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December 9, 2016 Grunt.com Admin

Remembering MCRDSD

BY: Sgt Ted K Shimono

Just like our fellow recruit that attended MCRDSD, it was a privilege to have gone through boot camp to become a Marine. Having been the only Japanese American in the siries Battalions in 1959, it was sure strange. Many of the senior DI’s were WW11 and Korean War veterans. Yes, I was “thumped” a few times for doing the wrong things at the wrong time.. What recruits go through today is too simple and easy. The only rough part was a junior DI that lost his older brother on Iwo Jima, and boy did I get his hatred as a Japanese recruit in the Marine Corps. The funniest part of bootcamp was when I spilled a pitcher of water all over a DI from the 2nd Battalion. My DI’s laughed about it until graduation. Boot camp toughen me up for what was to come from 1959-1968, Lastly, my grandson fought in iraq and Afganistan and I currently have a greatgrandson deployed. Semper Fi to all Marines from the past, now and into the Corps future!!!!

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Comments

Jim Barber - June 11, 2020

Ted’s funny story about spilling water on the DI is one of dozens that appear in the book “SH*TBIRD! How I Learned to Love the Corps.”

Paul Prosise - June 11, 2020

Due to my father being in construction, we moved about once a year and my last year in high school (McKinley) was in Hawaii. Going to school where the majority of students were Japanese, I soon learned they were very interesting people with an fascinating culture and that they had no more control over the wars their government started than we did. After high school I enlisted in the Marine Corps at Pearl Harbor – MCRD SD Platoon 349, 1958 – 1962. After the Corps my first wife was a Japanese girl from Hawaii and we had two terrific sons.

John McCaffery - June 11, 2020

PLT 243 1957 remember it well. DI’s Maynard, Mettler and Winstanly .

Carl R. Nunnally - June 11, 2020

Nunnally, Carl R., Nothing can beat the “Old Corp”, Punches, spit on from the D.I. screening at you from a Half inch from your face. living in housing with about twenty other Marines, Piss, shit and showing with thirty others crowing you at the same time. Marines now days don’t know what it’s like to become a real MARINE.

Howard Hada - June 11, 2020

I was in Platoon 306 in January 1962…I am also Japanese (from Hawaii) and was made a house mouse. Thumpings were a way of life in boot camp, but some of us needed to “learn” the ways of others who had passed through before us..I graduated with Dress Blues and will forever remember and thank my Drill Instructors! Semper Fidelis!

Carl Cummings - June 11, 2020

I went through boot camp July 1956 Plt 3028 rough but it was great. Semper Fi

Davis, H. - June 11, 2020

“Thump Call” was a daily routine for Platoon 380, MCRD Dago in 1962. I had made it to 30 minutes before graduation without being a recipient. Day dreaming while “dressing by the numbers” for final inspection I knelt down to tie my shoes instead of bending over as directed. I stood inspection a bit lumpy but proud.

Top Pro USMC ’64-’84 - June 11, 2020

There wasn’t much diversity training in those days. I remember the day during boot camp that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. Our Senior DI called the six black guys in the platoon front and center and told them that they no longer had to march at the rear of the platoon. I really don’t think any of us knew what the hell he was talking about until years later. Semper Fi!

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