Sgt. Grit,
Remember in boot camp the scrub brush and the soapy water and the tables we scrubbed our clothes on. Some guys did this in Camp Geiger too! I went home after Camp Geiger on a bus from North Carolina with my sea bag and dirty laundry.
My mom went apesh-t when I emptied my sea bag on the Persian Living room carpet! She made me take it to the Chinese Laundry around the corner. Major cities had these Chinese hand laundry’s – that did predominately linens – table clothes – and shirts. The old Chinese gentleman spoke little English and gave you a receipt with Chinese characters on it for a stub. He weighed the sea bag – and bowed to me. Two days later I went to pick it up – and my mom paid back then like $20.00 (which was very expensive for those days – when a regular laundry would cost less than $5.00.) The Chinese guy went berserk yelling and screaming and pointing at me – the guy’s wife came out of the back to quiet him down – and calmly explained to me that my skivvies and utilities were so dirty I clogged the pipes when they cleaned the dirty clothes. My utilities were now sparkling – and my skivvies were bright white – rough socks were smooth to my skin. A rare treat for a Marine after boot camp.
Went to a few nice restaurants and met a nice girl at a military dance in the great city of New York – then alas – my leave was up – went to the Port Authority Bus Station in New York City – and the Marine went into survival mode carefully watching his wallet and his gear aboard the bus – as we trusted only other Marines to watch our backs.
Bruce Bender
1963-1967
Cpl USMC
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Good story Bruce!
Those good old washing tables. Beads of Bleach and scrub brush. I was in Third Bat. In the Nesa Huts. Platoon 325. Remember scrubbing those cement floors with scrub brush and Beads of Bleach. At night the truck would drive by spraying bug spray on us and the huts. Good old times. D.I. Would walk around with his swagger stick and bang on your helmet liner to get your attention.
That’s the best skivvie story I’ve heard in (35) years…!!
I too remember the cement wash tables and cold water faucets behind our barracks in the 2nd batalion on Parris Island ,fall of 1957.Also if the clothes had to remain on the lines overnight the stuff had to be guarded.In about the 3rd or 4th week of boot camp we sent our utilities to the laundry for the first and only time.
It’s funny but the way I learned to scrub articles of clothing in Boot Camp I still use for things like covers, tennis shoes, my wife’s delicates, etc. I now do it in the shower using a fingernail brush or old toothbrush but it works great.
Great story. I remember coming home from boot and Grandma taking all of my skivies down to the basement and taking two days boiling them to get them clean.
After returning from Korea in late 1950 and being stationed at NAS-Corpus Christi Marine Barracks, I was transferred to what is now known as Camp Geiger, in 1951. Then it was called Tent Camp. I became a member the Anti-Aircraft Battery in Supply. That’s where I made Sgt.. Have some fond memories of the time in J-Ville and surrounding area. Accepted Honorable Discharge in June 1952. Semper Fi!
Am i getting old or has this been posted before?
You sure are right $20. was a lot of money back then. I started in the steel mill June 1966 and was making $2.68 an hour. I think they were trying to tell you DON’T COME BACK.
I still remember, but most don’t. In 1958 when I was in Boot camp, first battalion Plt.# 137 we had people that were caught who would bite their finger nails. The Di’s would make them wear the black leather gloves for at least a week (24 hours a day)..The fire watches had to inspect them while on duty. These poor souls had do everything with gloves on! Showers, Mess Hall and even washing clothing on the wash racks! The skivvies turned black from the gloves and it was not a pleasant scene !!!
You are not getting old! The story about the dirty laundry was posted before.
Is this story a dumb joke or something? What kind of Marine would take a seabag full of dirty laundry on a bus from North Carollina to New York? Only kind that comes to mind is what we used to refer to as a “crud”. Personal hygiene was a high priority item at P.I 1n 1956. Hard to believe a Marine would do what this one did. And dumped it on his mom’s rug? And didn’t get kicked out of the house? And it was so filthy that it clogged up the Chinese Laundry’s plumbing? And this ‘sh-tbird thinks its funny?
I have to agree, what kind of Marine would let his shit get that dirty. This has to be a “pull your chain” story. If not he should have been in the Army
Though Fellow MARINES have ‘the six” of another MARINE’s; today some of Our Brothers need to be “watched” for they will stab you in “your six” ( from experience ). OoooRah & SEMPER FIDELIS to all My Brothers & Sisters….. ” Stew “
Great story Bruce. One of the better memories of that time. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Marine for the memories. I was there in ’58 for Teletype Operator school (mos 2541). I remember the good times we had in the barracks, My bunk was next to the coke machine. And I took that bus home to Maryland.