getting old

[terry slota]

i had forgot that yesterday, it was 45 yrs. since i stepped

on the yellow footprints at MCRDSD.....

now, let's see, did i have dinner yet??????????????

[tripledog]

When you get old , like us, you lose three things...............

No 1 YOUR MEMORY
No 2................................................. oh well
No 3................................shit I cant remember

[JITB]

This September, it will be 51 years for me! The temps at Parris Island were hitting 100+ when I started recruit training and were hitting low enough to snow the last couple of weeks I was there. We actually had a light dusting of snow one day! I don't think it even hit an inch but it was too much for many drivers to handle. There were fender benders all over the base.

[Cpl Miller]

1964 makes 45 freak'en years since I stood on them Yellow Footprints. And believe it or not, I remember ALMOST every minute of them 12 weeks. How time flys........

[papatazmatt]

Sept 2 1969 forty years ago I put my feet on the famous yellow footprints and then ended my career at P.I. in housing under a battle axe Major W.M. I left Cash sales in Men's clothing under a boot 2nd Lt. right out OCS who thought he knew everything to a crusty relic Woman Marine Major.:GI10:

[Skosh59]

Last March was 50 years for me. Plt.117 PI

[devildog-64012]

For me it has been 44yrs and about ten training days since I hit the footprints at PISC.
It ended up being a 20yr+ adventure.(plt 255)
:GI10:

[Easyrider]

33 years for me..Never forget that night..
Pucker factor was off the chart..LOL

[Mentor]

This September, it will be 51 years for me! The temps at Parris Island were hitting 100+ when I started recruit training and were hitting low enough to snow the last couple of weeks I was there. We actually had a light dusting of snow one day! I don't think it even hit an inch but it was too much for many drivers to handle. There were fender benders all over the base.
Hi
I am looking for anyone who was in the second battalion platoon 220.
They would have graduated April 1958. Please contact me.

Thanks

Mentor

[misterlee]

Mentor,
Not Plt 220, but was Plt 101 in first battalion graduated around April 17, 1958. I can't believe I never found anyone from my Plt. in all these years. A friend of mine graduated in June, I invited him to go on TWS and the first night he found a Marine from his P.I. Plt. You just never know. Wish you well in your search. You have probably tried TWS, but if not give it a try. S/F L. Gladu (Misterlee).

[Cpl Miller]

Misterlee brings up a good point by mentioning TWS. Although Yellow Footprints has the only searchable boot camp database on the internet we encurrage every Marine to use what ever resource you have to locate your brother and sister Marines.

Together we serve has a large membership base that might help you in your search. YFP and TWS has been working together for sometime now with the same goal of helping you. If you go to our links section you will find the link to TWS for easy access to their site.


Carry on Marines!!

Admin

[LarSim]

This September, it will be 51 years for me! The temps at Parris Island were hitting 100+ when I started recruit training and were hitting low enough to snow the last couple of weeks I was there. We actually had a light dusting of snow one day! I don't think it even hit an inch but it was too much for many drivers to handle. There were fender benders all over the base.

I'm Boot to you by one year. This September 3rd was my 50th anniversary of my introduction to U.S. Marine Corps Boot Camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. Like you, entering Boot Camp in September exposed us to the heat of the South Carolina late summer and the chill of early winter. But also our first Marine Corps Birthday - we got cake! :GI1:

Graduated Boot Camp on my 18th birthday, December 17th. :)

We also weathered the hurricane season. We had a hurricane in 1959 that set us back in training by two weeks. About one week weathering the hurricane (they moved us from the Quonset huts of 3rd Battalion to the second story of the wood barracks of the 2nd Battalion). Then spent another week or so on work parties cleaning up and also pulling guard duty on the damaged Parris Island buildings.

- LarSim

[jarhead57]

... . About one week weathering the hurricane (they moved us from the Quonset huts of 3rd Battalion to the second story of the wood barracks of the 2nd Battalion). ... . LarSim
In 1995 I attended my PLT's (Plt 257, 2nd Bat., 8/57) first-ever reunion at P.I. and we were allowed to tour a remaining 2nd Bat. barracks 2nd floor (what there was of it).

Let me tell you, instant memories as we trudged up those steps.

All the rest had been torn down, but I don't recall that we were told when.

[Shered]

50 years for me 27 Oct. 09. PISC . Damm what a trip that was.
59 - 63 Combat Engineer 1371

[Cpl Miller]

That some of us (ME) can't remember what we had for dinner two nights ago, but remember boot camp like it was yesterday???? Go figure

[Shered]

Yep I rode into PI on a bus . I sat beside a WM that had been home on her first leave and was stationed at PI . I can still remember her name. Now don't ask me what I did yesterday.

[KJ1110]

I think that's a large part of why I like this website; on here (with only one exception that I've noticed at 33-years), I'm the youngster on the cusp of 35-years in Feb!
:D

[BJKpfaller]

On Feb 15 2010 It will be 45 years for me also. Got to P.I at about 10 that night and 2 days later was picked up by our D.I's and "Gently" ushered to our barracks where we were informed we were now part of 1st Btn B co. plt 113. Like some of the others a very high pucker factor. But overall I am glad I went, and proud to have served with the finest military orginization in the world.
Semper Fi
Jack Pfaller

[Cpl Miller]

if all recruits arrive at boot camp in the middle of the night if for no other reason than the scare factor.
I also arrived at night, in fact we stood in front of the airport at San Diego for more than what seemed like 4 hours before the buses arrived to take us to the base. By that time it was darker than hell when the buses came to a halt in front of the yellow footprints. From this point on the fun began and ALL hell broke loose. Like the rest of you, my first thought's were, WHAT the hell did I get myself into???????


Carry on Marines!!

[KJ1110]

Unreal! I guess that shows CRS can hit you in your fifties; I said February; I stepped on the Footprints in Hollywood on JANUARY 9th, 1975.

Sheesh!:o

I must have been thinking of my first embark on float which was FEBRUARY 27th of the following year!

[Ed DeVoe]

26 years since I stood on the famed yellow footprints. How time flys. Did four years active duty 83-87. One of Reagan's Marines. Also did some reserve time. Got out as a Sgt. of Marines with 10 years of service. I miss it.

Sgt. Ed DeVoe

[gkmoz]

Come August 23,2010 it will be 42 years since I was on the "yellow footprints" and yes it was 2 or 3 in the morning ! Gunny Skinner was my first senior drill Instructor( got orders for Nam )2nd week there. Then We had SSGT Vallancourt SGT T.Fagan and good ole SGT R.Kay. It was in the high 90s to low 100s for most of aug/sept then hurricane season ! Oy ! and finally it was Oct. and on my way to Gieger. absolutely loved Camp Lejuene. And of course I spent the next 19 months at Pendleton ! But that is how it goes in the "green Machine".

[silverdollar]

It has been 56 years for me. PI 2ed bn May 19, 1954 to Aug 6 1954.

Lived on 2ed deck of wooden barracks, senior DI was Sgt. Flynn.

PS, There were no yellow footprints.

[stan wahl]

I joined the Marines on the 120 day delay program,right out of high school. June 2010 will be 44 years for me.I still know my service number by heart,and some of my general orders.That's about it

[Dick Shewmake]

Good Morning All,Dick Shewmake here,I have a question for all .As I read the different post on YFP and read the stories of the men who served a question come to mind.Some people myself included, got of the Corps at the end of their first enlistment,but some stayed in longer 8-10 years.They were usually E-5 and above and left half way to a pretty fair retirement,WHY??.I can understand,marriage not wanting to move around so much with family,kids an school etc. I ran into a man who served over nine years made E-6 and then changed his mind and got out, I ask him why and he said he wanted a change his life style? Go figure, any imput from you would be appreciated. Just wondering what other answers are out there among the readers.Thank You Dick Shewmake 06-12-10 8:10am

[Cpl Miller]

It was 1968, Tet was running hot and heavy in country. I was on Okinawa in supply attached to the 1st Marine Division out of Da Nang. Shit was hitting the fan all over the country as you Nam vets may remember.

Got called into the SgtMajor's office for my re-enlistment interview. He say's, hey we'll give you money and a promotion to Sgt if you'll re-up. I had six months left on my 6 year emlistment and all I could think of was getting my ass killed. With four more years, and not knowing how long the war was going to go on I KNEW I'd be assigned to Nam at least for two tours.

At that time I had a new wife and a young son and the thought of leaving them behind just didn't set well with me.

From 1965 until late 67 we all signed the volunteer list that came out every month to go to Nam. I remember talking with my buddy about how safe it would be to be assigned to Da Nang becasue it was such a large base. The extra money ($35.00 combat pay) was almost a full months pay at the time.

To make a long story short they took my best friend, two weeks after arriving in country they (Marine Corps) assigned him to some far reaching hill top as the supply Sgt. Within a week they got overrun and his ass got hit six times with an AK 47. I rememebr him calling me after six months in the hospital and telling me that our thinking about being save didn't pan out. THAT made up my mind real fast about getting out. Now I will say, if the Corps decided to send me into country I'd have grab my shit in a minute to do what I was trained to do.

But I had a choice, and to this day I'm glad I'm still around to see my kids and grandkids grow up. It's sad I can't say the same thing for the 58,000 that didn't make it back.

[GunnySan]

Well, Dick, in my case i almost got out at the end of my 4 year hitch as a Sgt (E4 at the time). Then I felt I was having too much fun, so I shipped over for 6 more. After 22 years, it was beginning to be less and less fun. I decided not to make it a career. :GI9:

[tripledog]

Always late, but heres my story.

I was in the group that went to nam as military advisors. We were shot at, but could not shoot back. Fact is they wouldnt ALLOW us to have ammo.


Anyway, after 14 months of that shit over there in the Pacific, I came back to Santa Ana and every three months, I had that great reenlist sermon. I continually agreed to reenlist (if you did not, you went on Mess duty). On the one month left date, I was called in to sign the papers. I asked one question of the Colonel. "Will I have to go back overseas and if so, how long?"

His reply " We will guarantee you 12 months in the U.S. after you reenlist, since you have been back 10 months now". Like many, I had a wife and 2 small kids at the time. I told him right then and there, NO FRIGGIN WAY !

I will forever remember his words, "You will go back home, and eat beans the rest of your life then".

I have made it a point to eat steak almost every night and succeed at every thing I have tried. Thank you Colonel ! Your comment put the grit in my stomach to make dam sure I did better than beans !

[tkent60]

May of this year was 40 years ago for me and yes I remember it was at night when arrived and about 3am when we hit the rack and 2 hours later was up and attem doing P/T in front of the Quonset Huts at MCRDSD, then ran to Chow Hall, wow what a time, would do it all over again though if I could.

[Marine65]

45 years and counting. April 1st, 1965 doing the yellow footprint routine at MCRD San Diego. Has it really been that long?

[Cpl Miller]

Let's go for Oct 1964, seeeeeeeeeeems like yesterday. Ha

[Cpl Miller]

Went to my 45th high school class reunion over this last weekend. I didn't know they had a graduating class for dropouts, but apparently they did. ha ha

[MARINE42]

april 1960 51+ years for me and yes we got at mcrdsd at night :GI9:

[silverdollar]

56 years for me, May 19 1954 2ed bn 2ed deck. no yellow footprints. don`t remember plt # , graduated Aug 6 1954.

[JITB]

There were no yellow footprints when we got off the bus at Recruit Receiving Parris Island in 1958. Also, in my Marine Corps, we used Kiwi USMC Dark Brown shoe polish on our leather and black polish was prohibited. Our brass was real brass, no Anodized brass, that we had to take the protective coating off so we could shine it with Brasso. When a Marine went off base in civilian clothes, blue jeans were prohibited.

[GunnySan]

That;s right about the Corps back in the 50's. Even the Pendleton Commissary had strict rules, no children under a certain age were allowed in. I had to stay in the car with my two (1 and 2 yrs. old) while my wife shopped. I believe there was a dress code for women also. Ah, the good old days.

[JITB]

Did I mention that patent leather (AKA: Corfram) shoes were prohibited and they had to be dark brown? When the Corps switched to black shoes, KIWI discontinued manufacture of their USMC Dark Brown shoe polish. I wish I had bought a couple of cans to save as they probably are collector items today.

[rmeunier1]

Thanks guys again for the history lessons. I've been monitoring these discussions going back and forth, and find it interesting how things have changed through the years. During the late 80s' Corfram shoes were very popular, and in wide use. (I guess I am still a kid when matched up to you guys.) Have a great day. Semper Fi / Regina Meunier

[JITB]

One thing that has impressed me over the years is, whether you served in China prior to WWII or served in Iraq/Afghanistan in recent years, you are considered a Marine. Whether you were an officer or enlisted, you are considered a Marine. Whether you are female or male, you are considered a Marine. Whether you are a combat Veteran or served in peacetime, you are considered a Marine. After being in the Marine Corps League for a number of years, it impressed me that most members feel that way.

I met a three star General a number of years ago. In our conversation, I respectfully called him "General". He told me, since I was no longer active in the Corps, to just call him "Marine" as that was what he was first and foremost.

[rmeunier1]

Well said Jack. I believe most marines will agree that the most coveted title we ever "claimed" was that of United States Marine, in spite of whatever path we may have taken in civilian life. It is that bond that we have with each other. There are no "ex-marines". I have a bond with co-workers that have served in the Corps. A fellow correctional officer that I work with daily has a completely different Marine Corps experience than I, (He was part of the Marine detachment on the USS Hunley, a submarine tender, in Charleston SC, during the mid 80s'). But we work well together, and have a bond that was forged because of our Marine Corps service. Also, as we draw near to the Marine Corps birthday, what other branch of the service celebrates it's birthday each year? The pride in having served in the Corps will never go away. Semper Fi / Regina

[USMC6265]

Well, for me it has been 48 years.....graduated Sept.1962, Platoon 350 MCRD San Diego. I definitely remember the first night in Receiving Barracks thinking..."Oh my God, what have I done ?" Just attended my nephews graduation at MCRD San Diego on 10/22/10....lots of memories, lots of changes !

[JITB]

I actually spent a couple of days at Recruit Receiving at PI. We had to wait a day or two for additional recruits to arrive so a full series could be formed. We were put into a squadbay with double racks. I ended up on a top bunk.

On the day our DI's picked us up to form a platoon, they came before reville. Of course, they entered the squadbay yelling and screaming. As one of our JDI's shouted for me to get up next to my rack, I was still half asleep listening to his gentile words. For some reason, I thought I was back home and my mother was waking me up to come down for breakfast. I said "OK Ma! I'll be right down!" The next thing I knew I had this feeling that I was falling! I was! The DI had turned over my rack and I was headed to the deck for a hard impact. That was over 52 years ago and it is still a vivid memory!

[gkmoz]

Come August 23,2010 it will be 42 years since I was on the "yellow footprints" and yes it was 2 or 3 in the morning ! Gunny Skinner was my first senior drill Instructor( got orders for Nam )2nd week there. Then We had SSGT Vallancourt SGT T.Fagan and good ole SGT R.Kay. It was in the high 90s to low 100s for most of aug/sept then hurricane season ! Oy ! and finally it was Oct. and on my way to Gieger. absolutely loved Camp Lejuene. And of course I spent the next 19 months at Pendleton ! But that is how it goes in the "green Machine".

Here's me barracks ! Mine being the farthest on the left bottom. Gary http://www.grunt.com/images-bs/sdpi/jwear.jpg

[tripledog]

I may have posteed this somewhere else last week, but last week , It was FIFTY years ago that I arrived at Diego. FIFTY YEARS, where the hell did they go?

It is hard to remember a lot in those years, but I will NEVER forget the time I spent in the best uniformed services in the world. I cant remember dates well , nor names, but holy shit , I remember my ser no, rifle number and org .

Sometimes when I wake up with a piss hard on, I can even remember what it is good for.

[misfire]

March 2011 it will be 58 years since I arrived P I . It was about noon and chow time I thought that I was in "Heaven" Chicken ala king. Never had it befor all you could eat. found out later shouldn't have eaten that much .. Semper Fi..

[stan wahl]

September 22nd 2010 44 years for me MCRDSD.....................

[Shered]

28 OCT. 59 Can't believe it's been 51 years . Entering Paris Island was not Paradise but wouldn't trade it for anything. Semper Fi

[JITB]

I spent my first month at PI in Platoon 198 in September of 1958. An unfortunate incident with my SDI landed me in the hospital for two weeks. I was set back into Platoon 344 which was only a week behind Platoon 198. Since all of 3rd BN was still in 16 man Quonset huts, it was a big difference from the white, wooden barracks of 1st BN. But, I'd have to say I ended up liking it better than the wood barracks. For one thing, it was harder for the DI's to keep a watchful eye over everyone.

[Marine1955]

Feb,of 1973 marks the month My vacation was suppose to begin, But I took a detour to Parris Island and you know what it was the start of a Beautiful relation ship oh yea that relation ship was with,
http://i53.tinypic.com/iw7jhv.jpg

the Marine Corps Oorahhh !!!

[L/Cpl Burckley]

In June of this year it will be 32 years ago. 1 year of delayed entry. Platoon 2050, 2nd Battalion, Foxtrot Company, Parris Island Graduated 25 Sept. 79. New to the Boards here today.

Semper Fi

[Cpl Miller]

be the first to WELCOME you aboard Marine!!


Cpl Miller