You requested stories of PI experiences. Here are a couple of mind benders, not physical incidents but nevertheless, shook us up. We polished our dress shoes for weeks, never wore them with greens until late in the program. We were told to put on the dress shoes one evening when dressing for chow. On the way I guess we were all looking down at our spit shines, bobbing along. We were halted, told to bow our heads and stare at our shoes for a few minutes before going on to the mess hall. Another time we must have been slow in getting into greens for chow or the squad bay was messed up, because we had to go back in change into utilities with field jackets. Too slow, back again, get into greens with overcoat. In ranks we were told to open the overcoats. Some guys did not have their blouses buttoned. Back into the barracks, change again. We did this about 7 or 8 times before going to chow. Once there Sgt Brown announced that after chow we were going to the movies. However, before that we were to take a test on the M1. There were 75 of us in the Platoon. We could have 10 incorrect answers among us. Needless to say we did not go to the movies and I doubt that we would have regardless of the test results. We were near the end of the 8-weeks and when getting into greens for chow we were instructed to put our emblems on our covers and jacket lapels (Ike or Battle Jacket). While in line waiting our turn to enter the mess hall, another DI came over to our DI and berated him for allowing us to wear emblems when we were not yet MARINES, Sgt Brown made some excuse and told us to remove the emblems and put away until graduation. It was a cold January and February, puddles exposed to the sun did not thaw. We rarely wore field jackets or gloves, just our cotton utilities, no great flannel shirts that hung in the squad bay. One morning in a weak moment of compassion, while in ranks waiting to get in the mess hall for breakfast, we were called to attention, given the “at ease” command, cross our arms over our chest and put our hands in our arm pits. Other than a very few times did any of our DI’s do anything physical to anyone in the platoon.
We were an older group, most had been out of high school a while, some in college, etc. Most probably enlisted to avoid the draft. I got my notice while in Boot. This was Plt 19, Second Bn, graduating about the first week of March, 1951. We were an honor platoon, of course. The photos are of Risher, Starling, Dean and Barton, all from Charleston, S.C. If I recall correctly. A fantastic experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Semper Fi,
Jim Black XXX0806
’51-’54 S/Sgt
P.S. The photos were taken the last Sunday at PI. I am sure that my camera was not available before that. We are washing clothes on concrete wash racks with cold water and scrub brushes, hung up with tie-ties (short pieces of twine), all from our bucket issue. If one did not go to church you had more free time to wash and not be bothered by you know who.
Wait! What! You had a camera at Parris Island ?! Wow! Old Corps doesn’t sound so bad. Harry 1371
My Mother brought a camera with her to graduation and took some pics , but a recruit with a camera in boot camp? No way! Bill 0331
Duh, He got the picture from his platoon book!
Duh….!
Dang! You’re a freakin genius! Had me fooled.
Well, somebody took the pictures boys. Were any of us there in ’51 with S/Sgt Black??? (That’s a rhetorical question.) If that was the last Sunday; that means all phases were complete, and anything was possible. I was a Hat in 3rd Bn P.I. ’70 and ’71 and I’m telling you anything was possible those last 2 or 3 days.
Thanks for the memories S/Sgt Black and I believe you.
I graduated P.I. in ’56. I can relate to those stories! I’ll never forget & I’m now 83 & STILL GUNGHO! Thanks to all of you guys for your service,
Cpl Mike Darby
It must have been somewhat different back then, I can understand maybe purchasing one on graduation day, but I don’t think we had any PX runs to buy a camera prior to that. I guess someone could have sent it. Nick
Hey Willard, would you have allowed a recruit to keep a camera? I recall all of our personal stuff being boxed and sent home before we started training. You do make a good point, I was 2 years old in ‘51! New Corps, Old Corps, Green Corps!! Marine Corps! 3rd Bn. P.I. ‘67. Harry
I have a photo of the Plt. at the Wash Rack in Boot Camp in 1967, but the photo is in our recuite boot camp book. May 10 to July 10, 1967 – Plt 376 MCRD. (Boot was only 8 weeks in those days)
LOL Remember washing my clothes Semper Fi
Jack Platoon 113
I remember. I was in Plt. 81 Jan. 1951 in the quasit huts. S/Sgt Deloch was the DI.
Donald Bell S/Sgt
1951/1954
PI Plt 104, 2nd Bat, Mar-June 1956, so long ago. DIs were Sgts. Robertson, Hertel and Gatley. No cameras but well recall those wash stands and metal buckets. Got in trouble once at the range just after firing when I left the bolt closed on my rifle. Di had me put my little finger in the chamber, close the bolt and carry the piece hanging from my pinky for a few laps around the platoon. Felt like a lot more than 9.5 pounds, but a lesson I never forgot despite a swollen finger.
Lucky that’s all he said to put in it! Bill 0331
I WENT THROUGH BOOT CAMP IN JAN 1956, NO CAMERAS IN MY DAY ! SAME WASH RACK, SAME ROUTINE WITH THE SPIT SHINED BOOTS, BOON DOCKERS, AND DRESS SHOES ! COUNTLESS HOURS CLEANING MY RIFLE !! CAMP MATHEWS WAS WERE WE QUALIFIED WITH THE M-1 , CARRIED IT TO CAMP PENDELTON FOR ITR TRAINING ! ONLY TWO DI’S SSGT HORNER AND CPL MENDEZ. TWO KOREAN DI’S WHO WERE MONITORING OUR PLATOON ! HARD TO BELIEVE 65 YEARS HAVE GONE BY ! SEMPER FI !! Stephen Banks Sgt. 15826XX
Went through PI in 1964, platoon 13A. 2nd year the Corps allowed woman, boy I could tell some stories, but probably not suitable for print and I’d do it again in a heartbeat, then married a Marine and gave the Corps 53 more years active and retired. My husband died 3 yrs ago or rather 3 13 months tours and counting.
Semper Fi,W714756.
53 yrs? 17 to 70? 18 to 71? how is that possible? CWO-5 ?
James….I think she meant that being married to a former Marine was like still being in the Corps. Most likely they had a lot of things in common. She doesn’t say how long they served on active duty but both being Marines I’m sure they carried a lot of the Corps memories, language, and routine on into private life and retirement……..Bob 1381…Vietnam 1966/1967.
I can’t imagine a recruit having a camera in boot camp and not getting caught. I was in P I platoon 250 in 1967 and nothing got by the D I’s.
Semper Fi SGTxxx1817