Howdy, Grit:
Received my on-line newsletter today and enjoyed the comments.
Marine McCuen's letter reminded me of a brief exchange I recently had with a couple of 1st MarDivAssn, Evergreen Chapter members re: the comments by the new Commandant.
All three of us happen to have done stints with the division in Korea without ever having "done" San Diego, Parris Island or the "hills of Quantico", as the new Commandant specified.
I guess this also puts us at some odds with "Air Winger Mike" since we never experienced the Yellow Foot Prints either? Oh, well.
At a D/2/7 reunion in San Diego in 1997, 28 of "us" were honored at Morning Colors, MCRD, by being presented honorary graduation certificates. The event made the local news and in the process of writing that story, the reporter occasioned to interview LtGen "Brute" Krulak, USMC-Ret about the situation and he expressed amazement that bootcamp-less Marines were sent into combat in Korea.
Attached is a photo taken by one of the wives of the honorees.
Anyway, do keep up the great job.
Semper Fi,
George Crotts
1103692
SSgt USMCR 1949-1958
PFC D/2/7 Nov/Dec 1950