USMCRD – San Diego Recruit Platoon 1019, 44 years ago. It doesn’t seem that long ago.
The dates: 17 June 1968 to 14 August 1968. As a note, this platoon was a part of the 1017 Series.
In the front row, the Staff, from left to right, SSgt. J. T. Cuff, Drill Instructor; SSgt. R. K. U. Publico, Platoon Commander; SSgt. A.W. Bennewitz, Drill Instructor.
Of the recruits pictured, PFC Daniel Gauna, Jr. was killed in Viet Nam. He was a rifle expert and was assigned 0311 (rifleman) as his MOS, scout sniper. I first heard of his falling from former Marine Raul S. Valle who is in the front row to the right of D.I. SSgt. Cuff as you view the picture.
A bit of coincidence, an earlier picture shown on the newsletter, of Platoon 1065, 26 August 1968 to 24 October 1968, shows some of the staff of our series but not of our platoon. I remember well Drill Instructor SSgt. Nious (who occasionally would break into the song “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction, Cause I’ve Tried” when he was, shall we say, a bit peeved at something his Platoon did (or didn’t do correctly)! SSgt. Nious was able to carry a tune fairly well as I remember. And also Drill Instructor Corporal H.E. Heater.
John L. Hodson, Combat engineer, Marble Mountain MCAF, RVN 1971