I was in Boot Camp in August of 1953, and could not remember if there were yellow foot prints there at my arrival…others during the same area couldn’t remember if they were there either. I called MCRD and talked to a nice young lady in the Museum there. She confirmed that the first they could establish that the Yellow Foot Prints were there was in 1963, in fact JFK visited the base and stood in the foot prints. Also she told me that in 1953 the first recruit graduation books came out. Thought others would be interested …. guess we are now ready to report to the museum at 84 years old….
Sorry I was there in June of 1957 and they were there. Learned real quick what they were for .
Funny I was there in 1959 and there were no yellow foot prints When we got there about midnight we were hustled in to a large room and sat there until every one got there or the ones that were drunk sobered up. then about 4:00 o’clock we were given our bucket issue . After that it all gets blurry things were moving pretty fast after that . Semper Fi Brother.
Sorry also, I was there in platoon 343, 1961 and the footprints where there…
MCRD San Diego, I was there in 1971 the yellow footprints were there. Heaven forbid if you didn’t have you feet right ( I did lots of push-ups) lol. I was in a special platoon of recruits that were made of overweight recruits. In all there was 65 of us and during boot-camp our platoon lost over 3000 lbs. Our platoon was called ” The Hustling Hogs ” , We made the Marine Corp proud we started with 65, completed boot-camp with 63 ( the 2 that didn’t make it had medical issues.) I made it as a Marine, and proud of it, 71 – 77. Semper Fi !
I was standing on the yellow foot prints at 2:30am after arriving at MCRD thinking in my mind oh lord what have I gotten myself into there no way I’m going to get out of this. But 13 weeks later I did graduate from MCRD and became a Marine…………Leonard Louder-Graham, Tx
I was at MCRD San Diego in 1952, and the yellow prints were there then!
Wow If they were there in 1952 they must have been there August 1953, however I don’t remember them being there, but again was pretty much overwhelmed
once off the bus… However the Lady at the MCRD museum gave me the information above that they didn’t see any record of them until 1963. They must not have good records?
I’m with you. Not there the end of ’53 and beginning of ’54.
Was there early in 1953. Don’t remember the yellow footprints. I think it was platoon 302, not sure. A D.I. Named Aestrick (?)? Got discharged in 1955. Cal Hebert
I was here August 1953 and still can’t remember any foot prints..
but I guess you and I have CRS (can’t remember sh**)
guess thats just part of the program… have several good friends all Korean War Veterans, we meet for breakfast once per week and we all are in the same boat…I like to say we are ABOVE AVERAGE…. Semper Fi
Sorry, I was in platoon 27. I was the JDI for platoon 306. 85 year old brain .
In May of 1975 San Diego had the yellow footprints. I saw them but never stood in them. My
flight to San Diego had been held up in Phoenix. By the time I landed in San Diego I had to call MCRD and they sent a van to collect me. Yeah, I got my own personal ride to boot camp and my own personal Drill Instructor to walk me through in processing. Pretty sure I would have preferred to have been part of a group. SSgt Stan Wolf. May 1975-Dec 1983
I was at Paris Island, August 1953, Platoon 311, 4th Recruit Training Battalion. We arrived in the middle of the night and I seem to remember the footprints. It’s been a long time and my memories could be wrong. I do remember we were herded to I believe squad tents and give a blanket. We were roused at 0 Dark hours, moved to the mess-hall for hard-boiled eggs and hash. Our first gourmet breakfast in the Corps.
Is there a way we can phone in an order without getting the free bee con job? You get something free but it costs you around $4800 a year to use it? I do not want to have to go to Medals of America, They are not user friendly in my estimation.
MCRDSD in July ’62. Spent what seemed like half the night on those yellow footprints. I’ll never forget that night. Was back at MCRD for electronics classes in June ’63 when President Kennedy paid a visit. Still there in November when he was assassinated. Both good and bad memories of MCRDSD.
I went thru Boot Camp in 1950 at San Diego and don’t remember any foot print’s. But, I am 89 years old, and still walking, talking and breathing. All I remember is we had to hold our arms out to touch the guy next to us for spacing and alignment. So, I could be wrong. I can’t even remember my Platoon number. WHAT!! “I CAN’T HEAR YOU MAGGOT”
Went for DI Training at Parris Island late 1952 after my south pacific cruise to Korea, and I don’t remember yellow foot prints at that location either. Was a Junior DI for awhile. Some day’s I don’t even know what day it is lately?? It was a great experience. It helped me get to the age I am without too much trouble except for marriage. Never could get the hang of that??
I haven’t seen a newsletter in a long time, like month’s. Have you been on Liberty or something?
Nope been here for a while. But I have started posting more stories recently! Semper Fi Cpl!
I was in pt. 155 at MCRD in July of 1955 and I do not remember any yellow footprints. We did arrive in the middle of the night. Semper Fi.
Arrived MCRD 06 June 1958 late at night. It was dark in front of Receiving Barracks. Don’t remember anyone hollering at me to step into yellow footprints and I don’t remember seeing them the following morning. Plt 243.
I was at MCRD San Diego in June 1958, Platoon 150. There were no yellow footprints at that time.
June ‘53…no footprints that I remember. It was not yet dark. First order of business was to stand in formation. Then told: “ why aren’t you inside the squad bay”… Of course no one knew what that meant.. Well some guys who had reserve time did, so when they started for the door(which later was to be referred to as a hatch), everyone followed.. That’s when the real fun began!
I was there in August 1958 and the footprint was there
The night of 12 November 1963 the footprints were definitely there. I pulled out my very old boot camp memory photo book and on page 8 or so there is a photo of the entrance to the Receiving Barracks and the footprints are shown in the photo.
The yellow footprints at P.I. came about in 1965. President Kennedy’s “Yellow Footprints” memorialized his visit to MCRD San Diego in 1963, so MCRD obviously had them before that.
I arrived on a bus at P.I. in the middle of the night. There were yellow footprints because I was standing in a pair. Like a lot of you I was confused, scared, with chaos all around; But we made it. Platoon 2063 July 1966. Semper Fi.
I arrived on a bus at P.I. in the middle of the night. There were yellow footprints because I was standing in a pair. Like a lot of you I was confused, scared, with chaos all around; But we made it. Platoon 2063 July 1966. Semper Fi.