I graduated in early June 1966 from MCRD, I believe it was the first week. I am now 74 years old and have wanted to thank my Drill Instructors for fifty years. We were the honor platoon 3006. I know some are not with us, however sitting with Chesty they may forgive me.
Lt/Col. P. H. Simpson, S/Maj. R. C. Brown, Capt. M. Horowitz, 1st/Lt. Vukojevich, G/Sgt. Barbee, who was a hard ass Marine, and I mean hard. S/Sgt. B. W. Rayner, Sgt. J. W. Chase. He was extremely statistical, in mentors way. Last but not least was Sgt. E. F. Saar. He was one proud Marine because this was his first platoon as D/I and we were the Honor Platoon.
One TURD was Pfc. S. S. Wade, M/Gen Sidney S. Wade’s son who came to our graduation. Pfc. was killed in the Nam. I don’t know that to be true though. Major General Bruno Hochmuth, one fine day as we were drilling on Hall field was ditty bopping (Generals do not ditty bop, I just through that in) across and stop Sgt. Chase and Sgt. Saar he ask if he could drill us. The looks on their face’s was astonishing. They were so proud they could hardly contain themselves. He drilled us for about five minutes and complimented us all. “Did you people see that?” one Drill Instructor said. Me, I scared to death. However we had an easy day after that. General Hochmuth was killed in the Nam while I was there. The day I heard that I was heart broken. That night we had our perimeter hit and I was extremely violent. I took my anger out on the NVA that night.
Thank you all for making me a Marine, and the person I am today. Your training and guidance has sustained me through my whole life. I walked among men. Thank you again.
I would also like to thank Lt/Jg. S. Magrath and Lt/Jg. Houdeck two nurses on The U. S. S
also. I can not remember his name though. What character he was.
So again thank you all.
Wm. Roesch Kishpaugh 2216837
Hey William, Could not find a S.S Wade listed on “ The Wall” looks like he might have made it! Harry.
I can’t explain why, but It bugs the hell out of me when someone uses the term “the nam” when referring to the War. Nick
I have never heard of “THE NAM”, it was always “NAM”! But, I am curious as to why it would bug you. Thanks brother, SEMPER FI!
This story ,William referred to it as “the nam” to me it’s like saying “the game, the party, the mall, the hood etc…” I don’t know, it’s just one of those things that bugs me . Thanks. Semper Fi. Nick 0311
I’m with you on this Nick! I guess some just can’t say the whole word, Vietnam! Bill
Don Jensen, 2214302 April 1966. Eleventh MT Nam Christmas Day 66 to March 68. I was on convoy at Phu Bai when the Generals Huey was shot down.
I started boot camp in the middle of July 1966, plt. 1064. We did our week of mess Duty at the mess hall next to the grinder. Brigadier General Hockmouth (sp?) Walked through right by me. He wasn’t a Major General until taking command of 3RDMARDIV in Name. He was KIA when his chopper was hit by a 155 round from a ARVN battery that fired without clearance.
Mick Blair HQ and Btry I 3/12 67-68
I was in Platoon 3006 in June 1966 at Parris Island. We were an honor platoon, but I don’t recall any of the DI’s you mentioned.
Our DI’s were Gysgt Caldwell, Sgt Coady, Sgt. Wakefield, and Sgt. McClelland. We graduated 29 June, 1966. Ron Lee 2263201
I think he was left coast recruit. Nick
i was in 68-69 nam we had good hard D I s back then D C made the corp weaker today plt. 1117 calf.
Hey William – I was in Plt 1001 MCRD and we graduated in March 66. I think our platoon got the honor too. I was the Platoon Honorman and Series Honorman and given the set of blues. General Hochmuth was the Commanding General at MCRD. Sgt M. A. Trujillo was senior DI and tough as a nail. Along with Sgt Brown and Cpl Akin. Happened to run into Trujillo (then a PFC) at Camp Pendleton when I was an
E-5. (2114738)
Semper Fi
Richard
I was in platoon 182 in 1964, MCRD SanDiego. We had a Sgt Trujillo and Cpl Akin as DI. Trujillo was M A. He was tough.
Never forget him. Gen Hochmuth was CG.
Ralph
2100847
I was at PI Plt 321 Jan 13 to mid March 1966. Sr DI Staff Sgt Johnson, DI Devane, etc. MOS 0300 West PAC Ground Forces For Duty. Day after grad fast tracked to Camp Geiger for ITR approx April 21 , MOS 0311, going to 3rd Marine Div. After 20 day leave and May 12 back to Lejeune for a Flight to Pendleton for 2 weeks escape and evasion training and due to go to Viet Nam June 1st. They gave us a ability to learn language test and I was one of 66 Marines pulled and sent to the Presidio Of Monterey for 12 weeks of Vietnamese. Out TDY was through Treasure Island, Graduated Aug. 15th and Hit Nam Aug 25. There was some confusion over when I was going because the orders from TI to Nam had the wrong serial number. Mine is 2244774. they had 2233774. Ended up going from DaNang to Chu Lai and got told by the Transit Sgt, who was with me at Pendleton, that I was supposed to go back north. Got back to Danang the next day after a night at the club and assigned to the First Marines. My buddy 2244773 went June 1st and ended up in A Co 1/9. I met him a few yrs after we got out and we were in a different war in terms of intensity. Funny how little things influence our lives. Semper Fi
Yes we owe a lot to our DI’s going through boot camp. Discipline, tenacity and the desire to be Marines is carried into our future. My 10 years (59-68), I learned and taught many men, under the command of many officer and senior enlisted NCO’s Marines who taught me their skills and ability to led men in any situations. Many of the Officers I served under, became Colonels all the way up to 3 Star Generals. My greatest assignment was when I was made Platoon Sargeant/Acting Platoon Commander of a reserve Platoon. The first weekend was frighting to these reservist. Standing before them was a regular Marine, ironed fatigues , spit shined boot, cropped and ironed cover, polished brass, close haircut, painted web belt with eyelets painted, a cleaned 45 in my polished holster. Their only problem was they did form up fast enough. Called them to attention, asked the squad leaders if the platoon was ready for inspection. Each squad leader was given a small note pad. You know the rest. Best platoon in the Battalion in all activities. Later was assigned to Battalion S-2. Updated and issued memos for proper assignments of Battalion officers to there security assignments. Went to work in the aerospace industry. Went into planning, upgraded many methods from handwriting to standard planning documents, upgraded manuals, etc. Became manager of one fighter program, and supporting departments and eliminated delivery problem in 30 days. Assigned tot Advanced Technology department for 8 years. Did a lot of advance stuff. Became manager of another fighter program. Did the same as the previous fighter program. No delivery problems after 30 days. Retired after 27 years. This is a summation of what happens to a Marine that are properly trained and led by Good Marine officers and senior NCO’s. Went on to start 2 new companies that are in existence today run the same way. You can never say we are not led improperly. We are US Marines!! Semper Fi. We led the way.
MajGen Sidney Scott Wade passed away in 2002. His obituary lists a son, Sidney Scott Wade Jr of Virginia, as a surviving family member. Whether he was a S**t Bird or not (he wasn’t the first nor the last to have that sobriquet from Boot Camp) , he graduated from MCRD and apparently survived Vietnam since he’s not listed on the Wall. He still earned the title US Marine.
Don Jensen- think we may have served together. I was with Transport Co., 11th Motors when it formed up at Camp Pendleton (fall of 1966) to Vietnam aboard the USNS Eltinge (sp.) and arrived Danang 29December1966. Recall many convoys to An Hoa (2/5 was there) and a couple of big convoys to Phu Bai and Quang Tri. Mid 1967 transferred to 2nd CAG. Semper Fi
Sgt Rayner and Sgt Sarr left your boot camp platoon and got platoon 3063 in June of 66 and I met them their…..We go to hear about how big of screw ups we were because you guys were so good. i think i did 10,000 squat thrust because ya’ll were good and we didn’t match up………Of course we were good too but the desire to match up to others ,who were already MARINES, made us better . Men like them formulated a lot of good and positive things for those that they led….Lots of water under that bridge,56 years ago…………
Semper Fi