Boot Camp

[e3mrk]

I received My first black eye in years from the Senior Drill Instructor for letting My Butt touch the Bench at the Rifle Range,We had to bend and almost sit in the Bleachers because of some dummy and I sat for a second and then remember getting up from the ground with broken Glasses and a sore left Eye.That was the last time I screwed up.
My Brother was in the same Platoon so We were messed with a lot but not really bad,They called Us Pete and Re-Pete.We had one Guy that must have been the Model for the screwup in Full Metal Jacket as He did just about the same stuff short of killing the Drill Instructor.
We had a few that tried some pretty funny stuff to try to get out of Boot Camp and sent Home,We even had some poor Guy who's Girlfriend mailed Him a Joint but the Drill Instructors found it.He didn't get in trouble(legally) but I would like to find out what happened to Her.The one thing that really bothered Me was hearing those Guys that acted so tough at the Reception Center Cry for Mommy the first few Nights.
Boot Camp wasn't too hard but I can say it was a experience I will never forget as long as I live.
(I went through MCRD in San Diego in 1974)

[Ken Rohlff]

We had a few that got sent home. I remember all those big Macho loads of shit trying to do pull ups. The DI's made them humble real quick. And some tears were shed.
Boot Camp was a real ordeal but we all made it. The proudest day was when You wore the EGA, and they played the Marine Corps Hymn at Graduation. Threre were times that You didn't know if You would survive, much less graduate.

[JITB]

I ended up being in two different platoons because of a couple of weeks in the hospital after about a month at PI. I started in the white barracks of 1st BN in Platoon 198. I ended up in the Quonset huts of 3rd BN in Platoon 344 that graduated a week after Platoon 198 which was my original platoon. Both platoons lost about 15-20 guys during the 3 month training. In Platoon 344, we even had an attempted suicide at the rifle range. The DI ended up telling us that he wanted any recruit that was going to choose suicide to get out of training to come to see him first. He said he would instruct the recruit in how to do it so it wouldn't waste the valuable time of the Corpsmen.

[Ken Rohlff]

That was a great."The DI told anyone contemplating suicide to see Him first, so that the Recruit wouldn't screw it up.
We had a DI, use us as punching bags. we never complained, We were just happy that He didn't follow through on His threats to shoot us. I will have to admit the threats made us run faster.
One recruit was doing push up punishment, and said he couldn't do anymore, the DI put a hot iron under the Recruit, at least the DI claimed it was hot. The Recruit complained, the DI was removed. And We were not shot. HAHA
Ken Rohlff 56-59

[JITB]

Our DI came into our Quonset hut and we all jumped to attention in our skivies. As we were standing there at attention, he told us that the next day we would be going to mainside to be interviewed by some congressmen and news people. He said we would be asked if we had ever been hit by any DI or any other Marine on Parris Island. He then went to each recruit in our 16 man Quonset hut and drove his fist into our stomachs so hard it doubled over most of us. He then went back to the hatch and said "When they ask you if you ever have been hit by a DI or any other Marine, what is your answer going to be?" We all shouted out "NO SIR!"

[Jenks]

I think the proper responce would have been Sir No Sir:D

[KJ1110]

33 years ago today our SDI barked: "Platoon 3021....Dismissed!"

Damn!:eek:

[Jenks]

For me it will be 49 years later this year. Platoon 152 MCRD San Diego Ca. Long live our Beloved Corps . Fight on we are the best. Semper Fi

[JITB]

This December will be 50 years since my platoon, 344, had its graduation at the auditorium at Parris Island, SC. We had an inside graduation because it was pouring rain outside. It was sort of ironic as it was the same sort of bad rainstorm that Parris Island had when I arrived in September.

[Cpl Miller]

That was my entry date into the gates of hell at San Diego.....44 years ago next month I stood on those yellow footprints (YES they were yellow), thinking what the hell have I done.

October of 1964 we graduated, and I KNEW then that the rest of my life would never be the same.