I just found the Sgt. Grit site, and don't hardly know where to begin. Enlisted August 1957 (#1800034), went to PI after 2 weeks of flu. 6'2", 127 lbs. The doc at the initial physical (Albany, NY, before the trip to PI) tried to send me home. I left PI in Dec at 185, after eating everything I could get my hands on (like "ice cream sandwiches; 2 slices of bread with a little ice cream smeared between them.) The food was great at PI (but then again I was always hungry). PT was no problem to a kid raised on a farm, who ran the woods hunting, fishing and trapping. Sgt. McKeon had just screwed up; the DI's were a little more careful, but nothing much changed. We had the "buckets". wash pads, little lengths of string to tie your clothes to lines, incredible heat dried your clothes by the time you had them hung. Was a 2771 (ground radio repair) and went TAD every chance I got (Camp Elmore and Little Creek, VA; USS Northampton (CLC-1), various LeJeune units) until I made corporal. Would not have missed the experience for anything. Got out and went to college (no GI Bill; it was passed after I graduated on my own dime.) After grad school had a chance to go back in at mid-officer rank, and sort of regret not doing so. It was mid-VietNam, though, and who knows how things might have gone…….
I joined the Corps Jan 1957. Boot camp June 1957 (#1608957) the day after graduating high school. After returning from Lebanon 1958 I made Corporal E3 and requested sea duty. Was assigned to USS Northampton CLC-1 1959-60. Got out of the Corps and tried reenlist after a 10 year break, the Corps turned me down because of my age & dependences, so I joined the Army. Retired after 29 years of service Master Sergeant at age 60 from the Army. During my time in the Army I was know as that F—— Marine.