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DI Abuse at San Diego
July 21, 2017 Grunt.com Admin

DI Abuse at San Diego

I went through boot camp in 1962, just after the PURGE at PI, and experienced and witnessed abuse almost daily. The first time was when a recruit, the DIs called a porker, was striped to the pull-up bar with web belts and left hanging there, it seemed like a half an hour. The second was more personal. I was under 18 when I went to boot and my birthday came up at the rife range. The senior drill instructor called me to the duty tent. When I reported there he said he had a birthday present for me. His and the two other DIs give me three slugs in the goodie locker.
Filed in: Marine Corps Stories
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Comments

Rick (Richard) Roberts - April 22, 2020

If you wanted to be in the army or air force you joined the wrong outfit. Being a Marine is the proudest moment of my life.

George L Kudlinski - April 22, 2020

I was in SD 12/61 thru 3/62 Plt 2001 and at the age of 17 plus 2 months I owe my success in life to the USMC. The spineless recruit, I would not even soil the name of Marine on that piece of crap probably cried the whole time he was in Boot. I wonder if he even received a Honorable Discharge. I joined to become a Marine, one of the finest fighting units this country has ever seen. To this day the experience of Boot Camp during those days made a MARINE. To this day the proudest day of my life was when the DI called me MARINE. I have been unable to find any of my Plt and I am sure they would agree SD made us Marines and Men.

SEMPER FINE - April 22, 2020

Tango Sierra, Prive! Three shots were all you got during Boot? The adjustments were necessary, and in my experience, usually well deserved. My favorite story not involving me was when one of our Scribes, who was delivering the morning report, got caught smoking an unauthorized cigarette. The D.I., a great guy named Barber, gave him the choice: Charge sheet or “Adjustment”. The scribe wisely chose “Adjustment”, and picked himself up 30 seconds later and nothing more was said. Ribbon Creek was an exception, not the norm by any means. If that’s the worst in 242 years, that’s better than most airlines and other occurrences.Plt. 140, May-Aug. 1973, P. I.

Tom O’Connor - April 22, 2020

I was in Plt. 339 in San Diego, June, 1961. There was wide spread physical abuse by the DI’s; however, it made us all better Marines. One DI could curse for 30 minutes and never repeat himself! It was the first time I ever heard someone say, “Jesus F…ing Christ.” I probably would have been even worse as a DI if I had a bunch of green recruits. We received some of the best training available at the time. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat, but I would do things a lot differently! Semper Fi…

Stanley Kruljac - April 22, 2020

My DI’s Sgt. Bell, Madison and Coen. Tough, you bet, I got punched slapped and all that goes with it. I became a man and better than that I became a Marine. Bell was Senior DI. I remember us sitting on buckets Sunday mornings. Bell would walk past us on the platoon street. I would shake I was so afraid of him. In the long run when we graduated Bell shook our hands and told us we were Marines. Wow. What a day. My training carried me through Vietnam Nam and is still part of who I am. I love my Corps and will to my last breath. Thank God for these special men called Drill Instructors. Semper Fi. Platoon 376.

Michael Helms - April 22, 2020

I was in Plt. 242, arriving Jan. 1967. I’d known enough Marines in high school to know what to expect, so no surprises. My father used to beat me as a kid, and I rumbled with my two older brothers, so I was already fairly “toughened-up” when I got there. The first time we were in our squadbay lined up before our racks, our SDI coldcocked some asshole who had smarted off to him. The maggot hit the deck and was dragged out. Word was he was sent to the motivational platoon. I always pitied those poor pukes. And yeah, I had my share of “correctional therapy” too. When I got to Vietnam with E/2/4 a few months later it all payed off. I made it back to “the World” alive, if not unscathed. Semper Fidelis!

Stan davis - April 22, 2020

I got out of boot camp in December 1972. Full Metal Jacket could be taken from our platoon. I needed a foot up my butt just like a lot of others. It made me a man made to accept responsibility. No regrets ever. Semper Fi.

Thomas Streed, Ph.D. - April 22, 2020

I went thru Boot Camp at MCRD San Diego in 1964. Tthe best place for a whiny-butt like you is in the rear with the gear!

Sgt A.J.Manos - April 22, 2020

I hesitate to post this but in after thought,why not.I was a spoiled,rotten,kid.I was given the either or choice.My brother came home from his 1st tour in Nam.He decided for me.P.I. was the biggest mind blower in my life.My D.I.s’ took away fear and replaced it w/discipline and pride, that I wasn’t completely worthless.My 3 D.I.s’ also made it a point that there is no prejudice between religion or race.That we were all GREEN and our religion would be the Marine Corps.Everything else was secondary and did not apply as long as we were Marines.There was one prejudice remark by my asst D.I. when we 1st formed up.Pvt Shriver was from Mississipee.He asked Shriver what the speed limit in Miss.was.Shriver answered and the platoon cracked up.Big mistake.Shriver is a good Marine.They handed him an 0331 MOS.I’ll never forget the biggest smile on him and how he puffed out his chest full of pride that he got that MOS.Hope he is still around.Semper FI

MSgt Bill Dugan - April 22, 2020

Ribbon Creek was 8 April 1956 I out posted PI 14 April 1956. So I did get hit in boot camp so what.

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