DRUMMED OUT–YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!
The letter from Chuck Sarges witnessing “Drumming Outs” from the 2nd Service Rgmt. at Camp Lejuene brought vivid memories back to me. The sight of a downcast sh*tbird followed by a solitary Drummer and MP marching out of 1 MarDiv, Camp Pendleton by the main road past Tent Camp II was not an uncommon sight in 1955. A sobering reminder to those of young Marines ( like me) in the Replacement Drafts waiting for our ships to come in. (Rumor also had it that upon physically leaving Pendleton and crossing the boundary into Oceanside, they were immediately picked up for “Vagrancy” by Oceanside PD–in those days, I believe it!)
Equally sobering: Avoiding approaching, looking at or showing any interest WHATSOEVER in the activities of 3rd Marine Brig, located in the center of Middle Camp Fuji '56/57- –lest you be “invited in” for a day or two to satisfy your curiosity! You'd Better Believe It!
Semper Fi!
James Underwood
Sgt., 1497560 USMC, '55-'59
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ON THE SUBJECT OF DRUMMING OUT. THIS WAS SOP IN THE FIRST MARINES ON THE WEST COAST IN THE MID TO LATE FIFTIES. EXCEPT IT WAS BY COMPANY ON LINE OF PLATOONS NOT BY THE REGIMENT ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES THE ENTIRE BATTALION TURNED OUT. THE FELON, HUMPING HIS SUITCASE, TROOPED THE LINE WITH A DRUMMER AND TWO CHASERS FOLLOWING AND AS HE CAME TO EACH PLATOON IT DID AN ABOUT FACE. IF MEMORY SERVES HE WAS NOT IN CIVIES BUT IN UNIFORM WITH ALL BUTTONS AND MARKING CUT OFF. IT WAS ALSO THE PRACTICE FOR LESS SERIOUS INFRACTIONS TO, AT THE NOON MEAL,
HAVE THE SERGEANT OF THE GUARD ENTER THE MESS HALL BLOW HIS WHISTLE AND READ OFF THE NAME OF THE CULPRIT AND ANY PUNISHMENT HANDED DOWN BY COURT MARTIAL. SEMPER FI, CHUCK IN PITTSBURGH
ONE ONE '56 TO '58
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I was glad to see Chuck Sarges letter about “Drummed Out” as I also was part of one of these Drumming Out Ceremonies. The details are fuzzy as Chuck said but one thing that I can't forget is a show of amazing loyalty, or maybe stubbornness displayed by one of the Marines there. My experience took place at Camp Pendelton it was I believe 1957 but it could have been 1958, it is not one of those memories that I recall with any fondness. I was with the 11th Marines and the order came down that the entire Regiment was to be present in our “Greens” for the Drumming Out of a Marine. “No Exceptions!” Just as Chuck said at the Ceremony in which he took part we were all present and the Commanding Officer and a Legal Officer read the charges, the man was in civilian clothes and flanked by two MP's. The order was given “About Face” and then to my amazement and I'm sure to all present one man did not turn around. It happened he was standing in formation about two or three rows away from me. It was a warm day and we all wanted to get this over with. We were standing at attention waiting for the drums to start when the silence was broken by a Sgt. walking up to the Marine and in a firm but not loud voice saying “What's your problem Marine” and the Marine, a PFC belted out in a loud voice “Sgt. this man is a friend of mine and I will not turn my back on him”. The Legal Officer came rushing up and both he and the Sgt. started to bark out on all the things that this man was charged with, but the young Marine was unmoved by them. It was a “surreal situation”, here was a whole Regiment standing at attention in total silence, this went on for about 5 minutes but it seemed like forever to us standing there because this
was Marines on Marines. Then I could hear footsteps and out of the corner of my eye I saw our Battery Commander come up and in a very calm but firm voice called the Marine by name and said “PFC (so &so) “About Face”, the Marine again repeated that the man was a friend and he would not turn his back on him. The Capt. turned to the Sgt. and said something like “Sgt. have this man fall out and take him back to the barracks pending charges” he then addressed the drummers and said “Carry On” and the man that was to be drummed out was drummed until he reached the end
of the drill field where a jeep with MP's was waiting to drive
him to the gate. We were told later that the local Police drove him to the bus station in town. We all marched back to our barracks, and although the event did not take long very long we were all drenched in sweat and to a man we said “That Sucked” We now knew why when the order was given “All must attend, No Exceptions” it was very empathic. This was not the something a Marine wanted to witness again. I was glad to see Chuck Sarges mention of “Drumming Out” because of all the Marines I have talked to over the years I have never met anyone that had taken part in a “Drumming Out” and I often wondered if I had been present at the last one or if it was even legal. I would like to hear from other Marines and also when did the Corps do away with “Drumming Out”. The Marine that would not turn his back got a few days in the Brig, I have no idea what happened to the man that got Drummed Out.
Tom Tafel, USMC 57-63
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I had forgotten about that until I read the letter. In summer 1951 at Camp LeJeune we were read the orders of the day at morning battalion muster. That day they included the discipline formation orders. Our Platoon Leader threatened lifetime mess duty if anyone looked around after about face was given. We changed from dungarees to suntans and reassembled in the company street about an hour later. We marched without arms to the main parade field. It was a big formation. I think more than one regiment on front. You could hear cadences calling from all over. The prisoner was escorted front and center by two MP's and a lone drummer
behind them. My memory is that he was wearing sun tans and had no luggage. It was a dishonorable discharge and specifically included the phrase “drummed off the post” which I could hear when the officer read the charges. I couldn't see that good but the officer tore something off the prisoner's shirt—emblem, stripes or something. Then we were all given about face by relayed regiment, battalion, company command. At the order “execute” we could hear the drum start a slower than normal cadence. We stood there at attention for a long while, and could hear the drum going on toward the main gate. When we dismissed we were given right face so we still had our backs turned to the prisoner and we marched straight back to our battalion area. By the time we fell out it was almost chow time. J B Bell Sgt 1950 – 1954
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Chuck Sarges wrote in News Letter #32 about the “Drumming Out” experiences he had in the 2nd Service Regiment in 1956. I was there and saw both of them, but like Chuck 56 years fogs the memories. Chuck says the man being drummed was in civvies and had his suitcase. I remember at one, if not both, the man was in uniform and has his suitcase, but as part of the ceremony we watched as he was stripped of all insignia, this included cutting the buttons off his blouse and the EG&A from his lapels. The regiment was then given “About Face” and the man was then drummed out of the area. I for the life of me cannot remember where the bus depot was, but I do remember them going around the traffic circle. Chuck mentions Col. Cooper, my barracks was the first one in line with HQ and on occasions we heard the Colonel shout “”Get off my grass”. He had a bit of a hang-up about people cutting the corner on the walk coming up to HQ and his office which was on that corner of the building. He was a “mustang” and I've often wondered if he made brigadier. Every recruit should be shown a film of the “Drumming Out” ceremony and all recipients of “Bad Conduct Discharges” should be honored with that ceremony. I cannot think of anything more humiliating.
Ron Aich, Sgt. 53-56