July 27, 1966 (Originally posted in 2006)

[ErnBatavia]

Great site...reminds me of what my brother's father-in-law "loaned" me right after boot camp - his barracks cover emblem (which, of course didn't get much use...piss cutters were all we wore when not in utilities); he was on Guadalcanal - that big ole thing was a complete half circle, and one old Master Gunnery Sgt. continually pestered me to sell it to him.

[Delmont]

Happy anniversary! So where do the footprints lead too? Or are they just markers where you are supposed to stand whilst your world changes?

[stylin19a]

That's a very good question.
Footprints lead, if you make it, to the title of Marine.

You get of the bus and immediately get put on the footprints, and stand at attention for a couple of hours while a drill instruction uses every swear\cuss\obscene words in the world, to insult your mother\father\sister\girlfriend and you..sometimes in different languages...

The footprints actually serve a purpose, in that they put your feet in the proper (45 degree ?) angle when standing at attention.

[SortaBichy]

This reminded me of dropping off my three brothers at induction centers.. and how sad it was, especially for my parents.THANK YOU ErnBativia, AND ALL YOU VETS, THANKS VERY MUCH!!

[fnord]

oohrah

you gotta be so proud

has the young WM graduated from PI yet?

[Chieftain]

has the young WM graduated from PI yet?

Yes, she graduated 2 weeks ago today! She was VERY proud to take photos next to the tribute to our dearly departed LadyX.

This is next the 'Molly Marine' statue.

This is next to the Iwo Jima memorial replica, of which LadyX was the color bearer for the dediciation service some 54 years ago.

[fnord]

great photos. I wish them all the best of luck ... tell 'em Semper Fi for me

[flightline]

A Hollywood Marine,Parris Island Marine, We band of brothers,,,,,Semper Fi and happy anniversary!!!! great pictures of that new Marine! Be proud, Very proud!!!

[freema]

WHERE on EARTH!!!!!

Can't wait to email that to my son and my Army nephew!

[freema]

WHERE on EARTH!!!!!

Can't wait to email that to my son and my Army nephew!

[freema]

SHE SIGNED IT FOR YOU!?!? OMG!

Hubby went at 17, also.

I watched the DI's when we were down for graduation. Up close and personal. About a 3' from a platoon. I didn't realize I'd gotten so close. I wasn't that close when I started watching them, but apparently I just kept moving in : )

I also grilled the SDI after graduation, making him assure me he didn't skip a chapter. Man, they something else. Before he left, an old vet told my son to make sure he listened to every word that was spit in his face, those words could save his life. When I grilled the SDI, his response was, "No ma'am, I didn't skip anything, these men will be watching my back."

Was that, perchance, THE trip to Ribbon Creek?

[freema]

Tell it!

[Marine_Uncle]

I'm to tired. Simply worked on a number of projects that helped aid our Airforce/Navy/Marines pilots/aviators during the mid NAM years by providing ECM pods for their jets. Electro-Counter-Measures (ECM). The pods would fool the Soviet Radar, so they could not target our aircraft with SAM suface to air missiles. Later worked on programs such as the F16 Fighter Radar Control computer system, and Harpoon Cruise Missile onboard computer. So in a little way I helped support our military in the field and on the sea and in the air.

[freema]

A little way?!

[Marine_Uncle]

Yes. A little way. Meanwhile my friends and others where fighting in the swamps and hills of NAM, some having their blood spilled. They served with honor.

[freema]

Maybe not so little. There are many who didn't spill blood due to efforts such as yours.

[Marine_Uncle]

"There are many who didn't spill blood due to efforts such as yours."
True. And I worked in that spirit as had many at our facility.
Had our ECM pods been available two years earlier, Senator McCain would not had sat out his time in the Hanoi Hilton.
But to those that served go all the honors.

[cannonball]

"Was that, perchance, THE trip to Ribbon Creek?"

No, the infamous Ribbon Creek episode happened a bit later. Actually, wading through that creek wasn't all that bad --- except it was in the middle of the night and lord knows I needed my beauty sleep..

[AlaskaErik]

I arrived at MCRD San Diego on Feb 2, 1973. It was an experience that definitely changed my life...for the better. Although my Marine Corps career ended after six years, the impact has lasted a lifetime. As an aside, yesterday my crew had the honor of transporting Marine General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from Bagram Air Base to FOB Salerno and then on to Kabul. The General was an extremely outgoing man. We got a crew photo with him and we all got his coin. And as we used to say back in my Marine Corps days, Semper Fi, I said to the General and he gave me back a Urah.

[M1911A1]

June of '81 here, and I still have a few more months to go before I hang up the uniform.

The thing I'll never forget about the first few days at MCRD is the sight of newly shaken heads covered with white fuzz from the pillowcases we were given. It gave all the boots the appearance of being oddly old when first rousted from the rack - old bald heads on young gangly bodies. I also recall the suprising amount of blood that highly stressed young men could produce when trying to shave, more than a few for the first time. Just to be helpful, our DI's would scream accusations of suicide at the clumsy shavers.

After all these years I'm still amazed at the transformation that occurred. It's hard for a civilian to imagine just how awkward, hesitant and spastic young men in that Marine Corps cauldron called "Boot Camp" are when they first get there. When we graduated we were a machine, moving as one and ready (we thought) to take on the entire world.

If the Lord will let me grow older and grayer, I doubt time will ever allow the memories of that life transforming journey to remain very far from the front of my mind, nor would I will them away if I could.

Certainly that hard as nails Private the Marine Corps produced would be a little incredulous to see the middle aged apparition he has become, but he would be pretty pleased to see Master Sergeant's stripes on the old dog. I don't exactly know what I'd say to him if I could travel back in time, but I'd sure shake is hand for becoming a Marine, the same as I do for every Marine I meet.

Happy anniversary and Semper Fi, Ern.