At 0700 we boarded a bus in the dark to go view a graduation ceremony at the Parris Island Marine Corp Recruit Depot, tour the base, and have lunch. How did all this come about? Why? Not sure, but our leader Jamie was a Marine pilot during Korea and is well connected throughout the Carolinas.
Twenty five minutes later we were on base only to sit in our bus for an additional 25 minutes awaiting an escort. Soon after we were on backless cold aluminum stadium seats in an equally cold breeze wishing we were still in the shelter of the bus.
All the Marine escorts and ushers wore short sleeve shirts.
A young-looking full-bird colonel came out, as he said, to warm up the crowd and answer questions. He said they wear short sleeve shirts because the general decreed winter starts Monday, and today is only Friday. [Laughter.] After a few more warm-ups he moved to another section and repeated his shtick. He was from laid-back Los Angeles and definitely didn’t match my image of a Marine colonel.
At 0900 the start of ceremonies was signaled by the parade-center arrival of a uniformed English bulldog mascot that preferred standing with his rear to the audience. The recruits then marched into formation as the wind launched caps skyward. Occasionally a uniformed observer would parade-march to a hat, pick it up, parade-march to a hatless recruit and with two hands, as if lowering a crown, cram it on the recruit’s head.
Weddings, funerals, and graduations all get to me and this was no exception, but when it concluded we were all anxious to get back to the bus. We were then guided on a bus tour by a six-year sergeant but little was visible except buildings and PT areas. She told us most of the physical training is done between 4:30 AM and 6:30 AM.
Lunch was in the NCO club and was good.
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