San Diego Boot Camp circa 1973

[Dolt]

I went through boot camp in San Diego in 1971. This somewhat corny but cool narration by Jack Webb really brought back the memories!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJCzHVzOXmw

[Dan Shapiro]

When "The DI" came out in 1957, enlistments in the Corps DROPPED. Webb then made several PR commercials for the Corps, and enlistments began going back up.

[phil441]

And people ask me why I joined the USAF??

[Garden Valley]

And people ask me why I joined the USAF??

It's OK to join the Air Force. Heck, if anyone could be a Marine it wouldn't be the Marine Corps!! LOL!!

[usmc69]

The first and last time I saw "THE DI" was in Da Nang the spring of 1971. AFRTS showed it one evening.

[Bill99]

My brother went in at 17 in 1972. He signed up for 4 years, then found out everyone was in for 2. He's got lots of stories re guys not qualifying and getting it from the DI. He was a skinny 6' 2'' 165 lbs when he went in, and came back from boot camp weighing less than 145. He talks about the 5 minutes you had to eat dinner.

[Richard Turner/Turner Saddlery]

I was on Recruiting Duty at RSS Birmingham from 1985 - 1988, and we were still showing recruiting films from the early 1970s. Some videos showed recruits with M14 rifles. One video was "This is Parris Island" 1970 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3BxXwJfrn8. Another short film cassette was the "Rose Garden" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMTdp4AnDVk

We also had 8 or 10 16mm film reels which were from the 1950s and 1960s. They were eventually thrown in the dumpster. If I had known I would have misappropriated them. I asked the Admin Chief one day what happened to the reel to reel videos and he said the Major said to throw them in the dumpster.

I went through MCRD Parris Island, SC in 1977, Plt 3318, I Co, 3rdBN. I was fortunate to have several photos in our platoon book, guess I was at the right place at the right time.

Here are two photos of yours truly receiving the Leatherneck Award for Series High Shooter with a score of 228 out of 250. Sad thing is, on pre-qual day I shot a 242 and had been shooting well all week, in the 230s. What happened was, not only 15 - 25 mph gust all day, but I forgot to flip up my short range sights and shot the 200, 300, and 500 with long range sights. My Senior Drill Instructor said that they lost some money and several cases of beer on me that day because the range record for recruits at that time was 244 and not only my Drill Instructors, but some of the PMIs and Drill Instructors from the other platoons thought I had a good shot at breaking the record.
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MajGen A.J. Poillon, CG Parris Island congratulating PFC Turner as Series High Shooter

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MSgt S.S. Kmiecik, Chief Drill Instructor and LtCol F.L. Loving, Battalion Commander, 3rdBn Presenting Leatherneck Award to PFC Turner

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Here I am center, checking my gig-line. We were the last series to be issued Sateens. We were issued two pair of Sateens and two pair of Cammies.

[Fred]

Great photos Richard!

[phil441]

Really great to have those pics isn't it! I envy you. My basic TI didn't even arrange for my flight to have a group picture taken on picture day.

[Richard Turner/Turner Saddlery]

Really great to have those pics isn't it! I envy you. My basic TI didn't even arrange for my flight to have a group picture taken on picture day.

phil441:

Sorry to hear that, I would have thought group/platoon photos would have been standard practice. What I regret is not buying a camera right out of boot. I always thought I would have time later to take all the photos I wanted, but I have very few of my first four years in. I have a few that others took where I am in the photo, but I do not have any early photos at the range, in MP vehicles, standing gate duty, or while assigned as MP Desk Sgt. One of the only ones I have at New River Air Station was a photo someone took of me directing traffic for a squadron change of command ceremony at MAG-29. I was assigned to the traffic division as a traffic accident investigator and had just picked up Sgt in April 1980. MP NCOs had a lot of leeway at the time as to what gear you could wear or carry, such as duty belt, holster and baton, that was if it was approved by the Provost Marshal. Here is the photo, if you notice the night stick I am wearing is a one of a kind, since I made it at the base wood hobby shop. It is 26" in length made of white oak that I striped with a torch to bring out the grain then hand rubbed with Tru-Oil.
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Shortly after this photo was taken, we were ordered to carry a standard black Monadnock fiberglass stick as an issued standardized item, although we had to purchase our own, as well as our badges, black gear (leather). I still have the stick I made, here it is today.
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