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Define Maltreatment

Define Maltreatment

The mission of a Marine Drill Instructor is to create a Marine without damaging the goods in the process. After the drowning incident at Parris Island in the 1950’s do-gooders, and those “leaders” who believed the Corps should be meshed into the other branches (both MacArthur and Eisenhower disliked the Corps), did their best to smear boot camp training methods. In 1958, at MCRDSD, I never saw a D.I. actually punch a recruit. They weren’t, however, above telling the platoon that if “Pvt. Jones” didn’t get his sh*t together, we would all suffer for it. “Jones” would then be subject to the wrath of his squad mates. Mass punishment was a very effective tool. As far as language used, the only words I didn’t hear used to a recruit were those with personal stigma (S.O.B., Mother F–, etc.)

It was suggested that some of us had mothers who didn’t have any kids that lived. Other than that, our D.I.s were extremely creative in the use of foul language. I learned that the “F” word, which describes the most wonderful human experience between a man and woman, could be used as a verb, noun, adjective – just about any function of language. That being said, I never witnessed, or heard of, maltreatment that injured, either physically or mentally. The punishments were meant to be overcome, not to defeat the spirit. When my brothers, all Marines, and I look back at the experience, it is with pride and humor. It inspired my book, “SH*TBIRD! How I Learned to Love The Corps” and, of the dozens of funny stories that I solicited from Marines across the country, I received not one that expressed any reservations that Marine Corps boot camp was at the heart of what makes it the finest military branch in the world.

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Comments

Bill Corley - April 6, 2020

Punching and hitting were common. MCRDSD Mar to Jun 1967. I got punched in the mouth from behind by my SDI. The series fell in next to each other. All the DI’s stood behind us. We were instructed to only move on one of our DI’s commands. Some DI said “Forward March.” I moved my left foot but no one else in my platoon did. BAMM punched in the mouth. Then at the rifle range one recruit got put on light duty and given a wooden cane. The DI’s saw him playing tag in the barracks, took his cane and beat him in the knee area until he couldn’t stand. They kept the cane. The next day we had a foot locker inspection. I was second in line after my squad leader. He had a misfolded sock and was hit across the stomach with the cane swung baseball bat style. He double over on to the deck. I’m next, I had an unfinished letter in my tablet. I saw the SDI raise the cane I tightened my stomach got hit but didn’t move. He went to the next recruit. I had a 1 inch bruise across my stomach. Another DI had the cane the next day and would use it like a pool cue. He’d ask you questions and hit you in the Adams apple with the tip of the cane when you answered and give you a chewing out for talking funny. I ran into him 9 months later. I was a Corporal and He was still a Sergeant. That pissed him off.

Sgt. Robert L Sisson - April 6, 2020

In reply to Bill Corley.
Reminds me of what my friend did. We had ITR at camp Geiger and had an instructor named RUAS who always carried a Ridding Crop and would do the same thing hit you for NO REASON. He was on sick guy. After Geiger and school my friend and I both ended up at Camp Lejeune there was a swoop circle there and Friday after work you would go there and hook up with a ride home. George ran into RUAS there he walked up behind him taped him on the shoulder and Knocked the asshole out cold. George took off. The MP’s never caught him. George told me he never made it home that week end but it was worth it. I remember RUAS had me doing push ups crushing my fingers with his boots. Took a marker drew a beard on my face and said it better be off by morning. I think he had it out for George and myself because we really enjoyed ITR.

Don Taylor - April 6, 2020

In reply to Norm Spilleth, Cpl., 60-64.
Left the line (firing line) with my bolt closed, Now I’ve got an M1 nose. Had a DI put knots on my head with his swagger stick for falling asleap in in .45 class.

John Hetrick - April 6, 2020

The night before graduation in early 1964, as our platoon was on the street the Platoon Commander posed the question “OK sh**birds, is there anyone here NOT getting their ass kicked yet?” Out of 75 only 7 hands went up. We all wondered how THOSE as*h*les had escaped the wrath of the DIs! No one ever really got hurt, except our pride, and all survived better off for the experience. We had great DIs and we were incredibly proud Marines at graduation!

Now going through ITR was a different experience. Our Senior Troop Handler had read Battle Cry one too many times and he thought he was super Marine. Loved to call us out late in the evening to do manual of arms with foot lockers, duck walk with lockers on shoulders, have guys dry shave each other while double timing in place and other choice little goodies. Guy was a complete jerk. Staff made him stand a junk on the bunk the day before his discharge, which got them a Well Done from the entire company!

Cpl Steve Radcliffe 1st Plt “G” Co. 2/26 RVN - April 6, 2020

If they never hit anybody at Paris Island, then all the tales about how hard P.I. was are all sea stories. I was at MCRDSD from March to May 1968 Plt 252. We were beat on with open hands closed fist and other objects. Beating and being cussed at were a way of life in 1968. Boot Camp had been shortened to eight weeks form twelve weeks to due personnel needs in Viet Nam. I have talked to other former Marines from that time frame and all agreed that beatings were a part of Boot Camp. We also all agreed that no matter how hard Boot Camp was, it was nothing as bad as combat action in Viet Nam. I was often glad that I had survived Boot Camp as it helped me stay alive in Viet Nam and the rest of my life. I still have a great disdain for my Drill Instructors as I feel most of them enjoyed abusing helpless Privates.

Dan Corum - April 6, 2020

I was selected for a little counseling. We had just returned from hand to hand combat training and I was doing something in my foot locker when a buddy came up behind and put a choke hold on me. I, of course, respond with my freshly learned counter move and threw him on to the deck. The sun was shining in from the open doorway and when he landed, a shadow was cast between him and I. The shadow was of a DI, hat and all, with his hands on his hips. I turned around with much trepidation. The DI yelled at both of us to get into the duty hut. He lined us up in front of a rack and had us stand at attention. I had observed “thump call” a time or two before on others and had noticed that the DI always punched the recipient in the stomach first, so I tightened up my stomach muscles and tried not to show it in my face. Of course the first blow was an open hand to the base of my throat and then a punch to the stomach. This was repeated a few times and then we were dismissed. Actually I was kind of glad it happened afterwards because I now felt I had experienced the real boot camp I had always heard about. The DI was later court-martialed for beating another recruit and taking money from all the recruits for “his fund”.

Dave 0311 - April 6, 2020

No doubt that boot camp was a bitch with a lot of abuse. Combat was worse with much higher stakes. It was miserable, but it had a purpose and it took a while to understand it all. We were a different breed and I wouldn’t change shit.

bruce bender - April 6, 2020

In reply to Don Taylor.
our D I gave us group tighteners for a closer array of bullets on the target- we would grab the pull up bar in the squad bay- and we would get a punch in the gut- and as we bent over wheezing – he would yell at us to breathe evenly on the firing line and be better on the firing line- a few guys were UNQ- and they graduated as they were outstanding in every other aspect of recruit training.

William “Ranger” Clark - April 6, 2020

In reply to Sgt Robert L Sisson.
I saw our DI punch a recruit right in the face. It seems his mother complained to the Red Cross because she hadn’t gotten a letter from her son in a month. The Red Cross then contacted the CG of Parris Island, who suggested that the recruit write home IMMEDIATELY.
The DI called for the recruit to “Get in here!
When he reported to the hatch, a fist slammed into him. This was repeated twice more before he was dismissed to write that letter.
This person was a totally unaware numb nut. About a year later I saw his picture In LEATHERNECK as a seagoing aide to a ship’s captain. Go figure!

bruce bender - April 6, 2020

the Marine Corps had a short time to break you down and build you back up in a different frame of mind- some of us got thumped- but it was for a purpose- and I felt it made us better- we had blanket parties for the ones who needed enlightening- and a little prejudice from some Southerners toward Northerners – blacks and Spanish sometimes were picked on by others – but the smart recruits would find friends for sticking together. One recruit was Jewish and a lot of bigots picked on him- he banded with about a dozen of Afro- Americans and they stuck together- went to the bathroom in groups and never were alone- it worked- some D I ‘s were nicer than others- but I met one drill instructor after I was a t a duty station- and confronted him- he did not remember me but told me- he only remembered the shitbirds- if he did not remember me I was a good recruit in his eyes. Life goes on and we grew wiser and morew squared away as the time went by.

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