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Endless Bends And Thrust

Endless Bends And Thrust

Following up on comments/pic from Sgt. Whipple and Cpl. Griffin, I’ve attached additional current pictures of the 3rd Bn. barracks at P.I. My wife and I visited in early March of this year and were sad to see the ongoing demolition of my home during July-October of 1964 as member of platoon 366. Can’t help but remember our junior drill instructor, Cpl. Odachowski, who frequently shared such critical wisdom as “If the Marine Corps wanted you to have a wife, it would have issued you one”, when he wasn’t overseeing endless bends and thrusts… a special man and I hope he is alive and well today.

Brian Farney, Sgt.

3rd Battalion Barracks 2016 demolition from a distance3rd Battalion Barracks 2016 demolition up close

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Comments

T MONTANA - July 11, 2020

Tony Cassidy
17 OCT 2019

Platoon 154 Graduated 14 AUGUST 1972 , Parris Island . Sr DI SSG Bishop – SGT Kincaid

SEMPER FI MARINES

Robert Johnson - July 11, 2020

I had the great pleasure of being in Company Q, 3rd Battalion from July 4, 1962 until October 1962 while undergoing recruit training. Following 2 years with H/2/6 at Camp LeJeune and the requisite floats, I went to Drill Instructors School in May 1965. I had the great pleasure of being assigned to Company Q, 3rd Battalion as a JDI. I worked with Sgt. Richard Wells, Sgt. Oscar Tuell and numerous other great Marines, to include Cpl. Odachowski and Cpl. Joe Castello. What an adventure working with those guys and 120 recruits as RVN began. After that, it was off to RVN and the 9th Marines for a stint. Whatever I may have achieved in life, I owe to the Marine Corps.

Cartwright - July 11, 2020

Barracks, Hollywood Marines ain’t got no Barracks, WTF ?

james angelo - July 11, 2020

Stepped on The Grounds of University of Parris Island in 1959. Transport from Boston Ma. was by Train. Although there was a dinning car and sleeper cars, we were confined to one car, (the seat backs adjusted). U Upon arriving in Yamasee, (Yes there were yellow footprints), we were trucked to recruit receiving to make up the quota of sixty turds, (Platoon complement). I was # sixty – three, so it was hurry up and wait !!! When we realized our complete number as a platoon, we were designated as Plt 112 Charlie Co. You can forget a lot of people in your life, but Never Your Drill Instructors’! Ours were from The Korean Conflict. Sr. Gunnery Sgt. Wondolowski, Jr.(s) Staff Sgt. Hatchell, Sgt. Fear. The only brick were 2nd Batt. 3d. Batt. were Quonset Huts, and 1st. Batt. were wood. I still remember polishing the deck ,, two maggots, (one to steer and one to sit on the machine to hold it down, (I think), also, we had a “House Mouse”. Now how many remember that term !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sgt Bill Riley - July 11, 2020

Enjoyed the comments. I was at PI August 1953,from there went to the bird cage in Tennessee and later overseas to Okanawa with 3rd. Marines,3rd Tank Battalion as a tank commander on B33.Would like to hear from anyone stationed with me at these stations.

CWO4 (Ret) M. F. Weaver (Plt 334) - July 11, 2020

I spent my first months at P.I. from June-Sept. ’65 with SSgt Mortis as our Senior DI. He retired as a SgtMaj and passed away a year or two ago. The room at the back one Marine called the “oven” was called the “heat locker” by our DIs and we had similar experiences in it as he did. We also kept out rifles in it after they had been cleaned for the final inspection. I was just there last weekend and the skeletons of the barracks are still there, as is that of the messhall — basically, only the floors and roofs and the columns holding it all up. The only remaining walls were of the heat locker/ovens, which appeared to be poured concrete. There was no one around on Saturday and we were able to recon inside the barriers and “cumshaw” some a souvenir brick. Semper Fi, Devildogs!

David Earl Tyre…………Sgt………..U.S.M.C. - July 11, 2020

After reading the comments and looking at the demolished concrete barracks, I have to recall my time at P.I.. Joined September, 1954, was sworn in at Macon, GA on October 22, 1954, bussed to P.I. that night and was on the Island and all Hell broke out. My platoon, 437, 1st Bn. formed on October 26, 1954. There were only WW-2 wooden barracks at that time and we were lucky enough to get the lower deck in one of them. Our barracks was right across the parade field and close to the outdoor theater. Anybody remember that? Our Senior D.I., a T/Sgt. Allen, from from Lyons, GA announced one night that we were going to go watch “The Sands of Iwo Jima”and see if it couldn’t instill a little Isprit de Corps in our sorry asses! I was awed. Incidentally, Sgt. Allen was relieved of his duties at about week three for beating the crap out of a recruit from Washington, D.C.. I asked for armor, got Sea Duty, which was a blessing, as I made two “Med” cruises and saw some of Europe. My last duty station was at Camp Lejeune, 2nd. Bn., 2nd. Marine regiment, 81 mortars. We were the “War Lords.” Read “the battle of Tarawa” and you will see why. That battalion caught hell on Red beach Two! Love the Corps! Sometimes wished I had stayed in, but I think providence had a lot to do with that decision. Belong to the Marine Corps League at Brunswick, GA………………Semper Fi !!

Dan Bryars - July 11, 2020

I was in the same series as Sgt Farney, platoon 367. I remember his Jr. D.I., Cpl. Odachowski, as being the best cadence caller I ever heard. I always enjoyed, no matter how bad things were, hearing him call cadence.

Lucien J. Bodkin III, Sgt. - July 11, 2020

Well said Brother! Even though I went through PI in the Second Battalion, the Marine Corps was the absolute best and greatest thing that ever happened to me – the Corps effectively gave me a fairy tail life. God Bless, and may He always keep, the United States Marine Corps. Semper Fi!

John Hurley - July 11, 2020

I was in PI February, 1969, Plt 120, and our Sr DI was SSgt. Goolsby. We were the best of our Series. The 3rd BN. seemed very new to us, as we were in 1st Bn, and the old wooden WW II style barracks. The floors were worn from many recruits of years gone by, and sweat from doing “indoor exercises” while dressed in our winter uniforms and coats. We did stay in the new barracks while at the Rifle Range. It was like staying in a hotel at the time, so new! I can not thank SSgt. Goolsby, and his staff, enough for makings us Marines. I cherish those memories. I would like to hear from anyone else that was in Plt 120, in Feb/Mar/Apr, 1969. Email me at hurls12@gmail.com

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