Junk on the Bunk

[LarSim]

Anyone remember these inspections (see attached pic)?

I found the pic while going through my footlocker. It was a hand out they gave us to use as a guide.

I hated those Junk on the Bunk inspections. In fact scrawled in the margin of my handout with a magic marker was "September 1, 1963!!!" That was the date of my separation from active duty. Guess those Junk on the Bunks really brought out the longing for civilian life in me! :D

Semper Fi.

- LarSim :cool:

[LarSim]

Picture number 2, Junk on the Bunk with rifle and field gear. :D

- LarSim :cool:

[Cpl Miller]

CG inspections?

[LarSim]

Not in my day. Commanding General (CG) inspections could range from Junk on the Bunks in the barracks to rifle inspections on the parade grounds to a cursory walk through of the barracks and work spaces.

- LarSim :cool:

[packy46]

Yep:
Things on the springs,CG's,and IG's.Going on float was a relief...
S/F
Tim.

[sparky]

Yup, I used to hate them also. I see that you also had a pair of "Boondockers". I happened to be issued a battlejacket also. Anyone remember those. Never had Herringbone utilities. We would kill for a pair! I remember the CG inspections and wouldn't you know, everytime we had one they would announce that if you went to the Red Cross and gave blood you could skip the CG and dismissed for the day. Every time we had a CG there we all went to go give blood.DUH!
Sparky 60-64

[JITB]

back in the 50's & 60's, uniforms items that were being phased out ended up at the recruit depots. In some cases, new Marines were issued uniforms that had been phased out by the Corps prior to getting their initial sea bag issue. I ended up with a Battle Jacket and one set of Herringbone Utilities. It caused me a lot of grief at my first duty station which was Marine Barracks Norfolk. My CO finally authorized a clothing allotment for me to get current issue for duty. But, I was told I still had to keep my original seabag issue for JOTB inspections. I was told I could wear my Battle Jacket on base when I wasn't on duty but could not wear it off base when in uniform. I could wear my Herringbone Utilities for work details and PT but couldn't wear them when utilities were Uniform of the Day for a guard post. I've gotta say those Herringbone Utilities wore like iron. I still had them when I got out.

[jerryd6818]

Some would have utilities, socks, skivvies, boots and emblems/chevrons just for inspections. Haul all the everyday stuff out to the trunk of their car or a buddy's car and lay out the good stuff. Did ya ever run into anyone who did like to stand a junk on the bunk?

[cmyr]

herringbone utilities.... would that be like the ones in this picture??? :)

[JITB]

One thing I will say is they outlasted the new utilities that replaced them. Since, in my case I could not wear them for post or inspection, I probably wore them more than the newer utilities because they allowed me to wear them for work details, around the barracks and in the field. I still had those HB utilities 4 years later when I got out.

[LinkinMall]

Originally posted by cmyr
herringbone utilities.... would that be like the ones in this picture??? :)

Thank you for the picture. Are the Sergeant stripes stenciled onto the material, sewn on the material directly, or sewed on as a patch? Thanks.

[cmyr]

Good question. :)

I wasn't around back in '51, but from looking closely at the pucker of fabric between the first and second stripe on the right sleeve, it looks as if the three stripes are either stenciled on or there are three individual stripes sewn on the sleeve.

The chevrons in this second picture look like a stencil.

[LarSim]

in the "Old Corps" in some photos I've seen had Marines with stenciled enlisted rank insignia. It might have been atypical however (it sure would be a pain in the butt if you got busted :D ). I suspect that rank insignia wasn't worn at all on utilities when in the field.

All of the photos I glanced at in an old Marine Corps "Guidebook for Marines" (1956) I have don't show any rank at all on all those depicted wearing utilities. No stenciled enlisted rank insignia at all.

Might be that a Marine's rank generally wasn't worn on utilities. Hell, you knew who was who in your squad, no need to broadcast it. Now that I think about it, during World War II and probably Korea too, and in combat in general it probably wasn't/isn't a good idea to be wearing your rank on your sleeve anyways. Makes you a target.

I suspect that was the norm when in the field. No ranks displayed. No patches, no rank insignia, no nothing. Makes sense to me. I wonder if troops in Iraq today wear rank insignia. Be dumb if they did.

Hell, when we were in the field, I knew who my platoon sergeant was and the Marines in my squad knew I was a Corporal and I knew who the L/Cpls, Pfcs, and Pvts in my squad were (at that level individuals meant more than rank). We didn't need rank insignia. Rank insignia is for display in the world, not in the field and certainly not in combat.

- LarSim :cool:

[GunnySan]

Here's the scoop from one who was there. Ranks were stenciled on the sleeves as shown in the foto. When you got promoted, it was pretty difficult, almost impossible, to add the new stripe correctly. The new stripe would almost always look out of proportion. It was easier to get new utilities and stencil the new rank. Prior to 1950 we didn't have to buy our uniforms so cost was not a concern. When an item became frayed or otherwise unserviceable we just turned in the item to quartermaster and got a replacement. Everything including skivvies and socks. Life was good. Many also stenciled or wrote their names on the back of the jacket. We had to black that out when we got to Korea in 1950. By the way, I still have a herring-bone cover. I wear it to our Marine Corps League picnics and other functions where others can 'ooohhh and aaahhh' over it.

[GunnySan]

That was always a big headache. many people could get tripped up. I remember one glorious incident. I was Battery GySgt. We had set up for inspection by the Regt. C.O. I had lined up all the bunks and items using string stretched down the squadbay. It was beautiful. Here comes the Battery XO, a very 'respected' 1stLt. He takes one look and tells me the canteens and cups as well as the bayonets are reversed. I politely informed him they were correct, he insisted, so I instructed all hands to change them. The colonel comes in, looks at the first bunk and asks me why the display is incorrect. I replied that it was how we were ordered to lay out the gear. He asked who ordered it, I told him the Btry. XO. He referred the Lt. to the pictures on the inside of each footlocker. He stated the battery was not prepared and he would return later to inspect.
I was pleased the jerk had been humiliated, but I was pissed my troops had to stand around for another couple of hours.

[Cpl Miller]

NO young 2nd, or 1st LT for that fact should have the right to correct a Gunny. Well there is ONE exception, a Mustang LT. Gunnys have alwas were God too the troops.

Junk on the bunk, what memories of standing at attention at the end of your rack waiting for your turn. I can remember thinking, DON'T stop at my position, nod and move on. I would sweat the general orders questions, knowing I'd forget one of them.

[Tom Hansen]

In the wing we did them Different. They set up hanger bars in the aircraft hanger and the select junkers set up in the hanger. I did it 3 times and got noteworthy all 3 times....

[GunnySan]

Hanger bars ? What are those?

[cannoncocker]

I remember around 1960 there were so many Generals getting promated faster than the enlisted men. Which meant change of commanding Generals, which meant every unit was inspected.
We were getting so many JOBs, that it seemed like my sleeping area was the deck. Setting up a good display took time so we slept on the floor.
I had the display memorized so that I didn't even have to look at a picture.
I loved for the IG to come around. It was the only time we could pitch a bitch and have someone listen to us.
BTW, it was about the only time we had tablecloths and descent chow. When the IGs left, it was back to the same old garbage.:(

[Cpl Miller]

we were allowed to have TWO sets of cloths. One for using and the other for inspections. I always had my stuff ready for any surprise inspections.

[reflood]

Oh, I remember junk-on-the-bunks............. and I remember setting them up the night before inspection and then racking out on the deck next to our bunks. I couldn't get up off the floor now!

[Uncle_Stuffy]

When I was in '86-'90, we had plenty of JOTB's. Most of wich early on I was on floats. Then I rotated back from Okinawa. Went to MWSS372 Airwing. I had all of my uniforms set up in my locker and didn't bother them. I don't think I even opened it up until we had an inspection, then made sure everything was squared away. Had my everyday utilities and inspection utilities. I always got a great review. :GI9:

[Marine1955]

we were allowed to have TWO sets of cloths. One for using and the other for inspections. I always had my stuff ready for any surprise inspections.

I did the same thing for inspection. I had two set of uniforms , one for wearing and one for inspection and that saved my azz a bunch of times.

[Marine1955]

NO young 2nd, or 1st LT for that fact should have the right to correct a Gunny. Well there is ONE exception, a Mustang LT. Gunny's have always were God too the troops.

Junk on the bunk, what memories of standing at attention at the end of your rack waiting for your turn. I can remember thinking, DON'T stop at my position, nod and move on. I would sweat the general orders questions, knowing I'd forget one of them.
Man one of the funnest inspections was in camp Pendleton Ca. we were all out side in formation and the full bird col. was going down the front line and walked up in front of one of our guys and stop and said Marine what are the four life saving steps. without blinking and eyes the PVT. said and I quote ( stop the bleeding ,clear the air-way, treat or prevent shock and he stopped for a second and the col. said and theres one more right. Then the PVT. said oh yea RUN LIKE HELL AND GET HELP !! ) I swear you could have heard a pen drop we were behind him and we all started laughing so hard,, even the col. didn't know what to say for a moment. but told him to study his book a little more.That was the funnest inspection I ever saw in my time in the Marine Corps.

[Chuck]

Gunny's are Gods. You are right about that. But they must follow protocol.

As a 2ndLt I thought and was a leader and master of all enlisted men and women. I was also a Mustang so I knew from both sides.

Even Gunny's must be reminded from time to time what their duties are. I never of course discussed this in public or in front of other troops. I would tell the Gunny (or any staff NCO) to report to my office and then I would have a one on one discussion with him and work out the differences. It always worked and in the end they go to hell with me if needed. If the NCO was below the rank of staff NCO I would inform his Staff NCO what was observed and let them handle it.

I never once held a office hours for something my enlisted personal did or said to each other. Normally if a higher enlisted person (all the way up to SgtMajor) was given out tong lashing .. the Marine receiving it actually needed it.

[Chuck]

One other little note. Once I made Sgt (E-5) I never stood another inspection. Not even for the IG. We were inspected every two years by the IG. But that was always for the disbursing office I was in or running.

I did stand inspections in TBS after I was commissioned. But that was a requirement for all that went through it. After TBS I spent another 14 years on active duty without standing a inspection. But I did a lot of inspections.

[GunnySan]

Gunny's are Gods. You are right about that. But they must follow protocol.


Absolutely correct Chuck. I never took offense or thought that I was above being corrected or instructed by any commissioned officer no matter how green he might have been. If he was wrong, I would respectfully advise him so. Then I carried out his order if he insisted. That's what we got paid for.

[ontos184]

"JUNK ON THE BUNK" was a farce!Stupid things like that were the main reason i did my time and got out! Taking stupid orders from "superiors" that had no common sencs was hard to swallow....I got into a beef at midnight while on guard duty at Le Jeune.dumbassed boot 1st. looey decided i needed a haircut and grabbed a pair of scissors and tells me he's going to cut my hair!Ihad "white sidewalls" anyway but that straw broke the camels back!Sgt. of the guard tried to dissuade the clown from his actions but he was hellbent on his haircutting...Itold hom "no way in hell".jumped in my jeep...LOGGED HIM IN ALL THE WAY UP TO THE BASE COMMANDER!!
I ended up with a two day pass..he had to apologize in person(which i refused) and..no officer ever screwed with me again! Paybacks are great!

[Mct ontheRock71]

As I recall, my first IG after "Boot Camp" happened while I was with Brig Section, H&S Bn. MCDEC MCB Quantico. All personnel not standing watch had to stand inspection including the sailors. "Junk on the Bunk" plus wall lockers were to be inspected. The Inspecting General entered the squad bay and we snapped to attention. During his entire time examining the section I felt that I was leaking sweat out of every pore. After he passed my rack I felt a little more at ease. Upon the General exiting the area Sgt. Alonzo Brown, the section's senior NCO living in the barracks, bellowed "As you was" and everyone's eyes turned toward the entrance to the squad bay to see the IG and all his entourage looking back into our area from the quarter deck. My guess is that he was a little surprised at the given command. He let it slide however and went into the PMO squad bay to resume his inspection.