I enlisted in the Marine Corps in October of 1965. One of my drill instructors, Sgt. Lischin, at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego provided me with a nickname shortly after my arrival. I became known as Pvt. Vietnam, among other names, for the duration of training. Moving the letters of my last name, Van Tiem, around accounted for my new moniker.

My worst memories consist of the time our platoon spent in the "sand pit." Lischin led squat thrusts by the hundreds with great enthusiasm for some real or imagined infraction of our training agenda. I have occasional bad dreams of being in the sand pit as I am today—not as lean, not as mean, but still a Marine.

My fondest memory of boot camp was graduation day. Lischin, the drill instructor that was the hardest on us, said to me, "Pvt. Vietnam, you were a good turd."

To a civilian that may not sound like high praise, but coming from that man at that time meant the world to me and still does. Thank you, Sgt. Lischin, wherever you are.

Stan Van Tiem
Sgt. USMC 1965-1968