tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191205038617397351.post4981591714265240156..comments2024-03-27T07:42:27.263-04:00Comments on A Colonel of Truth: NOOK, BRUCE, KENT, ROB, SERGEANT MAJOR, PARRIS ISLAND--AND A GENERAL SPEAKSUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191205038617397351.post-35962009113243759232010-06-11T20:44:12.970-04:002010-06-11T20:44:12.970-04:00Just a different era, Rob. I was 17 years old at t...Just a different era, Rob. I was 17 years old at the time and P.I. was my first time away from home, so what went on there had a profound affect on how I would visualize the world as a whole. knowing first hand should include being a fly on the wall in the barracks at night. That was a different world. Yes, I do agree with your comments to a large degree.<br /><br />S/F<br /><br />Doug<br /><br />Smitty<br />USMC 1963-69<br />DR 1965<br />Vietnam 1965-66Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191205038617397351.post-46007055177533219872010-06-11T15:15:29.381-04:002010-06-11T15:15:29.381-04:00I spent three years in a recruit training battalio...I spent three years in a recruit training battalion (83-86') and know first hand what it takes to be a Marine and what it takes to train one. <br /><br />Any abuse visited on a recruit at the hands of those entrusted to their care does far more damage to the reputation of the Drill Instructor and the Marine Corps than it does the recruit. Those who would argue any abuse they experienced in recruit trainig<br />"was part of becoming a Marine" or that it "helped make me a Marine" are terribly wrong. I would say you became a Marine in spite of such actions and not because of them.<br /><br />That sort of misguided argument would logically lead one to say, "so you needed to be beaten to become a Marine?" <br /><br />There is never any justification for abuse of another human being.<br /><br />Semper Fidelis,<br />Rob<br />LtCol USMC (Ret)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191205038617397351.post-22578524815364421932010-06-11T12:55:53.095-04:002010-06-11T12:55:53.095-04:00Smitty,
Thank you kindly for the lengthy note an...Smitty, <br /><br />Thank you kindly for the lengthy note and for your service. The brutality you mention and endured is not unknown to me. Certainly have heard it from many. I knew General Barrow. What you may not know is he was a Drill Instructor--after he completed recruit training at MCRD, San Diego in the early 40s. You can bet he saw his share of the brutality as well. I seriously doubt he was ever party to it--not in his core character. And his experience unquestionably had much to do with shaping him as the Marine he came to be. He would not agree, whatsoever, that brutality (hazing) serves any useful purpose. With that position, and drawing on three years directly leading officers, DIs and recruits, I agree wholeheartedly. The performance of today's Marines, especially in combat, is testament--they are as capable and feared as any Marine in history. <br /><br />You earned your emblem and title in a different era. It was what it was. I, for one, am glad those days are behind the Corps. No matter...you and me and everyone else who has earned the eagle, globe and anchor and title "Marine" share a bond outsiders can never understand. Ever. And that bond crosses eras and endures. It always will--for we still "Make 'em like we used to." You can believe that. <br /><br />Thanks again for tuning in (however you found the site?) and your thoughtful note.<br /><br />Semper Fidelis, <br />A. F. Weddington<br />Colonel, U.S. Marines (Retired)A Colonel of Truthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00968917380253732621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191205038617397351.post-81042684607092529692010-06-11T12:30:08.900-04:002010-06-11T12:30:08.900-04:00Very good, Col. I went through Parris Island recru...Very good, Col. I went through Parris Island recruit training in 1963 and although I never witnessed what was just described, there was a significant amount of abuse back then. We considered it part of the 'breaking you down and building you back up into a Marine'. It works! If you made it through back then, you had all that it takes to be a U.S. Marine! Yes, Recruits were beaten back then. The D.I.s made a list every day of every recruit screw-up...from moving your eyes in formation to, well, anything the D.Is didn't like. At the end of each day and after chow, the names on that day's list were read and each lined up outside the Drill Instructor's 'hatch'. On command,each recruit would take his right hand and hit the D.I.s' door three times and hollar 'Sir, Private 'Smith' reporting as ordered, Sir!'. He was then told to enter where two D.I.s held him and the third beat him. It was pretty brutal. That was every night for 13 weeks. I made that list a few times. I had my ear bitten until it bled. My Chief D.I. judo-chopped me so quick that I went flying into a trash can and opened a gash on the side of my ear that bled so bad that he took me into the head and washed it off and told me that I should be more careful walking up steps to which I replied 'Yes Sir!'. I saw recruits slapped, beaten,kicked, etc. Those recruits that did not qualify on the rifle range were awakened during the night and beaten by a group of recruits that I'm sure were encouraged by the D.I.s'. But you know what? We totally believed that it was part of making us mentally and Physically strong! And although it was extreme at times, it worked! I was in for six years/four active. I was in the grunts when we were the point company (India 3/6) that went into Santo Domingo during the Dominican Republic Revolution where we had KIAs and WIAs. Four months later I was in Vietnam for 13 months. I really do believe much of the 'punishment' in recruit training plays a big part in preparing a recruit for war. I also realize that sometimes it crosses the line as did the D.I. that General Barrow spoke ofand that Should be addressed! That training at Parris Island has pulled me through some really tough times and I am so thankful for that! God bless the Marine Corps!<br /> <br />Semper fi!<br />Doug Smith 'Smitty'<br /><br />Smitty<br />USMC 1963-69<br />DR 1965<br />Vietnam 1965-66<br /> <br />He who angers you, controls you!Smittynamvethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07964246219551956014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191205038617397351.post-23116710367754619902010-06-11T09:14:53.639-04:002010-06-11T09:14:53.639-04:00Andy, thank you! General Barrow wrote and delive...Andy, thank you! General Barrow wrote and delivered an incredibly significant message ... as important today as then. I wish we'd known of his words when we were there in1982-86 because i'd have wanted everyone to read it. your entire post was tremendous. Semper fi, Kim78buckeyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05809220532905059589noreply@blogger.com