Posted on 09/30/2001 2:28:55 PM PDT by kattracks
And Good Night warriors all
Ha, CHIEF...I'll have you know that when I was at Parris Island, 3rd Marine Training Battalion was for us Women Marines!
Somewhere down the line the numbers were reassigned.
Furthermore, we did NOT have sissy brick buildings...just the old two-story wooden monstrosities with windows flung open in the hope of catching a breeze, or closed against the seeping in cold.
I also had to instruct my classes of between 60-120 women recruits under those conditions, with planes noisily taking off from what was the then nearby airfield, taking male graduates to Korea; and I had to project my voice over the noise of two HUGE exhaust fans.
We then had only familiarization with weapons and the gas chamber, not actual firing, although I did have an offer for 'personal instruction' I declined!
It wasn't fear of the weapons since I already was an excellent shot, but the rather unnerving ROAR that went up when I would ride the bus just PAST the range to get to the indoor swimming pool...there were thousands of men-away-from-wimmin out there and they were very vocal with their appreciation!
I had visions of a stampede had I appeared on the firing line.
My main experience with weapons came later in Alaska, hunting license and all, outshooting my husband and most men with every one I handled.
I am, however, in absolute awe over a genuine RECON MAN...:)))
Hey, COBI, just so you don't feel 'generationally isolated'....
Yes, and in January, the tent sides had frozen dew when we scrambled out of our cots to roll up the tent sides in our skivvies (which had snaps and ties on the sides - NO elastic!).
Did Matthews with my (love of my life) M-1 - saw my first selector switch for an M-14 when we went to Da Nang as part of 9th MEB in '65. Still preferred my M3A1 grease gun, but no .45 tracer rounds for the mags....
Thanks - 'old and cold' enough?
Semper Fi!
[N.B.: I've always wondered: WhyisaTexasgirlinPA?]
Last night, Hannity and Colmes had as a guest John Lehman, former SecNavy who pointed out something very interesting. He said that although it is true that our forces, Naval and otherwise, have been drawn down drastically since his time (He was under Reagan, I think), and that the doves have managed to get the Defense budget drastically slashed so that "Midnight Basketball" and other wondrous relics of the Clinton years could come to be, the fact is that the USMC, Army Rangers and Special Forces, Delta Force, SEALs et al, did a MARVELOUS job in fighting against and successfully resisting attempts to cut their budgets to any significant degree.
The result is that we find ourselves with fully-capable SpecOps forces RIGHT AT THE TIME WE NEED THEM.
Thanks, Gunny.
I knew I didn't dream all of that!
Remember that stupid ice plant that grew outside the tents we had to keep watered out of buckets?
Someone told me they have air conditioned and heated dorms there now.
The wusses don't know what they missed!
And that's the reason the Jarheads walked out of the bars with all the wimmen!
While the swabs were being polite, the Marines were taking charge!
Ditto on both of those, Gunny!
Welcome to FR!
I need you around to help me keep all these young whipper snappers squared away!
I had the distinct privilege of sitting with the Commanding General, Commanding Officer of Recruit Training Regiment and their respective Sergeants Major at a parade just about 30 days ago. Attended a recruit graduation at PI. The barracks are nice, though except for the A/C, not much different than those of the "old corps". Still wash racks outside, laundry lines, bunks and foot lockers, etc.
The just graduated Marines talked of "locker box drill" at 3am, double timing to and from the old Elliott's Beach area, etc. Some things have changed but not the basics.
The most impressive aspect to me was the absolute perfect physical condition of every Marine. Even the CG and CO RTR were hard with muscle, each wearing "white side wall" hair cuts. In two days on the island I did not see one single Marine (note: recruits don't count, they're still not Marines until graduation) with the slightest indication of a gut. Impressive. They still don't get their eagle, globe and anchor until after they have successfully completed the crucible.
I am more than ever confident that the Corps will do itself proud wherever they are told to go.
I'm right here beside you, COBI!
We'll keep some, uh, 'perspective' alive!
Thanks, old timer.
I am very happy to hear from someone who knows that our beloved Corps is not going down the tubes.
I hear so much about the changes which have been made since my time and none of them good for the Corps.
It's good to know that P.I. and MCRD are still turning out the finest fighting force ever known to man.
May God bless 'em all.
Also, thanks for making me feel young, I got out 26 years ago, but you guys.. well, in two words.....Fred Flintstone......
Semper Fi
A friend of mine came into my office the other day wearing a "T"-shirt that had our globe and anchor on it and the words: "OLD CORPS".
He was in recon in VietNam.
He said, "You should be wearing this shirt, not me."
I said, "No, the D.I.'s in boot when I went through and a lot in Pendleton were Korean vets.
They were the 'Old Corps'". But they told stories about their D.I.'s who were WWII vets, so those were really the "Old Corps".
No doubt they had stories of their own about the Marines they knew who were really the "Old Corps."
We have a long and proud heritage, and may we never forget it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.