So after going through boot camp at P.I., ITR at Camp Geiger and “A” school at Memphis, Tennessee, I went home for the first time at Thanksgiving. My Mother decided to have a big turkey dinner for all the Aunts and Uncles and cousins. So as we’re all sitting around the table passing the food around, people are talking and having a good old time. That is until I blurted out “Could someone pass me the f**king mashed potatoes”. All of a sudden it was dead quiet and everybody was staring at me. I just then realized what I had said. A little awkward. My father (an Army WWII vet) and my Uncle (a Navy Korean vet) were trying not to laugh out loud but my Mother and Aunts weren’t all that amused! After a long (at least it seemed long) silence, my cousin passed me the potatoes and I just went to work eating with my head down. My Mom never said another word about it!
Like my Grand Ma once said, as she sipped her Jack Daniels, ” Every once in a while you just have to say F##k !” Harry 1371
Well, you handled it well, like a true Marine.
While in Vietnam, one of our favorite things to say was ” What the f__k, over!” Needless to say,that phrase came out of my mouth quite a few times during my first few days home. No one really gave a f__k though, they were just happy I was home Bill 0331
I laugh when I hear or read this type of story’s. Because it reminds me the same thing I did when I came home from boot camp and 71 but my case was at my in-laws for Sunday dinner on my 10-day leave before returning to ITR. And after returning to ITR at Camp Pendleton several in my platoon mention of the same type of story.
I think we all had a vocabulary change after boot camp.
I had to laugh when I read this story! In 1969 I returned from Viet Nam after serving 20 months and 2 days. Shortly after my return I met a wonderful young lady and we began dating. She was great at listening and provided me with an outlet to speak safely too. Shortly after we began dating she wanted me to meet and get to know her family including her sister and her family. While visiting, we were sitting down for dinner and having a good time, as all were talking and enjoying each other presence. Then wanting some more potatoes, in an unguarded moment I blurted out “would you please pass the fucking potatoes.” Now even though I said “please” everyone and everything went silent and all were instantaneously staring at me. The potatoes did slowly get passed and I humbly apologized. Fortunately no serious harm was done and I ended up marrying that young lady and as of Dec. 2020 we have been married over 50 years. It appears that we Marines have so much in common, always have and always will.
Been there — Done that — home from NAM, sitting at the in-laws supper table after a Sunday of football — “please pass the “F*****g” pepper” — I didn’t even notice what I had said — Father in-law, mother in-law, brother in-law, sister in-law and wife (at the time), all stopped eating, looked at me and “whoopps, sorry” and all kept eating — still remember that slip of tongue — Now, I don’t have to worry about saying that again, I don’t use pepper — SEMPER FI
When I returned from my visit to SE Asia, my dear mother was dating a new man. I was pretty much withdrawn from everything, and just would sit in the dark for half the day. That 48 hours from the front line to the home front was not nearly enough time. Near dinner one day, he stood in the kitchen and was screaming at my mother, telling her to cook what he ordered her to cook. She said that she was cooking something special for me. He said to stop that, he was the man. Well, as life would have it, he needed an attitude adjustment, and I offered him one, and he said to mind my business. When the sheriff come and woke him up, he ask my mother what happened, and she said that he must have slipped on a puddle of water. The sheriff said Semper Fi, and left. So did the asshole. Told him on the way out, to never ever be around my mother again.
Mine was pass the f*****g salt at the dinner table after boot camp.
LOL had the same experience
I returned from Viet Nam in April 68. Was at my Father-In-Laws house and none of those present were ever in any branch of Military. One of her Uncle’s said “you must be a General by now, are you?” To which I replied “yeah a Fu(#@ing General Fu(%#@ up”. I left the house ASAP.
About a week latter I was at my Dad’s house and the Commander -in-Chief (LBJ) appeared on the T.V. and I said look at that big eared M…F.. Dad said Son if you cannot talk any better than that you can leave the house now..I did. There were some other incidents but we wont go there.
Heard that story 100 times.
Lima 3/9 67-68
Les, Did you know Capt. Shirley ? July 67 Murray 1371
Mine was at 1966 Thanksgiving after ITR at Geiger. I asked my Mom for the F+++ing butter. After some strange looks from the rest of the family and my blurted apology, dinner went on. Not only had my adjectives changed I found it easier to stand up straight than to slouch. Actually, slouching was uncomfortable. We all changed. What a fantastic experience being a United States Marine. Semper Fi all. Paul.