DI Abuse at San Diego

Comments

GYSGT Danny Marso - April 22, 2020

In reply to bob lake.
OOORAH Bob, I’m glad I was tested, at 73, it is still in me. Definitely couldn’t make it through now but also mighty glad I made it through when I was 18 !

GYSGT Danny Marso ,FMF 1963-1965 - April 22, 2020

Parris Island 1962 ,Plt 262 ! The DI’s Were Rough and Tough, we got bounced around ,but they had to make you tough, because Marines don’t fight good guys. How else are you going to make a Marine out of the average American 18 year old ? We were tested,and when we graduated we were ready! I am glad I went to Parris Island, if I hadn’t,I probably would always wonder if I could have. The U S Marine Corps molded me,and built character that has seen me me through a lifetime! My oldest Son went to Desert Storm,and before he deployed, he said ,”we are well trained,and we are ready to do this!” So proud of my Son,and fellow Marine! OOORAH !

bob lake - April 22, 2020

I joined the Marines in 1957.I went into Marines fully aware that it was going to test me and push me to the limits of my endurance and Boot Camp at Parris Island exceeded my 18 year old expectations.I was “thumped ” when I deserved to be “thumped ,but overall if you did what you were told and when you were told you were treated fairly by our DIs. I not sure I could make it through PI twice ,but I thank God I made it through once.

Dan Corum - April 22, 2020

Thump call! I was in boot camp in San Diego in the spring/summer of 1963 and it did occur- not to everyone. I did receive thump call and just felt it was the “right of passage” to be a Marine.

Marine 0331 - April 22, 2020

In reply to S/Sgt KR Thomas.
I went through Parris a Island in 1981 with platoon 2063 and I am sure it was not as tough in regards to the physical “abuse”, as it was in the 60’s and beyond, and I say the word abuse sarcastically, because I would have felt cheated if I got training any less tough than what I got. SSgt Krause, Sgt Ishmael and Sgt Mazenko were all tough and sadistic but, for shit’s sake, we’re Marines. We are different from every other branch and our boot camp, be it San Diego or Parris Island, is part of what makes us different. Anyone who bitches about the physicality of our training is either a pussy or just fucking jealous. Semper Fi Jarheads!!!! Cpl Mike Kunkel. 0331 81-85, Lima 3/8

Bumper - April 22, 2020

Parris Island 1st BN Plt 115. (1962). Thanks to my DI’s Sgt. Panish, Sgt Grelish, and Sgt, LaCouisere. I will never forget them. They were tough but they made me into a proud Marine and a successful person.

lenny Pugliese - April 22, 2020

Platoon 1026 August 1967,DI took the four squad leaders in the head because the platoon was screwing up.We were standing at attention,he came in front of each of us and one at a time punched us in the jaw.I made the mistake of gritting my teeth and my back tooth got knocked out.Before I left for sick bay he yelled,what happened to you maggot,I yelled,PUGAL STICK SIR.I made it back from Nam.Thank you Staff Sgt O’Connor.SF

Dan Foley Sgt 60-73 - April 22, 2020

Hey John Carr – – Had a Sgt Gleason as JrDI in Sep60. Small. facial scars. Was a good DI along with Senior SSG Lee (later met as Maj Lee on LPH) and SSG Patton. This lil runt made 13 yrs.

Marine3g - April 22, 2020

That was 55 years ago, buttercup. And I would hope things haven’t changed.

Pat - April 22, 2020

It’s really simple, if you think about it. The Corps wants to make hardcore combat fighters who’ll be ready for war. Their formula for this is called ‘boot camp.’ (Note: all the other service-branches only call theirs ‘basic training’). The Corps’ mission is to breakdown the individual (mentally and physically), in order to determine if an individual can adapt and persevere through adversity. For this to be accomplished effectively, it must be done within the three realms of our learned reality — professionally, personally, and socially. The last realm is what politicians have been trying to change (the Democrats mostly). I’m glad I went through it, with much similar examples described in this forum (..either witnessed or experienced personally). I’m proud to have been a Marine. I still am..! –Pat (Marine ’81 to ’87… and beyond!)