My Amazing Time In The U.S. Marines 1981-1984
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- čas přidán 18. 03. 2021
- This is a slideshow film that I did about my amazing time in the United States Marine Corps from 1981-1984. The film begins with some 8mm video that I shot at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (boot camp) in San Diego in 1987. Next is my weapons training at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, a U.S. Army base in Maryland. As head of my class I flew to the Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, Italy for Barracks Duty. I served 18 months there and had a fabulous time. There I purchased an Olympus OM-10 film SLR camera for my adventures. I took three weeks leave and traveled North through Italy, Germany, England and Holland. Wow, what a great trip! My last duty station was the Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina. From there I took a NATO exercise to Norway on the U.S.S Saipan, a Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship. My MOS (military occupational specialty) in the Marines was as a 2111 Small Arms Repair/Technician.
Thank you for sharing, Semper FI Marine 86-91
1976-1997. MCRD San Diego, 3rd Bn. Too bad we did not realize at the time this would be some of the best years of our lives. Semper Fidelis and thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing. Brings back memories, though my overseas duties, while in the in the Corps (1962-1966), were all in the Far East... Japan, Okinawa, Vietnam and back to Japan.
I turn 80 this August which will make it 62 years from first setting foot on Paris Island. Semper Fi brothers!
One thing I noticed and marveled was the guys over there had these shitty scooters but with a bitch on the back that was bad as hell--you can't get away with shit like that over here--if you didn't have a Camaro you would never get laid.
AWESOME VIDEO! I actually miss my Marine brothers and sisters.
I also enjoyed my time as an active duty Marine. April 1, 1987- Oct 12, 1992. May 3 I will be 59 y/o. As time pushes us through life, I find myself recalling my experiences more frequently. Old age I guess. Certain time periods in a persons life is realized as a very special event. Not surprisingly my time on active duty was one of three; the other two are meeting and marrying my wife of 12 years, Sarab. I fought in the Gulf War. How ironic that my wifes family immigrated from Iraq. She is Chaldean. The third event is becoming a father in 2001. My 19 y/o son, Christopher will report to San Diego MCRD to begin basic training May 17, 2021`. He will be third generation enlisted. Both my parents were Senior Chief Radiomen USN for a total of 52 years. I am deeply disturbed with the new co-ed basic training and female infantry. My son will not have the same experiences we were granted. I pray he makes it out alive. Well, good Post. Semper Fi..
Thank you for watching! I know that watching someone's slideshow can be boring. Unfortunately, we didn't have iPhone's back then. But WOW I sure wish that I did! Sounds like you come from a military family and I hope your son does well. Thank you all for your service. As an armourer I pretty much skated for three years. Not many Marines get duty in Europe so I was very grateful and had a fabulous time. I'm 59 as well and find myself going through a lot of memories. So nice to have them documented with photography. Semper Fi!
Your post is excellent and brought many memories to life. You had a good tour . You traveled to Europe and had sea time. I was lucky to have 3 months on the USS Blue Ridge. I traveled to Oki 2 years, from there went on ops to Thailand, S Korea, Baha’i, The PI, Kuwait & Saudi. But Europe! You lucky fuck!
You did a good job. I am posting your post on my FB.
SEMPER FIFEOM SAN DIEGO
@@mr.m.o.g.o.m. A lucky fuck indeed. Thanks for the Facebook post!
@@mr.m.o.g.o.m. Exactly. I knew maybe just a couple Marines who were stationed in Europe. My dad was in the Army, so we (me, mom, and dad) lived there for a year from 1975-1976. Pretty cool as a little 4 year old visiting castles! Army and Air Force had places all over Europe. For the rest of us normal Marines, it was either East Coast, West Coast , Okinawa, and in my case, Desert Storm...yayyy.
Sir, thank you for the post. You must be proud of your son. "Be of good cheer" Trump 2024. Regards, Denis Berte' USMC (Nam 70-71)
So awesome bro! Semper Fi Bro!....1980-1991
Thanks for sharing. I’m glad to see the Marine Corps hasn’t changed since you were in.
I didnt recognize it at the time but in hindsight those were probably the best years of my life. 3rd Marines 1987-91
I graduated 10 Sep 85. Retired July 1 2015. Semper Fi Marines
Ten years of retirement is coming up, hope you’re enjoying it! I joined in 2014 and went civilian in 2022 (off to college). Your breed were our mentors, and now guys I served with are already mentoring the next. Semper Fi.
I was a Drill Instructor some 25 years later but the look and sounds didn’t change that much!
Thanks for posting! I too served and at the same time (81-84)… began at MCRD-SD (OCT 8th thru DEC 30th)… then some twists and turns… and finally stationed at Camp Pendleton with 1st CEB, 1st MarDiv! Although I have heard many a jarhead utter those three initials (FTS)… I still say Semper Fi & Oorah!
I was a 1371 and graduatec MCRD San Diego 11/81. Love the old footage and slides from the 80's.
That's back when people were in a race concerning woodlands--who had the saltiest woodlands meant those were the people that mattered.
You're right, amazing time. Thanks for sharing. It brought back a lot of great memories. SF.
Wonderful pictures and thank you for your service.
Thank you for the nice comment and you're welcome!
@@JimSheaffer You're welcome. Always a pleasure to chat with someone who's been to my home, Guam. Take care.
That’s awesome, and thank you. Semper Fi - 1981 to 89
This is awesome
Wow, you did a great job of capturing the places you went, awesome Brother thanks for sharing , 2531, radio operator, 1981-1985, Semper Fi
We went to La Spezia but all I remember about it was "Disorderly Conduct" and other crimes we committed.
I was there in June 1981 to August. I'm proud of it today. 15 years
What Platoon? I graduated with Platoon 2038 on 21 August 1981;
I graduated 10 August 1984 from MCRDSD. Semper fi brothers.
I loved being a US Marine from 1976 to 2005 and retired as a CWO 5. I have been a Civilian Marine since retirement. In Dec will be 47 years. Semper Fi to all US Marines past and present.
What is a "civilian marine??". I work as a civilian at Quantico! Does that mean I'm a "civilian marine" because I work at a marine base???
@@bigdee8189 A Civilian Marine is a Government Civilian working for the Marine Corps. S/F Kevin
Enlisted in 9/80, God how miss those days
They changed base regulations concerning "lights on or off" N. Year's Eve 1987 when approaching the front gate; Lt. Col. Huly has some documents online--yeah, well I've seen them, those are nice, lengthy and dry and never read and all that but I could write a report too, on why your brights should never be used while approaching the front gate (Huly wasn't there--I was).
Undisciplined recruit at 0:28 with the shifting eyes and grin. Lol….
The guy right across from me online was like that all the time at P.I.--they soon had enough of him--he also somehow went UA. He got caught but I don't think it was right away--someone probably called the MP's about hearing laughter from somewhere--that's probably how he was busted--it was probably some boot on fire-watch "Sir, listen--right there--it's about two clicks to the West. There, I heard it again." They even had office hours for him before sending him on--we all watched him get slammed by the C.O.--which, given his obvious future, was about as important as whether or not your lights should be on or off when approaching the front gate--someone probably got office hours for that, too.
I was on the USS Saipan, Med Cruise. Cica 1986-87. CH 46 crashed while taking off the flight deck off the coast of Germany.
I was at MCRD Nov 1980 to late Feb 1981 graduated platoon 2112, 2nd Training Battalion, I have to admit I was amazed how in such a short time they turned 42 guys off the streets into Marines ! To this day it still amazes me, we started with if I recall over 50 guys so we lost I think 8 or nine after Ist Phase, Drill Instructors know who will make it and who wont. There are four people a Marine will never forget, his first serious girlfriend, and his 3 Marine Drill Instructors, I will never forget them and the lessons they taught us, as to all this B.S. in the movies about Drill Instructors hitting people, abusing recruits, getting out of line I never saw any of that. They never touched us one time, they yelled at us, called us ' Silly Civilians " " Dipshits " that type of thing but I never saw any abuse at all. Our Drill Instructors were serious as hell, our Senor D.I. was Vietnam Combat Vet, the other two were just a tad young for Vietnam. Were they nice to us ? No, were they all patient and understanding ? No, but they were fair, Would they P.T. your ass for some stupid crap ? Yes they would, would they make us do drill for hours and hours if we pissed them off, ? They would in a heartbeat ! Their job is to make sure you have a chance to survive in Combat, That's it, did they put up with weak, soft, timid guys ? They did not. The food I thought was damn good, mess hall, they gave us cigarettes, and Dr. Pepper, and candy if we did well on a course, or with a class or at the range, if we didn't do well, that sucked ! They ran the hell out of us, PT' ed us till we thought we were gonna die, we had to make it rain standing in the sand throwing sand up in the air all over us when your all hot and sweaty, made us run the Confidence Course like 100 times, yeah there were some rough times, for sure.One night they made us go out in a Storm I mean Raining, gale force winds and do drill on the Parade deck for 4 hours with lightning and then hail dumping on us! They told us to double time it " Up " Mount Mother F----r when we started up that fun place, no Marine will ever for get that " Little Hill " as they called it. But the day you Graduate no matter what , you are filled with pride as you should be, you made it, you have the honor of wearing those Eagle, Globe, and Anchors, and no one can ever take that way from you ! Yep I was 18 years old and was only one of 6 guys that young most of them in my Platoon were all in their 20s, and I graduated, so I can be proud to this day and I am.
Amazing scenery. I saw the Philippines ,japan among other places.
I graduated MCRD Parris Island 7/13/1981 platoon 1029
I was getting out as these guy's were getting in. I went in in Aug 1978 and got out Sept 1981. Spent my whole time at Las Polgas. I think that's how it's spelled. It's the Artillery base on Camp Pendleton. I was a field radio operator with G-3/11
My bootcamp platoon was 3091 MCRD San Diego. Got out of bootcamp Nov.22 1978
P.S. I joined the Army in 1985 and got out in 1991. Did a combat tour in Iraq in 90-91.
I was at Pulgas 1977-79 Ooorah
Mike Co. Plt 3085 3rd BN MCRD SD 1985-91. I'd do it all over again in a heart beat.
3rd Battalion “I” company 1984. Always in my heart! SF!
I was in H around that time; we didn't see I much but we heard the screams.
@@alexanderwalle3568 LOL! Right
That's actually true; I don't remember seeing anyone from 3rd I--3rd I was the first thing I heard about P.I.--I might have even heard about it at the recruiter's--if I were to have mentioned 3rd I to the guy who drove me to Receiving he would have probably immediately turned on smooth jazz to tune out 3rd I.
@@alexanderwalle3568 I remember hearing the receiving DI’s saying this bunch is going to third battalion! I was like 😮😳
Now that's bad; the guy that got me interested in the entire idea of going to boot camp (which I really had never heard of before I saw someone rocking an all-weather coat) got slammed by the recruiter's "Oh, he hurt his leg" (but I really think he hurt his leg--if they only knew the shit I did).
When you were at Sigonella I was in Rota at the entrance to the Med
Sandiego jan 1980, camp pendleton for ITS. Fleet marine force, rapid deployment force, mechanized task force as an 0311 29 palms 1/4 . That was it.
I served on Marine Barracks Duty at Subic Bay, Philippines from 1986 to 1989.
I was at MCRDSD in 1984. Plt. 3045 May 7-July 27
MCRDSD 1983 Mike Company Platoon 3059. June 12- Sep 2
I could have sworn those Drill Instructors were Sgt Hogan and Sgt Mayes. If so they were my drill instructors SSGT Hogan and SSGT Mayes when I went through in Jan - Mar 1983, Golf Co. Plt 2008
Was commissioned in 1981, after four years' enlisted service.
I skipped the footprints, believe it or not @ PISC. I came in on N. Year's Eve at around this time. I got off the bus at the front gate immediately encountering life in the military--there was a dilemma as to whether vehicles coming through the front gate should operate with their lights on or off--I probably don't have to expand on such a useless topic but it was heavily discussed amongst front gate staff--they'd just changed the "base rules concerning POV's and their lights." I know that's not exciting but it's something soon experienced in the military--the opposite of excitement and adventure will soon be your life; there are all sorts of regulations. You'll have to remember whether or not it's "lights on or off" and if you ask your buddies, they won't know, either.
I was witness to the confusion on whether people should approach the gate at night with their lights on or off--to this day, I have no idea what they decided on--who ran the show, was unclear. I believe it was also raining--the entire base was probably abuzz over the lights issue--someone was probably on a PRC-77 somewhere waiting for an answer from the DOD. A van came and got me--I was hanging-out at the front gate like I had nothing else to do, I didn't say shit and no one said anything to me, they were busy with the lights issue--the van took me to receiving--who the driver was I have no idea but I don't think he was a jarhead--I would have remembered if he was. I'm fairly certain it was Lamont Sanford--he was a chill dude, maybe it was P.I. maintenance or some top-secret CIA motherfucker also there, but secretly, because he wasn't sure about lights at the front gate, either--as I got out of the van, though, I made a wisecrack to the driver about all the fun I was about to have--I didn't tip him (I also don't remember if his lights were on or off when he came and got me at the front gate). I walked into receiving; it was all bright and shit but no one around--someone soon yelled "STOP!!!" from somewhere above. He should have rappelled from the top deck but it was some POG D.I.--they don't do that shit. If that was Sgt. Word--who I would soon meet, run from and have nightmares about--Word would have rappelled off the top deck like Jet Li in "Lethal Weapon 4." POG D.I. took all my paperwork and started running his mouth--maybe he was upset about the change in lights on POV's--it probably irked him that they couldn't make-up their fucking minds. I didn't ask, though, but I could tell he was irritated about something--he had a nasty disposition--I nearly asked him if he had a problem, I wasn't aware of what was expected of me yet--the mores of the Marine Corps--I don't think I was even standing at attention--such thinking on my end at such a moment with someone like that was what I'd also be like in the FMF (where I occasionally said "No" altogether--despite clearly being in the wrong and at the bottom of the pile). It couldn't have been me he was pissed at, I just got there and didn't change base regulations concerning POV's. I had no pull and didn't know anyone despite all the time I'd hung-out at the Parris Island front gate on N. Year's Eve (I'll bet someone sold their car for cash after having enough of the "word on the lights" or drove it to some LZ and left it there to rot for target practice).
Then a real jarhead arrived to take me upstairs--he looked like he'd been around, but it was really some civilian fat-body with canteens, moonbeam with fresh batteries and web belt probably on fire watch for the first time in his life--he probably got there five minutes before I had--but to me he looked like a battle-hardened killer--with fresh batteries so was ready for anything. In reality, Pvt. Chins was probably headed to PCP platoon--even after keeping our country safe on N. Year's Eve.
I served 85-89 3rd tracks motor T
Nice duty stations! My first year was bootcamp, MCT, and school (2800 Electronics) at 29 Palms and finished up at Shepard AFB in Wichita Falls. The day I graduated from Shepard was the day Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, so off to the Middle East I go. AFter that it was 2 years at 9th Comm Bn at Pendleton and my last year was Okinawa, 7th Comm Bn at Camp Hansen. Wish I would have taken more pictures instead of getting drunk and finding companionship in Kinville bars :)
I managed to get drunk, find female companionship "and" take lots of pictures. Ha! So glad I bought the film camera and use it to document my travels and experiences. My memory from those days is fading but looking at the photos brings it all back. Barracks duty in Sicily was quite the experience. I got those orders because I was the top of my class in small arms training.
Nah...., don't worry about those pictures in Sinville! Memories is what counts! I was at Schwab in 85-86 with 4th Marines. I had a BLAST!!! I even bought an island car to go to Sinville as mauch as I could Henoko was good, during the week, but Sinville was the place on the weekends back then. Almost all of my pictures during my 10 years in (83-93), were stolen from my storage in outside Camp Lejeune. Even my dress blues (honorman bootcamp) and 90% of my awards were also stolen. I look back and wish I had them all, but then again, everything would probably be sitting in a storage unit! You have memories, so as long as you have your mind, you have your pictures brother.
I can't believe they let you have a car (we weren't supposed to have POV's during ITS but I had one, anyway, and a lot of people knew); when we were in Rota, you could get a scooter (I believe it was Rota, much of the Med is still blurry, except for the overall objective). Need I cover what happened with scooter rentals..? This was back when life was roaming the streets drunk as a motherfucker but not going to jail--even if you lost items of your clothing and wasn't sure where you were at. We wound-up talking to this Lance Coolie we didn't know from ship--one of those dim E-3's that made you question your employer who you were grateful to have met all the same--he'd rented a scooter--we were instantly jealous, having no idea it was even an option. Why was the Word not passed..? He was scraped-up and hurt so clearly had an awesome time we'd never see--he'd just wrecked, you could tell by looking he wasn't doing so well, he was in recovery--taking a breather--but he couldn't really feel it--he was drunk and bleeding and an embarrassment to the United States--I think he was on the run from the scooter people, possibly police and the general public--he was headed for some serious trouble so couldn't stay long, while we stood there all clean and boring with our shirts on and no wheels. But long before we got a chance to do the same thing that was the end of the scooters.
Watch For The 25, Logan Stark.
It was so amazing you did 3 years. Care to explain?
At this time that was possible; someone I knew and partied with in C 1/8 signed a three-year contract--he did so because everyone else was too dumb to have ever considered it--as a result, he would be getting out before some of the salts.
In the early 80s, it was not uncommon to get a three year contracts with the Marines. It was a selling point with their recruiting.
Semper Fi
Semper Fi!
was it worth joining for a such a short time ? I think minimum tern in UK is about 4 years.
Yeah, but your money is also heavier--the pound sounds like a pain in the ass to carry around.
Any jarheads from Aug to November 1980 MCRD 2nd BN?
Alpha co. 1st battalion,platoon 1081 senior drill instructor Gunnery sgt. Cantu,OOOF..ning rahh.
I’m a former ‘Nam (Vietnam). What is see most clearly now at this age (75) is that like most very many of the Marines I served with this guy took up smoking and drinking guaranteeing himself a shortened life filled with painful health issues. All of these guys bitterly regretted their decision in later life. All of these guys deliberately took up these addictions to impress others with what MEN they were. However none of them ever impressed me one bit.
Didn’t have tennis shoes or camouflage covers 78
navy sandiego aug 5 1981
@ MCRD San Diego PLT 2046 Fox Co. Graduation 11 September 1981 Senior DI SSgt Griffin
2045 SERIES PLT 2046 9/11/81 SDI SGT GRIFFIN, FASTEST MARINE I EVER SAW. 1371/0352/0313, JUMPED SHIP AFTER FIRST GOOF WAR 7/2/91.
I was at MCRD San Diego from June ‘81-September ‘81. I was an Amtraker until I got out in November ‘88. Now I hear that the Marine Corps is no longer doing water training or taking Amtrak’s on deployments. WTH is happening to the Marine Corps?????
@@user-kr4rz5hn4n 2nd battalion…
No more tanks, coed boot camp…… not the same Marine Corps as we knew it. These changes are not for the good of the nation or the Marine Corps.
@@rileypup5959 No way they have WM’s in the same platoons in boot camp….
Who was your drill instructor?
@@TheBargainBoxer you know that by law, the National Defense Authorization Act forced the Marine Corps to have coed boot camp at the Platoon level. WMs now also goto MCRD San Diego and Parris Island for boot Camp. 4th Recruit Battalion in Parris Island was deactivated, remember this was originally the all female recruit training battalion.
MCRD 3060 1983 KILO 3/9 1ST MARDIV
SIMPER FI
I should have joined instead of wasting my time chasing girls and getting drunk
I chased girls and got drunk while I was in the Marine Corps!
@@JimSheaffer Best of both worlds!
The difference is you get paid to do it.
Hollywood
Pick ‘em up and drive those heals recruits lol gotta love the go fasters , Semper Fi brothers. Parris Island, 3rd Bn, I Company, Plt 3078, October 1988. Got out in 94. Best 6 years of my life
I was a Marine from 1980-1984 and couldn't get out fast enough. Got so tired of the shit-talking and incompetence; they couldn't even get my reenlistment right, so I finished and got out, and went straight to the Army recruiter and did 8 more years of active duty. Now I don't even admit my Marine years...I'm much more proud of my Army time, where they actually did things instead of just talking shit.
you are the problem
I remember the Marine on the left. Met him at Fuji in 83 his name is Hassalblad, cool dude. Last time i saw him he was a Sgt.
wise choice marine
2065 Fox Co MCRDSD 1976