Bittersweet day: Parris Island graduation and heart attack in the stands

self-exclusive | 11/01/2013 | RaceBannon

[RaceBannon]

Bittersweet day today I saw the daughter of an old friend graduate from Parris Island today, and she is welcomed as my new little sister in the Marine Corps. On a sad note, one of the family members sitting on the section for the Woman Marines platoon 4037 had an apparent heart attack while watching his daughter or granddaughter in her ceremony. His condition is unknown, they did not stop working on him and they took 10 or more minutes once he was in the ambulance and it did NOT leave screaming from the scene. If anyone can tell me the name of this man and that HE IS OKAY, I will release the picture for his family to show him while he recuperates. If he passed away, I will not post the picture of him, but will forward it to his family.

[Mears]

I hope the man is okay. I’ll say a prayer for him.

I sat in the stands on Parris Island 27 years ago on a hot August day watching my son graduate.

.

[USMCPOP]

Dang. I was there in the stands in August ‘03 watching my son. Hope it works out.

[real saxophonist]

btt

[ImNotLying]

God bless you, and I salute your son’s service to his country. Many gave some, some gave all for the freedoms in this country.

[RaceBannon]

If anyone knows, please contact me

[Lancey Howard]

Prayers up for the man. Sorry to hear about that.
By the way, somebody told me recently that Women Marines aren’t called “WMs” anymore. Do you know if that’s true?

[RaceBannon]

Technically, yes, that’s true, they are MARINES

They also are called Marines BEFORE graduation now, too!

[Lancey Howard]

Yikes..

[Lancey Howard]

By the way, we graduated about the same time, circa 1980. I was in a 1st Battalion platoon and we were all called “Private (Umptyfratz)”. I remember finding it interesting that in other battalions the recruits were called “Recruit (Umptyfratz)” rather than “private”. The battalions were run with some degree of autonomy back then. I wonder if there are still those kinds of differences between the training battalions?

[real saxophonist]

FWIW, I started off in 2nd BN, PI, 1989, and we were Privates. Got injured, and when I returned to Training I was in 3RD BN, where we were Recruits.

[RaceBannon]

I haven’t heard umptyfratz in 36 years!
usually, it was smuckatelli

I graduated in 1977, Dec 13

[RaceBannon]

In 77, there was discussion amongst the drill instructors, mine called us Privates, the other DI’s in the series, wet from recruit to private, when DI Sgt Gulley called us, it was RECRUIT!

Our senior was, Come here, Private!

[real saxophonist]

Yeah, I don’t like that. What’s the point of the Graduation Ceremony?

[Howie66]

They never called us anything but “Maggot”, “Insane Puke”, “Vomit Encrusted Scum Bucket” or other endearing names UNTIL Graduation Day.

Then and ONLY then had we earned the TITLE of “United States Marine”.

And God-Dammit, NO ONE will ever take that away from me.

[zipperhead]

I was 2nd battalion in ‘88 (platoon 2029)...prayers for the family and new marine. We were called ‘recruit’.

[MSF BU]

It is heartening to know there are young women who are man enough to serve in uniform. It is especially disheartening to see how few young males are man enough to do so.

[ottbmare]

They are not called Marines until they complete the Crucible and get the EGA. Until then they are still called recruits. It was only this past spring that I was at PI watching my little boy turn into a Marine and his SDI was very clear on this.

[Marine_Uncle]

Race.
So sorry to have to hear what you described. Being in those passing and review stands, at the Peatross Parade Deck field, off the Boulevard DeFrance field, some ten years ago, to witness the graduation ceremonies my nephew participated in.
I can only feel a bit of sorrow for the poor family member that experienced a heart attack. Their heart was probably so filled with joy, pride and honor that it just was to much for them.
May our loving Heavenly Father provide the way for that person's complete recovery if HE can find it in HIS perfect will to do so.
And may it in no way impead the goals that now young Marine, has to become the best he or she can be while serving this Republic.
Semper FI RB.

[Marine_Uncle]

Correction to my post #19. This new Marine is a women. I somehow did not distinguish while reading the original post.
I simply acknowledge I meant no ill respect in my original post as to the sex of this Marine.
My fault. My original prayer still remains the same of course.
May she find a rewarding experience going through the required requirements to become a United States Marine under the guidelines set forth for the female of our species.
I just wanted to make known, that I slipped in recognizing the sex of this newly minted Marine. Her heart beat true for the Red White and the Blue, most likely. Let's not get into specifics as to what makes a Marine.
Dear God that made all things..... let her now serve with Honor and committment in every way, to honor the Corps..
I do recongnize the differences male recruits are required to go through verse the women. I'll leave it go at that.
My sentiments for the family are simply that.