It was nearing Christmas of 2011 and my wife and I were visiting the Marine Corps recruiting office to bring in a bag for “Toys for Tots”. I was wearing my sharp looking Marine Corps cap purchased from Sergeant Grit.
We entered the recruiting office which had an open area with mail boxes for all the services and a Christmas tree. We then proceeded down an alley way that had the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marine recruiting offices.
Standing in front of that closed Marine Corps door, my mind returned to 1958 and Paris Island. I had guard duty and the wake up shift. At 04:30 I pounded on the Drill Instructors’ Quonset hut door and called out the reveille greeting and naturally I heard the reply “ I can’t hear you maggot”. I hit the door as hard as I could with my fist and still heard the same reply.
Well, I picked up a good size rock and whacked that door three times… All I heard inside was the DI’s scrambling to get out of the sack and come after me. I high- tailed it out of there and I bet they were drinking and laughing at the NCO club that night about their wake up call.
That’s what went through my mind as I stood in front of that closed door; I banged loudly on the recruiter’s door three times with my fist, opened the door and announced: Corporal Ellis reporting for duty Sir!
The Sergeant behind the desk talking with a recruit didn’t look too thrilled. The other three potential recruits in the corner looked aghast. The Marine in civies who I would guess was a Corporal was smiling up a storm. I went over to the Sergeant shook his hand said Merry Christmas, Semper Fi and announced that we were there to drop off some toys. The Corporal took my bag patted me on the shoulder and we left.
I think I’ll return to the recruiter’s office and apologize in the near future…
Corporal of the Marines
Bob Ellis ’58 — ‘62