Sarge,
Reading the many recollections of Boot Camp has brought many a laugh. A very vivid memory for me occurred on a pleasant Saturday evening at MCRD in April 1963. This particular evening became an “memorable” encounter with pain for Platoon 218.
We had returned to our area after evening mess, and as we stood in formation on the Platoon Street, Cpl Wright (Jr DI), commanded us to commence doing 102 “up-and-on-shoulders” with M-14s. Instantly from somewhere within the ranks came a moan and muffled “s–t”. Cpl Wright, as all DIs would do, increased the number of reps to 1003. “Ah, s–t” was heard to come from another area of the formation. At this point, I realized that Platoon 218 was doomed to a most horrible penalty. Yes, the good Cpl, with menace in his voice, announced, “2003 up-and-on- shoulders”. Silence filled the air, as the shock of reality filled every “boot”!
After about 500 reps, the pain became secondary, and survival took command of my mind and body. Another “boot” in formation in front of me began to sag after about 2000 reps. This so incensed me, realizing that if anyone fell out we would probably all be doing these reps until “h&ll froze over, that I did the only sensible thing! I smacked him on the top of his head with my rifle and yelled that if he quit, I would beat him senseless.
Well, every “swinging d–k” completed the 2003 reps! It was very “enlightening” to each of us. I know that I had a deeper appreciation of life. I have shared this tail of pain with other Marines over the years and each just nods and then shares his own craziest or painful experience at PI or MCRD.
Memories are wonder, even the ones that came with pain and fear, because those are the ones that helped to develop us into Marines!
Semper Fi
Bob Lonn, USMCR (Sgt.)
Sgt Grit wants to hear from you! Leave your comments below or Submit your own Story !
I WAS IN PLT 217, AND WENT THREW ALMOST THE SAME.SEMPER FI, WILLIAM RUSSO
Similar for me. January-March 1969. MCRDSD. Platoon 3011. Does anyone remember SSGT Blankenship?
Memories of similar circumstances run though my mind as I read this tale of enlightenment. Platoon 214 in the year 1954 will forever be engraved as a developmental stage of my life never forgotten. Thank you Marine Corps, for that honor. The point being, is that we do not realize what we are capable of doing, before it becomes necessary to do it. When the phrase, “Adapt and Overcome” is repeated over and over, it becomes a state of mind just to proceed and get on with whatever task is at hand.
Platoon 281, F Co., 2nd Bn, 1969. Went thru similar, every day, for 13 weeks.
Yesterday,I was asked “why do Marines are willing to talk about boot camp but do not talk about combat”?I told him that few Marines ever are involved in actual combat.That almost all Marines want combat and as a right of passage into the noble ranks.That Marines go and do what is ordered of them.That civilians would never understand a combat Marine but the Marines who did not see combat do understand them for they are ready and willing to do what a combat Marine has to do.But one thing all Marines have in common is boot camp.A place you could not retaliate against your D.I.s without severe penalties.And showed that they were not ready or did not want it bad enough,to be Marines.Becoming a Marine was the hardest thing I had ever done.There is a lot of truth to the statement that when death comes smiling at a Marine,we smile back.Semper Fi,Brothers
That was very philosophically stated. In all my years as a Marine, I’ve never heard “espirit de corps” described in those terms. You have caused a conundrum in the “Top’s” brain housing group. This will take some serious thought. Thanks, and Semper Fi!
Ditto for the 2000 “up and on shoulders” plus 2000 “push-ups” while in platoon 3096, 1967 at MCRDSD. Learned right then and there that “your body can do a whole lot more than your mind thinks it can!”. Semper Fi Marines!
Semper Fi Brother the same happened in 72 when I went through boot at MCRD San Diego, but would I do it again , you bet I would that’s what made us , brothers and family, it’s what made us stronger both in mind and body. I weighed a total of 148 lbs , but when I graduated boot my Sr Drill came up to me with a bathroom scale in his hands and said step on it , needless to say we were both very surprised, I had went from a scrawny 148 lbs to a 225 lbs . I owe that all to my DI’s and the Brothers who help me. After boot I went to Pendleton for AIT for my primary MOS as an anti tank assultman 0351, then it was onto the lady lex for my second MOS with MARDET AFLOAT. After 2 years with her it’s was on to the Enterprise, for the rest of my tour. I learned a lot of things in the Marines , but the one thing that has always stuck with me are the BROTHERS I MET. The strangers who became friends and then family. I will never forget you for those who were left behind rest in peace. And for those who made it home I say WELCOME home and I salute you. Semper Fi Brothers and Sisters.
I went through MCRD PI with Plt 211 (Feb-May 1959) and our punishment for screwing up was squat jumps with M1s above our heads or push-ups. We did so many of each that at one point our SDI said we may not be the best marching platoon, but we certainly would be the strongest.
It seems that all Drill Instructors had a way for motivation- and they especially knew how to push your buttons- they had a short time to remove the unqualified from the best of the rest. One Drill Instructor put a sheet over his head and turned out the lights and held confession for us recruits – he told us believe in him and tell him your problems confidentially- ( could not believe that some of our fellow recruits could fall for this ) heard some interesting pet peeves from our lot?? One clown said that the Senior D I needed a blanket party to improve his attitude toward us. Most of us laughed- but some of the nit-wits suffered for their lack of a better __ brain housing group__ and how to apply common sense. Amazing how many recruits had a lot of common sense- and no real ability for thought processes – a real wonder how all of us from big cities and small rural areas had an ability to meld together and accomplish a lot of learning and teamwork in such a short time. Some recruits came from real poor backgrounds ans really had nothing before joining the Corps- and other s were from real wealthy families. One recruit had a strong military history in his background as his father was a Marine Officer – another was the relative of a Senator. But we were all recruits and later were Marines.
It is amazing what you can accomplish. I guess that is “mind over matter” We used to do more up and overs with the M14 than I can count. Gunney Michaels used to call squat thrusts “squat woopies” before he got orders for Vietman half way through our boot camp.MCRD San Diego 1967 Honor Platoon2059
The pictures posted on this thread are from my bootcamp book from 1959, platoon 271 MCRD. A lot of memories good and bad from those days. Holding buckets of sand for what seemed an eternity was a not so good…Semper Fi
My bootcamp book from 1961,plt. 275, also has a couple of those pictures. The buckets of sand were pure hell but I hated the fireman’s carry the most. Being 5′ 6 1/2″ and weighing less than 130 lbs I and a couple of others my size were carried quite often with the result being very sore ribs.
Cpl Mckee I can certainly identify with you and your photographs-Platoon 272 MCRD PISC.
Should send the boot camp comment to Jim Barber, who wrote a book about Marine Boot Camp MCRDPI and MCRDSD. He said he was starting a second book if he could get enough replies about funny things that happened in boot camp.
AAAAAAH….those were the days!! We are all much wiser now..and we ARE Marines! I agree about the pain that the bucket drills created….I HATED that drill more than any other! Plt 306 in Jan 1961…my service weapon was a M1…serial number 3252566…I’ll bet that you ALL still remember your rifle’s serial number!
My training date (in my letter) should have actually read “April 1964”! I’m not sure how 1963 showed up, but … hey …. maybe as I recalled that “memorable moment” at MCRD, SD, my “brain housing group” became entangled with my “maggot-entangled recall valve adapter”. HaHaHaHa! Whatever the date, all of us “Maggots” who managed to survive our stay at MCRD can look back and say, “I’m proud to be one of the Few, the Proud, the Marines! Semper Fi, Chesty, wherever you are! PS …. I published a book, EXCITEMENT: Shot At And Missed, a couple years ago. It’s the story of my brother and the Marines of F-2-5 in Korea, 1951! The first two chapters are ‘boot camp’. My brother’s recollections from MCRD in 1949, match very closely to my recollections from 1964. As we prepared the book, we laughed until our jaws hurt. Only a Marine can find humor in getting his butt kicked by an enraged DI, right? My publisher has gone out of business, but I have books ($15 plus shipping) available if anyone is interested.
I was in platoon 299 in 1963 the last platoon of 1963, and that a great way to celebrate New Years.Just saw those photo and had some quick memories. It took a little time but finally came around. Thank you Marine Corp the best thing to start my life out, and a great wife to put up with the Marine.
Plt 321 PI…1966..how about “duck walking” around the squad bay, with your foot locker over your head. Shared misery, definitely brought us closer together…..RVN 67 Semper Fi
Sgt. Manos – You are spot on! Boot camp was the hardest thing I ever did in my life, both physically and mentally. I never was really in harms way while in the Corps, but the first time I saw the opening scene of “FULL METAL JACKET”, I was freaking out like I was 19 again. (Can you claim PTSD at the VA ?- just joking) It was an 8 week program in the summer of ’69, but since I had to go to the PCP platoon, and then assigned to a second platoon, I did 12 weeks at MCRDSD and met many DI’s, quite a mix of personalities.