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
Drill
Instructor Sergeant Robinson
THE STORIES
The
Moment
The
M&M's
The
Pepsi
The
Flattop
The
Mail Call
The
Clock
The
Fudge
The
Lost King
The
Rash
The
Wake-up Call
The
Rope
The Chow
THE RECRUITS
Go here
for a thumbnail gallery of all these recruits!!
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.
The
Movie by Maurice A. Hallauer, GySgt USMC Ret.
Bootcamp stories by Cameron
McCurry
Note: All of the names of Drill Instructors and have been
changed to random names.
Crack
Pipe
The
Big Scare
Rifle
Range
Office
Hours
Cruible
Motivational
Run and Base Liberty
Graduation
