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New Words

I arrived at MCRD San Diego, 18 years old from the midwest and we were gathered together and issued a sweat shirt and a cover (hat) fitted to our head with a full head of hair, a pail and a brush. Then we went to the barber shop and all our hair was cut off, the cover became to large for our heads, but went down over our ears. Our DI’s shouted out the word “Shit Bird” I had never heard that word before, but I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I was one standing there at attention, cover over my ears, a pail, a brush and a sweat shirt, still in civilian pants and shoes. Not sure of the timing, but we were marched to the quanset hut where we would spend 3 months and with the pail and brushes we scrubbed everything from top to bottom, in the meantime being sprayed by water type fire extinguishers by the DI’s, who were shouting some brand new words that I had never heard before…I had not been a prissy person, but I was shocked at some of the new words we heard and learned.

WOW – guess it was a kind of shock treatment, We then were marched over to get our issue of clothing, locker, and we were constantly bombarded with the opposite of love and affection! I buried my smile in a 4 X 4 hole I dug in the sand, no longer intentionally smiling – If we filtered out the new words the DI was uttering, there would not have been very much said.

What a time from being a Real Shit Bird to 3 months later when our Platoon marched at our graduation, all so very proud to graduate from being a recruit to becoming a MARINE! that was in 1953 and now at 81 years old I am still Proud to be a MARINE! No longer a shit bird! Semper Fi

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Comments

G.J.lavelle - April 7, 2020

Looking for grad. book Plt. 226 Spring 1858 or photo of myself GERALD J. LAVELLE.

Jim Mitchell - April 7, 2020

In reply to Charles w. McKellar.
Semper Fi Mustang.

R G Rycraft Sgt(E-4) - April 7, 2020

In reply to Wayne Whitehead.
Platoon 318, PI, in July 51, got heat stroke, hauled off to Beaufort Naval Hospital for a week, transferred to Platoon 324, graduated there. Would love to hear from old buddies from 318. Was an Army brat, got a crew cut and practically memorized the Guidebook for Marines figuring I’d get a jump on boot camp. Damn DI’s weren’t impressed, but sure impressed the hell out of me. Love the Corps to this day, regret I didn’t make it a career. Semper Fi and to hell with that new Corps Oorah stuff—GUNG HO’s the word!!!!

Jerrry D Lee - April 7, 2020

MCRD 1959, one week after high school grad. On the foot prints and to quanset huts and time at camp Mathews, with platoon 334 then to ChuLai with force Logistic Support motor transport. July 1960 transferred to. MCLFDC Camp Pendleton working with MCLFDC And Discharged.

John Carr - April 7, 2020

In reply to Cpl Herrle.
Cpl Herrie, I lost my left kidney Oct 1986. I also have problems with my right kidney and a nervous disorder. The Va is now paying out on these claims. Pull up Camp Lejeune Water Problem and it tells you the ailments that the water caused. There are several types of cancer on the list. I wish you the best.

Joel Dube - April 7, 2020

In reply to Jimmy Bandarek.
Could have sworn it was longer then 8 weeks got to MCRDSD 7 NOV 68 have to get my boot camp book and look it up. I was 17 at 18 was in the Nam. Do not know witch was scarier. Good night MAGGOTS

Fran Long - April 7, 2020

In reply to Thearle J. Lacey, Jr. 1970XXX.
cpl Long here, I was at p I sept 1960…..and i don’t remember a thing……:) But i know I’ll aways be a marine. “Bay of Pigs”. Thank God I got out before nam really got going.

Fredric S. Garber - April 7, 2020

i don’t remember the sweatshirt but do remember the cussing and we got our first issue of any kind of uniform items when we got our whole utility issue. by the way I graduated from paris island on august 1967

Sgt. Donald H. Kinum, Jr. - April 7, 2020

MCRD San Diego, 1955, Platoon 143, Right Guide. Most of the platoon was from St. Louis. A few from Texas and IL. Senior DI removed due to mistreating a recruit. Can’t remember his replacements name, but the Assistant DI’s were Sgt Richards (Richardson ?) and Cpl. Y. Ota. Great DI’s! Great experience! First assignment was to NAPS at USN Base, Bainbridge, MD; then to MB Annapolis, and then to HqHq, 2nd MarDiv, Camp Lejeune where I was assigned to the Division Sgt/Major’s office (Sgt/Maj Mike Burgess). Love the Corps to this day. Sorry I didn’t make it a career. Would like to hear from anybody with whom I shared duty assignments. Semper Fi !

Mike C - April 7, 2020

February 1957 Remember the gray sweat shirt, bucket issue, hair cut. Was ask if i wanted my side burns was told to hold out my hands I,ll never forget T/Sgt Underwood Sgt Stoffer and Cpl Brisco. Plt 219 dan Diego Also the hick to Camp Matthews

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