I was sharing some sea stories with another Marine buddy a few days ago and the subject turned to being on liberty back in the old days (mid-50s) and being WAY out-of-bounds trying to get somewhere better than where we were stationed. For example, being stationed at Camp Lejeune and having liberty from Friday at 1600 to Monday at 0600 clearly would not legally allow you to go to Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Boston or Buffalo, or for that matter, any destination further than Washington and that was a stretch because there were no Interstates in those days. From Quantico, the liberty limit was Baltimore. Back-roads were often dark, narrow and treacherous. Rarely did you have a weekend when you didn’t see fatal accidents and sometimes several of them. Those Marines fortunate enough to have a personal car would take riders to share the trip and contribute to the gas and tolls cost.
I can recall coming to a stoplight somewhere and having all four doors fly open and a quick exchange of drivers take place before the light changed, then accelerating away. Getting all of your riders back to a collection point on Sunday at the appointed time was always a challenge because you didn’t want to leave someone behind. It was generally accepted that somehow you had to get back in bounds before turning in sick and you better NOT have any trouble when you were 400 miles or so out of bounds. God forbid the wrath of the First Sergeant upon your return. Many stories, many memories!
A related thought is the subject of base tags on cars. In the mid-50s many bases had metal tags mounted above the front and rear license plates. (There were no universal DoD base decals in those days and every base had their own ID). The metal tags became reflective decals applied to the front and rear bumpers with different colors for officers, enlisted civilian workers, etc. At that point in time Camp Lejeune had gold colored decals for officers with red numbers, enlisted tags were red with gold numbers and they could be seen at a distance especially at night when illuminated by oncoming headlights. It was the standard and very common practice to eyeball any car stopped along the roadside on the way back to base and quickly pull over to assist another Marine who had broken down. (Cars weren’t all that mechanically reliable in those days after a long haul, nor were the drivers). If you had “boat space” in your car, you took as many stranded riders with you as possible to minimize the potential disciplinary fallout back at base. I’m sure the same circumstances were in play at all bases on both coasts so this should generate some reflections. By the way, the over-riding issue was to get back alive!
Semper Fidelis
Joe Featherston
1956-1978
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Good story Joe! I was stationed at Lejeune after Nam ( TAD rifle range at Stone Bay May-69 to Jan-70 ) I would “Swoop” 1or 2 times a month I had a 66 Corvair back then and killed it swooping sold it for 50 bucks before shipping out to Vieques .I would swoop to South west PA usually charged 6 bucks to New Stanton on the Pa. turnpike or 5 to Breezwood .Would meet back at New Stanton between 4-5 Sunday PM Barely made it back in time.I-95 South was not complete and had to get off and on to Rt. 301.301 was a “Death Road” lot of swoopers had accidents on that road.If I did not have girl back home would not have swooped as much Thanks for the memory Joe! Harry USMC 67-70
I was stationed at Camp Lejeune in 1968 10th Marines and would Swoop to Pittsburgh every other week end until I brought my wife down. There was never a time when I could not get a ride. MP’s would call out on a megaphone where the car was going. Then you had to RUN to the car. First come first serve. There were a few times I thought I would not get a ride.
Sgt Sisson, Refresh my memory, was the “Swoop Circle” located at the base “Drive In”? I still remember the MP’s coming up to my car and asking “Where and how many”! Some times it would be some of the same guys.One guy was with Amtracs so I would just stop at Courthouse Bay on the way to “The Circle”and pick him up there. He was my A-Driver.I can not remember his name though. Harry
Upon returning from Vietnam in 1967 I was with HQ. Btry, 10th Marines at Camp LeJeune. We had a guy in our section, Richard “Dick” Fish, that would swoop to Boston almost every weekend. He had a 9 Plus passenger Ford Station wagon that he would carry several spare tires on top. Most of his riders would get off at the Port Authority in New York City and meet them there for the return. I remember there was a traffic circle where the MP’s with bull horns would announce where a vehicle was headed and how many seats available. Never checking the limitations of how far they could go on Liberty. I remember going to my hometown, Hannibal, Missouri and back on a 96 hour liberty in my 1966 Volkswagen with my wife. No A/C just the windows rolled down, hair blowing in the wind. Oh yeah, what hair.
I also returned from Vietnam in 1967 to C Co. 2nd Shore Party Bn and remember the “Swoop Circle”. If not mistaken, it was located near the Hostess House. It got pretty crowded on Friday afternoons. The story brings to mind a short story concerning swooping. One Friday morning after morning muster our Gunny got us together behind the barracks on the “class bleachers”. He told us that the CO, XO, and Top were gone that day and he was in charge. Gunny said that as long as the whole Company was there that he had to be there. He told us that we could go on liberty but since we had to go past Battalion HQ to get to the Company Office that we were to go into the squad bay, change into civvies and discretely go, a couple at a time, to the Company Office to get our liberty cards. About ten minutes later I guess there were a couple dozen Marines lined up in front of the Duty NCO’s desk. So much for being discrete.
I was stationed at LeJeune in 58-59 at the rifle range. One of my buddies had a 1952 Ford. He came from Madison Wisconsin and I from around Detroit Michigan. We made the trip several times. He’d drop me off at the Detroit – Toledo interchange of the Ohio Turnpike and pick me up on Sunday evening for the trip back to base. I hitchhiked to Detroit and my brother,sister of Dad drove me back to the interchange to meet my ride. Never missed roll call on Monday. We did get stopped in Virginia once for speeding and the justice of the peace fined us (I think) $40.00. We pooled our money and only had less that $2 between the 4 of us. Had to trade a good spare tire at a Gas Station to fill up and make it back.
In 1955, the going rate for a found trip swoop from Swamp Lagoon to Brooklyn was $15.00. Also, I think the troopers on the Jersey Turnpike were trained to ferret out swooping vehicles at a distance of five miles or more as a lot of Marines helped pay for their “services” and/or road maintenance.
Back in 1968-1969 at Camp Lejeune, you would swoop anywhere just to have something to do. I remember getting back 14 sec. late from a swoop. I had to report to Regimental Headquarters and got a “royal” azz crewing and restricted to the barracks for 14 days by Col. Barber (MOH). I limited my swooping after that experience. Oh to be young and —– (well, you know the rest).
How was it possible for junior enlisted to get to the swoop circle, 69 /78 E4 and below had to park in huge lots off base because of parking limitations. As a married airfare I took many Marines north when I went home to Pa. Good days good years. I don’t know if I could do 9 years today under a president who’s leadership is based on lies, self and egotistical attitude thank God they don’t let him run the war. God keep all deployed troops safe ( our pres. Sure won’t ) Sempre Fi
I said it before many many times KEEP POLITICS THE HELL OUT OF THIS FORUM!!! Harry
Times two on the politics and what the hell is Sempre Fi, probably a poser.
Both comments right on! Keith is a wannabe sh-thead!
Agree
I heard this straight from Chesty Pullers mouth, who was no fan of Truman nor was most Marines but when chesty over heard some Staff NCOs berating Truman he became enraged as usual Growling ” Respect the office of our President” ——- or your —– az is mine”. I may have forgotten some of it but this is what i remember
Oh, let’s see: “Leadership based on lies, self and egotistical attitude….” Sounds like Hillary to me!
I used the Swoop circle at mainside also in 1969. Was with 2nd ANGLICO at Courthouse Bay. Swooped to Detroit. Pick up point for the return to Lejeune was the Top Hat on Telegraph and VanBorn In Taylor. Remember the fee up and back was $10.00 each way. Those were some crazy rides
I was with 8th Marines 1970 and used the swoop circle many times always got back but barely on time lol.
I was stationed at Le Jeune 55-56 in the 8th Marine and would go home twice a month to the Bronx NY and most of the tripp was on rt 301 thru NC,VA,MD,then NJ tpke and GW bridge. Thankfully,we made it w/out speed tkt or accident.My 1st ride with a guy that was going to Ma.
Was at Lejeune this past November for a reunion. Like most other units, 2nd Anglico has there own multilevel parking structure. These times they are a changing
I had the opportunity to visit Camp Lejeune a couple years ago. I saw a couple young Marines near the gymnasium. I walked over to them and told them that on Fridays in 1967 many Marines would gather in that area to swoop for the weekend. I also told them that we called it the Swoop Circle back then. One of them politely said “Sir, I’ve heard my granddaddy talk about that”. DANG! THAT MADE ME FEEL OLD.
I live in wester North Carolina. My home was closer than a lot of other Marines so I went home every weekend that I didn’t have NCO duty. In 1967 I-40 wasn’t completed and most of the highways were two lane. It was about 300 miles from my house to where I parked on base. I never got a traffic ticket the entire time I was swooping. I would pick out an automobile traveling 10 or 15 miles over the speed limit and follow it just far enough back that I could keep in sight of his tail lights. If he turned off I would pick out another and follow it the same way. There were a few times that the red “bubble gum” machine would light up between me and the in automobile in front of me. I guess it might have been a dirty trick by some standards. But, weren’t we trained to improvise and take advantage of the situation?
Swooping was alive and well in the early 60’s as well. Pre-Highway 95. Route 301. I was with 2nd Amtracs in Courthouse Bay so you had a little bit of overhead to get to mainside and the circle. I recall once in awhile we’d get a lecture on the perils of swooping, Which only heightened the point of pride in sort of a contest on just how far away a Marine would go an get back again in one piece and in time. We were told that the base commander got complaints from faraway states on Marines cluttering up their highways. Either hitchhiking or driving. (you could spot a Marine via the telltale white laundry bag). I did it a few times to South Jersey (Exit 4 on the NJ Turnpike). As others noted it was an act of faith to get picked up for the return trips.After I got a car I drove it several times and took on the responsibility to pick people up. Swooping is an experience that’s for sure.
I was at Lejeune in 2/8 from Sept 61 to Oct 62 and went to the circle every weekend that I could. I remember the guys going to NYC would have numerous choices as to what ride they wanted while those of going to the Nashville Tn area, a distance of some 700 miles wee not as lucky . Many times I had a ride to Knoxville and would take a bus the rest of the way. One weekend, as a result of shooting Sharp Shooter, I got liberty at 0800 and went up the circle expecting to be there all day when to my surprise a guy in an old station wagon with Nashville plates came around looking for a rider. The car was making a “knocking ” but he said it had been doing that for a while and he wasn’t worried about it. Somewhere around Rockingham N C the engine blew and we coasted into a service station that happened to have a junker car for sale . He traded his car for the junker and a tank of gas and an hour later we were back on the road. My memory is that the only problem we had was in meeting a Semi the hood of the car blew up and he tied it down with his belt and we were back on our way. It was a one way ride so I don’t know what happened to him or the car but it should was an interesting ride. Also remember at morning formation one Friday the 1st Sgt reminded everyone of what the limits were for a weekend pass and that if you did go out of bounds to try and make it back in bounds before you called and not be like two idiots the week before who called in from Canada. A good Staff NCO who was looking out for his troops.
if you had to call, you were always calling from “DC”.
I was swooping to Ind. after returning from Vietnam in 66. The first time I tried to get riders and asked the MP to announce Indianapolis he said he could not as that was out of limits from LeJeune. Thinking it over I asked him to ask if there were any Hoosiers in the crowd. He just smiled and announced it and I had my riders. I had a 63 Ford Galaxy 500LX and I took six riders. We had six in the seats and one on the floor. We switched the floor guy every gas or potty break. I did all the driving at first but soon got “regulars” that I could trust, so I either drove or rode shotgun. I charged $20 for the roundtrip and made my car payments with the money. Made two trips a month. Traded the Ford in on a new 67 Chevelle Malibu. Lost one rider due to space but made up for it with better gas mileage. I was the battalion mail orderly for 2/10.