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Gig Line

This isn’t a story, really. It’s an observation, and I guess a gripe. In September 1967 I arrived in country on the day that my recruit Platoon Commander (MCRD San Diego, Platoon 356, April 1966 ) GySgt Robert C. Roper was killed on Con Thien while serving as company gunny of H/2/9. Gunny Roper was the inspiration for the current DI Statue on the edge of the grinder at MCRD. Then SSgt Roper was the poster quintessential image of a Marine, an infantry veteran of Korea who enlisted in the Corps at 17, and the first Marine I saw at 2100 hours when I stood on the yellow footprints and began to wonder what I had gotten myself into. I write this to draw attention to a situation that to my eye, is all to prevalent in the way Marines of today present themselves in any uniform other than utilities. Call it bitchy if you wish, but here it is: we learned, well, we were forced to learn, that pride in the uniform we were about to earn the honor of wearing was paramount in how we viewed and would present ourselves as Marines. We shined our brass every day, and spit shined our boots every day, and, when we were given them before graduation, spit shined our dress shoes, and the visor of our barracks cover frame. Our gig lines, when first standing final inspection in, for me, the tropical uniform, was perfect, from the platen of the tropical shirt, through the belt buckle, and through the fly. I recently attended a “welcome home Vietnam veterans” ceremony at the DLI in Monterey where I observed two Marine sergeants, recruiters, both of whom had gig lines that made me cringe. Then, in the recent edition of Leatherneck, the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps appears on the cover with his belt buckle completely off the gig line. GySgt Roper is spinning in his casket, and I, for one, long for the day when the one thing, in garrison, that caused us to stand out from all the other services was the absolute perfection in the appearance of our uniforms. we had no anodized anything, including decorations. It was a difficult mindset to reacquire, after returning from Vietnam where we shined and polished nothing, and wore no rank insignia except on our soft utility covers, and of course never bathed, but reacquire it we did. I guess the old Corps is gone forever. Why? Stateside Marines are supposed to be perfect in uniform, from the Commandant on down. That is apparently not the case any longer. Do current Marines find that acceptable, or am I just an old fart learning for another era?
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Comments

Howard Koenig - May 4, 2020

In reply to Whit Clark.
I remember it. Went through bootcamp in 1964 and after AIT was assigned to the 10th Marines at Camp Lejeune. We were some of the 1st to be issued the new dress greens. While passing a Gunny with an Ike jacket who saluted me thinking I was an officer and then realized I was a private, did I catch hell. I too still align my clothing. Semper Fi

McWhorter - May 4, 2020

I don’t think I ever knew that there was a name for this alignment, but it’s something I practiced even before I entered The Corps. I still get called “obsessive/compulsive” for my attention to this kind of detail. I find it odd that a young man should have to join The Corps before learning the concept of STYLE, and even then some still don’t “get it”. I was a peacetime Marine (1959-’65) and felt that, since I wasn’t having to lay my life on the line daily, the least I could do was to maintain a modicum of decorum and try to make a positive first impression wherever I might be seen while in uniform (or in civvies for that matter). I’m delighted to learn that so many of you, out there, recognize the value of attention to details which others seem to find insignificant. However, not to put too fine a point on it, this isn’t merely about how you wear your clothes, but reflective of how you conduct your life. Semper Fi Marines

crosby - May 4, 2020

military alignment looks to be a thing of the past. sad. the Marine Corps is not for everyone. but, unfortunately it’s be promoted as such. average is the norm of today’s Marine Corps. sad, but true.

Ed Giddings Sergeant of the Marines 1969-1973 - May 4, 2020

In reply to Greg F.
Amen to that brother. I NEVER stand around with my hands in my pockets no Matter How cold it is! My gig line remains Perfect and has since boot camp! Will remain perfect until I die!

Whit Clark - May 4, 2020

PI in August ’57 ! If you weren’t aligned, polished and shined, big trouble! At 78 I still try to make sure I am aligned.Anyone remember the”Ike Jacket”?

Edward Little - May 4, 2020

In reply to Greg F.
And that’s why Chesty let God create Pogs.

Edward Little - May 4, 2020

In reply to Greg F.
If the stories I’ve read about Chesty Puller are true, then perhaps the story in which he said, if ever being made Commandant of the Marine Corps, he would replace the Cole machines with beer machines and have the WMs shine the male Marines’ boots. After all, a Marine’s job is to fight, not to shine shoes

Todd D. Boucher - May 4, 2020

In reply to J.R. Phillips Sr. SGT..
Still to this day are my alignment points are exactly where they were to be in Boot. Tie ending at the buckle. Edge of the buckle in line with the edge of fly of our trousers. I don’t remember what we called it, I just know I wasn’t messing up during an inspection

Greg F - May 4, 2020

In reply to A. Troy Morris, Sgt. USMC 1964-68.
We just called it taking pride in our uniform and not dressing like a sailor.

Greg F - May 4, 2020

In reply to Bulldogman.
The Marines are this country’s last real military. There are and were those who have wormed their way into positions of power that hate the Marines for just that reason. Please write letters to Mattis and the Commandant ASAP. 0311, E2/7, 1974-1980

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