Parris Island and San Diego BS

PFC Derrick S. Rahman

Dear Sgt Grit,

I enjoy receiving this newsletter and look forward to it every week. I like to browse all the nice Marine products offered too. My oldest son graduated Parris Island on 4-11-08, and I purchased several products for him as graduation gifts. My youngest son now plans to leave for Parris Island on 11-2-08. We are 2 for 2.....two sons, and both decided to become Marines! I can't begin to describe the amount of pride I feel as a parent.

I will never forget the incredible emotions on Family Day. It is an experience that cannot be put into words. I am thankful that you offer products that display pride in our young men and women in the service, and offer them at a reasonable price. I'm sure I will be placing another order before my youngest son graduates! You have a lot of cool stuff to choose from!

It also helps to read articles from other parents and what they have gone through. Marines truly are a big family......everyone is so supportive and I feel blessed to be a part of it. Thanks again for this free newsletter.

Gratefully yours,
Angie
Proud Marine Mom of PFC Derrick S. Rahman,
And soon-to-be Rct Travis J. Rahman

Corporal Robert M Locke

On May 24th of this year, I had the honor of attending my son's college graduation with a math degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. It had been a long time coming since he had enlisted as a Marine reservist and missed several semesters due to boot camp and training, then a tour in Ramadi, Iraq along with more training that was required before deployment.

He went to Quantico for officer candidate school at the end of his freshman year. Unfortunately, he had injured his leg due to over-training before his arrival and was not able to surmount the rigorous demands that require top physical conditioning before arrival. After some weeks there, the colonel sent him home after a thorough butt-chewing, and threatened to bust him down if he returned with the intention of wasting any more of their time. I guess it takes guts to be a Marine because he returned after junior year with renewed determination and this time he succeeded. I guess altogether, between Parris Island and two visits to Quantico, he has nearly 30 weeks of boot camp under his belt, certainly more than most.

Finally, university graduation date arrived. My son was one of hundreds of graduating seniors, whose plans were announced as part of the ceremony. Some had jobs lined up, others intended to continue with graduate school, still others would begin the search for employment. There was even one young lady who was scheduled to get married on a beach in the Caribbean the following Wednesday. Finally the time came for 6'6" Corporal Robert M Locke to walk across the stage and receive his degree before a heretofore relatively tame audience. The announcer concluded with his introduction by saying, "A few hours from now he will be sworn in as an officer in the United States Marine Corps." The audience instantly erupted in cheers and applause. What a thrilling end to a lot of hard work. And it was a reassuring proof that with all the sour ranting of a predominantly liberal media, the heart and soul of America remains grateful and supportive.

Semper Fidelis
Bob Locke
Marine Dad

My husband in boot camp

OOH RAH!

This is my husband in boot camp. The picture speaks a thousand words of why I am proud of my marine. :)

Ruth Pankey

Member of Platoon 145

While looking for members of Platoon 145, MCRD San Diego, 1962, I found a Dominic V. Bommarito in Casa Grande, AZ that looked promising. Since there was no phone number, I sent a letter.

Monday, May12th, I received a call from his wife. Dominic died in 2007. Cause of death - esophageal cancer.

Dominic's wife told me, until the day he died, he was very proud of his service in the Marine Corps.

Heaven all secure, sir. Another Marine reports for duty.

The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D

3rd Battalion, Mike Company Graduate

Dear Sgt. Grit,

My son just graduated from 3rd Battalion, Mike company two weeks ago at Paris Island, SC. He got 10 days of leave and is now returning to Jacksonville, NC for SOI. he is programmed to ship out to Afganistan after that. Please have all your readers know how proud we are for his service to his country and to keep him in their prayers. God bless the US Marine Corps!

6 June 1963 JFK USMC San Diego

3rd gen of Marines

Dear Sir,

Seeing the picture of Joshua Garcia caught my attention as my son Lee A. Thear, 3rd gen of Marines graduated the same day, Sept. 14, 2007 from Parris Island. He is currently at Camp Lejuene, N.C. with 2/6 infantry. Keep up the great web site, it is as fine as the Corp.

His father, Bruce N. Thear. USMC.

Question

Sgt.Grit I'm writing for the first time. I have two questions to ask. Before the questions I'm sending a picture of my plt. at MCRD San Diago, I'am on the 3rd roll 3rd from the left. I would like too know how too get my year book and picture in dress blues. In the picture is sdi Gysgt. Oakley and di Sgt. Sanchez we were the honor plt. If any of the plt. reads tour newsletter I would like for them to get intouch with at jsearcy07[at]comcast[dot]net. One person I would like to here from is Jim Lucas we went to high together.

Cpl Jimmy Searcy 67-69 Veit Nam 67-68 3/5 Inda Co.

SGT T. T. SHEAF

Photo from U.S. Marine Corps / Parris Island Recruit Depot, SC

1st Recruit Training Regiment - 1st Battalion - 'B' Company - Platoon 111 Jan 22 - April 23 1974

TODD T. SHEAF
DEFENSE SUPPLY CENTER COLUMBUS - FMSA
RESOLUTION SPECIALIST / MARITIME DIVISION
MARINE CORPS MARITIME SUPPLIER OPERATIONS

Marine Corps Pictures

This is a pic of my father (Larry A. Hughes) and myself (Carl A. Hughes). He graduated bootcamp on January 19, 1966. He was in 2nd Battalion, Company K, platoon 2020.

I graduated on November 14, 1997. I was in 3rd Battalion, Kilo company, platoon 3096.

Semper Fi & Oorah.

Another PI graduation Picture (Plt 185)

Graduated PI 16 Nov 1965, I sure hope some of my mates are still around to remember.

Bill Carey Cpl of Marines

Remembering

When I enlisted in March 1972, straight out of high school, I was sent to MCRD, PISC. I was in 2nd Battalion, Plt. 233. We were told our platoon was the first to try out the new 13 week boot camp. This was to include basic and ITR. We did go to Camp Geiger and New River for our training, though. We had two or three different SDI's and several JDI's but the only one I can remember from beginning to end was a short, mean little *&%$#@#$ - Sgt. Lee. He took nothing from anyone - and gave h&ll to all. I don't remember being allowed to have anything that was carbonated until the day before graduation. The strongest thing we had to drink was grape juice. Coming back from chow or class it was nothing to find all the bunks, foot lockers, etc. in a big pile in the middle of the squad bay and being told we had two minutes to get everything back in order and bunk made properly or we would start all over again. After graduating from PI on June 19, 1972, see attached - I was stationed at WERS-27, MWSG-27, 2nd MAW, Cherry Point, NC.

On a different note - could anyone tell me if they, or their fathers, remember being in the attached platoon? It is Plt. 237? or 231? The picture is dated April 1942 and my father, Aubrey "Mac" Hunter, is fourth from the left in the first row. There are signatures on the back, see attached of personnel in his platoon. My father passed away on October 31, 1963 when I was 9 years old. If any one has any information concerning my father I would greatly appreciate it. No one in the family can seem to tell me anything about his time in (everyone on his side of the family is deceased). I have pictures of him standing next to a truck point out a Buy Bonds sign.

Ben Hunter
Technology/Clerical
Adult Education

MCRD 1949 Thansgiving menu

My grandson in currently in the last half of his boot training MCRD in San Diego. I write to him several times a week & scan various photos from my file that interest`s him , which I print on the top of my letter,which he seems to enjoy. .Most are Beattle Baily, Ziggy & others of our family.

My wife was sorting some old family pics & files & which contained the following menu,which was interesting to us & I sent the same to him. We don`t know how it came up to Northern CA & was in such fine shape.I thought you might be interesting in looking at it & we hope to eat there if & when he Graduates in Oct.

I sure enjoy reading your newsletter & am looking forward to purchasing more than the Flag I gave his mother one for her B/D.

A proud PaPa,

Battle Jacket/Ike Jacket

Sgt Grit:

When I was with 1st Pioneer Bn in 1960 and 61, I had a friend who left the Corps and gave me his "Ike Jacket". I also heard it referred to as a Battle Jacket and it could be worn on duty with a duty belt which was more comfortable than the regular blouse. It was no longer authorized for wear in town. I am including a picture of this jacket for those who never saw one. It was a shame to see it go and some of the attempts to come up with a suitable replacement have failed miserably - in my opinion.

Semper Fi,

Jim McDonald
CWO4 USMCR RETIRED
1958-1966 & 1975-1998
Newark, CA
"That [state] which separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards, and its fighting by fools." Thucydides, 'The Peloponnesian Wars'

After Shooting The Bull

Dear Sgt. Grit,

I was fortunate enough to attend our son's (Sgt. Clayton T. Anderson) OCS Graduation at Quantico on 17 August 2007. After serving his country with 3 deployments to Iraq with 1/5 Marines, first in the spearhead that toppled Bagdad, second as a squad leader in Fallajuh, and the last tour as a sniper in Ramadi, he was accepted into the MECEP Program and will be commission at graduation next year at Cal State-San Marcus. This past week he graduated # 2 in his battalion, led his company as Company Commander at graduation, and is pictured here receiving the OCS Leadership Award from the keynote speaker, Major Gen. Michael Ennis, Deputy Director for Community Human Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency. A proud Marine dad to say the least, but after shooting the bull with Gen. Ennis, Col. Richard Mancini, OCS Commanding Officer, as well as, many of Clay's fellow graduates, let me say that the leadership of our Marine Corps is in very good hands!

Semper Fi, J. T. Anderson, Cpl. USMC, 71-73

40 Years Later

Sgt Grit,

On July '07, while visiting my wife's relatives in San Diego, I took these pictures of my grandson at the parade field where I had marched during boot camp in July 1966 and graduated in Oct '66 with Plt 1075 (Honor Platoon). Gone are the quonset huts and I was overcome with goosebumps and chills taking the pictures and standing there with him. I was also able to visit with a former Marine (36 years later) at Oxnard CA, whom I last saw in 1971 while we were stationed at MCRD and assigned to the Depot Armory. The trip to San Diego will be one remembered for a long time.

SEMPER FI,

SGT N.T. Delos Reyes (USMC Vet)
MSG, E8, US ARMY (Ret)

Platoon 3082 10-21-83

Sgt Grit,

Here is a nice flashback for me.
Parris Island -- 21 October 1983.
Oh to be so young again. Where do the years go ?
I still remember graduation day with my mother and high school sweetheart (now my wife) waiting for me.

Love your site, keep up the great work.

Cpl. D.E. Smith
83-87
VMA-131 Diamondbacks

PFC Patrick R Miller

Sgt Grit

I would like to introduce a new Marine to you and the rest of our Marine Corps.......

PFC Patrick R Miller - Parris Island SC - April 6,2007

Yes, I am the Grandpa, Doris is the Grandma. We are very proud of him. I heard recently that PFC Miller is on some "real tough duty in K-Bay Hawaii!" Oh well, it's a terrible job but somebody has to do it.

The Ole Gunny
Jerry Miller

MCRD PI Platoon 1001 Graduation February 1965

On the cover of your spring catalog is one (at that time Sgt.) R.S. Sutis. He was one of 4 DI’s I had at MCRD PI Platoon 1001 graduation February 1965. Senior DI was SSgt.A.L. Jachimowicz, Sgt. B.W. Davis was fresh out of DI school, he joined our other DI’s several weeks into our training. We were his first Platoon. Of course they told us we were such screw-ups he was sent there to kick ass and take names. Cpl. York who is not shown in any of our official platoon pictures, but does appear several times in pictures of our training in my platoon 1001 book, was with us from the start. I reported to Parris Island on 10 November 64. Some birthday party… I did make PFC as a squad leader and qualified expert with my M-14, went on to the Air Wing as a helicopter electrician with VMO-1 at New River Air Facilities and then the air station at area 22 Camp Pendleton where I left the active life in the Corp and went home to South Florida and went to college.

Met my wife of 39 years in Jacksonville, NC while she was a senior in Jacksonville High School.

I have some great memories of the Corps and lost a cousin and some friends to Viet Nam.

Semper Fi…Once a Marine Always a Marine.

Ronald P. Petrey Cpl. 1964-1968 2114142 (MOS6615)

Parris Island Memories

Here is my dad, Walter Shown 6/27/23 to 2/2/07 bottom row second from right, Picture was taken on Parris Island November 1940, I always wonder did they know how bad things were in Europe or what was lomming just 12 months from then. And do we know now? Somethings never change. Richard Shown USMC 1979-81 Semper Fi dad.

USMCRD-PI 1962 plus 44 Plt 359 Reunion

For me this incongruous event began with a call at 2145 (9:45 PM) late one August evening three months ago. My 13 year old son answered the phone and after a second commanded me to the phone with a simple; "Dad its for you". I asked who it was and got back "Bob Roberts". Well I did not have a clue who Bob Roberts was but I hauled myself up out of the chair and ambled to the kitchen to pick up the call. After a minute of idle chatter I finally said" "Bob do I know you, because your name is not connecting with me". I like to think at the other end of the line there was a smile, perhaps, and a sense of "Gotcha". The very next question to me was "Where were you 44 years ago?" That was easy: I had just begun boot camp at Parris Island...Platoon 359. I asked if Bob was in my platoon because I was still not picking up on the name. Bob asked "Do you know who your DI's were" Oh sure...S/Sgt Banazek, Sgt Ward and Sgt --OH JESUS--Sgt Roberts !!!

Sure enough, somehow I had been tracked down by one of my DI's 44 years after I left Parris Island. I was stunned!! Sgt Roberts and I spoke for perhaps another 15 minutes or so. A very pleasant and congenial man. It was impossible for me to think of him as anything other than Sgt Roberts and my memory of him as the "heavy" among our triumvirate of DI's. I told him at one point I did not recall that he even had a first name! To me he is still Sgt Roberts.

The circumstance that brought this call about was to tell me, and whoever else we could locate, that plans were in the making for a reunion in Gettysburg PA of Platoon 359 in October, in fact over the very day we had graduated from PI 44 years earlier. Would I be able to get there ? Well I am not given to looks back in time,but this was certainly going to be one event that I would not miss for anything. So I solidly announced I would be there. I was asked to see if I could chase down one other boot too. I was able to do after three days on the Internet and a few blind calls I connected with my best friend from high school--the one I had cajoled into joining the Corps with me those 44 years earlier on the buddy plan--and a good friend who I had not seen in over 25 years and had also lost touch with. Time and distance can do that as we all know,

As it turned out Sgt Roberts and several of the other men from the platoon had located over thirty of us out of a platoon of 82 newly minted Marines. Several of the platoon had died--some I suspect in Viet Nam--but all three DI's were still hale and hardy, as well as some 30 of us from the platoon. A date had been set for our reunion and October 2006 was fast approaching.

October 22nd as myself and my newly found high school buddy approached Gettysburg PA we were very curious to see how this would go after so long. How many would be there, how would be interact, would anyone remember one another. We had lived day and night with these men for over three months--asshole to bellybutton--but did we really know one another?

As we walked into the reunion hotel a large sign announced our encampment (See attached). The front foyer had a cluster of men and women as we walked in and it was clear we had arrived back in time--these were Marines and I certainly felt that I had come home.

Over the next two and half days there was much to enjoy. Some 15 of us had showed up along with, in many cases, wives. All three of our DI's were there: S/Sgt Banazak--later to become Capt Banazak. Sgt Ward (later Lt Ward) and Sgt Roberts. The slop chute opened almost immediately on the 4th deck. It was good to see some had stayed in shape, although many of us were a few pounds north of our fighting weight. King and I made a run to the liquor store and the spirits and good times began in earnest. Pictures were taken, stories and memories of Platoon 359 were flowing in abundance. If we were unsure how this would all play out after 44 years it was pretty obvious that these quiet friendships and trusts forged all those years ago had not been degraded by the passage of time. As I think of it, this was really the first time we had to talk with one another without fear of an onslaught of pain and motivation from our own trio of "Gunny Hartman" platoon managers. We all had a terrific time !! We even were able to unmask our legendary and notorious "Phantom crapper". That is one of our most infamous memories from 44 years ago. To long for this piece today but use your imagination and I am sure you'll be able to conjure up a picture of our memory on this.

As this reunion wound down we agreed that we'd do this all again, and soon. As it turned out, "Again" is going to be in April 26th - 29th 2007 at Parris Island, and in conjunction with the annual DI reunion held there each year. The link attached here will provide some additional insight to the plans http://users.aol.com/troutch/index.html

Of course we're anxious to scrub some more platoon members out of hiding for this event and hope that the readers of this newsletter are either members, or know members, of the platoon and will encourage a large turnout. I'll be there with my 13 year old son as I can't think of anything that would be more 'motivating' for him than to be at PI with a large gathering of older Marines and DI's and also to be in the very center of our universe.

What this all means to me is the living expression of "Semper Fidelis"

Phil Mason Cpl USMC

Reunited After 52 Years

Dear Sgt. Grit

This letter is to let every one know how lucky I have been. It all started in November of 1951 when I became a Drill Instructor at Parris Island. I had completed Drill Instructors school and was assigned to the 6th Battalion. At this time there was Eight Battalions for Male Recruits plus One Battalion for Females. Recruits were coming into Parris Island by the hundreds and there was a shortage of Drill Instructors. From time to time a Drill Instructor would get transferred to another Battalion. It was around August or September 1952 that I was transferred to the 2nd Battalion

I worked with Platoons for the remainder of 1952 and into 1953. It was mid 1953 when I became one of the Drill Instructors of Platoon 179 in the 2nd Battalion. It is with Three members of Platoon 179 where my story gets very interesting. I guess in most cases, when a Platoon graduates, the Drill Instructors never expect to hear from or ever see any of them again. That Is what I thought about Platoon 179, but that was not the case. Platoon 179 graduated in August 1953 and all members went on their way to various bases in the Marine Corps. I continued on as a Drill Instructor until September 1954.

Time passed and I retired in February of 1968, never thinking any more about Platoon 179. But, in April 2005 I was surfing the “Korean War Project” Web Site on the Internet and saw a Thread looking for members of Platoon 179 at Parris Island 1953, posted by Mr. Harold Lutz that was a member of Platoon 179. Mr. Lutz indicated that the only Drill Instructor’s name that he could remember was Sgt. Richard M. Hall. That got my attention right away, as that is my name, and I went looking for my Platoon pictures and books. I found the book, but the picture must have been lost over the years. I replied to the thread and ask Mr. Lutz to give me some identifying features of myself, which he did.

At this point in time, Mr. Lutz informed me that two more members of Platoon 179 lived in the same town as he did in Woodstock, Virginia, (Population 2000) Mr. Jim Kibler and Mr. Donald Clem. Since then we have communicated by E-mail and phone calls.

The most interesting thing is, I attended the Drill Instructors Reunion at Parris Island in April 2006, and at the completion of the Reunion I drove up to Virginia to visit with the three members of Platoon 179. That was very touching, to see some one that you haven’t seen in 52 years and knowing that you were one of their Drill Instructors. I spent four most enjoyable days at Woodstock visiting with the three members of Platoon 179.

I thought it was very unusual that three members of the same Platoon, living in the same small town could get in touch with one of their Drill Instructors after 52 years.

Gy. Sgt. Richard M. Hall
USMC Retired
Austin, Texas

India Company 35 years later

On April 6th my twin sons, Louis and Norb, received their Eagle, Globe and Anchor and became United States Marines. The next day they graduated with India Company in Platoon 3071! Aside from their birth, that was the proudest two days of my life.

We traveled from Jacksonville, Florida to attend their graduation and Family Day at MCRD San Diego. Our home is only 3 hours from Parris Island, but they were allowed to go through recruit training in San Diego because the Marine Corps Legacy program. I went through boot camp in Platoon 3056 in San Diego in 1971, coincidentally in the same Company – India!

I was able to find 2 of my old cover emblems and brought them with me to San Diego, along with something very special from an Iwo Jima veteran, Cpl Gene Gustad, affectionately known by the members Sgt Grit web forum as “Poppa Gene”.

I was unable to locate my sons’ SDI Wednesday evening, even with the assistance of the 3d Bn Operations Chief, but I met a Drill Instructor from Lima Company, SSgt Jacobs, who offered to personally find him and deliver the cover emblems. Thursday morning before the emblem ceremony my sons’ SDI told them he had something from their dad and would deliver it at the ceremony. Sure enough, he made them Marines with my old emblems! I could easily see they were mine, as they were ‘salty’ and black finish was rubbed off and the brass shown through! When they were dismissed for base liberty the flood gates of emotion broke loose. I cried tears of joy as I hugged both of them together.

On base liberty we shared a picnic area with a couple families from their platoon had a nice picnic lunch. Afterward my wife and I were able to present them with that very special item from Poppa Gene – volcanic ash ‘sand’ from Iwo Jima!

We were able to meet their SDI, SSgt Good, afterwards visit with him briefly. He said he knew my sons must have been prepared by a Marine and they were a real asset to his platoon. It really made me so proud to hear his words about them and their efforts. We then delivered some of the same volcanic ash ‘sand’ that Poppa Gene had sent specifically for him as well. He was clearly moved. My sons posed for a photo with him, their pride is obvious.

There is so much more to this story like my best friend from Corps, Gus Shirley, who drove from Los Angeles to be there. He has known them from their toddler days and he was beaming with pride. My younger brother, Steve, who followed me in the Corps, we was a very proud uncle that day as well.

At my side in San Diego was my wife of 24 years, Warlie. I was a SSgt when we met and married and she had no experience with becoming a Marine and what boot camp was all about, now she is one proud Marine Mom!

Well, that’s my story. My only sons have followed their father’s foot steps in the same Company in the same recruit depot and became Marines wearing the same emblems I had. A lovely young lady, the daughter we never had, was with all of us the whole journey and now starts her own.

Thank you for your newsletters and web forum, as they have brought real joy to our Marine Corps family.

It doesn’t get any better for this Marine!

Semper Fi and a hearty OORAH!!

Norb Logsdon

Gunnery Sergeant, USMC retired, Proud father of twin Marines and Proud ‘GunnyDad’ to Recruit Stacy

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