2007- P Co. PLT 4028

SDI- SSGT Flowers
DI- SSGT Gonzalez
DI-SSGT Macea

Welcome Aboard! Glad to have ya here. Make sure you swing by the Barracks Forum and check-in.

2A - Feb 1975
Series Gunny was Gunny Moore (Male)
Senior DI SSgt Hare
ADI Cpl Nollac
ADI SSgt Mercer

Bout the only male we got to see up close was Gy Moore.

Wow. I effed up my first post. Sorry about that.

Nothing to see here..

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 9506074,

K Co, Plt 11A
10 June - 11 Aug 1980

1lt Burns
GSgt Chamberlain
SSgt Hardin (was later NCOIC of WRTC)
Sgt Mauney
Sgt Michaud (left part way through for another Platoon)

Hi,

I was PLT 6A / June-Aug 1971

SSgt. Plunkett
Sgt. O'Conner
GYSgt. Chipman (male D.I.)

Dianne

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tdiannec,

Finally someone else that went in before me. Welcome tdiannec thanks for saving me.

Suddenly I feel so YOUNG! Keep it coming girls.

7A & 7B I am ashamed to say that I had to finish with the other platoon. It was 1973 I started out with Sgt. Davis? I think. And I believe I had Sgt. Hilliard after that.

I am new here. I am trying to write about my experiences in Boot Camp but I am finding it difficult to remember everything. I was hoping that some people who may have graduated in the 70's might email me of their experiences to help me remember. Do you think that might be possible? My email is debbie4Him@aol.com. After graduating from Boot Camp I spent the remaining three years in Albany, Ga.

Hey Debbie,
I was in 1975... Plt. 9B... I have a lot of stories to share with you.. I even have my old yearbook with the photos... possibly the same era... scary thought...

I will email you.
HH

I wrote before that I was in 7A and 7B. I looked this up in my platoon book. I went into the Corps in 1973 into platoon 7A and I believe that was SSgt. McKemey was my Senior DI and my Assistant DI was SSgt. Hair. And we had a male Drill Instructor who taught us drill and his name was SSgt. Laythe. Later I was moved to the other platoon because I needed more time than everyone else. This is what I'm embarrassed about. So I guess I was in 8B after that and I think Sgt. Hilliard was my DI but I don't remember.
Debbie

When I was in Boot Camp we were in the old barracks. There were new barracks being built at the time and once we got to see them under construction. We had an open squad bay, I don't think the new barracks did but I'm not sure. We had no A/C, I went through in June. There were four plattons. One on the upper floor and one below us and down the hall there was another platoon and one below them. I remember that PT changed over the years but when I went to Boot Camp we had to run ONLY 600 yard! We did push ups, sit ups, Reach and Strech and another thing where you ran to one side of the gym, picked up a block and ran back put it down and then went to do it again about four times total. Was this a relay? I don't know. I think a relay requires another person. Later on after graduation our PT changed to include a 1 1/2 mile run and the hanging with you chin above the bar. When it rained we were transported by cattle car to and from places. We had Ponchos that we wore if we were caught in the rain. We wore ugly oxford shoes. Our PTs were ugly light blue oversized shorts and a matching button up shirt. Our Utility uniform was a pair of dark blue slacks and a light blue button up shirt. We had a dark sweater to wear with it at times and a dark blue cover. We wore nametags and those of us watching our weight had to wear a green piece of tape on the tag. We called it a "fatty tag". DI's could not touch us without permission, so during inspections, if they saw some lint or something on our uniforms they would say,"Private, I'm going to touch you." I am thinking I got there on a Friday. I was alone. The men were to fall out on the footprints but I was taken somewhere else. It was late at night and everyone else was in bed. I don't remember what happened that night. But I do remember being disappointed that we weren't going to meet the DI's the next morning. I don't remember how long it was before we saw them, but I think there was a forming team or something to prepare us for the DI's. I'd like to know how long they were with us and what they taught us before the DI's came. We had what was called a Junk on the Bunk inspection near the end of boot camp. Do they still have that? First thing in the moning it seems to me we stood before our bunks and counted off. And other times we stood before our bunks and recited the chain of command. I remember Admiral ? Zumalt Jr. was in the Chain. I imagine he was Commandant at that time. These are just the beginning of my memories, maybe I'll write more later.
Debbie

Can anyone explain to me why in 1973 when I was 18 years old, I still needed my parent's permission to join the Marine Corps? I could drink and vote at that age but to join the Marines I had to have permission. I had even graduated from High School already.
Debbie

Debb... we have similar memories but a different time frame.. not much changed from 73 to 75.

I was in the new barracks. It was an open squadbay. Two sides top and bottom floors... classrooms attached to the same complex... pretty cool.

I started bootcamp in September when it was hot, and graduated in November when it was COLD... There were all the PI benefits.. sand fleas and bitter cold wind... In September we did have AC in the barracks, I remember well because I was in the top rack and the blower was right on me.. It was then and only then I was grateful for that olive drab wool blanket. Do you remember laundry day? Top to bottom, top to bottom, side to side, top to bottom?! Pillow cases had a different fold... remember the white cotton laundry bag at the end of your rack?? I still have it!! Along with my old utility sweater, oxfords, havelock, ugly grey rainboots... and a few other "fine" items! LOL. Our tags for the "fatties" were blue.. they were called "blue tags" hmmm? I wonder what genius thought of that one? GYSGT Hare was our CO gunny... When I was in bootcamp, we had the same old PFT with the blocks, 600 yd dash,some other things and a jump to the wall??? we had to touch a certain point on the wall... THEN during the second phase... we transitioned to the mile and a half, flexed arm hang and sit-ups... everyone got shin splints from running in those stupid white flat keds tennis shoes.
Do you remember the "tea"?.. sort of a way for us to transition into social butterflies! The makeup classes, ironing, bleaching, cleaning, scrubbing.... drilling.. I loved that.. I can't remember our "drill" drill instructor... GySGT Goar or something like that.. he was Guamanian and NO ONE could understand him... he'd get so mad and spit... Should of been in a movie.. too funny (NOW) not then, no one dared say anything to him.

I too, had to have my parents signature... but, I was 17.

OK.. I will share more later.. what a riot..

heidilarsonhurley: Well you know it has been so long that my recollection of no A/C might be wrong! Is there anyone out there that knows the answer to that question? The whole time I was in Boot Camp it was hot. I went in in July. Boot Camp was eight weeks and was in for twelve. I remember we had to sleep under the covers or someone would come around in the middle of the night and tell us to get under the covers. I thought everyday was laundry day. My memory isn't so good. But I thought every night we had to go wash our clothes and iron them. I don't remember the "side to side...top to bottom". What was that? Maybe I can remember if you tell me more. I do remember that laundry bag tied to our bunk and I kept it for the longest time. Don't know what ever became of it. What was the "havelock"? Don't remember that. I wish I had kept something. GySgt Hare, was she the same one tht was my Assistant DI? She had blond hair that flipped just perfectly. She looked too nice to be a DI. The "tea" yes I remember the "tea". We even had classes on make-up and plucking eyebrows, etc, etc. Then to prove we had learned how to be a lady we had a tea. We also went to Charleston? I'm thinking...to eat out and see a movie. Maybe not the movie, maybe we just ate out. But it seems to me we actually saw a movie. Your male DI was from Guam? Then he would be Chamorro or something like that. We lived in Guam because my husband is retired Navy. We were there from 1982 to 1986. My daughter went to kindergarden there. Anyway, I digress. Another thing I remember is that when we were in our first four weeks we had to march to chow quietly and we stood in line quietly. I don't even think we could talk while eating. Then as seniors we could sing in line and talk during meals. Well, I would sure like to hear more of your memories. Mine are quickly fading.
Debbie

Hey Debbie...
OK.. the side to side was the way we folded sheets and pillow cases on laundry day.. To this day I STILL say it to myself when I fold sheets! Just did it this morning! Even taught my son how to fold the corners on his bed.
The havelock was what we wore over our wool green cover. We NEVER wore it, and heaven forbid that we ever unfolded it from the junk on the bunk! I don't think anyone ever remembered how to fold it!
Gunny Hare was brunette when she was with me... nice smile in my yearbook.

Ha... the plucking of eyebrows! I remember the makeup kit we got.. or, should I say, paid for... but it had all this cool stuff that I never used.. as a 17 year old.. I thought it was cool.. but that is about it... I remember buying a wig.. and Never wearing it because it didn't fit under my cover after I got it... Sounded like a good idea at the time.. didn't really need it.. but thought it would be fun.. do you remember that we HAD to bring a girdle to bootcamp? I do... I was so skinny that I didn't really need it.. but brought one anyways.. they inspected us in our dress uniforms and we had to have it on.. UGH

We sang a lot too, lots... I was a Girl Scout and went to camp every summer of my life.. so singing in cadence and in formation came easy to me.. I loved it.

We didn't go to Charleston.. there were pictures in my yearbook of the trip, but we didn't go... we went to a type of hotel or something... and had a buffet dinner... took a bus to the beach somewhere.. it was odd.

Don't let your memory fade! Try to remember the General Orders... that will send you back!

Best.

Ah ladies now you are talking my time frame. I was 2A 1975 and it was SSgt Hare she was my SDI and Cpl Nolak was my ADI. We picked up SSgt Mercer in 3rd phase. What fond memories. I still have my initial seabag drag issue. The long sleeve green shirts, the mint green pin stripe summer uniforms, the ugly dark blue pants and light blue shirts.

But the most horrible of all was the daily ugly blue skirts and shorts underneath with the utility shirts. Boy were we sexy or what??????

JHeckler...
What a riot. I would love to have a set of those pin stripe uniforms. No one believes me when I mention how we used to iron them.. Remember the ironing mitt/ham??? what ever it was called.... we used it to make those sleeves PERFECT. Heaven forbid we ever raised our arms or sit down in them.

It's funny, but I can't throw out my old uniforms.. I actually have TWO pairs of oxfords.. one still in the box polished and ready for inspection.. and another pair that were the original ones issued in bootcamp. I think I just kept replacing the heels. How about the black handbag? YUP still have it. I actually have two... the corps got cheap and started using vinyl... same with the oxfords.. they became corofram?? sp?? My blues uniforms are different... the first original blue cover.. and then in my second enlistment I got the white cover.
secretly.. I loved the shorts and utility shirt set we PT'd in.. mine was really soft and old. can't imagine who wore it before me, but I am sure they had gone through quite a few platoons.
I love these memories.

Well he we go...

Went in in 1986 to 1992. In Boot we had red shorts and yellow shirts with USMC printed on them in red. Heat cases had to draw two big red horizontal strips across their yellow PT shirts to identify them as head cases. When we did boot and uts PT it was boots, Utility trousers, and those damn yellow t-shirts.

Yes, we still had the ironing mitt/ham. I wish I still had one today. Best damn thing for ironing my cover. When I first joined this forum I gave instructions on ironing and folding those utility sleeves to get just the right size cuffs and tight enough without being too tight. Irish pennanting all while your ironing.

Remember when they wouldn't let us old timers use Skin-So-Soft to repel those sand fleas? Skin-so-soft was considered contraband and confiscated during the first night of forming. Remember watching the person in front of you with blood dripping down their leg because of those damn sand fleas bites? I swear those fleas had 3" teeth. Auh, the fond memories.

JHECKLER1: I don't remember having phases. We had four weeks of being Juniors and four weeks of being seniors. I sold all my uniforms when I got out, now I regret it. I'd love to have my Sea Bag. I remember those pin striped uniforms, didn't the buttons have to be put on? I don't remember blue skirts with shorts underneath. Maybe we did that and I forgot, or maybe 1973 was different.

Heidilarsonhurley: I remember the ironing mitts or hams or whatever they were called. Do you know I hated have to put creases in the pants. I never could keep from having double creases so I like useing that mitt thing so I would not have to have any creases at all. Much easier. Oh and which of you remembered that ugly black hand bag. Do you remember we were taught that women could not chew gum in uniform and we couldn't smoke either as I recall unless no one could see us. I took up smoking after boot camp. I don't remember the girdle part. That's awful! I'm sure I hated that. The General Orders were probably the first thing I forgot.

We had swimming class in Boot Camp. Had to wear some dorky white swim cap with a strap around the chin. We had to learn to blow up a pair of "male" fatigues so we could float in the water? Maybe it was our utility uniform but I don't think so. And everyone of course remembers the gas chamber.
Debbie

Laundry was fun for the fire watch. Sometime before we arrived at bootcamp the powers that be decided that we couldn't send our laundry to the base laundry matt anymore. Our skivies kept disappearing. So they installed like 3 washers and 3 dryers in the barracks. Fire watch had the duty to wash, dry and sort it out on everybody's foot locker by the next morning. Served a purpose by keeping you awake during duty.

Shall we discuss the CS Gas chamber next?...

heidilarsonhurley: I do remember the side to side thing now that you mention it. I still fold my sheets like that too, but I didn't remember why I folded them that way. Just thought it was the way I had always done it.
Debbie

SgtShaw86...Those were good ironing mitts. I have to improvise when I iron today, but I don't do much of it.

Did everyone who left the Corps continue to be squared away? I am an embarrassment to the Corps today. I so need to go back through Boot Camp so I can get "squared away" again. I can't jog anymore, I'm heavy and my bones and muscles are stiff and I'm not too well organized time-wise anymore either. Used to I'd make schedules and have a Field Day or a Garden Party just here at home. But not anymore. I don't remember us having a Fire Watch either. When we were seniors we took maybe one turn at a night time watch, we were suppose to go around the barracks with a flashlight and count the people and tell those who were not covered to get their blanket up over them. I believe we hand washed all our clothes, each night as I recall. Might be mistaken though.
Debbie