….And When You Thought it Was Over…….

If you were still standing after Boot Camp, and the D.I.'s called you MARINES for the first time, instead of "maggots", you figured it was all downhill from there.................

But you soon discover that the hard physical training in San Diego, was only to get you into shape for the steep hills and miles of dirt roads 31 miles north, at Camp Pendleton.  (If you graduated from Parris Island, your next stop is Camp LeJeune, N.C.)

I enlisted at 17, and at 18----found myself behind an M-1 Garand at Camp San Onofre (one of the several camps that make up Pendleton)

Sleeping quarters hadn't changed much either.......from the quonset huts of San Diego to the quonset huts of San Onofre.  (Actually, I LIKE quonset huts and was hoping to find one to live in when I met Donna..........needless to say, it didn't happen!)

On a return visit in 2003, they were still there and I found MY old "apartment!".........the hills were still there too.  at 55, it took me a lot longer to make the top of "Smokey"....but I still DID!

In 1966, we routinely did forced marches to the gear with all of our gear in about 18 minutes.  I'd chosen the Marine Corps Birthday this time, and it took 44 minutes with just a T-shirt & shorts.  You can see the camp way down below.  (I'd "pre-made" this sign to take to the top WITH me).  That was my last trip on that hill!

In the summer of '67, I got orders for 'Nam with the 3rd Marine Division, so a trip home to see the folks (who now lived in San Jose) was in order.  This shot was with my Dad & his '64 Ford Galaxie 500.

Back to Pendleton for advanced combat training....this time with the venerable M-14.  At the right, is what the Marine Corps considered a "messhall."  At least it was hot food.........which would soon become a thing of the past for the next 13 months!  (Thanks to the "generous" Navy allowance, that messhall is STILL THERE TODAY.......although I think they're using it for something else now.)  That messhall shot was taken the last time I was at Pendleton two years ago in 2009.

There would be "lean times" ahead.........as we readied to head "over the pond."