would always wonder if I could have. The U S Marine Corps molded me,and built character that has seen me me through a lifetime! My oldest Son went to Desert Storm,and before he deployed, he said ,”we are well trained,and we are ready to do this!” So proud of my Son,and fellow Marine! OOORAH !
Went in at 17 yrs old to San Diego plt 372 we had a Sgt Fisher and he was calling mail call he called out L/Cpl Blanchard and once again another screw said he is talking to you. Blmachard said I aint no L/Clpl Sgt Fisher said front and center maggot then he got to Sgt Fisher stood at attention and Fisher hit him in his throat and dropped him to the ground and made him do squat jumps and re plant the ice plants Oooh Rah Welcome to boot Camp B Hanna Semper Fi
Parris Island 1967 was a place where you learned mental toughness. Of course it was tough it prepared us for Vietnam. I would do it all over in a heart beat.
MCRDSD June 1968. Never abused, just well trained
I went to basic at PI our DI’S never touched us, if you have to strike some one to obey you have lost the ability to command. Napoleon said that the best leadership is by example, yes our DI’S were tough on us, yes they got their point across, you got PT’ED till you dropped. of course they never got tired of trying to motivate you with PT! they often told me it is good for you! more so when you got your squad to join you, they showed you that you need to get your act together! we are tired of you messing up! our senior DI cared about us and shared some aspects of his life, his time in the Corps, the fact that he was divorced yet still was on good terms with every one, on occasion he got upset with us, bunch of knuckle heads and dumb privates, our other DI’S would call us space cadets because we had nothing between our ears! one of them along with the senior DI wanted us to make it through. the other was more or less indifferent. basic was an interesting experience, for me there need’s to be accountability and balance, the DI’S are there to get us ready to go into combat so the training has to be tough if you stand a chance of making it.other wise it will be ribbon creek all over again, and that is some thing that is not needed, I am glad I was there because it has served me well. semper fi do or die!.
I went to Boot Camp in SD in 1974. I, too, had the opportunity to feel the wrath of one of my three D.I.’s when I just couldn’t keep up with a Plt. run. I was “Motivated appropriately” by our J.D.I. and had no further problems with plt. runs. My Dad took me to the recruiting center and visited all the branches. The Army, Navy, and Air Force recruiters just sat on their butts and gave me the same speech about signing bonuses and such but when I walked into the recruiters office for the Marine Corps, a large Gunny turned and asked me “What the hell do you want?” After a few tense moments we sat down and he was very “sincere” about what it was going to be like in the Corps. He doubted I had what it took to be a Marine but I signed the papers anyway. My Dad said it was going to be tough and it was. I thank God every day that I had the opportunity to be a member of the finest fighting organization the world has ever seen. It has carried me through my career as a Law Enforcement Officer also. So thanks to my D.I.’s: Sgt. Thymes, Sgt. Parrish, and Sgt. Brundage. Semper Fi!
2095###, Feb,1964 thru Sept, 1969… Boot camp was an adjustment for a sick civilian mind… Life saving experience it was… Best thing I ever done for myself was enlist in the Corps… Semper Fi Marines… Member it’s a pore ass that can’t tolerate one beating…
Boot camp PI 1971, OCS as a candidate 1982 as a GySgt, SD as a Company Commander, so I have seen it from several angles. Often occurred to me that one of goal of boot camp was “instant obedience to orders”. How does one reconcile the training of recruits to obey orders and then violate published orders to do so? I believe it can be done in accordance to the SOP.
I missed the part where this Marine was complaining……seems to me he was just stating the facts .In 1967 at MCRD SanDiego there was plenty of “thumping” goin’ on….but it was not abuse it was discipline…..One of the reasons that if you can get through Marine Corps Boot Camp everything that follows is “a piece of cake”.Sgt. Bob Malone…I Corps,Oct.’69 to Oct.’70
MCRD SD — Aug 1981, Plt 2071, G Co, 2d Battalion — We all had our share of thumpings. So f*ckn what. And, we had some recruits that NEEDED to get their ass whipped, and they got it good. Some got in worse than others, but only because they NEEDED it. The DI’s were there to see if we had what it took to wear our beloved Marine uniform. As it is said, “If everyone could be a Marine, then it wouldn’t be the Marine Corps.” Was it f*ckd up in there? Of course, but that’s how it’s supposed to be. The Marines didn’t pick us. We picked them. Make it harder. Not easier.
Did my boot at Diego in 69. Was it tough…bet your ass. Did I get hit….yep. Did I see others get hit…yep. I guess I do not understand why folks who weren’t there, never served are so concerned about this. Frankly, I have always felt that it gave me a better edge in dealing what was to come with 26th and 5th Marines in I Corps in Vietnam later that year.