To Cpl Sadowski’s recent post on Dave Schual passing. Sorry to hear that our numbers are slowly reporting in for their last duty station. The good Lord will take care of him standing post similar to Surf Gate on a foggy lonely post no bigger than a phone booth.
Our first duty station was Marine Barracks, Point Arguello, and it was a short lived barracks from around 1958 to 1964, where many of us boot recruits received our introduction to the Marine Corps. It also was a haven for old stalwarts who taught us on how to tailor our tropical uniforms, spit and polish leather gear, hand waxing and buffing the tile floor, and how to stretch our covers giving the sea going dip on our frame caps. Most of us only spent 18 Months there before shipping out to First Mar Div, Camp Pendleton, CA.
Talking to Fred Briuer, he said that you stopped by his mother-in-law’s house on liberty once to eat tamales in LA. Fred retired from the Corps of Engineers and living in Mississippi. Others I remember were PFC March, Bill Kirchoff, Coffee, Dolan, Dillard, Monday, Hadel, and Staff Sergeant Meeks was our section Staff NCO. Private Hadel was the only four year private that I know of.
Fond memories of the Point; living, dinning, medical on Vandenberg Air Force Base and how one could not remember our beer bust at the Sudden Ranch.
God, Country, Corps: Semper Fi.
Herb Brewer
Question: Was SSGT. Meeks there the entire duration of 1958 through 1964 as indicated?
Reason for the question that is a rare Native American name. I entered the Marine Corps June, 1962. My platoon commander (as referred to back then, not Sr. Drill Instructor as referenced today) was GySgt. Meek. Platoon 243, MCRD San Diego. As a note of interest he was a Korean Veteran.
I remain Semper Fidelis and will await your reply.
Great to read the salty Marines helped the boots with military appearance. The story gave me that good old feeling of the brotherhood bond that develops , helping each other to improve our military bearing. I saw the SSGT in Blues in HS and he made me think I wanted some of that. I went in straight away after HS graduation. 3rd Bn Plt 3002 1976. Parris Island and finished Capt of Marines 1996 MCAS Yuma AZ. I stayed in CA since I was stationed out here for 11 of 20 yrs. The tamales are home cooking for me nowadays and I am a NYC kid from Queens. Semper Fi, Nice story to share .
You mentioned a four year private. In 1957 in B Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines our platoon had a six year private sent to us. Korean veteran. He had just been released from the brig. Story was he was unable control his dislike for 2nd Lt’s.