The Day We Were Born

Comments

John Annis - June 28, 2020

I remember them at P.I. 1971.1st Battalion Plt.147.Also at Camp Geiger. Not a comfortable ride,but be marching.

Perry Marple 1st Tanks - June 28, 2020

That was the newer cattle car ours was longer flat green wood seats.1961

al jeronymo - June 28, 2020

Remember it well. Took the train from Boston to Yemassee. Boarded a bus to PI. January 1966 Plt 213, 2nd Battalion. Never road cattle cars until Camp Gieger and then at Camp Pendleton. Joining the Corps was the best thing I did besides getting married. Semper Fi till I die! 1 tour Camp Hansen , Okinawa, 1 tour MCRD PISC, 1 tour Mag-39, Quang Tri, Vietnam. Sgt E-5

Y. D. Hodge former Sgt. always a MARINE.. - June 28, 2020

Remember the good ole days ,weeks, months at P.I.. Oct. 1965 platoon 394, Sgt. Hilton, Sgt. Thornton, Sgt. Payne. We graduated 2 Dec. 1965. In country 1967 /1968, 7th. Comm. Battalion.

LLoyd “Red” Carroll - June 28, 2020

June 1961….rode a train from New Orleans to San Diego 3 days. Rode cattle car from train station to MCRD SD. Also rode cattlecar from MCRD to Camp Pendleton for ITR.

Bill Campbell - June 28, 2020

I went to PI in Feb59. I remember flying from NYC to Charleston and then being bused to PI. Only cattle car rides I recall were at Camp Geiger during ITR. We walked and ran to our 2nd Bn barracks from the receiving area when our recruit platoon (Plt 211) was formed.

Ben Jeffrey - June 28, 2020

My intro to cattle cars was at OCS at Quantico in 1972. . My buddy and I went through the admin check in and then were put on a cattle car – when it was full, off we went to our company area. When the cattle car stopped a DI stepped aboard and said “Alright Candidates – play time is over – you have 30 seconds to clear this vehicle and the last one off belongs to me !!” I wasn’t last – but will remember how he could make the word “candidate” seem so low a creature.

Fred Romero - June 28, 2020

For me it’s been 54 years, and back then at MCRD San Diego (Plt. 166) we didn’t have cattle cars because everywhere we went was on foot either marching or running. Still a proud Marine after all these years, Semper fi to all my USMC brothers and sisters… I’ve got your back until my last breath!

Mike Pelucca - June 28, 2020

I was born 21 June 1966 in San Diego at 17 yrs old. I remember well that fun filled day arriving with several friends who were not recognizable after the barbers styled our hair. Ah what a warm welcome from the Pfc’s who guided us on our bus ride from the airport to MCRD. Heads down and no effing talking, then those beautiful yellow welcome mats just for us. What a summer vacation that was – I wouldn’t trade it for anything. We didn’t use Cattle Cars until ITR at Camp Pendleton. Semper Fi Mike Pelucca – Sgt 1966 – 70 , Vietnam , 67-69 Artillery

Mike Blackwell - June 28, 2020

Train from Raleigh, NC to Yemassee, SC on July 5, 1964. First fire watch, bus to PI next morning, greeted at receiving by loving DIs. Placed all aftershave, etc gently into very clean trash containers. Met our DIs next morning and began our fun as Company B, Platoon 160, 1st Battalion. Don’t recall cattle cars until Camp Geiger. I would do it all over again! Semper Fi my Brothers and Sisters!