Problems with Recruit Training

Sgt Grit,   If you need to paraphrase or condense the following document you  have my permission and the reason is because it is important to  me to get this changed and I realize that it is long but I have  a mild TBI and it now takes me 15 words to say something that  might only take 5 words. I also want you to know I explained at  the Battalion Level that the reason I wanted to pin my son was  because when I was injured he would help put my legs in the car,  get my pants on, tie my shoe, let me put my arm around him when  I got tired and he would help me walk. It is rare to see that  kind of dedication out of a 16 year old kid and then to turn  around and after seeing his dad almost die and all the struggles  with PTSD and TBI and still want to be a Marine I can't put into  words the amount of Pride I have for my son. (I also have two  other kids who without them I wouldn't be here and one of them  is serving in the Army and I am also extremely proud of him for  wanting to join the Army.)    I don't want Marine's who come behind me with the same issues  and be denied. Nothing can give me back what I was robbed but  hopefully we can change the future.   On a personal note I just want to say thank you for your  service. As a Vietnam Vet you have opened up your heart and  lives for those of us returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and  let us know we will be OK. There are days I don't know if I am  going to make it in this world and I think of you and know that  if you can survive over 40 years then I will be OK. I love you  and thank you for all you do. Welcome Home Marine.   Semper Fi, Nick Bennett    P.S.  There is 20 years difference between our oldest and youngest so  I have dubbed this Picture Past, Present, and possibly the  future!   …..   Sgt Grit, I am writing to inform you of disturbing trends in our beloved  Marine Corps and hopefully with enough coverage we can implement  some changes in Recruit Training.   Some background information first. I am a retired Marine Staff  Sergeant having been wounded by a 107mm Chinese Rocket in Iraq  on 11 November 2004. I have had over 26 surgeries and still  suffer from being in a combat zone. In spite of everything my  kids have seen my two oldest boys have followed in their dads  footsteps by joining the Armed Forces. My 20 year old is  proudly serving his Country with the Army in Alaska. My 22 year  old just graduated from Parris Island on the 21st of January  2011 and the reason I am writing.   My son went to college and earned enough credits to be a  contract PFC. Since we were going to family day and graduation  I emailed his Senior Drill Instructor and asked if I could pin  PFC on him and explained my background as a Marine. To my  horror I was told that a contract PFC doesn't have a ceremony so  the answer was no.    After talking it over with my wife and fellow Marine family I  decided to try and find someone in the chain of command that  might be able to help me promote my son. Needless to say Semper  Fidelis doesn't apply to anyone I talked to at Parris Island and  was told by one Sergeant that I would have an opportunity in 9  months to try and pin LCpl on him.    In spite of all that, I did find out that if you graduate  Meritorious they do hold a promotion ceremony. My question and  maybe someone can help me is when does getting a rank not  warrant a promotion ceremony. My son worked just has hard to  get PFC along with the other Marines who graduated as PFC and  was robbed of one of the greatest traditions in the Marine Corps  and that is a promotion ceremony in front of your fellow  Marines. I am sure I am going to hear all sorts of excuses like  there is no time in boot camp and every second of every day is  accounted for but there is time for some Marines so why are they  special? They can't hold a promotion ceremony for everyone but  there is time to go to the museum, as evident at the following  location, what is more important? If you look at the Parris  Island website and look at the training cycle you will see:  Recruit Training Matrix: Phase III    T41 (Training Day 41) Museum Tour – To assist with reinforcing  what they have learned about Marine Corps history, and to help  them learn about the history of Parris Island, recruits visit  the Parris Island Museum.   I was only asking for a 5 minute ceremony and maybe I should  have asked for the Company Gunny or First Sergeant to see about  being able to promote him. I did talk to someone at the  Battalion level and at the Company level and was brushed off  both times. I just want to say thank you for robbing my son and  every other Marine who has got promoted and not giving a proper  promotion ceremony. I can't believe you teach classes on  Customs and Courtesies, Leadership, and all about Marines being  Brothers and Sisters and then cheat them out of a promotion  ceremony and to add insult to injury holding a promotion  ceremony for just a select few.   The second issue I had was in regards to Graduation. Since they  have implemented the Crucible the Recruits are now given the  Eagle, Globe, and Anchor and called Marines for the first time  almost a week before, Graduation has been reduced to nothing  more than a ceremony. There is no more significance to it and  in theory you could do away with Family Day and make it  Graduation Day instead. The issue I have is the fact that as a  Marine I missed out on the greatest milestone of my son's life  and that is him being called A Marine for the first time.    Parris Island did a terrible job of explaining the significance  of what happens after the Crucible in regards to the Eagle,  Globe, and Anchor Ceremony and the recruits earning the title  Marine. I would have loved to see them play a video of them  receiving the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on Family Day while they  stood in formation and explained to the families the importance  of the ceremony while the families were given a brief on the  Recruit's time on the Island. I bought a challenge coin of the  Crucible with the date on when he earned the title Marine and my  son's eyes started to leak along with mine when I presented it  to him and said welcome to the family. I realize they have a  lot going on but even my son missed the significance of that  moment till I explained it to him.    On Training Day 68 they have what is called "Share the Legacy."  There is also an important moment when Marines, past and  present, come visit and "Share the Legacy," passing along their  experiences, and telling the new Marines how the Corps' core  values have shaped their lives. After the Marines get secured  from Family Day what a phenomenal time would this be for the new  Marines who have family that have spent time as Marines to come  in and talk and answer questions about the Marine Corps. Can  you imagine the wealth of Marine Corps History that could be  handed down from Marines who have been there and done that?  This is all above my pay grade to figure out but it can be  accomplished.    I would like to hear from other Marine families and Drill  Instructors on these issues to see if it is just me or if there  is and should be an outcry to try and get this implemented so  that everyone has a promotion ceremony and families get to  witness one of the most important milestones in their kid's life  when they are first called Marines.   Semper Fi, Nick Bennett SSgt USMC Ret 1988-1996, 2004-2007

MCRD-SD Graduation, January 21, 2011

Some friends and I who served at the same time in Korea with the 1st Division recently attended graduation at MCRD-SD, and had a very wonderful day.  We ate lunch at the O club, visited the museum and then headed home.  I have enclosed a couple of the photos I took for your review and publication, if you like.  The marine in the middle received the Navy Cross, the ones on either side received the bronze star and they all received one of more purple hearts.   Semper fi.   S/Sgt  I. J. Oshana, (RET)

Officer’s Oath

Just wanted to show our youngest Marine officer, 2nd Lt. Aaron Anderson, being given the 'Officer's Oath' by his brother, 1st Lt. Clayton Anderson on December 10, 2010 following graduation from Marine OCS, Quantico. Clay, a veteran of 3 deployments in Iraq, as an enlisted, flew in from Okinawa to perform the ceremony. Following 6 months at TBS, Aaron will report to Pensacola for flight school. Semper Fi, J. Anderson, USMC, '71-'73. read more

Genuine Old Corps

Came into possession of this  photo and  just wanted  to share with my  Brothers-in-Arms.

I believe it was in Kansas? Nebraska?  was  recently purchased and is now in, or on it`s way to  Cumberland County Tennessee.   Check out the old style EGA. Maybe some younger eyes can make out the tail #.   I`ll bet it has Elephant Grass caught up in the landing gear, after all it is a Marine Combat Aircraft.   Enjoy   Ken Martin Cpl  U.S.M.C. 1967-1970 RVN  68-69

Family of Marines

Howdy Sgt Grit; I'd like to post this pictures of my two Brothers and four Sons. My brothers and I, all were in Vietnam. I was the last to arrive in 1966. I was in Phu Bai, My youngest brother in DaNang and my Oldest brother was in Chu Lai.  We pretty much had Vietnam under control for a short time. Semper Fi, Don Griffith, 1stSgt, USMCRet read more

Honoring Fallen Marines

Dear Sirs:   My son is Corporal Bossier, Jonathan A., who is presently stationed at Camp Pendleton.  Last year he was deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan with the 1st MLG at Camp Leather Neck.  To show him and his unit support, about 40 of us men from Pointe Coupee Parish, who meet regularly for breakfast every Friday morning, many of whom are former active Marines, decided to obtain a Marine Corps flag and have our names embroidered on it and ship it to my son.  He flew the flag at Camp Leather Neck from about May, 2010 until October, 2010, when his unit returned to the States.  I have attached a picture of the flag and my son which was taken at the presentation ceremony held in New Roads, Louisiana, in December, 2010.  The flag will be on permanent display in the Pointe Coupee Courthouse in New Roads.  Along with the flag, will be a the list of the names of the 81 Marines who gave the last full measure during the period between May, 5, 2010 and October 6, 2010, which was the time period that the flag was flown in Afghanistan.  The inscription above the names will read, “To demonstrate their prayerful support and faith in the 1st Marine Logistics Group Forward, Landing Support Detachment United States Marine Corps, destine for Afghanistan, the flag signatories, all from Pointe Coupee Parish, State of Louisiana, had this flag made and shipped to them in May, 2010.  While flying over Camp Leather Neck in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, this flag witnessed the ultimate sacrifice paid by eighty-one brave Marines for the cause of Freedom.  This flag serves as a memorial to them.”  The pictures don’t show it, but the flag has a few holes caused by the conditions under which it was flown.   I sent this so that your readers would know that there are still some people that support our men and women of the armed services, especially the Marines.   Sincerely,   Larry S. Bossier

Khe Sanh Historic Road Marker

“A Place That Always Was”   By Craig W. Tourte   H.Q. 1/13 Khe Sanh 67-68   On Tuesday, November 10, 2009, the state of New Mexico dedicated and unveiled an Official Scenic Historic Road Marker honoring those who died at “The Battle of Khe Sanh, Vietnam 1968.” The beautiful wooden marker is inscribe: “The Battle of Khe Sanh claimed the lives of 2,097 United States servicemen. This historic marker is dedicated to honor and preserve the memory of New Mexico servicemen who were killed in action or later died of their wounds. The Khe Sanh Vietnam veterans will forever live in each others’ hearts.” In addition, the marker is inscribed with the names of nine of those who were killed from the State of New Mexico. I am sure more names will eventually be included, as that information becomes available.   “The location of the “Official Scenic Historic Marker” is identified as being at New Mexico 124, Mile Marker 16.5. In actuality, it sits along the old Historic Route 66 Highway, North of Interstate 40 at the 104 Exit in an area identified as Acoma, New Mexico. It was an approximate 50 mile drive along Interstate 40 from the City of Albuquerque to reach an area known as “The Sky City.” The Sky City is actually an area where the Acoma people lived centuries ago atop a mesa to protect themselves from enemy attacks by neighboring bands. The Native American’s who live in the area are identified as the “Acoma” which means “Place of readiness.” According to a little research, “Native American legend” describes Acoma as a “place that always was.” Native history says “…it was first inhabited about 700 A.D.” “Archaeologists agree that it has been continuously occupied from at least 1150 A.D. to the present.” Acoma, New Mexico is generally considered “America’s oldest continually inhabited city.”   The drive from Albuquerque to “The Sky City” where the Historic Marker is located is not unlike any other drive I have taken along a desolated high desert highway. Long, straight and lonely for the bored and weary traveler who too often focuses attention on what’s over the next rise. One could pass Acoma in the blink of an eye and never know anything was there except sand, sagebrush and red dirt. I wondered why a monument honoring these heroes would be erected in such a desolate location and not in a more densely populated area.   It was early evening when I drove out to the site of the Historic Road Marker where I met Harold E. Lockwood (HMH-CH-53 Sea Stallions) for the first time. Harold is a tall, proud Native American, former Marine and Vietnam Veteran who is the Sergeant at Arms of the National American Indian Veterans. We stood together as darkness approached, surrounded by red sky with a few wispy clouds off in the distance and tall red table top mountains rising up from the desert floor. Harold identified his house a quarter mile or so away from where we were standing. With the swing of his arm in a wide arc he told me about his cousins, friends, other relatives and Native Americans who lived nearby and identified those who had served and those who had made the ultimate sacrifice, all from the Reservations. We talked about the arrival of the early Missionaries, the Native American children who had been taken from their parents and even to this day, the hardships his people face.   We spent a few minutes talking about his service in the United States Marine Corps and the three years he served in Vietnam. The tragically brutal injuries and death he had observed as a helicopter machine gunner, too often recovering the dead and wounded. The missions off of ships made by young boys who eagerly entered combat for the first time, all dressed in new green uniforms and combat gear and his painful recovery of their remains after the battles. Harold remembered all of these events clearly and with great sadness as he looked up into that red evening sky, silently remembering the pain that is often overwhelming, as he searched for the words that would somehow explain to the outsider, the horrors he had witnessed. Remembrances I knew were still prevalent.   The following day during the dedication ceremony there were a group of young children from one of the local Native American schools who preformed a dance. Adorned in Native American costume, I observed they all had very intense looks on their faces. I realized that the dance these children performed was a serious cultural interpretation of events and beliefs that had been handed down from one generation to the next. The dance was significant to the Native People and fitting in that it was performed in memory of those who had sacrificed for their people and our country.   As I stood alone looking out across the Acoma, viewing the red earth color of the valley and hills, not so dissimilar in color to the red clay of Khe Sanh, I glanced up into the very wide open sky and understood why fate had brought “The Battle of Khe Sanh” marker here. Somehow fate had brought this remembrance marker to this spot, because this place is a “Place That Always Was,” A “Place of Readiness” and in a way, a place of safety for those who we will never forget.   Craig W. Tourte   CTourte[at]sbcglobal[dot]net