You are the first Marine in the USMC that remember Motivation Platoon I were sent there in 1972, and were disabled to a degree in training. Today that training have been terminated, and its like it never happen. Although some of your descriptions in Motivation Platoon were different then mines. I didn’t read in your statement about the sewage drain field, where you had to drop into a pool of sewage and low crawl in sewage water going into your mouth and nose, the unknown D.I.’s used a long aluminum pole to push your head under water, to make sure you walloped in it like a maggot, at the end of the sewage field, you had to shout at the top of your lungs in boot deep sewage to tell the D.I. how much you loved the USMC, then we got on the road and everything happened as you said. Upon Graduation there were and Investigation and a letter had to be signed before you could leave the Island, “stating that: I have been treated well at Parris Island, SC.” And ordered to seal the letters, are face staying six more months on the Island, to go to a hearing.
Sgt Grit wants to hear from you! Leave your comments below or submit your own story!
This has got to be a BS story!
I’m thinking the same thing! I went through boot camp at P.I. 1954 when things were tougher and I never heard any sea stories to top this one.
I went through boot camp at P.I. in 1957 and there was a motivation platoon for recruits (8-Ball platoon) who were overweight but never did I hear of any crawling in sewers. This was just after the Mcquean incident where 9 recruits drowned in the swamp and the base was crawling with Congress people
Yes, I recall there was a Motivation Platoon and was selected to go, but some reason I cannot recall was canceled for us in 1972. I believe it was transportation issues. I do not remember ever signing a sheet of paper when graduation day came and do not recall anyone say about sewage. There was mud one would go into but we also did this in regular training. I was just happy to graduate and get the hell out of P.I.
I agree with Charles Garfield the Motivatin Platoon is A BS story I thorough Boot Camp at Parris Island and never saw a sewage field That was in 1955 Bill Ashworth
My name @ P.I. in 1965 was Roger Dale Stewart #2152575 & was in 3rd Battalion referred to as ” Disney Land ” because of the “new” Brick Buildings. Though I was never sent to the Motivation Platoon, I did know of it’s existence because a few of my fellow Recruits were sent there. IT WAS NO BS. OoooRah & Semper Fidelis Brothers…….Sargent Roger Dale Stewart U.S.M.C. & Vietnam Veteran
I remember the threat of Motivation Platoon in 1969. I went to one day Motivation while at Parris Island and yes it sucked. We did a water based exercise towards the end of the day but I don’t remember it being sewerage water, I recall it was what I called stump water, water that was trapped in an area and had stagnated. It stank to high heaven but it didn’t kill anyone that I’ m aware of. Was never asked to sign any form conceresning this prior to Leaving the Island.
I remember motivation platoon although I never went a vast majority of my platoon went (Plt. 365 in 1967). I remember them coming back all covered in mud and being marched into the shower completely dressed to clean up. It wasn’t pretty but no one ever complained about “sewage”. It sure did motivate the vast majority of them. I also remember the term “7 day motivation” as a threat but I don’t think in actuality didn’t exist. I also remember the CCP – Correctional Custody Platoon and SSgt Vessey told us that they went out with sledge hammers and broke up the old runway. I never saw them do it and sometimes the threats in themselves would motivate you to cooperate. Just my take on boot camp and motivational platoon etc. Semper Fi
I never went to the motivation platoon but we had a couple guys go and I agree with ALAN they came back covered in mud. Never had a chance to talk to them. When I was there in 68 2445837 you only talked to a few people UNLESS YOU WERE CRAZY AND WANTED YOUR ASS KICKED. We also saw the people from CCP running all the time.
I was at PI in 1973 and during our first few weeks a group from our platoon was randomly selected to attend one day motivation. Our Drill Instructors told us about how it was, a lot of PT, running and hustling all day. The guys came back tired and muddy. We all learned the lesson and no one went after that. They crawled through muddy water but never mentioned sewage. Frank Janotta ’73-79. Semper Fi
Motivation plt did exist! As a recruit at MCRD PISC, 1stBn in 1970, I was chosen to attend 1 day motivation! Two of our plt were transferred to”permanent motivation plt” and reassigned to a different plt upon completion. I remember force march around the island to arrive at hdqtrs building in time for morning colors. After, marching back lots of pt and running thru mud but no sewage and letter signing. Did it work? Yep, learned to keep my pie hole shut! Made the Corps a career and thank God everyday for making that choice! Semper FI!
Motivation platoon???It was pure HELL.Anyone who went to 7 day motivation could not be right in the head.I went to 3 day motivation and thought for sure I would die.I remember the sewage ditch.For those who did not go to motivation platoon,,,,thank your lucky stars.If I have a bitch about the Marine Corps,it would be motivation platoon.It was crazy.A Marine once said he would rather be back at the Chosin than go thru boot camp again.I knew he got sent to Motivation Platoon.
I never went but I remember the PCP (Pork Chop Platoon) in 1981where all the fat bodies went that couldn’t do PT.
I was at PISC 1968 in first platon.What this man siad was BSl It was not easy but nothing like he said l went to Vietam in 1968 I got back my trading help me make it home S.C
This story is full of crap. I was in the platoon in 1973. There was no sewage field to crawl through.
In 1974 MCRD San Diego, there were several platoons run by second battalion. These were if I recall correctly Physical Rehabilitation Plt. For those who suffered injuries. CCP Correctional Custody Platoon, for those who received office hours. The recruits who were sent to PCP wore helemet liners which had been painted silver and were callle chrome domes, they spent an 8 hour day with a 20lbs sledge hammer, smashing the old foundations of the Quonset huts, and hauling the debris away in wheelbarrows. Physical Conditioning Platoon PCP, for recruits who couldn’t pass the initial PFT, or were severally over weight. And one I don’t recall the name of, which taught recruits who couldn’t read or write how to do so. There was also a one day event which was called by two different names, Motivation Plt, or simply Dirt. A recruit whom the Platoon Commander or Drill Instructors felt lacked the proper motivation could be sent there for the day. We had one recruit in first phase who was sent there for the day. He came back a mud ball, the only thing you could see where his eyes, and this mud stank. The DI’s hosed him off out by the washing racks before allowing him to strip and come in and take a shower. He latter told us about having to low crawl through an obstacle course which had nasty smelling mud, concrete culverts in which the DI’s could insert plywood between the joints in the middle blocking the pipe off and forcing the recruits to have to crawl back out off. He also said that the DI’s moved about the course on a wooden decking and that they used a poll to push recruits heads into the muck. There was a high wooden privacy fence around the area where this took place. It was located somewhere behind the base theater.
I think this story is Bs. I went to Mote in 1972 and yes we did go through the pits but it was mud not sewage. Yes it was dirty and nasty and the mud never did wash out of our white boxers or t shirts. But that is crap to try telling us that we were crawling through sewage. There is a lot of mud all around the island and when the tide is out or going out or coming in it can be real nasty. maybe if we had our crap together we may not have been sent there in the first place. Maybe it was our wake up call to get it together. I say this to you. Those 3 days I spent in Motivation Platoon were pure hell and it was the nastiest place I’ve ever been but after surviving that I got it together and boot camp was one heck of a lot easier. I am glad I went there today because it shows me I can make it through anything even Marine Corps Boot Camp
Sewage water flowed out a big pipe it were not all sewage as you would see at a sewage plant, and this wasn’t all just plain mud believe me I know the difference in the smell of urine and feces I not crazy.
NO sewage but pluff mud in 1968. The motivation platoon was the real deal. I remember walking fire watch for the CCP and was told to beat them with a night stick if you caught any one out of their racks. Making little rocks from big rocks sledge hammer close order drill and other fun and games.
Let me ask you a question what kind of D.I.’s did you meet when you arrived at the Motivation platoon, what time was it in the morning, and could you identify where the D. I.’s were standing. And were any recruits killed as a result of this illegal training away from main side.
I went thru PI 1966. Plt 272. There was a motivation plt. As designation (motivate). There were guys that had bad attitudes or just lazy. Also the fat bodies. Generally they would be reassigned to another plt. after completion. Never heard anything re: crawling through sewage. Just kicking your butt to make you physically and mentally Marine Corps strong. Sgt. Fred Ledgerwood – 66′–70′. Hue City 2/5. 67′-68′ Semper Fi brothers
No, the recruits I were with did not get picked for being lazy or attitude problem, the D.I. just walked by our rake pulled us out of forming, and we were told to be on the road at 0330 hours to meet cattle cars to be transported to Motivation Platoon.
I got selected with two other recruits to attend motivation for one day. That was one wild day. This was in 1970 and yes there was sewage involved along with sand, buckets and a rucksack full of bricks.
I was honored with an invitation to the motivation platoon back in 1968. After two months of an absolutely wonderful time I was sent to a new platoon for boot camp. The thrill of an exta two months at MCRD has not yet left me. I felt so special despite being laughed at and pittied by my new boot camp mates. Most boots would die for an extra two months of boot camp. By the way….the weather was perfect !
I went to P.I for boot camp in 1953. A considerable difference from boot camp now. At that time it was called “The Goon Platoon” made up of the men that did not know their left from their right. The were subjected to a litttle more harsh trading. Never anything like the sewage thing but definitely more disaplained just the normal training but it made the point much more clear to each individual. I was not a member of this platoon but they did train with us although the GP was made to march 10 yards behind the main platoon. It worked for all the members of said GP because one of the men went to SEA DUTY for his entire enlistment and the rest graduated with our entire platoon and were squared away. Once a Marine Always a Marine. SEMPER FI?
I know that Corrective Custody Platoon was still there at San Diego Summer of 1977. The silver-domed “guests” were using sledge hammers to break up the foundations of the old “Q” barracks. We had to run around their area during training. We were told of the water area, a possible old fuel tank cut in half. After the “guests” finished duck-walking or crawling they were told to stand at attention until dry, then marched back to their platoons.
Motivation platoon did exist at PI in June,1973; and if you went, you force-marched for a couple of hours, did 2 hours of pt, marched some more, and ran “The Ditch”, which was stagnant water where I did see at least one dead Rat. Being told to start out the PT with 100 bends and Mothers warned us what the rest would be like. Full Field transport pack and war belt, chrome dome and rifle were mandated. After the first two weeks, everyone had shaped up enough to avoid motivation platoon. We had 3 recruits go to CCP. Two tried to go UA and get off the island…didn’t work, and we never saw them again. The other one, a real cat 4 dumbass, came off the firing line with his M-14 locked and loaded. He spent a week in CCP, but was allowed to come back to our platoon because all he missed was mess duty week. He told us stories about being “Chastised” for trying to escape every time a confinee broke the position of attention.. They seemed to have done away with Motivation Plt. sometime during Commandant Wilson’s tenure. Now I have a question: Did “Red-Line” Brigs really exist? Semper Fi Marines, and start stockpiling!!
Yes Red Line brigs did exist. I met a Cpl. Brandon in Vietnam who was a guard at a red line brig before coming across the pond.
Red line Brigs ? I was stationed a the 13th Naval District Brig for two years , at Great Lakes Naval Traing Center in 1965-1966. There were No Red line Brigs that I ever heard of. I was a Cross Country Chaser,and for the first time saw Marine Draftees during the VN war. Also worked at the Camp Lejeune Brig in the 70’s ,no red line Brigs existed in the Marine Corps at least during the 60’s and 70’s. Heard a lot of stories,but all scuttlebutt,no facts!
I think Brandon said it was Port Smith Naval base year 1968. I never took the guy as a bull shitter but who knows. He was a GOOD Corp.
@Red line brig…..my dad mentioned red line brigs from his service during WWII. He was USN.
Believe me I am stockpiling.
Big, big BS!!!!!! Cannot write a cohesive sentence of a first grader! If he really crawled thru sewage, it had to be of his own making while in the water! Again his own BS!! The only motivational platoon I saw were guys with white helmets, picking up trash around my platoon in boot camp SD. We were told they were non-hackers and escapees paying for their indiscretions. Bill Walter, Cpl. USMC SD class of 1970.
I agree………..Another “BS” fairy tale. USMC PI……Class of 1961
I sure wish you could have been there with me Mr. Fairy Tale Marine, what do I have to gain for lying.
Tom: Did you do boot in Plt #339. Do you have your grad book. I am looking for mine. I need to up load my Dress Blues photo for my son who is the third member of our three generation Marine family. I’d pay for a copy of the last 17 pages. Found one guy but he said he didn’t have time. I’m in serious problems with my heart and my time is not guaranteed. Please respond.
This is not a Big, big BS!!!!! As I read each one of these Marines experience Motivation Platoons and experience has been different by the years, Motivation Platoon at P.I., were not picking up trash on base, matter of fact when we started the run after the sewage drain run off water, not sewage in a sewage plant itself. Myself and another recruits were on the run together with full pack and gear, a D.I. shouted at us, and stated: If he caught up with us that I’ll ass were grass and he were the MF lawnmower, the recruit were caught in the middle of the road he beat this recruit, and threw him on the back of a Corpman’s jeep to be transported to the hospital.
I remember hearing about Motivation Platoon at PI in 1967, but never got to experience it. (I was sufficiently motivated by being tossed off the obstacle course high rope into the pond.) I remember a few from the platoon being sent to Motivation Plt but I don’t think we ever saw them again. However from living in SC many years later, I know that swamp water and pluff mud are foul enough that a recruit could mistake them for something even worse. Viet Nam 69-70, 3rd Amtrac Bn, Co B, Maintenance Plt.
Spot on Graeme. PI in 09/67 – 11/67, RVN 04/1969 – 02/1970. There was a motivation plt. which consisted of “fat bodies” and the “unmotivated”. Had a fat guy from our plt (3043) go there.
I was in the old wooden receiving barracks in Nov 1975 and they had us observe a full platoon coming back from the mote ditch. Poor souls were covered head to toe in muck. You couldn’t tell one from the other. Later we were moved across the parade deck to 1st Bn. The swamps and river were behind the barracks and at low tide it smelled every bit as bad as, and similar to, an open sewer. Eventually at the rifle range I was able to observe the CCP in action. I kept my nose clean. Former 1811 Tank Crewman.
I went thru Boot Camp at MCRD San Diego in 1973, I injured my knee and was sent to Motivation platoon. They let me heal up, but as I got better I also had to go through the same type of “Physical training”. It was not sewage in the trenches but it was liquidities mud and sand. It was long trenches and had cement culverts we had to crawl thru. They spaced so you came out and could get your breath and crawl to the next one. But to be honest I felt it was fun after the fist week. I found that there were two types of recruits sent to MOTO Platoons. The first were injuries they wanted to keep but couldn’t keep up in the regular platoons and the second were recruits who needed an attitude adjustment. They weren’t so bad to drop yet but they didn’t have the time to spend on one person to correct their issues. So off to Motivation Platoon. When I could keep again I got sent back to my platoon. I think the weaker people they worked on toughing them up mentally, and showing them they could do more physically if they put their minds to it. The DI’s were “rough” on you more than in the platoons but they would talk and help you to get your mind and body in the right place to complete Boot Camp.
I was in Plt 363 (20 Apr — 21 Jun 67) at MCRDSD. I do not know the correct name of the Platoon we saw at San Diego, but I do know what I saw. When in formation the guys (usually 6 to 8) had long-handled sledge hammers at Port Arms and ran everywhere they went. When not in formation they used the sledge hammers to break up concrete and macadam. They placed it in the buckets we were issued in boot camp. They carried those buckets about a hundred yards, all the while that thin metal handle was digging into their fingers. They’d empty the buckets and repeat the process, all day long. Just seeing them was enough to keep the average Recruit motivated.
Some Marine’s refuse to discuss anything taking place during basic training as recruits concerning the crawling through a mud pit, swamp water smelling like a sewer, Marine chair with a rifle on top hands and extended straight out, and punched. Basic training has remained grueling with training and physical fitness, but no longer allowed to get in your face, screaming, and cussing. Regardless of what people are told it still takes place, especially cussing. Women DI’s are not allowed to cuss at recruits for any reason and removed if complaints received from recruits. Hear women with potty mouth sounding worse than men far more derogatory and cruel.
I went thru PI summer of 1972 Plt 369 never went to motivation platoon but was threatened to be sent a lot probably everyday. I remember seeing them run thru ditches and I’m sure they were told it was sewer ditches but all the swamp water would smell like that. After seeing what they looked like and seeing what little bit I did when they run by I knew I didn’t want to go there. I do remember at other times crawling thru some of the swamp water and getting a taste of it. Best thing I ever did was join the Marine Corps don’t think a day has gone by since, that I haven’t though about and used what I learned. Thanks SSgt. Raney,SSgt. Montgomery,Sgt Dyer
It was all there at MCRD PISC back in the summer ’64, and again in ’70-72…All part of STB (Special Training Branch) — Motivation Platoon, Correctional Custody Platoon, and Physical Conditioning Platoon…Water-filled mud ditch existed at STB, but NO sewage as Robertson alleges in his b/s whine.
I can still remember seeing those poor bastards assigned to the Corrective Custody Platoon out near the 3rd Battalion/Rifle Range area on Parris Island (I was with Platoon 102 .. 12/64 to 3/65)… they were manually moving a huge pile of boulders downrange about 300 yards, one gigundous rock at a time… as we rode on those cattle cars past the range, our Senior DI, S/Sgt Kurtz would chuckle and warn us all that this rock pile was in our future. Met up with him a year and a half later during a firefight west of Marble Mountain (south of DaNang) … I was an E5 by then and we both got quite a laugh out of our PI experiences…..
Sergeant in just a year and a half ?? You must have been quite the mover and shaker, Sgt. Noga…Took me 3 years to attain the the rank of Sergeant
Thanks, Top! Yea, the whine definitely sounds like “that 10%”. ( a statement I have lived all of my life). I was 3032 Sep–Dec ’68. I went to “one day motivation platoon” 3 times as that was the max unless they had an excuse, more than just a dislike for a recruit. I was a western Virginia boy and my D.I. was from WVa. He worried I would embarrass his “roots” and insisted for me to be the Blues Marine out of boot camp. I was a happy hill-billy and it irked him to no end….. thus, I paid the price. I actually liked “motivation platoon” because I was in the open and didn’t have to sit in the classroom. Story is I made it through Motivation Platoon; it was nasty (for a city boy); and graduated tops in everything but the Rifle Range, (I was 4th) and no BLUES! I ended up in the 4th CAG (CAP Marine) and nothing really special, and only lost 2 Marines.(3 more since). Semper Fi, and God Bless America.
I was at MCRDSD the summer of ’69. Motivation platoon did exist! You could go there for a couple of days or do “one day motivation”. An infraction such as sneaking a cigarette or caught sleeping on firewatch could send you there. Other units in the “special training branch” were CCP – Correctional Custody Platoon, they wore helmet liners and broke cement slabs with sledge hammers. We would osmetime see them jogging in the recruit areas carrying buckets of rocks with a Marine jogging behind them with a billy club. There was PCP – Physical Conditioning platoon – made up of three sections – turtles (severely overweight), roadrunners (failed initial PFT), coyotes (failed final PFT). I spent a week in the roadrunners, and all of these sections were behind the base theatre and swimming pool. I got to go back to MCRDSD in 2008 and all the buildings the “special training branch” are long gone.
There was a Motivation Platoon in 3d on P.I. in ’86, it wasn’t like that load claimed above. Yes it was “faster” so you had to hustle more. The point of the Platoons is to see if The Corps can cut a couple days, hours, mins or a week of Recruit training so you can move on to advance Infantry as a Marine. It never was to make you eat sewerage or any other wild stories. If anything less abuse would happen due to the fast paced training. I was in Plt 3007 biggest gripe we had was you only got more than 4 hours sleep on Sunday and that wasn’t a given. But we did have 10 days taken off boot camp and as much as all of us think we would love to go through again, back then I would have traded a weeks sleep for 10 mins earlier. Maybe he is just confused with so much Hollywood BS stories about The Corps and he thinks it really did happen to him. Someone should find him and let him know Once a Marine Always a Marine, even if all the blood is going to the opposite side of your brain that works. SEMPER FI! Sgt Hall (Hawkeye) ’86- ’92, ’05-2010 Cannon Cocker, Thundering Third, OORAH!
I want to add, at the time if I recall correctly, there was PCP Platoon and Fat Platoon going on then. PCP was to get you clicked in again and well Fat Platoon was because you came from a loving family with a sense of humor who thought it would be a nice wake up call to realize your overweight at the toughest boot camp in the whole G Damned world, hahaha. Got to love family. As others said, best thing ever happened to me was when I got my mind blown to small frags on that damn hot ass island. And even if the DI’s can not do what they could in the past, you must be out of your mind if you think they are turning out pussy Marines! No such thing! They are just smarter and even better disciplined the their mind. I know I could have never had a camera on my body recording what were doing without half of us having a lot of explaining to do. I salute these young Marines to the challenge they face and can only imagine what type of hell the SR DI’s have in store for them.
There were also a casualty Platoon when Marines got hurt in training and had to see the Corpman daily, I were put in that platoon because of and injury, there were also sadistic D.I.’s there, I saw a marine go into a heart attack, the D.I. stood over this recruit and stated: Die MF its to many people in the world anyway. Do you Marines think I would be stupid enough to report something that were untrue, just to write something, just because you did not experience the same thing doesn’t make it untrue. And yes, the whole Platoon# 2263 had to also sign letters to leave Parris Island.
I was at PISC in 1967, I also had Open Heart Surgery in on Jan.06,1965. And was required to get a letter from my Surgeon saying that I had recovered from the Surgery and was quite able to join the USMC. I waited 120days on a delay program and was subject to numerous examinations at the Naval Yard in Boston. When the Doctors were satisfied that my Surgeon was correct, I was accepted into the USMC. I survived all my Basic Training and Graduated in June that year. I was however subject to motivation platoon for one week because one of our Drill Ins. felt I needed additional Motivation. I spent the week there and never heard of Low Crawling in Sewerage from anybody. I agree with Charles Barfield that this story is TOTAL BS. My stay for the week had to be made up. It was made up and I Graduated. In the end my Drill instructor at graduation explained to me that he wanted to make sure that I made the grade which he said I did with Honor. I went on Thru ITR & BST to become a Artillery Forward Observer 0846 Made my why to 1st Battalion 10th Marines at Camp Lejeune. From there I received orders to Vietnam arrived at Okinawa and everyone else got to stay there for a couple of days I was approached by a Corporal had he said I was wanted at Processing I was shipped out the same day on my way to Saigon, Vietnam To 1st Air and Naval Gunfire Sub Unit One. I served my tour was Meritoriously promoted to Corporal and finished my enlistment of four years in Camp Lejeune with an Honorable Discharge. I really get a case of the ASS when I hear some guys discredit the Corps.. And I HONOR All who Served Honorably!!
Out “fuk’n” standing. The whiners get my ass, too
Sound like you are the whiner slacker, I glad you got treated better then I did.
What the Hell would you know about whiner/slackers.You probably don’t even belong Here Commenting!!! Let’s see you Go Thru What I Went Thru????? You Have No Idea What I went Thru!!! Mister James R. You don’t even have a Last name. So Shut Your Hole Up…….Cpl. Nicholas Nardone
Besides I Don’t Have The Time To Waste On You!!!!
Has Sgt. Grit become fake news!! these guys were never in the Corp. non hackers
Would you like to see my Honorable Discharge USMC from 1977?
Yes I do remember the motivation platoon, although I was never sent there. Platoon 1092 1971 MCRDSD. Persons who screwed up badly or were unmotivated were sent there for one day as I remember it. It must have been bad for when they came back they had the 1000 mile stare, and I saw one recruit cry like a baby when the DI threatened to send him again. Just a threat of going to anyone from a DI made us all scared as hell. Punches, kicks and being slammed against the wall was normal from Our DIs. I remember well as it happened to us all, including me. K. Kelly 2748675
Hey, K, We all didn’t screw up, nor were unmotivated. As a matter of fact it was because I mentioned to the D.I. (he was from WVa and I lived just this side in western VA) that I thought he should be tougher on the slackers that got me sent. I made it 3 times at Motivation Platoon and nearly made his head explode when I asked if would be the Blues Marine. I also helped and guided some of the others in the “one day M.P.”, not so much because they were fuk-ups, but just out of their element and needed the extra help the D.I.’s didn’t have. Semper Fi, and hope you belong to your local chapter of the MCL.
You are correct Mr. Kelly it were that bad, and did you smell his body upon his return to his regular platoon, no one could stand to be near him without throwing up!
This TURD was never in my Corps. He is full of the stuff he says he crawled through. Does not know English and cannot spell. He needs a code red.
First time that I ever heard the term “Code Red” was by Demi Moore talking to Tom Cruise. However, “Blanket Party” was a term that was common in the ’70’s.
Thank you, Mr. Hale, what gives you the right to state its your Corps, and yes I did smell like a turd and I wish I could have stood next to you. Code Red have been eliminated, so I guess we would have just done Pugil stick fights, so I could get part of them turds on you.
There was a motivation platoon. We were threaten with it all the time. A couple of our platoon members were sent for the day and came back brown and smelly. It was located between 3rd Bn. and the range. 3rd Bn. boot 1969.
Archie Gibson I stand with you Bro and All Others who Respect the Corps!!! SEMPER FI / DO OR DIE!!!! If I were able the way things are in our country (Terrorists) I would volunteer in a Heart Beat!!!
Platoon 380. 8/72-10/72.
I was a shorty, skinny weakling who turned 18 a week before heading to PI. One evening I was summonsed to the duty hut. All 3 DI’s there. “Sooo, you’re one of those ROTC MF’ers. What the F do you want from our Marine Corps?”, “Sir, the private just wants to survive this place and get out of here!” Wrong answer. It got me a trip to one-day mote.
I was scared. “If you F this up you’ll end up in 7-day mote! And if F that up you’ll end up at CCP. And if you F that up you’re sorry ass will leave here on a bus with all the other non-hacking shitbirds.”
2 things I remember. A DI taking his black belt off and dragging a Pvt by his neck. The Pvt ended up being picked up by 2 somebodies and thrown into the back of a pickup truck. The other thing was being in that nasty muddy water. And there were all these people standing around watching. They had cameras. They stood looking down at us. (We were in a hole full of that water.) “Please help us.”, I said. (I really most of us were going to be killed off.) If you were to find the 24 NOV 1972 issue of Life magazine you will see my 1-day mote crew. It’s in the article titled “Marine boot camp Is still hell”
Semper Fi.
Donald:
You brought back a memory when you cited the Nov. 24, 1972 Life article. I went to PI in May, ’73, and saw one of the Drill Instructors that was pictured in the article. Great article, which should be reprinted and passed out at the Recruiting Stations. Semper Fi!!
The question is, did you tell the DI you saw him? Lol. The funny thing is I looked for the magazine for years then found 2 copies in different stores in just a matter of months. It didn’t help when one of my platoon mates I reconnected with told me I could have ordered a copy online. Oh well. It was a fun hunt.