I enlisted in Aug. 1956, right out of high school as soon as I was 18. While in school I sported a mustache because I was always in too much of a hurry to get finished. So when I got to Chicago for indoctrination and swearing in and had my picture taken for my ID card it was with my mustache. After arriving at MCRD and around 3 or 4 weeks into boot training our DI’s took offense with some of the ‘screws’ starting to grow mustaches and one morning announce at roll call that when we hit the head to shave if you don’t have a mustache on your ID card you will exit the head clean shaven. Well that went as planned except I didn’t shave mine off, after all it was on my ID card. During muster for our march to the chow hall our senior DI called me out and reamed me for not following orders and who the hell do you think you are and more importantly WHERE do you think you are. I will admit I was intimidated but stood my ground and reminded him that his order was “If you don’t have a mustache on your ID card, SHAVE!”, he demanded I present my card and that is when I felt I had trumped him on that one. He didn’t like it but he was a Man about it. I was appointed to be ‘Right Guide’ afterward and performed my duties proudly and competently after that.
Sgt Grit wants to hear from you! Leave your comments below or Submit your own Story !
Great story, you accomplished what all of us would have liked to have done. Semper Fi!
I think it is a bullshit story . I was in 1959-1963 and you had to be a staff N C O to wear a mustaches and I only saw one and he was in comm. (pouge). In boot camp you shaved every morning whether you needed to or not.
It’s still a great “STORY” whether it is true or not.
Ha, when I was assigned to 1/1 in 1962 after ITR I wanted to grow a mustache, but my Gunny told me that you had to be an NCO before you could grow facial hair. I was meritoriously promoted to Corporal by that same Gunnery Sergeant after we rotated to Okinawa as 2/9 and have had that mustache since 1963.
I went to Boot Camp right out of High School in1956 (Parris Island) and believe me we didn’t get an ID card until we finished Boot Camp. No one in our platoon had a mustache and I never saw one on any recruit in my 3 months in boot camp. The recruit must of been from the reserves or he is confusing Boot Camp with ITR or beyond.
I was thinking the same thing! I can’t remember when we got our I.D. cards. Got to P.I. Oct. 1954.
This never happened at PI. Looks like we have another “Wanabee.”
ummmmm….I find this very hard to believe…I didn’t get my ID card UNTIL AFTER bootcamp was completed…and it had my bootcamp picture on it…complete with the “high and tight”……
While on PI during the summer of ’65, I never saw a recruit “stand his ground and remind his Drill Instructor” of anything! He would have died a quick and painful death! Also, we didn’t get our ID card photo’s made until deep into the training cycle.
I was 18 when I joined in October 1961, Platoon 385, MCRD, San Diego. I had never shaved in my life and all I could grow was a little peach fuzz on my neck. I didn’t think I needed to shave and didn’t think anyone would ever notice. Standing in formation one day our DI saw my peach fuzz from about 20 yards away. The light must have hit it just right. He pulled me from the ranks by my peach fuzz, screamed, yelled and cussed at me, made me do more push ups than I could count and ordered me to go back to the quesant hut and shave. I never missed a day shaving after that.
Do you guys know the difference between a fairy tale and a sea story? A fairy tale begins, “Once upon a time…” and a sea story begins, “Hey, this is no-shit man…” Semper Fi!!
I remember when I got to Parrish Island Feb 1978 the Drill Instructor got on the bus and when he saw me he said oh my god we have Jesus Christ on board because at that time I had hair down past my shoulders and a full beard down to my chest. Later that night as we were getting ready to shower and shave he was walking up and down he stopped in front of me and stated that everyone will shave whether they need to or not.
Growing a mustache while at a Marine Recruit Depot and smart assing your DI.NEVER HAPPENED.I went through Parris Island in 1957 we did’nt get our ID photo until 8th or 9th week.I remember it well because I had to go back a second time because I had a back eye the first time.
Agree with the rest that believe the OP is BS. Dego Oct 31, 1967, and no one had facial hair. Very few units allowed staches at that time. Was sent from the 27 MAR to the 28MAR and found out that the 28th allowed them if you had one when you arrived, but weren’t allowed to grow on. I had several days of checking out, and almost a week to check in, so when I reported to the Co office, I had a stache. Wasn’t much of one, but since I had it I could keep it. It grew out in the next week or two. We also didn’t get our ID cards until the day before leaving for ITR.
To clarify, Oct 31 was first day in boot camp. it was fall of 69 when I went from the 27th to the 28th. We were told that the regimental commander made the decision on facial hair.
Was issued an ID card in ’53 in the Reserves but did not receive an ID card for active duty until some time after in boot camp.
Spring of 1968 at MCRD/platoon 364/K co. no boot would be using the term you/ewe to a drill instructor without paying a very severe price. As to facial hair I never saw any and trying to shave with 80 guys in a half of a quonset hut was a challenge, I think it was half in showers and half shaving? Since my beard was very light I thought I could take blade out and only really try to shave and cut up my face every couple days, who would notice? Yup big 18 year old mistake, DI noticed and besides ripping us apart verbally plus some extra PT while platoon had a very rare smoke a few of us were given razors and ordered to dry shave the other recruit and to be sure there wasn’t any peach fuzz/hair beard to be seen. I think my raw face stayed red for at least 3-4 days. I was also told if an officer etc asked any questions I was to say I scraped my face on the obstacle course–duh, which was also the same answer we were told to tell officers if any questioned the scrapes on our knuckles which came from doing pushups on knuckles on the asphalt, hmm hadn’t thought about that part for along time. Years later overseas my Gunny asked me why I was trying to grow that shit on my face when it grows wild on your butt? Gunny logic, I shaved skimpy mustache cause it was a crummy one. I live daily with a strong sense of gratitude for being alive and don’t wonder as much as I used to why I am here and so many others never lived past 18-19-20-21. Semper Fi Marines enjoy everyday, 3/68-1/72 Sgt
This make believe wannabe was a real bull shit story. I also don’t remember getting ID card until after we graduated. I also when to P.I.June 26,1970. Platoon 161 God bless all my Jar Head brother…oooh rahh
B.S….No I.D card until after bootcamp..No mustache’s period…