Skip to content
FREE STANDARD SHIPPING! Use code SHIPNOW at checkout
FREE STANDARD SHIPPING! Use code SHIPNOW at checkout
June 20, 2017 Grunt.com Admin

In Reply to "D.I. Motivation and Inspiration"

The night before graduation, we were getting ready, spit shining shoes, cleaning M-14’s, getting the last of the speeches from our senior Drill Instructor. He looked at all of us with a look we had never seen on his face before. “You’re all going to Vietnam. Do you think you’re tough after what we put you through here? You’ll know how tough you are if and when you hear these five words-“Gentleman, prepare to defend yourselves”. When it actually happened to me,my blood ran cold. Tell that to some 21 year old kid today-they don’t have a fucking clue! I can’t believe that in 3 months it will be 50 years ago-half a century!

Filed in: Marine Corps Stories
Previous article Lineage of the USMC Eagle, Globe and Anchor

Comments

Al Tufts - June 8, 2020

It’s 51 years for me in less than 2 mths. I was 19 when I went to Nam. Still a teenager but a full blown Marine. No regrets. Except with the VA.

RKOtto, GySgt retired - June 8, 2020

I noticed that also. The DI’s in front are out of step, at least that is what it looks like.

Al Martinez SSgt - June 8, 2020

Scariest words I ever heard was a whisper one evenimg at Con Thien May 1967 “…fix bayonet’s”. That sound is still in my mind like is was yesterday. Semper Fi

JOHN DAVILA - June 8, 2020

Correction: I joined February 11, 1966.

Cpl John Davila - June 8, 2020

Joined February 11, 1967, platoon 237 in Parris Island and arrived in-country – Danang – July 26. Drill Instructor gave us our MOS, mostly all were 0311s. Never told we wouldn’t make it. I knew I would be going to Vietnam. By the grace of God I made it back on July 16, 1967, a casualty. I never stop thinking of the Marines that didn’t come home. 3rd plt, F Co, 2/3/3.

bob crosby - June 8, 2020

50 years here, as well. platoon 3052, honor platoon. no streamers.

Robert H Bliss - June 8, 2020

I was just 17 by 3 days when I decided that i should do something with my life then go to college. In less then a week, I was at Parris Island in the summer of 68′. I made it through Boot Training with one thought put in my head by the Drill Instructors—I’m going to die in Viet Nam and almost did. But I volunteered to go just to prove them wrong—and did! I guess I already mention that fact. Now I look at my 18 year old grandson and wonder if he’ll march off to a war just to prove something to someone. Semper Fi my brothers and sisters Bliss,R.H., 0341,G Co. 2/5. 1970

Cpl. Ron Deverick - June 8, 2020

I’m wondering why, on the day before graduation, would you still have your M-14. We turned ours in about a week before we graduated MCRD San Diego. It will 50 years this Wednesday that we left Chicago for boot camp.

Robert Goodwin - June 8, 2020

It will be 48 years this 0ctober, as a 19 year old squad leader with Hotel 2/7, I was ordered to take my squad and assault a dug-in enemy position. By the grace of God we prevailed. Semper Fi Marines!

Sgt Tom Harrison ’69-’72 - June 8, 2020

Not having any news for awhile, our Drill Instructors brought a newspaper to Edson Range just before qual day. They looked at us and laughed. Then one said China had just crossed over into N. Vietnam. They also said immediately after qualifying we were to head back to MCRD and report to the Fleet for immediate embarkation to S. Vietnam. Needless to say scores were about 10 points higher then our pre-qual scores.

Leave a comment

* Required fields