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March 10, 2017 Grunt.com Admin

Boot Camp & A Bit After

When I first arrived at MCRDSD at 2330 hours, on 16 Nov. 1961, I can remember one thing. Two other recruits and I arrived and we were told to “take off everything that you were not born with and …” put our clothes into a locker and put the key, on a shoe lace, around our necks. We stood there. I was naked and the other two guys still had on their underwear. A Marine yelled at them and their underwear just disappeared. They did not take them off, their underwear just disappeared.

I never had a bowel movement for several days after arriving. I do not remember getting an erection during boot camp, which is unheard of for a 20-year old. (Yes, I was the old man in platoon 390).

I went to 2nd ITR and was in the same company (Company A) as Phil and Don Everly (brothers who were Rock & Roll singers in the 1950s.) We got liberty every weekend. They got some of their friends together and put on a Hell-of-a-show following the training and just before we got our “boot leave”.

Following 2nd ITR & leave, I returned to MCRDSD for training as a Radio/Telegraph Operator (MOS 2533). While there I went to find my old DIs. I found them and was invited to chat with them in their Quonset Hut. We talked for about 10-minutes. I learned that the Senior DI (S/Sgt Cunningham) was finishing up getting his CPA degree and the Junior DI (S/Sgt Dent) was finishing up his BA Degree. I learned that all of the other DIs that I had were also working on their college degrees.

When I got up to leave, S/Sgt Cunningham and Dent shook my hand, thanked me for coming by, and politely told me to not do it again.

The greatest thing I learned from Marine Corps and its Boot Camp is that there is nothing in the civilian world that I cannot deal with and over come. That includes the leukemia that I have. I may die with it but I will not die from it.

From 15 Feb. 1962 (Graduation Day – the day I became a Marine) on to Infinity, I will always be a United States Marine.

Once a Marine, Always a Marine!

Jim Brower
197****

Filed in: Marine Corps Stories
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Comments

wendall d. wilson - April 7, 2020

In reply to Fredric S. Garber.
In San Diego 1965,First leave was after ITR also.

Woodrow W. Pea, Jr. - April 7, 2020

To Jim Brower, after I was released from active duty in South Carolina, I got a job at a chemical company outside MCAS Beaufort. There became friends with a man whose name was Vincent Paul Boyle. He claimed to have gone to boot camp with the Everly brothers. So, I wonder if you possibly remember his name? It’s been more than 30 years since I’ve seen Vince but I was just intrigued by your stint in ITR with the Everlys.

Harry - April 7, 2020

In reply to Vernon Tabor.
The Everly Brothers enlisted in the Marine Reserve and, went to boot camp MCRDSD Oct. 1961. After training went to 29 Stumps for six months active then released to the reserves Harry

1stSgt. Lorenzo Casabar retired.1958 to 1980 - April 7, 2020

I remember it well, I was a Troop Leader in “C” company and personally met the Everly Bothers. I just visited my fellow TL and got to meet them.the show they put on was the best show ever in my years up there at ITR. We also had a great Commanding officer, LtCol. Kirby-Smith at First Battalion. I was also fortunate enough to have had one of my Squad Leaders get into NESEP. I ran into him of all places in the PX at Danang. 1stLt.Decker he was standing at attention in front of me and I didn’t know at that time it was him. He and I later served together at RS Dallas, Tx. He was now a Captain and was our Assistant OIC. He became an Outstanding Marine Officer. Majored in Computer Science and had to get permission to serve as a Plt. Ldr in the grunts when I first met him in Danang on my second tour in Vietnam in 1970. Have gone to SDiego in 1958, plt 3016. Became a Sr. DI at SDiego 1st Bn. “B” company 1967-1969. I was just back from Chulai in 1966 and got the opportunity to train recruits. We had a great bunch of DIs in our series, and a Great friend of mine was our Company Commander. He and I served together in 2ndITR, Captain Michael Valdez. Our series graduated four Honor Series back to back. We were blessed with some of the best Drill Instructors. Fellow Srs, GySgt Zwak, SSgt. Fred Contreras, SSgt. Salters. We had a lot of great Junior DIs and Series Gunnery Sgt. too. I was the only one with Combat ribbons on my chest from serving with the Magnificent Bastards from Kaneohe HI 1964-1965, than in Country in 1965-1966. We were in Second Battalion 4th Marines. Our company “H” spear headed The attack on Operation Starlight. Lost some great Maines there and my thought are with the families of all our fallen brothers. We had 18 KIA and a whole bunch wounded including myself. Our Platoon ran into the NVA Regimental CP. We survived and came back home to an ungrateful nation. Till today I have bad memories from it. I really don’t care to be told Thank you for your service, instead go to our National Cemetaries and tell that to all that gave their all. RIP my Brothers. Semper Fi and a fondest Aloha.

Harry - April 7, 2020

In reply to 1stSgt. Lorenzo Casabar retired.1958 to 1980.
Well said TOP!!! Semper fi!!

Dick Howard - April 7, 2020

I was in Pl 389 and ran into the Everly Bros. at the ITR Mess Hall (which was the worst of all the mess halls i ever ate at). The two of us that were visiting was soon rousted from our table by Gunney (I don’t remember his name-sorry) and asked what we were doing while the Company was standing in the rain waiting for us. I told him ” visiting with the Everly Bros.” He had no idea! I remember the show as well. It was loaded with “Hollywood” stars and singers.

Howard Hada - April 7, 2020

Wow! What a small, small world….You were in a platoon just ahead of me….I got issued a field jacket with a, “P. Everly” name tag. Somewhere in my collection of treasures, I still have that stamped name tag! RIP Phil! I was in Plt 306 in January, 1961. To this day, I still wonder how much grief was put on both of the Everly Brothers in bootcamp…In my time, serial number 2000000 was issued and that poor S. O. B. got a “gold bucket” issued to him…….another target on your back was not exactly what was needed in bootcamp!!

Arthur Kidd - April 7, 2020

I was a Troop Leader (Sgt E4) at November Company when you arrived at San Onofre. I was one of the troop leaders waiting to pick up new recruits for ITR training. One of the Everly brothers (I believe it was Don) was sent to my company for a brief moment until they realized who he was and then called him back. All I could say was thank you. I didn’t need the headache that comes with having celebrities in your unit. I do remember the show that was put on at the outdoor theater. It was truly awesome.

Regis- Sgt. USMC 61-66 - April 7, 2020

In reply to George L Kudlinski.
George, I also arrived MCRDSD on Dec. 8,1961. However, in my case I came from Texas and there were two other guys who arrived from Chicago. We met for the first time at the airport. The three of us became the first members of Plt. 2002. We were in receiving barracks for at least a week maybe longer our platoon formed slowly. I guess because most guys didn’t want to go to boot camp just before Christmas. You and I probably crossed paths during our time there. Our Drill Instructors were Senior Drill Instructor S/Sgt. P.E. Meek, JDI- S/Sgt. T. Ellison and JDI- Sgt. L.N. Enos. Semper Fi Marine!

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