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So anyways, we're on this float---

So anyways, we're on this float---

It’s 1969 and I’m with Fox Company, 2nd. Bn./ 2nd Mar. Reg/ 2nd. Marine Division on a Caribbean float. We’re doing jungle training in Panama with the Black Palm Jungle Survival school; which is run by the Army’s Green Beret unit. We were waiting to learn about using a Zip Line for a river crossing. It’S true, we were riding on zip lines years before it became a fun experience that you paid to do. Like I was saying, we’re standing around this Army Captain as he demonstrated how to make a floating device from our ponchos. I guess he didn’t understand that Marines know how or are taught to swim before leaving boot camp. He also told us how to use a zip line in order to get back across this same river. When questioned about the safety of this wire, the captain stated that he would give a month pay to learn what it felt like just before this wire broke. Well, we took our turns swimming across this stream and climbing up this tree using a ladder. I’m not sure where this ladder came from. I never saw anyone humping one of these in the bush. But I digress, I was number three in line so I’m sure about this. A Marine put the strap over his head and under his arms—he takes one step off and about to become air born when—you guessed it—the wire broke. We got it fixed without the benefit of instructions from the Green Beret. We finished the training without further incident or this captain. By the way, he never made good on his promise to give the Marine his paycheck and I’m sure this young man could have used the money—-a PFC only made about $105.00 a month back then. Now for those who are wondering about making a floating device using your poncho, you lay your poncho flat on the ground and take off all your clothes and put them in the center. Then using your boot laces, you tie the four corners together and get into the water holding on your poncho. You then quickly get out of the water and open the poncho up and get redress. My concerns about this: no weapon came across with you (maybe that’s why “they” exchanged the M-14 for the M-16—it must float), you are butt naked standing on the river bank trying to dry off before putting your clothes back on (I guess the enemy have to stop laughing before they can shot you full of holes), and , lastly, you may have noticed that I didn’t say anything about your pack and other gear that is still on the other side of the river. I guess that would be the least of your concerns as you are running through the jungle butt naked, bare footed, wet, and without a weapon. No wonder those Green Berets are so tough and few. oh well, it’s like Capt. George, my CO, told me as my feet were turning a different color from being so wet for so long (remember the floating device), I finished the Black Palm Survival Training.
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Comments

Harold Allie - June 1, 2020

as I recall in 1951 as a PFC it was twenty dollars twice a month on pay call except when the powers that be wanted to build the IWO memorial in DC they paid us twenty two dollars and the two dollars went right to the next table and you donated toward the IWO memorial or you were in a heap of trouble

Bern Ketelsen - June 1, 2020

I was in plt 2008 in 1970 and went through drown proofing and got my butt kicked out of the pool when I was discovered to have 3 day measles.I was quarantined and put in isolation from other members of my platoon; It would have been easier just to have drown that day. I was labeled a sickly puke by my DI that day of discovery.

R. Roger Humberson - June 1, 2020

I was in P.I. May, June,& July of 1965. I was drown proofing then , & it works.

BRENDAN MC CARRON. 1ST MAW DANANG VIETNAM. 1966-1968. - June 1, 2020

TOM . PARIS ISLAND 1965. IT WAS CALLED DROWN PROOFING THEN ALSO THE D.I. SHOUTED EVERY ONE IN THE POOL. IF YOU SANK TO THE BOTTOM AND DID NOT COME BACKUP YOU WERE CALLED A SINKER. IF DID COME BACKUP YOU WERE A FLOOTER. ONLY FLOOTERS HAD TO DO THE DROWN PROOFING. IT SURE WAS HAIRY. IF YOU TRIED TO GRAP ON TO EDGE OF THE POOL THE D.I. WOULD PUSH YOU BACK TO THE CENTER. SOME GUYS GAVE UP AND SANK AFTER TRYING TO THREAD WATER FOR A WHILE. I VERY NEARLY BECAME ONE OF THEM BUT FEARED THE RESULT WHEN THEY DRAG ME OUT FROM THE BOTTOM SO I TRYED TO MAKE IT WORK. IT WORKED. I SWEAR I COULD HAVE TAKEN A SHORT NAP JUST FLOATING ON TOP OF THE WATER, I REMEMBER YOU USED A MOTION WITH YOUR LEGS TO KEEP YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER EVERY 4 OR 5 SECONDS SO YOU COULD TAKE A BREATH OF AIR. IT WAS AMAZING AND I AM STILL A BELIVER. IF EVER GET STUCK OUT IN THE OCEAN I WILL TRY TO REMEMBER HOW TO DO IT. SEMPER FI MARINE.

Don Tresca SSgt 63-73 - June 1, 2020

Just two short points. I hope the picture accompanying this article is not supposed to represent the actual training, that is unless it was around the second war. Having been a Marine Corps Tanker in the 60’s and 70’s I can tell you the tank in the picture is not. Secondly the base pay for a Put in 1963 was $72.00 per month so the one that thought 65. in 1969 was a little off. In RVN in 67/68 we made 65. per mo. combat pay.

Stump - June 1, 2020

went through the same training, zip line across then make a float to take gear back across. we used a fire team float where all rilfes and 782 gear on one float. I agree up above 90% of us were Nam vets and it did have a major current. You always had atleast one who forgot to let go and land in the water on the zip line and he would do a header into a tree on the other side.

Jim Wilson “New Guy” - June 1, 2020

$105.00 ? As I recall it was more like $62.00 a month take home

Bob Sorrell - June 1, 2020

As it was at MCRD San Diego in 1970.

Tom Mosher - June 1, 2020

Did the same training with 3/6 in 1968. I remember a rope not a wire. Trouble with rope it stretched and last guys were left over water. Maybe why they switched to a wire. I remember that river, had nets a both ends of training area. Two reasons, one catch the guys who made lousy rafts and the other to keep the Crocs out. Also a 7knot currant. That whole place was the pitts, snakes, rats, bugs, etc. Guys were unhappy to say the least, 90% Viet Nam returnees in our Co. alone.

Andrew H. (Andy) Gardner - June 1, 2020

Called drownproofing PI Spring 1969. Never been able too swim, I sink and stay sunk. Every time I was pulled from the pool, Sgt Reid said something about monkeys, sex, and football

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