On 6, Sept 1962, I became a proud member of Platoon 165, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA.

On 17 Sept the platoon helped me celebrate my 18th birthday by running an obstacle course. No cake, no ice cream, no presents and no "Happy Birthday Danny" song!

Our Quonset huts (barracks) and training courses were located parallel to one of the runways for the San Diego Airport, separated by a tall chain link fence. The next week I was assigned to guard duty, 8:00 PM to midnight, Post #3 (I think) which was marching up down the fence line.

I was able to see the homes and auto traffic and all the lights high up a hill not to far from the base. For most of the time on duty, I visualized guys taking their dates to park somewhere on that bluff, watching the moon light sparkling on the ocean, smooching a little before taking the girls home to their parents. It wasn't long before I was totally homesick.

I actually began wondering if any recruits had, in fact, crossed the fence to the airport, climbed up into the wheel well of a waiting plane, hoping it's destination was (in my case, Tucson, AZ) their hometown.. I wasn't brave enough to try it.

Later into training we heard rumors that it had been tried but nothing about what happened.