Dear Sgt Grit,
About fine chow. For three months after I graduated from MCRD San Diego in 1968 I was assigned to Graduate Casual at 3rd Bn HQ while waiting for orders that would send me up to ITR… (a paperwork snafu… a phone call to HQMC would have handled, but they insisted on it being on paper… and what with the war and all, I was a low priority…)
The graduate casuals (most only around for a couple of weeks, though two had been there for two years) were not fed in the recruit mess… but rather in the mess underneath the Drill Instructor barracks where the Drill Instructors ate when not with their platoons. The food was the finest that I ever had in the Marine Corps… both quality and selection… The tables were waited upon by recruits during their mess week.
J.F. Owings
Once I returned from Vietnam (was with Delta 1/4) in June 1967 I was stationed at Edson Range (Camp Pendleton) as a rifle instructor working with recruits. As a Cpl. (E-4) I ate at the north end of the mess hall, used the metal trays and went through the chow line, then sat at a long table with other “Coaches.” Then when I made Sgt. (E-5) I ate at the south end of the mess hall (recruits ate in the middle, it was partitioned off from the two ends) with Staff and Officers at tables for 4 with recruits serving you using plates. The food was always good and what a difference the seating was. In around 2005 while my son-in-law was stationed at Camp Pendleton I returned to Edson Range’s mess hall and was SHOCKED to see TV’s mounted on the walls, cushioned booths, with salad bars and other fast food serving areas, certainly not like the, “Old Corps.” PS. Always wore a clean set of starched utilities every day (no charge since we worked with recruits) and I still have my Smokie. Sgt. Ralph Schroder Vietnam April 66 to May 67 Grunt, Radio Operator, Rifle Instructor, Butt NCO then Section Leader Sept 65 to Sept. 68.
I graduated PI on 3DEC1967checked in to ITR, went home for two weeks at Christmas. Spent part of ITR in the hospital we had a couple of handlers who were regular fools. 0200 till 0400 for several weeks standing in the road in our skivees and shower shoes, put nearly the whole company in the hospital with strep or pneumonia. Doctors ask me why nearly the whole company was there I told them. Never saw or heard about either of the Sgt. again. Arrived in Vietnam in April of 1968, wounded multiple times, retired out one month before I was 21.
It appears that this poster is a bit on the foolish side himself. I was a what he calls a handler during this time frame and I never heard or saw any of this kind of activity. (IF) he was wounded (multiple) times as stated I applaud his heroism and wish him great success in the future.
Is there anyone that graduated PI Nov. 1960 still around. All would be in their 70s.
Joe – I graduated in April of 1960 (Platoon 212, Second Recruit Battalion. And you are right, we must all be in our 70’s by now!
I am still trying to locate any one who was in Plt.216, in PI March ,April l and May of 1951. We were in the 5th Batt. in 6 man tents near the Triangle PX. Not too many of us left I just turned 85. Semper Fi !
I graduated in March 1951 just as you were beginning. I’m almost 85, but still a couple of months away. You may have gotten my tent. Hope you kept it clean., However, I do not remember what platoon I was in. But I was a square leader.
I was at PI Feb./may 1951 Plt 168 2nd RTB we were in the barracks nice to see there are a few of OLD corps marines out there Semper Fi
I was in Plt. 205, Jan. 1952. D. I. 1956,57,58. Two tours Viet Nam, 1964, With HMM162. 1968 11th Combat Engr. Bn. Retired 5/1/1973 Captain, 21yrs, 3mos,15days. Enjoyed every minute of it. Semper Fi to all Marines especially all you brave youngsters.
Anyone from Plt.353 1959.I am still in contact with the Senior D.I. Fritz Werner let me know Semper FI to all Marines young and old
plt 362 1958 the old metal huts in 3th batt became a marine here trust me
Anyone Plt. 127 MCRD San Diego 1961.
I was in 279 from August to November 1960 in Pi . We only remember the good times now. It was hell in August with the heat.Iam 74 now belong the Marine Corps League the best thing I did. We all have the same view on every thing.
Looking for other members of PLT2057, the all-California MCRD San Diego (Honor) platoon. Fred Clay.
What year? I was in Plt 2057 in 1971.
Platoon 269, MCRD San Diego, 1964, Sgt. Dean-Senior D.I., VMA-133 NAS Alameda 1964-1971
Looking for anyone from Plt. 320 PI, August 1958.
Platoon 262, PI August 1962 – November 1962. Best thing that happened to us,was Graduation ! Loved my time in the Corps, 13 years regular/reserves. ITR, FMF, Marine Barracks ! K Co. 3rd BN. 2nd Marines! Semper Fi . GYSGT. Daniel G. Marso
Anyone from Plt 142, July 1959 to Sept 1959. Looking for any DI’s from platoon 142. Heard Senior DI was KIA in Nam. Now 75 years old and had grandson in Iraq and Afganistan. Now have a great grand son in Marines at Camp Pendleton, due to deploy soon. Sgt Ted K. Shimono (1959-1968).
Anyone from Plt 216 mcrd San Diego, began Feb 5th 1960. Di’s were Sgt Hardy and Sgt Harr
Platoon 309. 1st Battalion…..November, 1957…..ITR camp Geiger…..NOB Norfolk, Va……radio telegraph …..Navy Class A school…..29 Palms California…..2nd AAA-AW battalion…..Camp H.M. Smith, Oahu, Hawaii…..1st ANGLICO, August, 1959 to August, 1961…..Treasure Island, San Francisco…..Mustered out after I sewed my hash mark on my greens!!!…..Still think our Dress Greens are classier than Blues…..Semper Fi to all.
I loved Dress Greens.
Platoon 42 1957 . Gunnery Sgt Sumpter our SR Di
” The University of Parris Island ” ,, 1959 ,, Ptl. 112 Charlie Company, (wooden barracks) , Drill Instructors were , SDI Gunnery Sgt. Wondolowski , JDI (s) , Staff Sgt. Hatchell , Sgt. Fear. I believe all three served in Korea. I am in touch with a fellow Marine that went thru The University at the same time. Bunked in 3d Batts. Quonset Huts while on the rifle range, & they made a mess out of our Barracks !!! That’s when we learned the term (s), G.I. Party & Field Day ,,, Fun ,,Fun ,, Fun ,, esp. dressed in winter greens / horse blankets , (overcoats), & Thennnnnnnn Junk On The Bunk !!!!! I am now a Life Member of The Marine Corps League, D.A.V. and other outfits. Semper Fi to all Past ,, Present ,, and Future United States Marines !!!
Platoon 201 P. I. 1960
Plt 201 Parris Island 1960
I arrived at MCRD/SD on 8, May 67 and graduated from Recruit Training in L Co, 3rd. Bn. on 10,July 67. After Vietnam, I returned to MCRD/SD In Feb. of 70 assigned to Drill Instructor School. I graduated from Drill Instructor School on 1, May 70 and was assigned to K Co. 3Rd. Bn. I took five platoons out of Receiving Barracks and graduated each of them. My last platoon graduated on 6, May 71. Every meal I ever ate while at MCRD was in the Recruit Training Chow Halls. When I first arrived back at San Diego, before my Drill Instructor class was formed up and moved into the Drill Instructor Barracks, I was assigned to a barracks adjacent to the theatre (on the opposite side of the Theatre from the Receiving Barracks). There were Drill Instructors in that Barracks, but it obviously wasn’t exclusively for Drill Instructors. It was a two story building, and there was not a chow hall on the first floor. Again, every meal I ever ate while at MCRD from May through July of 67 and Feb of 70 through 9 July 71, was served in the Recruit Chow Halls.