I was a young man from the eastern shore of Maryland. My buddy and I always wanted to be Marines. On 28 June 1962 we signed up on the 120 day plan. I was 17 at the time and had never done much but play around. We left for P I on 25 Sept ’62 and arrived in Yesmassee SC at night. All of us know what happens from that point. I was a scared kid but wanted to be a Marine so I could do anything. On 26 Sept. we were picked up by our D I”s and headed to Plt 375. On 31 Oct ’62 my DI put me in his car and took me to the POU unit located in the 2nd Battalion. I wasn’t sure what was happening and he said i wasn’t keeping up with the standards that was expected.
I wasn’t in very good shape and couldn’t keep up with a lot of the PT etc. While in POU everyday doctors would talk to us and asked if we wanted to get out. That was the last thing i wanted. on 6 Nov 62 I was set back to Plt 379. From that point forward I was a different Marine. I became the DI’s “house mouse” and did everything and more that was expected of me. Upon graduation on 9 Jan’63 my DI said he had put me in to become a Marine guard at NSA at Fort Meade.In those days no one even knew what NSA was. After 14 months in C L N C and making a Med cruise I was cleared and sent to Ft. Meade Mare Guard Att.I was there for 30 months and got out a Sgt.in Oct.1966. One of the proudest things i ever did was to become a U.S. Marine especially the way I had to do it. Semper Fi always.
Sgt Grit wants to hear from you! Leave your comments below or submit your own story!
Congrats and Semper Fi
Was at PI in Jan. 0f 63, 2nd Bat. platoon 206. The STB Platoon. , (Special Training Branch), AKA as the “Fat Boys Platoon”, was located at the Rifle Range for the recruits who were overweight or could not keep up with their assigned platoons, five of us recruits from the farms of Carroll County, MD., never had that problem. All enlisted on the Buddy Plan and completed boot camp in the same platoon. Three of us were the top three shooters in our platoon. Our DI’s asked us “Where the F–K are you hillbilly’s from ?
I was in boot camp in San Diego PLT. 173 and I am not sure what POU was but we called ours Simple City. We sent one man over because he was sick and went to the hospital, when he got out of the hospital they put him in Simple City and he was the right guide of that platoon, when he caught up he came back to graduate with us.
POU stands for psychiatric observation unit.W
I was in PLT. 174 San Diego 1958. SEMPER FI.
MCRD Diego September ’67 it was called the Motivational Platoon or fat farm. We were scared to death of falling out and being sent there and having to start all over again. I’ll tell you one thing those that went came back the most squared away and motivated Marines you’d ever meet their pride in the personal accomplishments achieved was quite appropriate. SemperFi and God bless.
That was my experience in Platoon 235, Jun – Sep 1965. I was overweight when I got there and fear of Motivation was all that kept me running.
That was at P.I.
Remember “PCP” Physical Conditioning Platoon at San Diego.. aka “Fat Farm”. It was located in same area as “Casual Platoon and Motivation Platoon” . It was used to send overweight and weak bodies to either lose weight or gain muscle strength needed to pass the then “PRT” Physical Readiness Test that was ran in PT Gear (pull-ups, sit-ups, 300 yard dash) and the “CMC Test” that was ran in utilities with 782 gear (step-ups, fireman’s carry, knotted rope climb, 300 yard advance by fire and maneuver, and 3 mile run in formation) passing both was required to graduate Boot Camp. This was in 1966 prior to the to physical tests above being combined and changed to the “PFT” . Recruits who could not do pull-ups, or sit-ups or complete runs in above test by were sent there. Perhaps the “POU” was an early version of the the “PCP” unit.
Right on Bill, just as you described I was in the fat farm in 66 spent 30 days there and was sent back to another platoon. However I did graduate boot camp but I could never climb the knotted rope. In 70 I finally masted the slick rope and was I proud. thanks for the memory lane
Right on Bill, just as you described I was in the fat farm in 66 spent 30 days there and was sent back to another platoon. However I did graduate boot camp but I could never climb the slick rope . In 70 I finally masted the slick rope and was I proud. thanks for the memory lane
POU stood for Psychiatric Observation Unit when I was at P.I. in 1963 and, as I understood it, was for boots who were having problems adjusting. And yes, it was in the Second Battalion area on the second deck. I remember it because I stumbled onto it looking for sick bay.
Parris Island Fall 1957.All I remember is no body wanted to be sent to any of those outfits ,especially POU. Any one from our platoon who ended up there was never heard from again.Rumor was when they were sent off the Island they were issued mismatched clothes.
Great story which exemplifies what being a marine is; NEVER give up. Semper Fi!!
Think we called it Motivation
Platoon
I was in the 2nd Battalion P I in the fall of 1960. POU was the Psychiatric Observation Unit. In essence it was for those who had difficulty coping with the mental stresses of boot camp. Or just flat out out had mental breakdowns. I do not remember it it being a motivational unit. It was literally a Cuckoo’s Nest. They did have motivational units and strength building units. We had one recruit in our platoon ended up in POU and assuredly he had some serious issues. POU was the exit door from the Corps for those who had serious mental issues.
March 1964 I was sent to STB 0n Parris Island (Special Training Branch) and there was four platoons ( Motivation,Corrective Custody, Stabilization and Proficiency. I was Stabilization). Stabilization was fat ones and weak ones (AKA Elephant Brigade) . I can still hear the DI at the chow hall, “Line up, fat ones in front, weak ones in the rear. It was truly a barrel of laughs. BTW General Walts son was in my platoon there.
1954, Parris Island: We called it the “slow learner’s platoon.” We got one of the “slow learners” about 3/4 the way through graduation. That dude was mentally retarded, actually. I don’t know how he got in the Corps, but maybe some recruiter needed to fill his quota for that month. The recruit actually could not march, do the manual of arms, etc.. When we had “final field inspection”, which is what they call graduation now I think, the D.I.’s made him stay in the barracks so he wouldn’t screw things up.
What I was told while at PI in the summer of ’62 was that if you were sent to POU and you weren’t crazy, you sure would be before you got out.
I was at P.I. Jun 15, 1962 in L Company Plt 238. Along with 236-237-239 from 2nd BN. We all knew about POU and the Fat Mans Plt. You just didn’t want to be there. These guys got there butts worked off. We had Marines go there and were replaced by Marines coming out of POU as pickups as we called them to our 238. They all did very well after coming out of that hell hole. We started with about 75 men and only had about 40 original Marines left from our first day at the Island Our barracks was catty corner from the 2nd BN mess hall right on the corner. When we ran to the PT course we would see Marines from POU carrying buckets of sand running around in circles. Not the place I wanted to go. L Company outpost on Sept 13, 1962 an I was glad to head for ICT at Camp Gieger. I was a 0311 and loved it. We were at Gieger when the Cuban missle crisis took place in Oct. They packed the 2nd Marine Div in one day and they were gone to Cuban. All Marines were issued brand new M 14’s and 782 gear from the large warehouses plus of course other new weapons like the M 60. We were still in ACT training and not finished yet. I was a PFC off the island and since they took most all our troop handlers, I was appointed acting Gunny Sgt and handled our company until they return for Cuban. One of the Marines I knew told we later that one Marine going got his M 14 without a magazine and complained about it and was told by a issuing Sgt not to worry because it because there would be many laying on the beach after the landing. What a thing to say to someone going into combat. Anyway all ended well. Let me hear from anyone that may have been in the 2nd BN L Company. I have found 152 Marines from that Company. We had Sgt F M Spady Sgt A E Mattox and Sgt J J Quaglia. Spady and Quaglia from passed away, I found this out from there families. One of you may have had them after we left or before we got to P.I. I stay in touch with Retired Major Mattox, came out of Nam as a officer. Good for him. He was the best! My email is courtcurtis@usa.net.
I was stationed at Lejeune that October of the Cuban Missile Crisis. I was on a 96 hour pass for the weekend and had gone to Toledo to see family. I heard about the ‘crisis’ while driving back on the PA Turnpike. When I got back on base the 2nd Mar Div was GONE! I was in HQ, 8th Engineers (we did not get to go, just the Combat Engineers) and when I got into the barracks everyone was talking about all the new gear they had gotten. They got in line with the 2nd Div guys and just loaded up! They got everything but weapons; K-Bars, entrenching tools, 782 gear, it all was being handed out for the taking.
While I am at this, anybody else out there from Plt. 389, MCRD San Diego, September 15 – December 15, 1960?
Grit –
Conkwright’s comments referencing the October,1962 Cuban Missile Crisis (that’s what we called it back 55 years ago) brought back memories of what it was like “on the beach” along Florida’s East Coast during that event. I know what follows will sound like some BS-driven sea story to old salts, but I witnessed it all…
My Dad was an ex- horse cavalry (U.S. 6th. Cav.) mustang Army Air Corps fighter pilot killed during WWII on 4 July, 1942. So both my younger brother and I got to inherit his never-used GI Bill educational benefits, under the deceased veterans clause. Both of us – to our Mother’s horror – ended up enlisting in the USMCR while in school, under whatever the delayed reporting reg’s were at the time.
I was a Cold War mud Marine (1955-60), and he ended up an airwinger flying Huey Guns before, during, and after Nam. After school, and a USMC discharge, I ended up with an appointment as a US National Park Ranger, serving for 42 years. Fast forward to 1962, and I was the Ranger-in-Charge of two islands that were part of a national park halfway between JAX and Daytona Beach. We kept track of events in Cuba via the news, but the US government was pretty close-mouthed about actions taken.
Our first clue big things were in the wind, was when the tracks just west of the park, belonging to the sleepy Florida East Coast railroad which ran south to Miami, suddenly began running night-time really heavily loaded trains full of canvas-covered mechanized equipment and artillery on flatcars – with sentries aboard, 24-7. Then my wife and I were awakened one midnight (our quarters were sandwiched between the east bank of the intercoastal waterway, and the ocean beach) by the chug-chug of long convoys of dozens of fully loaded Mike boats, with only blue running lights visible, also heading south. Traveled only during darkness. Water traffic was so heavy, the hull wash began eroding the waterway banks visibly. We were then ordered by a call from our park service HQ in D.C. to reply that our ranger staff had observed nothing out of the ordinary in reply to any questions regarding military activity.
Then one of the other park rangers reported that a suppertime knock on his door, revealed one of his park ranger friends, and his family, on his doorstep, looking for shelter for the night. This ranger was stationed off the southern tip of Florida, offshore at a park in the Dry Tortuga’s. Apparently the Defense Dept.12 hours earlier, had taken charge of the park (a large 19th. century US fort), and with no advance notice, evacuated all the staff & dependents to the mainland. A full battery of mobile US Army Nike-Zeus missiles then was bring emplaced on fort’s parade ground, aimed Cuba-way. This ranger and family was headed north to his wife’s family home for shelter.
We had no idea the whole Second MARDIV was afloat off the Florida Coast, unseen from land with hull and superstructure-down
over the horizon. We heard scuttlebutt later that our friends, the Coasties, were placed on station offshore to shoo all civilian and private watercraft away from USN vessels.
My encounter with the USMC was more personal. A week or so later, I was on evening beach patrol on the ocean side of the park. We had no 4WD vehicles, so we rigged our pickups with a set of two oversize rims, and mounted outsize tires on them, so we could drive on the sand ocean beach without getting bogged down. At low tide, I could drive in a tight circle on the beach, and sweep my high-beams several hundred yards north and south for a visual check. We had chronic poaching and vandalism problems with some of our “louie-low-crotch” neighbors from the interior of Florida. As I swept the north stretch of the beach, my lights flashed over two low silhouettes in the surfline. I thought WTF, and exited the truck. All I had was a park-issued surplus,loose-slide, WWI M1911.45 auto (a piece of crap that should have been surveyed!), my trusty Korean War-vintage Marine K-Bar, and a double.-bbl. sawed-off 12-ga.shotgun – and no radio!. I wasn’t going to get any closer to whatever this situation was, until I knew what I had. Suddenly over the surf noise came a clear command-trained voice: “Shut off the God-DXXX lights!” I reverted to my USMC training, and yelled back” “Federal Officer. Advance and be recognized!” I heard some low conversation, and another voice yelled “US Marines”. I replied back: “Semper Fi”, and something else I can’t recall. I heard a laugh, someone I think said “Aw, Shxt., and RECON”. I got back in the truck, hit the low beams, then the top reds for a couple of seconds, and drove up the beach to them. Turned out to be an officer, a senior non-com, and maybe half a dozen other swimmers – all in wet suits, fins, etc. Didn’t say much, except they were getting rusty from being cooped-up afloat, and were on a training exercise. I didn’t ask any questions. They asked me to keep my mouth shut about this little encounter, which I have done until now.
A week or so later, after the Russkie navy backed off, and turned tail, the Marines afloat docked at Mayport in JAX, and all troops embarked were bussed to various tourist facilities along the Fla.coast. The larger unit of our park – a large, old Spanish fort, got about 1,500 Marines for a day. I was sent TAD up there to help with crowd control. It looked like the troops were attacking the fort – not just visiting it! We had two very good-looking female rangers in charge of fee collection duties there, and the female ranger’s Class A uniform at that time looked just like an classy airliine hostess – fitted blouse & green skirt, heels, and a fore-and-aft cap(like the issue p’cutter when I served). There was no way we could process that many Marines thru’ the fee collection post, so I told the women just to shut down for the day, open the gates, and become “roving rangers” among the troops to answer questions, and act as guides. That’s when I learned to my surprise that so many young enlisted Marines were so interested in learning military history, and hung closely on every word from our two female staff members! That’s the day I also learned that whole SecondMARDIV had been unseen offshore Florida for all that time.
Semper FI !
Ross “Hoppy” Hopkins
0311 – 1497XXX
Baker Company, 9th. Inf. BN, 4th.MARDIV (1955-60)
I was at MCRDSD Aug-Dec 1972. Started with Plt 3099 but at about T-4 or 5 My self and 2 others were sent to PCP (Physical Conditioning Platoon) because we couldn’t do more than one pull up. Very close to PCP was Motivation Plt. We could here them sreaming at the top of there lungs all day long. Also close by was CCP (Correctional Custody) Plt. When they weren’t doing manual labor around the base they were locked up, and at night PCP stood guard duty. I was on guard one night and saw 2 members of my original plt in there. 72 of us were formed into Plt 1120 and started regular training. During the week or two that the other platoons were doing mess and maintenance we spent doing PT and running. at the end we received certificates for the 1,000 mile club, never running less than 3 miles at a time. We were also top platoon in our series on the drill field.
MCRDSD in 7/72 with Plt. 1094 A Co. That is what I remember too, Stan.
I went through boot camp at MCRD in August-November, 1960, Plt. 281, and as I recall those that did not meet minimum fitness/weight standards went to what was called STU (Special Training Unit) – they went through Hell!
I remember POU was the way out of the Corps. One day our Plt 171, 1957 was marching passed the bus station, a group of POUs where wait to board the bus and go home. The DI stopped the platoon and told us we could also leave the island like the POUs or leave as Marines. They were dressed in all kinds of weird clothing. I was also put on a diet, but not sent to the fat boys platoon. After 2 weeks I lost over 20 lbs, but stayed on the diet for a few more weeks’ the DI said it was good for me. I went from a 36 inch waist to 32 inch., 6’2″ tall, 190lbs. My mother & father came to graduation, when my mother saw me she cried and asked what did they do to her baby (I was the youngest of 4) . I put my chest out and said they made me a Marine. Semper Fi!!
I have a similar situation arriving at Parris Island, late January 1974. After three days in Receiving, my Platoon 306, was picked up on a late Saturday afternoon, but we had only about 30 of us. It seemed like a small platoon. That same night, before hitting the rack, we were informed by our Drill Instructor, that the rest of the platoon was going to arrive in the morning. That the rest of the platoon were coming from PCP (Physical Condition Platoon) called “Fat Body Platoon.” He said that some of these recruits had been on the Island for 3 months. He said that they were going to know a lot more than us, because they had been training but not allowed to officially start training. The DI told us to not be intimidated by them because these recruits were a little further along than us. He was right. They came in a cocky and arrogant bunch. A couple were tattle tales, stool pigeons kissing up to the DIs. We new arrivals resented them and wanted to knock the crap out of them, but couldn’t. The worst thing about the situation was when “Mess and Maintenance” week came along following the Rifle Range. It was a one week break for the DIs where the platoons were going to be working in the chow halls. I was looking forward to that because I thought I could get to eat a lot more. I thought they were starving me for three months. I was always hungry and I wasn’t even a fat body. Well, my platoon was the only platoon in the 4 platoon Series that didn’t get to work in the chow hall because of those from PCP. We were split up to do other things around Parris Island. A bunch of us had a miserable week gluing new targets for the rifle range. That really ticked me off. Other than that, Boot Camp went well. Being the smallest, I was picked out to be the house mouse at the beginning of boot camp. This lasted only a week because I didn’t want special treatment and the other recruits to think I got special privileges. I ran Cross Country, wrestled and ran the 2-Mile in track in HS so was physically prepared for boot camp. My youngest son is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq twice. Nowadays, I would think that no one is even allowed to enter boot camp without being able to do the minimum. The Corps is much more selective nowadays. In my time, some of the recruits shouldn’t have even entered because they were not ready to begin physically and for some, their choice was either go in the military or jail. So, we had some real criminals in there.
I was in 3rd Bn, Plt 328 in 1966. On a cold, windy and rainy day in january our Sr. DI SSgt Dobies sent the guide and squad leaders to the Motivation Plt. for the day. I was 3rd squad leader at the time..We were also joine by the same positions for all of the other platoons in the batallion. The idea was to have us instill in the rest of our platoon the idea that motivation platoon was a place no one wanted to be.
The day began with a march out to motivation. which I believe was near Elliott’s Beach, and a cold “C” rats breakfast followed very quickly with an hour of bends and whoopees and other assorted flagellations. Very quickly after that we found ourselves on the “O” course. Of course because of all the rain, the trenches we navagated were full of water. Three times through this event and we were all chilled to the bone. We then adjourned to one of the old WWII empty barracks for another cold round of “C” rats for lunch. Very shortly thereafter, we hit the road for a 6 mile run which was the termination event for the day. After our march back to the platoon we presented an awful sight for the rest of the platoon to see. We were all draggin’ azz by this time and looked like a gaggle of drowned rats.
SSgt Dobies told us to hit the hot shower for as long as we needed to clean up, warm up and clean our deuce gear and M-14. The shower almost made the whole day worthwhile. It was a great learning experience for us and a great inspiration for everyone else to exceed expectations. Needless to say we all grew up in “The Corps”. SEMPER FI!
Lots of good and bad memories but Paris Island is the place that made me what I am today. I was 17 yrs old April 1 1972, May 30, 1972, I arrived at night on a Bus.I ask the guy beside me wonder what those footsteps are for and he said I am sure we’re going to find out soon enough. A couple of minutes later there was a gentleman that boarded the bus,and he absolutely went nuts on all of us. I never before saw six people fit through the door at the same time on the bus. I found out very quick what the footprints were all about and what attention meant very quick . A few minutes later most of our lives changed forever.Platoon 0166 /1972. 0331/0311 Semper Fi !!!
I GRAD AT PI 14 AUG 1972. 1ST BAL – PLT 154 SR DI was SSGT Bishop.
Ah yes. Definitely remember the Conditioning Platoon at PI when I was a “guest” in Feb 71. Located in the Rifle Range area. I got to spend 30 days in the weak body barn, which was on the north side of the barracks, the fat body platoon was on the south side. Dropped from Platoon 221, spent the time to get back on my feet, learned some close order drill, rifle nomenclature along with several useful subjects while there that paid off when I was picked up by Platoon 231. I definitely remember my “welcome” to Platoon 231 by Senior DI GySgt C. Reid. Never learned what the initial C stood for, but I had about 20 minutes of “explaining” why he didn’t like pick ups, and 5 minutes of what I could do to make him “like” me. It must have worked, because I never had a lot of problem after that. I really would like to thank Gunny Reid along with Sgt. Thompson, and Sgt Wilkinson for their assistance in making a Marine out of me
Platoon 158 San Diego 1958. I remember it being called STP, Special Training Platoon for recruits who were over weight, out of shape and “uninspired”. Mainly full time pt and regulated food. The few from our platoon didn’t come back to us.
Semper Fi my brother. There not a lot of us “Eastern Shore” Marines, but we are a tenacious bunch.
I went thru boot camp at Parris Island 4/23/72 6/18/72 at 2nd batallion.I was going to Viet Nam but instead i was sent to Roosecelt Roads Marine Barracks it was cool.
I was in Plt. 375, the one you started in. Sgt. Rivers (senior DI), Sgt. Wells, and Sgt. Long. Sgt. Rivers was black, first black person I even knew (I came from a lily-white suburb of Boston). When I left PI, I thought all blacks were gods, had eyes in the back of their heads, never sweated, etc. etc. Spent 4 years, 3 month, with the last 9 months in ‘Nam (Hill 724, Ai Van Pass, 1st LAAM Bn.). Great times. Semper Fi!
Cliff–Thanks for responding small world.
A couple of names I remember were Novak-Deems-Hastings–the buddy I went in with was named Bob Roe.
Do you remember any of these guys?
Of course I remember the DI’s very well
Semper Fi
I was at P.I. in 1966 2nd Battalion Plt. 2085 L Company. We called it the Fat Body Plt. We had one Marine go there for a few weeks, he begged to return to our Plt. I was lucky I weighed 140 lbs. didn’t have to many problems with the PT. But as most recruits I was scared as Hell of our DIs. The recruit that went to the Fat Body Plt. never did return. We lost our senior DI and Junior DI (4) weeks into training. They went to Nam, so we had new DIs for the rest our training. As we left for ITR getting on the bus, my DI said Pvt. Dezso how much weight have you gained? I told him I still weigh 140 lbs. Got my ass kicked for not eating enough of the good chow at PI. Semper Fi…………
Went through MCRDSD in Feb 1957, 1st Battalion Plt 123 and they use to call it “The Goony Platoon”.
Went thru summer 1969 and fear of being dropped was a great motivater. Platoon 1122 MCRD san Diego Semper Fi my brothers
Gary Stines says:
February 28 , 2017 AT1030 am
Went in 17 Dec. 1965 and never regretted it for a minute. I was proud to have worn the uniform of the ( GREATEST BAND OF BROTHERS ) that ever lived. i served with a ( C.A.P. ) unit from Aug. 1966 to Aug. 1967. God bless the UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, and GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ! !
SEMPER FI
Lots of old guys here so I’ll ask this question. How many of you wore herringbone utilities? They were fazed out just as I joined in 1963 but they were still being worn. After boot at PI, ITR and school I was with 2nd ANGLICO and scored a set of herringbone utes. I wore them only once when a senior staff sgt firmly explained to me that a boot ass PFC like me didn’t rate them and if I didn’t change immediately I was looking at four years of shit details.
Arrived at MCRD 4 FEB 89. Graduated 28 April 89 Platoon 3014 3rd Bat, Mike Co. Had two Marines graduate with 3014 who both were dropped by other platoons to PCP platoon twice. Garitty and Warneka, both these Marines arrived at MCRD in August of 88. Just imagine if your boot camp experience lasted from Aug of 88 until 28 April 1989. Who would want to do eight months of boot camp? These two did and they graduated with me. Semper Fi Devil Dogs where ever you are.
Are there any Marines from Platoon 280 1963, out in Semper FI land. I was there on that year.
The Marines I’m asking are MCRD San Diego Platoon 280 1963. Semper FI
Are there any Marines from MCRD San Diego Platoon 280 1963, out in Semper FI land. I was there on that year. Semper FI!!
Any jarheads from Plt 113 Feb 1959?
Our Senior D.I. decided it was necessary for the entire platoon to experience the joys of “Motivation Platoon”. This was 1st Battalion at P.I. in 70. Everybody got it for one day and everyone came back determined never to go again!