I reminisce as I read your story, I too experienced similar feelings the first few days. Then I recalled what my Dad, a WWII USN Veteran, said when I left for boot camp, son your ass belongs to the U S Marines, that DI can do anything he wants to you, but remember he can’t kill you and eat you. So listen, follow instructions to the letter, you’ll be fine, but life as you known it, is about to change. So, I straighten my shit and repeated what Dad said to myself and my ass became one of few and the proud. I finished on time, no set backs, with the best damn platoon in three Companies. We had more pennants than all the other platoons had combined. I call I my million dollar experience, I wouldn’t take a million dollars for the experience, but know that I wouldn’t go through it again for a million dollars.
Sgt Harold Petty
Platoon 1082
U S Marine Corps
Semper Fi (1966-1972).
Great philosophy, Harold. I think that most of our fathers had sage advise to us as we set off on our journey through life. I vividy remember my father’s few words as he put me on the bus for Kansas City, he simply said, “Be a man.” Semper Fi!! Top Pro
I too remember my first experience in the Corps. I joined in Feb. 1954 and went to boot camp at MCRD, San Diego. My first experience with a hard core Marine was at 2:30 AM at the reception center. I was handed a tooth brush and told to get my ass down and to scrub that grout in the tile floor until it was white. We finally were processed through and I thought happily that now I could bet some sleep. It was 4 AM and that damned bugle sounded at 5 AM, so much for sleep. It was such an experience that I still remember many of the physical exercises and marching in cadence to this day. I graduated after making the exalted rank of Pfc, man I was so proud of that stripe. I will always remember my platoon number 409 and my fellow Marines. Our final review was witnessed by none other than Gen. “Chesty” Puller. Upon retirement in 1974 I find that I still miss my fellow Marines. SEMPER FI Buddies.
My Dad was just the opposite. He had no idea that I intended to enlist in The Corps. When I finally told him that I enlisted he went birzerk “Don’t you know that there is a stupid f’n war going on you f’n dumb ass”Dad was a decorated medic WW-2 Europe and didn’t realize how much he hated war, especially Vietnam. Did not talk to me until the day I left for PI. His attitude changed later on but, he still hated the war. Harry
Dad was also WWII Navy serving at Pearl Harbor on the Detroit at the beginning
and the Philippine Campaign and the Occupation on LST-171. When I told him I was going to be a Marine he was upset. “You want to be a sea going bellhop?”
Sgt. Petty – I barely got SD before you. I was right guide and honor man in Platoon 1009 graduation date of March 9th, 1965. Nam in June 66 with 3rd Bn. 4th Mar. S-3. Exciting times.
Welcome home Marine.
Sgt. Clark Allemang
My Pops was a life in the Air Force, he had no idea that myself, my brother, and my cousin all signed up for the Marine Corps and when we told him it shocked him in a way. He told us that we had no idea of what we were getting into but “IT” was going to make us tough. Threw a party for us when we graduated, we were all pretty hammered, the three of us standing there when Pops walked up, looked at us and allowed he had more hair on his ass than the three of us had on our heads! I miss him and I would do it again in a heartbeat and you can keep the million bucks.
I joined the Corps because my uncle and Godfather was a Marine in the early 50’s. He just grinned and shook his head…wasn’t sure why until I got to MCRD San Diego. After Recon school I was home on leave. My Godfather suggested we go get a beer, shoot a little pool. He said he heard I Joined the Corps because I wanted to be like him. I said that was true. He gave me a stone cold stare (with a pool cue in his hand, if you get my drift), stepped up to me and said, “I appreciate that, but I’m telling you the finest man I ever met was my brother in law…your father!” Dad was an aerial gunner and bombadier on a B-17 flying fortress. My Dad and my Godfather grew in leaps and bounds that day. Heroes both to me.
MCRD 08/1963, Plt 263 The best in honors!!
When I told my Dad I had enlisted in the Corps, he just said “you stupid f–k”! After I graduated boot camp, he said he really loved the Marines because the took Iwo Jima and that allowed his B-29 a safe landing field with battle damage, two engines out, and low fuel, fumes,(that happened twice).
Jame Christensen
SSGT 1968-1976
I remembered after I joined the Marines. I felt proud and couldn’t wait till I came home to tell my Mother. My Father was killed in an auto accident about five years before and there was no male bonding back then but after I told my Mother she just looked at me and all she could say was ; what’s the matter John are you tired of living? It was the height of the Vietnam War and I didn’t realize then but after a while I realized she didn’t want me to go. I didn’t have to go and she could have stopped me since I was the sole surviving son but she didn’t. When I graduated Boot Camp I was so proud. What made me prouder still was my Mom came all the way from Long Island to see my Graduation at Parris Island and she did this while suffering from M.S. Not long afterward I went to Vietnam but I knew till her dying day she was proud of her Marine.
Great story John. Knowing you could have gotten a deferment but, enlisted in The Marines. A lot of our, so called, peers would have taken advantage during that time. Kudos to you! I always jokingly call myself a draft dodger because I enlisted! Semper Fi! Harry
Hey Sgt. Petty, when I was in boot at MCRDSD in ’77, a Drill Instructor from another platoon saw my name tag and asked me if I had a brother in the Corps, having no brothers I replied, Sir No Sir. He then asked if I had a Cousin in Vietnam, I replied, “Sir, not that I know of Sir.” Maybe he knew you.