So I thought about it and decided to send the picture in along with a few questions for my brother Jarheads, but I won’t dare ask this of my sister Jarheads. Does your uniform still fit you? The other night the wife and I were going through some clothes in the attic for AM Vets and I came across this blouse. Not sure why now but I did not keep a lot of my dress uniforms. Stupid, I know but it’s too late
now. I did keep one short sleeve and one long sleeve blouse and all of my cammies, which have long since rotted away. I gave away all the rest of my uniforms except the wool overcoat and rain coat but my nephew asked if he could borrow them for a Halloween party years ago and the sh-thead claimed he lost them. Man, was I ever p-ssed. Anyway, my wife suggested I try the blouse on and told me to give her a “tough guy” pose and before I could finish getting ready she snapped the picture. We took one where I actually got all the buttons made but it was unbecoming to say the least. I’m 54 now and somewhere around 190 lbs, but I can’t understand why it does not fit because I was 180 lbs when I got out in 1985 but of course I was fairly solid and in shape then. Ahhhh the good ole days! I nearly hurt myself taking the blouse off due in part to my bad shoulders. I wish I least had a barracks cover or p-ss cutter to put on my big-azs bald head. Can’t wear a high and tight anymore. Best I could do with a bald head is a low and loose. There’s a guy I work with who never served in the military who wears a high and tight. Cruel joke huh?
Semper Fi,
Mike Kunkel
Cpl. 0331
Lima 3/8, Weapons Plt
1981-1985
Great picture Marine; I was in Alpha 1/4 3rd Marines; 0311 Cpl. They call it the old Corp! 1970 – 1973.
Great picture! I actually grew after boot camp in the Corps. I put on weight and got 1/2 taller. Mike, I was in 2/2 and got out the year you came in. Semper Fi!
Hi Mike Remember the days when they use to say Lean & mean seems like us old timers have problems buttoning up!!!The old corp 1951-54 —– plt.168 2nd RTBPI FEB/MAY 51
Nice picture Mike……I found that EVERYTHING shrinks while being stored….I can’t get into my blues….but, they are still hanging in my closet….NOTHING fits….they all shrank! 0331 Kilo/3rd Bn/1st Marines
Hey Howard, what year were you in Kilo 3/1? I was an 0331 there at Happy Horno from 1980-1984.
I was 183 when I got out of boot camp and 210 at discharge, six years later. I am now 67 years old and weighed 275 a year and a half ago. Today I am at 227, but I doubt that I would be able to button up ant of my old blouses.
First of all, I believe [we\us] speaking of this is *great. Mike\you started something\lol. Still, have my-Blues in the closet [won’t ever, let them-go]. Can’t fit-anything, discharge 1983 @146lbs., now 270lbs. Everyday, dreams of wearing\uniforms-Blues again; next-month [age-56] but I fell just, outstanding. We all have it in us, yes-more [P-T] till we die.. Let’s all do-it, one last-time\why-not… Love you all, my fellow-brothers. Sgt. Pete Anderson [3rd. Battalion 12th. Marines 3rd. Marine Division] [MSG-Detachments\Budapest Hungary, Helsinki, Finland] 1979-1983…
Pete, yeah I figured I would, if nothing else give everyone a laugh and get them trying on a few pieces of the past just to see what it felt like. Almost as if maybe there were magical powers in those uniforms. LOL. Semper Fi Marine! Mike
I still have my Ike Jacket from when I was in the MP’s back in the 60’s and can’t even get one arm in it. But back then I went 165 and had a 28 inch waist. Now I go 205 with a 36 inch waist.
Richard, I received my Battle Jacket in March/1964 I can still hear our senior drill instructor scream “any maggot lucky enough to be issued a Battle Jacket today if you ever call it anything else I’ll personally find you and adjust your stacking swivel” so 52 years I will always call it my Battle Jacket
First off Thank you all for your service. I’m a Marine corps veteran. HMLA-369 Gunfighters. Camp Pendelton California. Aviation mechanic. Also known as the POG’s to the grunts. From 2003-2013 Sgt of Marines. So just wanted to say that my girl and I will be getting married in two years and she wants me to wear my dress blues. I told her I have to lose weight so I could fit into them again. So I know we all have gained some weight since being out but it’s ok in my books. Semipermanent Fi and thank you all for your service.
Toss the Blouse and keep the shirt Marine. If you PROMISE to do this only inside Home Station and only in front of family (God bless them), Just button the bottom three buttons. YES, DO NOT SECURE THE TOP BUTTON. You should be good to go. Refocus and retake that Muscle picture Marine. Also, put a tee shirt on under that Charlie Shirt, no need to advertise those nipples anymore JAR HEAD. NOW, Go scrub the head before your wife comes home Corporal.
Yes Master Sergeant! LOL If I had sent in the picture with all the buttons secured that would have touched off another series of replies! Way too many rolls up under the armpit area these days, and yes, no need to advertise the nipples any more than necessary! SSgt Krause, Sgt. Mazenko and Sgt. Ishmail would definitely have increased the PT and ordered more mountain climbers and bends and mother-f_ckers!!! Semper Fi !!
i wieghted 205 when i went in.came out at 206 a lot thinner and had more muscle. have a old raincoat,a cover that will not go on my big head. still has the eagle and anger and globe. wiegh 254 now and if i could have keep my other colthes i couldnt wear them but praise god i still love jesus. the marines was my testmony and still is. thank you marines for our freedom.
The one thing that never will change. “Once a Marine, Always a Marine”.
Promised my nephew that when he was commissioned a 2nd LT in the Army after completing ROTC, in 2015, I would attend in my Class A uniform to give him his first salute. The last time the uniform was fitted was just before graduation at PI in 1964. After 4 weeks of heavy-duty dieting, it fit!!! It was an honor to be able to salute my nephew and a great source of pride to be a Marine in uniform again after almost 50 years.
My old uniform shirt “fits” just like yours does. A little “tight”. I have seen your posts,here and there over time, and I believe you are from the East Coast. If you’re ever in Frederick Co. or Montgomery Co. MD, contact me and I’ll buy you a Beer (or two). Was at Pendleton 75 thru 78 2/5 106’s then TOW CO / TANK BATTALION (when 1st Tanks were still @ Los Flores). If you don’t hurry up, I will drink your Beer. SEMPER FI, BROTHER! Maybe see ya soon. 0351
Thanks Bub, yes I am from Baltimore. If I get out that way I will take you up on the offer brother!!! Semper Fi Mike