Department of Defense PIN 23417 YOUR FIRST EIGHTY DAYS VARIOUS TYPES OF RECRUIT TRAINING. FOLLOWS TWO MARINE RECRUITS FROM THEIR FIRST DAY TO GRADUATION
Enlisted in the Corp in June 1965 three days after graduating from high school. Still remember the initial greeting the DI’s gave us after stepping off the plane in the middle of the night. My first thought was terror followed by thinking what the hell is happening! We were all so young and innocent back then. Vietnam was just starting to ramp up in intensity We had no clue of the reality we were about to face over the next few years. Did my tour in Nam from 2/68 thru 3/69. Came home with two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star w/V. Worked my way thru college with some help from a then crappy GI Bill. Had a wonderful career in the corporate world and retired in 2013. Those four years in the Corp and my tour in Nam taught me everything about life and how to be successful. An MBA was a joke. Looking back it almost seems like a dream. Memories fade and become blurred and you only remember snippets of certain events that were at the time were life altering. Christ I can barely remember my cell phone number but I still know my serial number and the names of my drill instructors like it was yesterday; DeKatur, Hicks and Chambers. God bless my buddies who whose lives ended in Nam. They are eternally young. John Ciummo, USMC, Sgt. 1965 thru 1969.
I bet you I cant repeat such a timeline liek yours. The U,.S dollar is dead, our government is corrupt and full od duel citizenships. And War is and has been a racket.
@@michaelwhisman7623 Yes, getting drafted makes them a fool. That they stood up to fight for their country when others ran off to Canada, they are the fools. Good job!
Shawn Kinser, I’ve only been able to visit the wall one time. I found too many names of men I knew and served with. Some of them were guys I grew up and played with as a young kid in my neighborhood in Chicago. I can’t do that again. I made it back and they didn’t. WHY? I’ll never understand.
+Livinios Alina A salute to all the Legionnaires everywhere and all French combatants at Dien Bien Phu. Brave men. God Bless them all ...from this old US Marine.
Our senior DI served in Korea at the Chosin Reservoir and fought his way out. He was one short, old, bad-ass Marine. You gotta have respect the old-timers who actually spent time in hell, no matter where it was.
Anyone who has served in any military and done boot camp knows that it doesn’t matter how hard or how well you perform the D.Is will always find something to pick you up on, they aren’t there to be your friend, they are there to mould you into soldiers, sailors, airmen or Marines etc, but they are probably the best non-friend you ever have. God bless the D.I.
@@rangerjones5531 I joined the Australian Army in 79 and discharged in 91. when I joined it was . " Do as I do and do as I say." when I got out it was "Do as I say not what I do and if you get caught your problem ."
I talked to a former boss of a company I worked for in the 80's. He went through Marine Recruit training in 1966 and he told me how merciless the Drill Instructors were. They didn't tolerate weakness or those who wanted to quit. He went to fight in Vietnam and credits the tough training to his survival. I was never a Marine but my utmost respect to the U.S. Marine Corps!!
I headed to PI the day after my 19th birthday on 13 April '66. Was sworn in 4 months earlier as an enlistee then headed to Albany NY from VT for a train ride South. I was a two year voluntary enlistee. Took two days by train to Rocky Mount, NC then a bus from there to PI. Arrived at receiving barracks at 1:30 a.m. and stood on the yellow footprints before all recruits were mustered inside for the infamous haircuts right down to the scalp. Ended up in 2nd Battalion, Platoon 281. After boot camp, off to Camp Geiger for two weeks of guard duty then to Stone Bay for two weeks infantry training. Then home on leave for 2 weeks then off to Quantico, VA for Ammo Tech school, another two weeks home on leave, then flew to Pendleton for a year in a supply Platoon in a Tank & Anti Tank battalion. Then about a month in Staging (refresher training) prior to sailing from San Diego on the U.S.S. Gen John Pope with 3,800 other Marines & Army personnel. Arrived at Camp Hague, Okinawa ~ 14 days later in an Ammo Platoon for 9 months, then back to El Toro MC Air Station to be mustered out in March '68. Never got to 'Nam (thank God) but lost a few friends there. Have been to The Wall in DC numerous times and paid my respects to those I knew on The Wall and the other 58,000+ Marines & Soldiers who never came home. I have always been proud of serving as a Marine and fully expected to end up in 'Nam. Very surprised that I didn't, but thankful too. Semper Fi to every Marine both living and dead who served in any capacity, but I will always mourn those Marines and Soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Politicians should not get us into wars they have no intention of winning because the price to our country in human lives is not worth the cost unless we intend to prevail. Again, Semper Fi
Served in the 80s early 90s. Watching this from the 60s made me proud. Our Corps changes but remains the same throughout the decades. I can see myself as the recruit and DI. I salute all those Marines who came before me and after me. Semper Fi Devil Dogs! Once a Marine, always a Marine!
Graduated January 1990 - platoon 3001, MOS 1811 M60A1 Tanker - driver during the persian gulfwar. Im a disabled veteran now but would do it all over again....Semper Fi brothers. I love these boot camp films.
Yeah..and you should be proud of that..but I was severely injured on a job site here and we get no collective respect. We should.. take care my friend.
It sure is a G-rated version. It was HELL in Boot camp. Trust me you will never forget it if your a Marine. I volunteered at 17 years of age right out of high school. I was 1965 and I was in 1065 Platoon. When I went downtown in Chicago to the draft board to take my oath as a recruit there we young guys there trying to get out of the draft. We all were lined up and they told us to count off by two's. Then they told the guys that counted 1 to step forward. They told them "Your now in the Marine Corps". Some of those guys were drafted into the Army and shocked to see there were now Marine Recruits. They were fooled and tricked. I swear this on my soul that this is the truth. Semper Fi
In January 1966 I was drafted for the Army. I went to the federal building on Whitehall Street in NYC to take the oath and my name was called before the oath was administered. I was sent to a separate room. In the room the group was told we were going to the Marine Corps. Our group had to go for another physical with Marine doctors. I failed the physical. The army also rejected me, so I was no longer eligible for the draft.
@@joelbanner5163 What was the reason for the failed physical?? My friend got rejected who joined the same day I did, they said he had a slight bend in the spine!!
@@TheSpritz0 Asthma! The Marine Corps Doctors took chest X-rays. They found scar tissues on my lungs. They asked and I told them I had Asthma. The Army medical exam didn't take X-Rays and I never mentioned Asthma. I wanted to serve my country, so the Marine failed physical was disappointing. Instead of being turned back to the Army I was classified 4F by my draft board.
I was Army,Basic at Jackson, looking back, best and most valuable 9 week's I experienced, out side of being a dad.. Got me to believe I could do anything. I was E.R. got opportunity for deployment,took it. Took several actually. I needed the maturing and being pushed. I think every healthy man and woman should have to go thru at least this part of the process. Mandatory Reserve or Guard time,2 years worth.At 67, I cannot believe what I used to be able to do. That attitude adjustment I had forced on me,I internalized it, still with me,got me through heart disease problems. Thank you Drill Sgt.White
@Miki Mouse what too dumb or lazy to be an officer?How long was your conscription? Soldier huh,so you were Army then,right?Do not believe you at all. Stolen Valor.
I went to MCRD in June 1962. In Platoon 176, 6 guys out of 48 had finished high school. One guy had some college so he was responsible for erasing the blackboard. I got my GED in the Corps, went to college on the GI Bill after Viet Nam and joined the Army in 1969 and became an aviator. I retired in 1985. My 4 years in the Corps are the most memorable.
Stan Shafer -- I was two years later, June 1964, platoon 155, A company, 1st Battalion, MCRD San Diego. Insofar as I knew everyone was a high school graduate. We were an area platoon and we went in just after all the area high schools had finished graduations. Like you it was peace time and no one had ever heard of Vietnam. We got the word on the Gulf of Tonkin the week after we got back from the rifle range. Semper Fi brother and welcome home.
Ethan Clarke, That is not a question any combat veteran, Vietnam war or not, is not comfortable answering, I personally would not, you don’t keep a tally, unless you are nuts, and it’s not a competition, it’s more a question of kill or be killed, War is not glorious or fun, it’s life or death. And yes, I served, 24 years man and boy.
So proud of being a United States Marine. The Corps made a man out of me and gave me direction and purpose. God bless the United States of America and Chesty Puller!!🇺🇸. Goodnight Chesty...wherever you are!!!🍻
Man, did they tone this down from reality. I graduated in 1964 in Platoon 376 at Parris Island, and I can tell you that the reality of boot camp was more like it was in the movie Full Metal Jacket. In fact, it can be down right shitty to be a Marine until you get some rank on your sleeve. I had a 4-year wild ride, but was glad when it was over.
Just graduated recruit training and watching this sent a shiver down my spine. Not much has changed, although we've got MCMAP, the CFT/PFT, and the Crucible. Some of it seems like it was tougher, some things easier- regardless, I felt a connection seeing these guys do a lot of the exact same things I was just doing a few weeks ago.
In July of 1966, I was in platoon 1060 at MCRD San Diego. At that time recruit training (boot camp) was only eight weeks long rather than the normal twelve. It was rough, my senior DI was relieved for abuse of a recruit (whose father was a congressman, we heard), but most of us were more angry at the recruit, whom we considered to be a weakling, than the DI. I had a lot of respect for my drill instructors, who were tough but fair. I served four years in the Marine Corps and never regretted a minute of it. It shaped me as an individual with the principle that while you may not like to do somethings, they have to be done regardless. A good thing to know about life.
I was just ahead of you in Plt 1046, June 66. They were pushing us kids through so quickly that the Marine Corps would eventually lose the records for my bootcamp platoon. Yeah, we all got smacked around; I was hoping to run into one of those DIs before I got out. btw, Out of the 68 guys graduating only 4 of us recieved MOS's other than 0311 and soon, off to Vietnam they would go. I made sure the MCRD Historical Museum had a photo of Plt. 1046.
I know my father's enlistment started in July of 66 and that he went to training in California, but I know no other details. This is a crapshoot, but does the name Timothy Heil ring a bell?
Was also at mcrd San Diego in 1966 got there June 7. Had some real good di,s.gysgt Mueller, cpl giadrone and sgt guy.platoon 2033.was tough but I didn't expect anything less.2 weeks after high school,took the big flight from Omaha NE to San diego.the shit hit the fan when we stepped on the yellow footprints. Semper Fi,gyrenes.
I love how they make it look so casual and calm anyone who has gone through knows its pure chaos and intense yelling and hands on instruction I went in 03 so it was nothing like in this time but we was training for war in Afghanistan and Iraq Semper Fi
I was 15 years too young to have fought in Vietnam. In 1985, I joined the US Marine Corps and became an 0311 Rifleman and while in the field, I always pretended I was fighting in the Nam. I grew up wishing i was there...God Bless all Vietnam Veterans and...hell, I wish to God I could have fought in Vietnam with you !! My dad was also an A-4 pilot off the USS Bon Homme Richard performing close air support missions. He inspired me to join the military and I am so glad I did !!
e081194eng I know the feeling I went in In 1973. I missed going to Vietnam by a cunt hair. To this day I regret not going to Vietnam, I was just born a couple of months too late. I have major respect for Vietnam veterans. S/F
Trust me if you HAD gone to Vietnam you wouldn't have liked it.You had a good chance of getting killed.. Over 58,000. did. I was with Echo 2/3 at the Khe Sahn 881 Hill Fights, April, May, 1967. We were overrun on May, 3rd, 1967. 31 Marines were killed, 5 in my squad. I was wounded three times. I relive May, 3rd, every night when I close my eyes. Used the G.I. Bill and went to college.. Got my B.A. and Masters. Taught school in East Liverpool, Ohio. Taught my students freedom isn't free. Proud of being a Marine, more than my Masters. Retired down in S.C. half mile from the beach. Have a wonderful wife, and three grown sons, and a grandson. I have bene blessed. SF
A old joke from those days was, Do you know the difference between the Air Force and the Boy Scouts? The Boy Scouts have adult leadership". SEMPER FI to all the ZOOMIES of the 1960's.
My dad served in Viet Nam in the US Army from '67 through '69 shortly after he graduated high school. Sometimes whenever I go visit my parents, my dad would tell me stories about it & he said those drill instructors don't screw around & it rained often down in Viet Nam.
joined in 1963. shipped to mcrd San Diego. 12 weeks of ass kicking and 4 weeks of ass kicking at 2nd ITR . 0351 mos assultman in division. two tours in the pacific. last one in a spec opp unit vietnam. owned several companies in civilian life. retired now. best thing I ever did was join the corps. it made the man I am today.
@geraldmahoney4856 of course! All the MORONS stayed in they guys who couldn’t hack in the REAL world. Yes I did 5 years active made sergeant 2 years , all the staff ncos were rejects and idiots like you. Nobody cares you did 20 years IT WAS JJST A JOB AND YOU CHOSE it because you couldn’t get a REAL job BUM 😂
Please thank him for his sacrifice. I went through in '66 but thankfully was not ordered to 'Nam. Ended up humping ammo in an ammo dump on Okinawa. I have the greatest respect for those who went through the hell of Vietnam, and came back to a thankless country. My hat is off to him and all others who returned and especially those who did not. Five men from my hometown, including a boyhood friend's brother, are on The Wall in D.C. Each January when I attend the March for Life, I make it a point to visit The Wall and all the other military memorials to pray and pay my respects. It puts in perspective how much we owe our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen. Too bad many people in our country choose to ignore their sacrifices. Semper Fi.
Please thank your father for his service and sacrifice. I'm glad he made it home. My father was a 65' grad from Parris Island, sent to Vietnam in 66', back again in 67' and last tour for him was in 68'. (I was born in 69') He still battles the nightmares to this day. He doesn't like to talk about it uch at all. But he will talk about boot camp and recalls what an ass kicking they got. Says that is how Marines are made....The few, the Proud, The Marines!!! I thank you all for your bravery , courage and dedication to the USMC!! Semper Fi
I was born in 64 and never faced the draft. The Marines kept calling me after high school, called so much that I was turned off to it,so I never joined. but I have the upmost respect for the men and women in service. a female cousin of mine was in the army during the first gulf war refueling tanks just 30 miles from the Iraqi border. She was terrified,but made it back ok. as for Vietnam and why people did not thank our troops.. I have to blame our media and people such as hanoi jane fonda. she should have been arrested after her film with the communist
was he one they Drafted ? If so, thank him for being smarter than all the other marines. They drafted a lotta these poor dumb bstds, they did that in the world wars 1 & 2, buried a lotta them.
Just graduated a week ago from MCRD Parris Island and I find it crazy to see such familiarity from a time when I wasn’t even a thought of. Hoorah appreciate these gentlemen and those before 100x.
My dad went in the Corp in the 50's near the end in the Korean War. All of my life he has told me what he went through at Parris Island. Back then, not one time we're you ever called a Marine until you graduated from boot camp. The entire time you were in boot camp, you were called a Shit Head. And the instructors would definitely hit you if a fight is what you wanted and no one would take your side if you tried to tell on the instructor. One guy got caught smoking a cigarette and the instructor emptied a garbage can, made the guy get in the can, handed him a full pack of cigarettes, closed the lid and made him smoke every one of the cigarettes in that pack. He puked and pissed on himself but never smoked another cigarette. I don't know what the training is like outside of wartime, but my dad was trained during a time of war and they were extremely brutal.
I went through in August 1966. This fluff film was nothing like actual boot camp in 1966. This was stuff for civilians. The real 1966 boot camp at San Diego, or Hollywood Marines as they called us, was a living nightmare of abuse and physical pain. The first thing they did to us after the yellow footprints and haircuts, was to line us up in a barracks and beat the hell out of every third guy. They got the guy next to me so I lucked out.
Nice Barracks at Perris Island. At MCRD in March 1966 we had Quonset Huts. After the Rifle Range we returned to large tents set up on wooden platforms. The DIs weren't so pleasant either. Perris Island must have been swell! Platoon 282.
MCRD San Diego was still using quonset huts in 1979, when l went through. After our 2 weeks on the range, we were shipped back to San Diego to pull mess duty for a week, and were billeted in the huts. One guy sat up in his rack and caught an exposed nail in the face at the 0300 revelie. They were horrible.
Having gone thru Parris Island in that era,Plt.1006 ,my first thought viewing this was how many of those young men paid the supreme sacrifice in Nam...The Marines are the smallest branch of the Armed Forces,based on that ,they had the highest casualty rate of that War.
marines are stupid brave i respect them im not american and dont know how the US military works how did or do the marines and army work together or in what situation each is used in war? i have always wanted to know that. i know in WW2 army was in europe and marines in the pacific but i also know the army was in the pacific too rangers were the only ones that fought in both theaters? thank you
I never served, but I read much about the military . my uncle was in the 101st airborne division. I know you have top command.. when attacking some place.. it starts there and believe me, they all know where to attack , so they dont hit each other. China is not organized like this.
I had the chance to join the Marines, but I eventually, reluctantly went a different route into the world of intel. Thru time I worked alongside many solders in all parts of our active forces. I will always regret not becoming one of them. It still bugs me to my very core that I never did.
Great film. Platoon 1016 MCRD - San Diego, CA. Graduated 2006. I'm thankful and proud to have had the opportunity to serve in the ranks of the U.S. Marines. Semper Fidelis, Marines.
I was in the army at that time....Now Hanoi has American fast food restaurants and though communist, is totally different from that time in my life. An American President Trump has visited the country, if we only knew back then what the future holds.
You are so right! That shit makes me as sad/ mad as I think it does to you. We are in the EXACT same boat. 545th MPs, 1st Cavalry Division, Ft. Hood, TX, for me.
Wow. It is amazing how much has changed over the years, yet so much has remained the same. I was born in 1966 and went to Parris Island in 1984. This is 2017 and we are still the best branch of Service.
Semper Fi Brother, I went Through in 1968, Did not change alot; Everyone was beat, we were in tents the 1st two days, before making it to our Quanset huts. The CORPS sent me to TWO places, NAM and MB Lemoore Calif. Pissed of at our beloved CORPS, Crossed over to the NAVY, NAV sent me all over the world-HAzE Gray and underway. BUT, I shit you not, Our Beloved CORPS training will always remain with us. Once a MARINE always a MARINE. Good night Chesty wherever you are.
When to MCRD 1986 I remember doing Rifleman creed and then saying goodnight Chesty Puller wherever you are. So it hasn’t changed much since the 60’s to the 80’s I guess all the Vietnam veterans we had for Senior Drill instructors made sure of that. Semper Fi Devil Dogs.
I was born in 66, August. Joined 86 Oktober. Thank God. If anything in my life, thank, you. 1986 1990. Semper Fidelis , to all my fellow Marines. From 75 November to present 💝.
My dad was on Guadalcanal World War II in the Pacific he received a Purple Heart Bronze Star he never spoke much about the war I put his name up on the World War II Memorial John S. CALECA
I went thru Parris Island 6-12-72 hot South Carolina summer. I still remember the DI's screaming get your chrome dome's war belts and rifles and fallout for drill. Retired Mgysgt. 1st Bn. Plt.162 A co.
I can't speak about beating every third recruit, but I was drafted in 1969. On the day of our induction physical exam while about 100 of us were lined up butt naked the Sgt. told us to count off by threes and every third man was sent to Marine Corps Boot Camp.
Matter of fact. I was quite fucking happy just watching the cars go by. Especially about the time I stepped out on the tarmac in Da Nang. Trouble is, I'm so stupid I would do it all over again. It's just what Marines do.
+bunny hopper That's funny as hell! I would do it all over again myself. Those who have not earned the title "Marine" just don't get it. My wife still doesn't understand my dedication to the Corps.
My dad served 25 years in the Marines. Retired a E-8 Master Sergeant. Was the gunner in Nam. 3 tours. 66,67,68. Intel commander or something in desert storm/shield. Semper fi.
That was 1966 so some of them didn’t come back and if they did they came back in body bag…Soldiers Never Die They Just Fade Away…God Bless Everyone Of Them we’re ever they are…
Fast forward 40 years later... Yep still the same😆. 2006-2014 oorah!! This was probably one of the coolest videos I've ever watched. These are the men we look up to and emulate. Tradition is and will always be pass on from each generation. Once a Marine always a Marine. Semper Fidelis!!
I was there in 96. Most buildings shown in this video are still there but not used as barracks anymore. I believe the Marines of this era had it harder but the newest generation has more DIs per platoon. Evidently, DIs would regularly hit recruits. It happened when I was a recruit but they were clamping down.
As a paralyzed disabled veteran of the US Army, I salute my brothers in the US Marine Corp. As R. Lee Ermy would say SEMPER FI. (He'd also say get on your face and give him 25, lol 😂!)
I do remember those days, I enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1972, did I pay the price I look back I'am glad I served in the Marines 3/5 H&S 81's Semper Fi!!!!!!
Parris Island D Co, 2nd Bn Plt 2086. SSgt Rhoden, Sgt Allen, Sgt Green, Sgt Fields. 1977. Things have changed very much from what I see in procedure and equipment, but the idea, motivation, and dicipline will never change.
Anyone notice that not one of these young 1966 recruits is sporting a tattoo? Today you'd be hard pressed to find just about any male (or female) recruit that's not all tatted up like he was already a salty hard-ass or something.
I'd agree that possibly over half of 24 year old's sport a tattoo, but Marines are recruiting high school seniors, and most coming out of HS don't have tattoos. They also know the Marine Corps tattoo policy, and wouldn't be all tatted up, or don't get in.
@@coprice94 That's not true. The tattoo policy was clarified in 2016, but it was certainly not loosened; it actually became more strict. The Navy, on the other hand, loosened their policy a few years ago.
SSgt Fowler and SGT Diaz were my DIs...That was 30+ years ago....You never forget their names. Or your Flight.To this day, I take 1 minute showers, I walk and eat fast. I hate loose threads on clothes. I still keep a short haircut. Haha!
I was a marine recruiter who enlisted a SSgt from the Army who previously was an Army Drill Sgt. He wanted to go to PI so bad, but the Corps said no way. So, he went in as a Sgt, and failed Marine DI school. Great guy.. loved the Corps.
My DI had this pet peeves about bed sheets being tight. If he couldn't bounce a quarter in the air off the bed, YOUR BED WAS FLIPPED OVER..I've saw many airborne.. lol
I was in Platoon 3014 which graduated 5 January 1966. If this were Platoon 3046 in 1966, it was formed shortly after I graduated. Definitely the “G” rated version of the nine weeks I was there. Brings back memories though.
Plt 320 R Co 25 Nov 1966-24 Nov 1969. This was definitely the "Cleaned up, Readers Digest version" of my PISC memories. However my memories of the good and the bad of my 3 years of active duty will go to my grave with me. SEMPER-FI. FOREVER. (2320510)
Was there about the same time as this platoon (3046)...I remember glancing at the barracks next to us in the evening and thought I saw somebody filming...may have been this platoon...I was in platoon 3069
For 244 years the Marine Corps has been doing it the way it works now the Marine Corps wants to go co-ed training......we will see how this goes! "The truest arbiter of training is war" Semper Fi 0331/0451 1973-1977
They were drafting in 1968 when I went through the induction station in Jacksonville Fl. because they were getting slaughtered in Viet Nam. I lost two friends in the marines because they wanted to be tough.What a shame!
SSgt Weeks was my dad. He went on to get commissioned as an Officer, then because he wouldn't go to Nam for a 4th tour they reverted him to a CWO4. He didn't care in fact he said to them "Go ahead revert me, Make me A God". He retired from the Marines and died at the age of 60 probably from all that he was exposed to during his years in the Corps.
i 80 we got your hand me downs my 577 cp was all kinds of fucked up many dents from small arms at end of line in mp a 577 sat with a rpg wouned in its side wtf 4in of alum melted my m16a1 worked pretty good thanx
@@walterlamb4756 you may know my grandfather and if so I’d like to know what he was like he served in the Korean and nam he was at Paris island im pretty sure his name was leanord Holmes
@@ajholmes8930 Good evening AJ, What most people don’t understand about Parris Island, their are three Recruit Training Battalions (RTB) spread over the Island. Usually the only time you see other Drill Instructors from your Battalion is at chow or the PT Field. You had so much to do, and socializing wasn’t one of them. Sorry, NO I didn’t know your dad! Semper Fi, WWL
One must remember this is more likely than not the worlds toughest basic training- BASIC training, the majority of these boots having no prior military experience. Some service branches-worldwide even-might even have longer lasting basic, but I would venture none are as intense as the U.S.M.C. basic. No grab ass and a whole lot of self discipline expertly taught there. Semper Fi.
a kid on front of me during 1st night checking in scratched his ear instinctively.. a DI near beside saw this & smacked the dude's hand so hard, his ear got ripped by his own fingernail.. blood everywhere & they didn't give a flying fuck, his gray shirt was splattered red & still dripping for hrs without gettin medical attention.. this was in 2002 San diego mcrd. They can't touch u? BS.
I was once riding on a Greyhound sitting next to this crusty old Gunnery Sergeant. We were both on our way to our next duty station, although we didn’t know each other. We stopped at a diner to get a bite to eat. I tricked him into paying the bill and missing the bus, and left him in the dust. Sucked to be me, because he ended up being my platoon NCOIC. When he saw me again he was so rip-roarin’ mad he ripped my earring off! 😢
I joined the Corps on the 120 delay program , got credit for time before boot camp . Dad was a career Marine so no other service was ever in my sights . Signed up for 4 years , got choice of schools , went aviation , was in helicopters, in Vietnam - 8-2-67 to 9-28-68 , rotated home to New River , as luck would have it I qualified for the early out program, got out 11 1/2 months early with a letter from a company back home - certified- for a real job. Got home , got to work , got a chance to go to a trade school , took it . Made enough to retire at 57. I thank my training in boot camp and other schools I had in the Corps for teaching me to plan ahead , watch my back , protect my buddies . Semper Fi , and to those who know , welcome home brother .
Sadly, most of these guys probably went to Vietnam...I guarantee that a large number of these Marines were killed within the next two years of the making of this video in Vietnam...Marine tours were 13 months and 67-68 were the worst years of Vietnam...especially for the Marines. Although I'm not a Marine, I'm a simple Soldier...Semper Fi and respect. Also, my dad was at MCRD june-Aug of 67 and served in the Marines until 75.
Regardless of the branch of service you were in, you were not a "simple soldier"; there is no such animal. At any point in time, people in the military could be called upon to put themselves in harm's way, without notice and for an undetermined period. It was not just the Marines whose tours were 13 months... my stepdad was a 20 year man in the AF and served at Tan Sohn Nhut airbase just outside Saigon in the late 60's. The base was regularly attacked by mortars and the casualties were not just helicopters and planes, but also airmen. Each branch has its own elites and regular infantry. The Marine Corps is no different. You could say I was just a "simple Marine", but that would be no more accurate than how you described yourself. If you served your country, you deserve respect, no matter which branch you served in. Semper Fi, and respect right back at ya.
When I got drafted in 1968, the marines came over to pull four of us out for them and seeing this, we all shrunk and slumped, feeling sorry for those four poor bastards that they pulled out. lol
@ThatVanceGuy you know i heard one soldier say one time "don't feel sorry for my fellow. Seals who died in battle because that's how soldiers die in battle with honor don't take that from them" he's name is Marcus lutrell the lone survivor!!
