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I was 17 when I graduated from High School. I was determined to enlist. At first I thought it would be in the Army. Pop was in the Army. I knew nothing about the Marines.  But I had this buddy Eddie.  We had something in common. He lived a couple of blocks away and we both had a really cheap (money I had no stinking money) British Enfield thing.   His was a Mark 4, mine a Mark 3.  We ‘customized’ them and talked about shooting etc. He was going to join the Marines. He told me all about it. He made it sound hard, nearly to the point of impossible.  Strange how that kinda thing motivates some people.    In High School, later on I had a buddy named Gibson. We were both seniors, and we talked about the Corps a lot. A bunch of juniors used to join us at our lunch table and listen. One kid was a real 5′6″ fireplug with a flattop haircut, a million freckles and a chit-eating grin that never stopped. His name was Dennis Glen.    Well I wasn’t old enough to join. I was 17. Gibson enlisted in the Marines. There I stood. My folks told me go to college one year, and then I could join if I still wanted to. So I did.    In the fall of my freshman year two life altering things happened. One was I went to a talent show at my old High School. I met this girl. She was so attractive. So I did the only thing I could, I began the process of falling madly passionately in love with her. Oh … ma was a hoofer.  She danced in a number in the show.    The second thing was, there was this Marine Corps officer there. A brand new butter bar (2nd Lieutenant). He was wearing dress blues. His sister was in Ma’s class and a friend of mine. Oh his last name was “Bell” … no it wasn’t Taco ladies. I talked to him and learned about this weird Marine Officer Program for guys in college.  It was called the PLC (Platoon Leader’s Course) Program. Over the Christmas break I went down and signed up … yup yup I had turned 18 by then.    My pop had a lot of confidence in me, “Better write your name on the seat of your pants so they will know who it is going over the hill.”  Thanks Pop. (he was kiddin)    So by the time I graduated from college, I had successfully passed both 6 week sessions of PLC in Quantico, Va. That summer I married Ma (hey she had her chance to escape … but noooooooo!).  I was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. We loaded everything we owned in and on a 1963 Chevy, and moved to Quantico Va for TBS (The Basic School).    I learned what I needed to know to be a basic Infantry Officer. After that we traveled to Fort Sill Oklahoma, where I completed the US Army Field Artillery School, and became an Artillery Officer.    It was the beginning for us. By this time my buddy Gibson was already out of the Corps. and Lcpl Dennis Glen USMC, the short fireplug guy with the highly infectious grin, was KIA in Vietnam. I still see his face and hear his laugh. Dennis’s dad was a Marine in WWII.

I have no idea what happened to Eddie. 

On the LPD-4 Austin. I understand she still serves.

The girl of my dreams.            

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 29th, 2006 at 5:54 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.