Toughest On The Drill Field

I find it somewhat amusing and ironic that there would be a story on Cpl. JL Stelling from 1964. I enjoyed that story but would like to add a new story to it.

JL STELLING was my DI in 1967. He was a SSgt. at the time, but retired from the Corps as a 1st Sgt.

I made contact with JL through the Sgt. Grit website. It was great to be able to correspond with him, as well as talk on the phone. Just for grins I asked him when he planned on coming up my way, to Dayton, Nevada. Believe it or not, he was planning a trip to Northern California to visit an uncle. I asked if he would come my way to visit, and he said yes! Needless to say, I was blown away that we would be able to get together after 49 years! Well, the visit happened, and it was a most memorable time for me.

Anyone who had JL as a DI knows I speak the truth when I say he was the toughest on the drill field. Honor platoons and good Marines were the result of that toughness. My wife even commented that there was a presence about him. I was lucky to have him as a DI. I feel luckier yet to see him again and thank him for what he gave me.

I included a picture my wife took. We had just finished breakfast at the Gold Dust Saloon in Dayton. JL left from there to return home.

Thanks to Sgt. Grit for the website that made it all possible.

By the way, our platoon was 2051, graduated in late 1967.

SSgt Chuck Parmenter, 1967-1970