Sgt. Grit:
I am enclosing a picture of my Platoon from 1948. I enlisted in May of 48 in Oregon. They gave me train ticket from Portland to San Diego, meal voucher and a bus token for the San Diego bus system. My instructions were go to the Depot, catch the train, and in San Diego take the bus to Gate 5. Report in. I was the only one going to the Marines on the train several going to Navy.
At the gate the Guard said " Stand over there, they'll come and get you". No yellow foot prints, but shortly a PFC on a bicycle came up said "you the boot follow me" and he took off. It's hot in May in California and the bike was much faster than I could walk but I tried to keep up. That was my introduction to the USMC, and it got worse after that. When I got to the Casual barracks I found about 70 odd recruits some who had been there for over a week waiting for enough men to form a Platoon. All anybody asked was did I bring any smokes? The Drill instructors picked us up the next Monday, I think.
In the photo I'm third from the right in the row just behind the Drill Instructors. Note the one Marine in the top row still in Utilities, he was so tall they couldn't fit him with uniforms and had to order them. He went on Boot leave in civies.
S/Sgt Jack H, Nash, 622369