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Parris Island Broken Arm 1970

Parris Island Broken Arm 1970

By Dennis Nowak

On July 5th, 1970 I arrived at Parris Island after a long bus ride from Cleveland, Ohio. Yes, there were yellow footprints. I was 17 at the time and my Dad had served in the Army so naturally, I had to join the Marines. Anyway, I was a pretty squared away recruit. Tried to just look forward, stay under the radar and get the hell out of there as quick as I could.

MCRD Parris Island1970 broke arm 2

Mind you, I had signed up for a 4 year hitch. I cannot for the life of me remember what platoon I was in but I do remember wood barracks and was on the second floor. To make a long story short, about 2 weeks before we were to graduate I cracked a bone in right forearm. I have no idea how it happened only that my right arm started to swell up like a summer sausage and at night the pain was getting pretty uncomfortable. At that time we were full sleeve fatigues, buttoned at the throat for PT and drill…… which kept me undetected and under the radar. I would sneek into the head at night to wrap a cold towel around my arm fighting the swelling and my fears, my huge fears, that I would be sent back to start all over again in yellow footprints. I was bummed, really bummed. Anyway, about a week before we were to graduate we did some small obstacle course and I could not make the rope climb. That arm was broke and there was no hiding it anymore. My SDI, SSGT Chadwick took one look at my arm and hustled me of to sickbay, x-rays and a subsequent cast. I cannot put into word almost 47 years later the feelings of despair sitting in that sickbay ward room just KNOWING I was going to have to do Parris Island all over again. And I was so close…….. After the cast, they assigned me to Casual Company for another couple of days all the while I was dreaming on how to steal a car to get off of the island because there was no way I doing boot camp all over again…..! After 3 days in Casual Company SSGT Chadwick came over picked me up and took me back to the barracks where he had assembled what was left of our platoon (after 10 weeks) and made an announcement that “I would be graduating with the rest of the class”. Guys, I had tears my eyes. At that moment my ‘bunky’ came up to me and he and SSGT Chadwick took me to my footlocker/bunk and showed me that while I was in sickbay my bunky, Dan (can’t remember his last name but that’s him standing to my left in the group photo) had pitched-in and shined all my brass, boots and shoes and generally got ALL of my gear squared away for graduation. I will never, ever forget that moment. As you can see in the photos I graduated on the parade deck and my Dad came down also. My platoon moved on. I stayed in Casual Company as a brig-chaser for another 2 months before the cast came off and I could head up to Lejeune to complete my training, then on to 3/7 at Pendelton/ Keflavik, Iceland/ and Quantico. My DI’s were SSGT Chadwick, SGT Evans and a corporal whose name I can’t remember. Got out a Sergeant and like most Marines I’ve talked to over the years they all say they should have stayed in. I agree. Best decision I ever made was the Marine Corps. Worst decision was not staying in. That’s my story. I would welcome any contact from Marines in my platoon as I’ve lost photos, year books,etc…. Semper Fi. Sgt Dennis Nowak .

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Comments

RAYMOND FUSTON - June 29, 2020

Your Broken arm story is so Marine Corp! Marines pulling together helping the team! Race never plays a part of the team! Its Marine First and that’s what counts Nothing more or less. Simper Fi!

T Montana - June 29, 2020

SGT .T. MONTANA Says I was in , PLT 154 – 1st Bn PI 14 AUG 1972 SR DI was SSGT Bishop & Sgt Kincaid , was wondering what ever happen to them , ALSO looking for PLT / Grad Book 14 AUG 1972 PLT 154 , I would be happy to pay for a copy . Semper Fi

Dennis - June 29, 2020

You know, you are absolutely correct about the Marine Corps being ‘burned into our souls’. I went in with a childhood buddy of mine. Steve only did 3 years instead of my 4. After he got out he kicked around in construction for a year or two and decided to stand in the yellow footprints again only this time it was at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Steve flew Hueys and then Blackhawks for the Army for another 32 years and finally retired as a CWO4. To this day I refer to him as a Marine, as does he, and the Army never comes up. Go figure, huh? Burned in deep. Semper Fi, Gunny.

GySgt Jim Gowen (Ret) - June 29, 2020

Aye Aye, Sergeant Major!

GySgt Jim Gowen (Ret) - June 29, 2020

Nothing to feel bad about, Devildog. I was fortunate enough to hang on to my red guide book with a few notes. Lost most of my momentos a long time ago. We have the heart of the Marine Corps forever burned into our souls. That’s all that matters. Semper Fi.

JOHN F POGOZELSKI - June 29, 2020

PL 362 1958 3BATTALION THE OLD METAL HUTS NOW I MUST TELL YOU THAT WAS THE REAL OLD CORP AT THE ISLAND , I WILL CARRY THE CORP WITH Me MY WHOLE LIFE ,,I’M SO PROUD OF IT AND WHEN ITS MY TIME WILL BE PLACED IN A MILITARY CEMETARY WITH MY BROTHERS OF ALL THE SERVICE AS IT WILL BE MY TIME TO GUARD THE GATES

Don Evans - June 29, 2020

I was at PI from April 15 to July 12 1963 PLT 327 Q Company. Like many of you, this is one experience I wouldn’t trade for the world. I did not go to nam, but rather stayed state side all 4 years. Spent time at Camp Le June, Little Creek in Norfolk VA, and my final tour at Quantico VA. Still have my Platoon Book and this allows me to relive many of the moments I was there at PI. Semper Fi to all.

james - June 29, 2020

Do you remember Ssgt. C. L. Johnson? I have been looking for him since 1972.

Dave Porter - June 29, 2020

In 68 1st Battalion–outer limits- wood barracks 2nd Battalion–twilight zone – wood barracks 3rd battalion– Disneyland- brick barracks

James Riley - June 29, 2020

Plt 1001, Sept. 6th to Dec. 18 1972 …..Nothing like PI. Went in when I was 16. After about 3 days . I was wondering what the Hell was I thinking . Didn’t have a choice, had to grow up. Would do it all over again. The United States Marine Corp taught me a lot about being a man and a Father. My Dad was in the Army , he was in the Korea war. He died when I was 7 in 1963 from Agent Orange. So I had to grow. The Marine Corp is like no other. We are Brother and Sisters of the Corp. I for one Thank you all for your service and Love for Country…Semper Fi to all

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