Parris Island, 1945
I have considered myself to be a Marine for the past 70 years. I was in boot camp at Parris Island in 1945.
A group of Marine recruits who enlisted into our Corps in the spring and summer of 1945 were very young men who had already served their country in WWII by serving overseas and earning the right to wear three to five medals and a combat bar before their 17th birthdays.
In the early part of 1944, when the government realized that they had a critical shortage of Merchant Marine seamen, they resolved this issue by declaring that this type of participation was a civilian activity and therefore, since you could hold a full-time job at 16, they lowered the age to 16 to fill these vacant positions.
Several thousand young “men” jumped at this opportunity to serve their country.
During 1945, many of these recruits went to boot camp at Parris Island. Almost every other platoon had one of these veterans serving in it. Ironically, at that time being from New York or being a Merchant Marine, you were looked down on with a distrustful attitude.
When we finished boot camp, we were given a five-day leave to go home. As we were loading the buses to leave the island, our Senior DI made this statement, “I want all of you to listen up closely. When you get home, do not stop at an Army/Navy store and pick up any ribbons to impress the ladies at home. If you haven’t earned any, you cannot wear any.”
Incidentally, most of us veterans were sent to Sea School out in San Diego. I was assigned to a naval cruiser, USS Fargo, for the next 2 years. I spent my 18th and 19th birthdays overseas aboard Fargo and also became a “Shellback." We served in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and made a side trip to South America. We were also involved with supporting the U.S. Army 88th Division during the “Trieste Incident” which gave us service during the beginnings of the “Cold War."
These young 16-year-old recruits were given veteran status 43 years later. We were given discharges from the U.S. Coast Guard dated June/July 1945.
To you fellow, “bellhops, Jarheads.” Semper Fidelis and God Bless!
I am still very active in veterans affairs, still spit-shine my shoes and dress appropriate to the occasion.