(I made a return
visit to the barracks in 2005.)
This page serves
two purposes. First, it is a record of my recollections. Because
time robs us of our memories and the outlandish tales grow
more and more outlandish every year, I want a record of the
incredible experience of Marine Corps bootcamp. Second, I
hope you will read and enjoy these stories. They are also
for you. They are as true as I can remember but my mind was
a little warped back then.
BACKGROUND
On June 13, 1987, I graduated high school from Thomas
Jefferson High School in Auburn, Washington. I was already
enlisted in the Marine Corps on a six-year hitch starting
on July 28th. I received guaranteed avionic field, guaranteed
west coast stationing, and guaranteed promotions through
the rank of corporal. But before I could claim these prizes,
I had to endure 3 months in San Diego's United States Marine
Corps Recruit Depot.
The night before I left, my girlfriend (now wife) and I spent
a wonderful yet uncomfortable evening trying not to think about
what was going to happen. We had recently seen Stanley Kubrick's
Full Metal Jacket and neither of us felt good about what
I was about to do. As we said good night and I waved from the
parking lot of the hotel I was put in for the night, I knew
that for better or worse, I was embarking on a life-changing
journey. The next day I went to the MEPS station for the typical
all-day paper shuffle and was put on a plane that night. Here
is where the fun began.
THE DRILL INSTRUCTORS
Drill Instructor Staff Sergeant Ingram
(Receiving, not pictured)
Drill Instructor Sergeant Bonilla
(Receiving, not pictured)
Senior Drill Instructor Staff Sergeant
Wertjes
Read about my reunion with Sergeant
Major Wertjes!!!!
Drill Instructor Staff Sergeant
Garcia
Read about my reunion with Master
Sergeant (ret) Garcia!!!!
Read about Top's son, Lance
Corporal Garcia.
Drill Instructor Sergeant Robinson
THE STORIES
THE RECRUITS
Go here for a thumbnail
gallery of all these recruits!!
MCRD SAN DIEGO REUNION
I made a triumphant return to the barracks in 2005 and
explain some of the ins and outs of life in the squadbay.
I also came to terms with a lot of ghosts.
Come take a look.
MCRD PARRIS ISLAND VISIT
I can't call this a "reunion" because
I trained at MCRD San Diego but in 2004, I visited MCRD Parris
Island for the first time and here are the pics I took. Its
a good sneak peek at recruit training if you've never seen
it and a waltz down memory lane if you survived it.
SECOND-HAND STORIES
These are stories I have been told over the years. I
can not attest to their validity nor accuracy but if they
sound a bit far-fetched, remember: the universe of bootcamp
is not the reality normal people live. In other words, the
stranger the story, the more truthful it probably is. If
you would like to contribute a story, email
me and I'll put it in here.
