What are some good memories during your time at MCRD Parris Island or MCRD San Diego whether a recruit or stationed there?

While in boot camp at MCRD San Diego(Nov. 1966) the WM's were trained on the other side of the fence. Near the end of training we were in formation on the grinder for a pass in review. There were maybe 8-10 platoons in position with an ominous space in the middle of this formation. From the rear we could hear another platoon marching it's way to fill the empty space. It turns out it was WM's. The female DI gave them "platoon halt" before arriving and still directly behind our platoon. It was a terrible response to "platoon halt". The female DI then screamed at the top of her lungs and I quote "When I say halt I want to hear 60 p**sies suck air at the same time". Our Sr DI SSGT Cheslock was so stunned he nearly went to his knees laughing, the rest of us joined in the fun.

i'm from a large Marine Corps Family... example, my mother and father were BOTH Marines. Graduation Day. My Father dropped off my awards and decorations from the Army. Sweet pinning those on my Class A's. Second. we march out to the grinder. EVERYONE from my family that could was there IN UNIFORM. they took up a significant part of one set of bleachers. When we were dismissed, they came out en masse to the grinder and i wore out my right arm saluting (those who were officers) and shaking hands. During the reception for New Marines back at the barracks i saw my dad had my Sr DI off to the side talking. a few minutes later, my Senior DI had ME off to the side. One question. Why didn't you tell me your family was Marines? Answer, you never asked. SWEET!

I was on PI in 1991 Jan-April. We had a freak snow storm which was interesting while we were at the 'beach'. I turned 27 in bc so an older perspective I actually enjoyed most my time there. HOT GUYS everywhere! LOL... At rifle range, i remember early in the am hearing music outside, a Mariah Carey song..got to hear the whole thing..so that still brings back memories when I hear it...the smell of gun oil and boot polish. So DAMN GLAD i became a MARINE on April 12, 1991. Love my Corps.

I was at PISC Sept 1997. 2nd BN, Golf Co Plt 2109. I remember we marching to the chow hall and a plane flew above the platoon. A recruit looked up in the sky and of course was caught. The DI tore him a new one and made him march with his head up looking at the sky for the rest of the day. Another time we were marching and the DI was hitting on a female sailor, must have been a Corpsman, he made the front half of the platoon remember the first three digits of her number, and back half remember the last four. So, instead of cadence we had to repeat the phone number until we got to the barracks.

Graduating. I graduated at 10 AM. The Greyhound bus left at 12. At 10:15 my seabag was on that bus and my ass was in a seat.

I have great memories of my boot camp days. It seems it was only yesterday that I was standing on those yellow foot prints at MCRD, San Diego, CA on October 25th, 1972. We started off with 200 recruits and ended with 45 on graduation day on January 24, 1973. Two days prior to the Peace Accords in Paris, France. My Drill Instructors were; SSgt. Auck, Sgt. Snyder, and Sgt. Collins. All were Vietnam warriors and had served with our infantry units. I was fortunate enough to know about military protocol because my father was in the Army when I had enlisted in the Marine Corps. My best memories are at ITR, Camp San Onofre during our infantry combat tactics and training. We were still being process on our current war in Vietnam. Eighteen years later I served along our 1st Marine Division Engineer Officer, Major Gary Holmquist. He was our 1137 Platoon and Blues Honor Man, 1137 Series Blues Honor Man and was promoted to PFC, meritoriously. I was the 4th Sqaud Leader from the beginning of our training to graduation day and also was meritoriously promoted to PFC, but because of the federal stoppage by then President Nixon, we who were promoted could not put on our chevrons until ordered to do so a couple months later. I served with Major Gary Holmquist when I was serving as the 1st Marine Division, G-6, Assistant Electronics Maintenance Officer and the Division Supply Maintenance Analysis Team, (SMAT), OIC as a Chief Warrant Officer Two. Yes, those were my younger days 44 years ago. Just seems like yesterday to me.

Semper Fidelis to All Marines,
Gunner Kaupe

That's a trick question, lol. Only in hindsight do most of have "good" or "fond" memories. While there, it was only thinking of "what comes next" or worrying about screwing up. The bonding, the shared experience. Little did we know then or understood back then that every Marine is my brother or that we carry and defend the honor, pride and integrity of the Corps forever! We do it subconsciously too. What's more, the other branches veterans continue the recognition of Marines based on their experience, jokes, humor and (although they won't admit it) admiration from 20-30-40 and even 50 years ago. No lie, When I was living in working and living in Manhattan during the week and going home on weekends, I stayed in the city over a weekend I took my white shirts and suits to the Chinese Laundry (owned by Koreans) I always use. ( NYC is very very different on weekends without millions of commuters) Instead of the Korean-American I became friends with, there was an old, old man who sat at the end of the counter and I guess my friends daughter. I was in jeans and wearing a Marine Corps hat boldly displaying our EGA. Te little old man instantly on seeing me shuffled over and took my hand smiling and talking in Korean. The daughter translated and said he wanted to thank the Marines. Marines were very good and saved him and his family. It was a longer story that took place back during the war but you got the drift. My point is Marines are remembered for being the SAME WAY today as they were 50-60 years ago and probably more if they still were living. Semper Fi all.

Whenever my team was at the graduation for our platoons, time after time. I felt that we had guided another bunch of boys into men, civilians into Marines, and I was proud of the Marines that left PI.

That was when Corporals were accepted into the DI MOS. Through a sort of 'What happens on PI stays on PI,' I was accused of doing something that I didn't do, but turning in 8 of the other DIs was something that I wasn't about to do. No one got hurt, but I took the blame. And I remained a Corporal.

Yeehaw.

I have one I remember, stuck with me my whole life. It must have been Oct, 1971 and they were holding a Special Olympics on the island and we volunteered (no really) to coach some of the events. I was 17, no one ever asked a 17 year old to do anything like this in civilian life. I never had had any contact with special needs kids or adults for that matter. It was sprint race, maybe 50 yards that kids around 10 to 15 participated. After about the 5th race (there were a lot of kids) I found myself cheering, yelling and pushing the kids to RUN! There was this one boy towards the end of the day who had Downs Syndrome who was having trouble and I found myself next to him, encouraging him to run faster. I'll be a son-of-bitch if he didn't look at me, understood me and put on a burst of speed that surprised the hell of me . He went on the take 3rd place. I was not prepared for what happened next. He charged me and gave me the biggest hug and knocked me back and I landed on my knees with this kid squeezing and hugging me. Well, seeing this, some of the other kids must have thought it was a good idea so they came over and did a 'pile on" and next thing I knew I was entangled in a hug fest. It was the most sincere, enthusiastic, happy love embrace I had ever felt and I cried. It wasn't fake, it wasn't an obligation on their part, it wasn't phony, it was real honest to God affection. Even when I stood up they were still hugging. One of the women who was with them must have been looking and came over said" They're full of love and very affectionate". I just shook my head and found my Drill Instructor. Not every lesson learned on Parris Island was about Marines.

I went to MCRD San Diego in 1975. The best part was catching the sailors from the Navy Boot Camp climbing over the fence trying who were trying to go UA. We would catch them and put them and CCP ( correctional custody platoon) until the Navy decided they want them back.