What was going through your mind while standing on the yellow footprints at MCRD?

"What have I gotten myself into" Yes, but that was the thought I had when the DI came onto the bus.

March 3 1978 for me, I was a high school dropout from the 12 grade with only about 2 months till graduation, yes the MARINES were taking high school dropouts then you had 1 year to get a GED or they would put you out. I was scared to death and cold and wet, it was pouring down raining and the DI says it’s only water, Enjoy the Shower

I was hung over and hoping I wasn't going to get beat to death!

I dunno. My mind was pretty blank other than focusing on doing what I was told.

No much. Just did what I was told but apparently not fast enough.

I enlisted in the Marine Corp in 1959. The yellow footprints didn't exist then. After we were told how low we were we were put in a holding area for a week until their were enough recruits to start a series. The 3rd Bn. Plt. 332 lived in Quonset huts. Thats when we met our DI.s The lord may own you soul but I own you ass was the first words spoken by the DI. The yellow footprints were started in 1965 during the Vietnam war. Boot camp was shortened from 12 weeks to 8 weeks. The DI.s would say, your all going to Vietnam, If you want to stay alive you will pay attention to everything you learn. I had a friend that went thru in 68. They didn't get screwed over as much as we did. They didn't have the time .Our Plt. picture in 59 showed us wearing tropical dress uniforms. and in 68 they wore utilities and the plts. were smaller. Semper Fi.

Sleep. I needed some sleep to get over that drunken feeling that followed me to MCRD PI.

What the "F" did I get myself into? A hair more concise than Burk's thought.