Thursday, November 7, 2013

Parris Island revisited after 57 years.

Okay, every child has a dream. I do not know why, when nor where, I developed the desire to become a MARINE. I had never met a marine none of my close kin were marines, and my brothers were sailors. I admired them both, why wasn’t my dream to be a sailor. Sailing to exotic ports around the world?

scanoldpic7 025

Well in 1955 I met Sam Waters and he told me how I could join the Corps at 16.  I followed his instructions and nearly made it. But I was kicked back until I was 17. So on January 19th, 1956 I arrived at PARRIS ISLAND. WOW, a dream come true. Was I surprised, to a young fellow it was a night mare. I was sure that SSgt W.D. Mayberry could do anything, and the world outside Parris Island would not know nor care.

Scan0003

(That is me, front row, second from the right, 17yrs and one day old)

There were many nights this kid lay in his ‘rack’ fighting back tears and hoping I would wake up at mama’s house and it would all be a dream, but it never happened.

scanoldpic7 019

(Washing clothes). “Smile boy or I will kick your ass, I’m sending this to your mama, show her you are enjoying this vacation,” SSgt Mayberry.

Some folk do not know that as a marine Boot, you do not leave Parris Island, nor ‘YOUR PLATOON’ until you are kicked out, dead or graduate. No visits to the club at night. No weekends in Beaufort to unwind. No ‘brew’ at a party. You are with your fellow boots and one of your 3 drill instructors of ‘your’ platoon from the first day until you graduate. You eat, sleep, crap, and shower always in their presence. Anyone wanting privacy for a minute, had better look someplace else. 

Visitors were discouraged. You were instructed to inform your family you would be too busy for visitors. I forgot to tell Sherry. She came to visit me twice. I took some flack for the first visit of course, the other not so much because I was the DI’s pride, his ‘High Shooter’, I had tied the range record on pre-qualification day, but on Qualification I only set the months record, but still it was a high score.

New Folder (2) 007

So this year, Sherry said, “I want to go back to Parris Island for my birthday?”  WHAT? I know, she wasn’t asking a hard thing,  I have always  refused before, but for her Birthday, what the heck.

PARRIS ISLAND SC 57 YRS LATER 001

Crossing the Salt Swamp To PI

PARRIS ISLAND SC 57 YRS LATER 003

Beautiful Tropical look.

PARRIS ISLAND SC 57 YRS LATER 005

Called Mainside….

PARRIS ISLAND SC 57 YRS LATER 008

Called the Drill Field.

PARRIS ISLAND SC 57 YRS LATER 009

Funny even deaf, I could hear him yelling at the recruit!~

PARRIS ISLAND SC 57 YRS LATER 017

(The dream of every marine, Raise that FLAG)

PARRIS ISLAND SC 57 YRS LATER 022

Sherry in an area where we went to steal f few kisses, January 1956,

PARRIS ISLAND SC 57 YRS LATER 024

She refused to let me take her picture here. She was remembering Her Marine, of 57 years ago.

our wedding 001 - Copy (2)

She was thinking, he used to have hair. LOL

Thanks for joining us on Pleasure Island. No I did not bake her a chocolate cake, but she ordered a triple chocolate brownie after dinner at the Red Lobster…..  (She did get a Ham & cheese Omelet, grits, biscuit, molasses and butter for breakfast and a relaxing massage from her favorite MARINE (Airman and sailor).

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Life is good, here in our motor home. Randomly, One of us will sing that old song line, “I’m so glad you came into my life,” then both of us will smile and sing, “THANK YOU BABY!”

<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

1955-bel-air-210-2-door-sedan_5xhv5

The car I borrowed to go to her house and ask for the first date.

1948-chevy-100177

Above it the first car I kissed her in.

1950chevyCC rear

We owned this when we got married.

10 comments:

Chatty Crone said...

Nice to see parts of your past. Some of the things you did. Like it was back then. You must have wanted action with the marines! sandie

Lucy said...

I love this entry Jack. It makes me think of my grandson Ryan and how he had a tough time and said when I asked how the marine corp was and he said "well I feel human now" I realized just how miserable he probably was. But he made it also. I came out ok at the doctor. I think I had a flu shot already but he couldn't find it so I got shot again.

shirl72 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
shirl72 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
shirl72 said...

Well will try again..Love to see
the pictures of my three Brothers.
When Mother would tell me they
were coming home from the Navy
I would sit on the front porch and wait on them. And you go and
join the Marines, then the Air Force
and retired in the Navy.
I AM PROUD OF ALL THREE OF MY
BROTHERS. Thanks for our Freedom.

Paula said...

Thank you for serving our country so well. My brother Bobby was in the navy.

betty said...

I'm glad you didn't refuse this year, Jack, and went back to Parris Island, even to where you stole a few kisses in years gone by. I'm sure it was tough training but I'm also sure, along with the way you were raised by your parents, it helped to shape you into the hard working man you became over the subsequent years.

betty

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

It seems Sherry had some better memories of Paris Island than you. Red lobster is my favorite place to eat. Sound like all and all it was a great birthday celebration.

Sheila Y said...

Enjoyed the stroll through Parrish Island. My brother Carl went into the Marines then later was full time (active?) Army reserve.. He retired from the reserves. You need to come back to NC, there is a chance of snow showers next Wed night/Thurs morning... :-D Take care, Sheila

Annesphamily said...

I enjoyed reading your words here. My late father-in-law and my hubby's youngest brother were both in the Navy! Today we met a gentleman in the restaurant where we were having lunch. Our daughters friends gave my hubby a cap from his USS Enterprise. My hubby loves that hat and the gentleman started up a conversation.He served three tours in Vietnam and lost half of his high school graduating class. This week we will celebrate Veteran's Day and I tip my hat to you and all those who served. A wonderful read.