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Post Info TOPIC: Memories of Bootcamp


Boot

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RE: Memories of Bootcamp


You got me on that one! All the links worked for me! If you go to their home page quarterdeck.org, click on "the Association" on top and then click on "the Associations Vision" it should take you to the page about the NTC museum.  Our project is not on their site. We are organizing on navyvets.com in the RTC command page. We are working on getting a number of guys in the San Diego area to be the front lines on this. It'll take some time to get something organized. But, I believe with all the guys that went through there we will get there!



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Chief

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I got to quarterdeck.org but could not find anything on your project I got error message then re-direct to just home page Quarterdeck.org.

I would hope USS Midway & other Navy & Vet groups would get behind this I'm sure folks who went through NTC would donate money if nothing else.

 

Howard



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Howard Gillins [AKA] Howdude,Midway 70-71 ABH-2 Fire Dept,Group Member since 2001.Retired since 2002.


Boot

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Howard, a bunch of us believe the TDE-1 should be returned to the bow! It is more historical accurate than to leave it completely in the FFG configuration. From a few discussions with the creator of the San Diego Naval Historical Assoc., there is very little desire amongst those that are trying to take possession of her to make any restoration changes. The port holes will not be replaced and the items that were removed from the deck like the depth charge roll offs will not return! The SDNHA is the group we are trying to get back "in the groove"! They have done a lot of work and prep over the years.  Here's the link to their vision of the Recruit.

http://www.quarterdeck.org/About/our_vision.htm



-- Edited by SlaterDoc on Thursday 24th of November 2011 07:08:27 PM

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Chief

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The navy had a promotion in 55 56 57 where the took us to Lake Okaboji for the weekend and had lots of things for us to do.  Then the loaded us on a train to Great Lakes, got there late at night and had to take the the test.  Was it called GTC or what?  That must have been the policy at a lot of boot camps. 



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AZ1 GENE MEYER,USN(RET)
AIRBARSRON TWO
AEWBARRONPAC
APR58-JAN 59 Midway JAN 59-MAY61 Hawaii
www.willyvictor.com


Chief

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I don't remember when we started going to classes, but the first days were entirely spent learning marching and drills, my heels still hurt from getting stepped on and those damn pieces, in the beginning when the command was right shoulder arms you had to watch out for the guy in front of you, if he through his up too far and flat you could get hit in the face with the end of the barrel, we carried them everywhere with the exception of chow maybe. We called them pieces because there was a wood plug in the barrel.

As I recall when we transferred over to main camp we never wore our dungarees again.



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Perry Smithberg 
AEWBARRONPAC ramp service div.
Midway detachment 1963-64


Chief

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Well as I recall when you first got there we were assigned to RTC Camp Nimitz. We had fairly nice concrete block barracks. Mine must been like yours as we could see Airport & MCRD. We had a chow hall there but we marched almost everyday over the wooden bridge to the NTC side for formal training, exams, Medical etc. Sometime into training we were moved to the NTC side & stuck in some really old wooden barracks where we finished out our tour. We did galley duty at that HUGE galley on the NTC side. The grinder deal was as I learned we practiced daily for our graduation just didn't know it. Time marches on & all we have our memories.

 

thanks



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Howard Gillins [AKA] Howdude,Midway 70-71 ABH-2 Fire Dept,Group Member since 2001.Retired since 2002.


Chief

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That's about the way I remember it too, I think about 0500 was it, we went to chow, marched back to the barracks for maybe 15-20 min., marched out to the grinder, personal inspection, the those dreaded squat leg stretches (ick) drills, more marching, that was on Nimitz Isle, on the west side I'm a little fuzzy on that. On Nimitz we were in the barracks on the extream n/e corner, our front door was facing the Marine base and the airport, I remember looking out there after dark at the lights and planes taking off and being homesick and also getting into town and eating something tasty instead of what we had in the galley.



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Perry Smithberg 
AEWBARRONPAC ramp service div.
Midway detachment 1963-64


Chief

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March 68

I do not recall taking test early but I think we were up daily by 0500 & at chow NLT 0600 & they kept us moving all day long. I think lights out was 2200. I was so tired the SD Airport planes did not effect my sleep.

We were run through in little over 8 weeks then as Pueblo had been captured & we were going to go at it with Korea. We did not know MLK had been killed till the Sunday after. We saw flags at 1/2 staff but nobody knew why. Sunday was only day of peace & rest.

twocents

 



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Howard Gillins [AKA] Howdude,Midway 70-71 ABH-2 Fire Dept,Group Member since 2001.Retired since 2002.


Second Class

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No sir, I believe we went to chow first ... and the time could have been as late as 0500 by the time we started taking the exams ... all I remember is it was awfully darned early to be taking tests that would follow you the rest of your career.



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D. A. "Dusty" Durst
NSGD Midway Isle, Eastern 63-64
In God We Trust, All Others We Monitor


Chief

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Dusty, you take them on an empty stomach??



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Perry Smithberg 
AEWBARRONPAC ramp service div.
Midway detachment 1963-64


Second Class

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Well, I can tell you we took our exams at 0400 in the morning, Feb 1962!



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D. A. "Dusty" Durst
NSGD Midway Isle, Eastern 63-64
In God We Trust, All Others We Monitor


Chief

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I went through San Diego over a year before the clip was  made and it's pretty close, I think our hair cuts on top of our head were the same length as the sides, maybe 3/8 in. long. I don't believe anyone took exams at 0400, they would've had to eat breakfast at 0300, we were rousted out in the middle of the night a couple of times and punished for an offense or a cooked up one which was very possible.



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Perry Smithberg 
AEWBARRONPAC ramp service div.
Midway detachment 1963-64


Chief

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http://oldbluejacket.com/inthenavynow.htm   NTC SD link sorry



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Howard Gillins [AKA] Howdude,Midway 70-71 ABH-2 Fire Dept,Group Member since 2001.Retired since 2002.


Chief

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Navy Boot Camp

The beginning photo refers to 1962.


This is a memory road for many of us
Click below, a couple minute video that is well done.


Boot Camp Activities, San Diego, 1948



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Howard Gillins [AKA] Howdude,Midway 70-71 ABH-2 Fire Dept,Group Member since 2001.Retired since 2002.


Chief

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The 100 th ann. of Great Lakes NTC is taking place soon. July 1

To honor this Ann. the USCS is offering a commemorative postal cover. Send a self addressed stamped envelope  & $2 per cover to USCS Rich Hoffner 415 Moyer Rd Souderton, Pa 18964-2319

 

FYI 

 



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Howard Gillins [AKA] Howdude,Midway 70-71 ABH-2 Fire Dept,Group Member since 2001.Retired since 2002.


Non Rate

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GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS Boot camp 1980 (Continued)

Back home in Stuart, Florida I got mentioned in our local paper ..... Did any of that happen to you?

usa


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Andy Romero  usaribbon
NMCB-3 Midway Det. 1984





Non Rate

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GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS Boot camp 1980

I'm in the black and white pictures ..... Group shot second from the left and center as the asst. laundery PO.

coolshades





-- Edited by MidwayCBI on Tuesday 31st of August 2010 05:39:41 AM

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Andy Romero  usaribbon
NMCB-3 Midway Det. 1984





Second Class

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Howard wrote:

Gary,
Your company mirrored mine as we only had 2 diamonds on our company flag too. I don't recall what that meant now. My company 183 May 1968. We had only black & white group photo's then. Found lots of boot camp postcards in my Mom's stuff in April.

Howard  confuse


I think that each diamond represented a first place in the weekly academic competition.

It really kept the photographers busy following our progress through bootcamp.  At that time, we were forming 2-3 60-man companies each day.

GaryE

 



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Chief

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Gary,
Your company mirrored mine as we only had 2 diamonds on our company flag too. I don't recall what that meant now. My company 183 May 1968. We had only black & white group photo's then. Found lots of boot camp postcards in my Mom's stuff in April.

Howard  confuse

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Howard Gillins [AKA] Howdude,Midway 70-71 ABH-2 Fire Dept,Group Member since 2001.Retired since 2002.


Second Class

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I just came across the following picture among my parent's keepsakes.  Yours truly in the circle:

Gary Edstrom (Circled) Company 1970-113

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Boot

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 This is a reply to an "old post"

I would come to believe you are dreaming about NTC in Alameda. I was stationed at the NAS there but  never her this story before. My father is a WWII navy veet and he went to boot camp in Farragut Idaho. When I was 11 we took a trip through the Rockies and we went out of our way to see his old training center. I don't remember what exactly was left but he still talks about it at age 84. His long term memory is good but short term is not so good!


-- Edited by Mort on Monday 1st of February 2010 08:57:34 PM

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Mort

Midway June 74- Nov 75
Public Works Transportation
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Boot

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In San Diego in 1973, we still had to wash on the cement wash basins while on "Worm Island" but when we moved across to the other side, we sent our laundry out and the Navy did it.

My comapny commander was Chief Major. He was a sharp tough CC. He gave us a "inspection" trash can that we hid in the attic of the barracks and used it only for inspections. He was not going to waste our time having us shine any galvanized trash can. We had an everyday can we used otherwise.

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Mort

Midway June 74- Nov 75
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Boot

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Perry,
It was April of 73 when I was driven over to the Fargo AFEES office to be sworn in. My recruiter, in Bemidji where I was going to college at the time, drove me and 3 others over to Fargo. I was on the delayed entry program, and shipped out 6 months later in Minneapolis. I went to San Diego and waited a week for my company to form. Everyone was coming and going from R&O but I never was assigned a company. I finally found out I was going into Special Company 947, which made up the "drum and bugle team, choir and the flag team". I got into trouble one day coming back in the rain from Noon chow, and the Duty Officer  told me and my friend to "give me your company number in jumping jacks". He never asked our company number, but when we got to 200 and were still going, he asked. He was surprised when we said "Sir 947, Sir". He did not back down though and we did all 947 jumping jacks.

Gary Scott is right. it was hot at San Diego in the day and cold at night. I was also one of the "Sea Bees" that worked for him on Midway.

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Mort

Midway June 74- Nov 75
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Chief

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When we were at Supply School in Athens, Georgia, I learned that NAVY stood for
Never Again Volunteer Yourself (N A V Y).

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Fran Kraus - Midway Island 1968 - 1970

The BATTLE for MIDWAY ISLAND isn't over yet!
"Sometimes private groups can do more than the federal government"
Gale Norton, Head of fws, Parade Magazine 9/30/02


Boot

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gedstrom wrote:

It was in bootcamp that I learned the meaning of 'Hurry up and wait!'.

I also learned 'Never Volunteer' for anything!   smile.gif

GaryE




Got that right!!!!

 

After taking the battery of tests in boot camp, I choose from the list of rates available to me such as Sonarman, Radarman, Electronicis Tech, and Radioman. My LAST choice was as a Construction Electrician, and I was asked to initial a spot near the bottom of the form titled "I do hereby volunteer for construction battalion duty". Guess which one I got? I was the only Seabee in my company (but what pretty blue stripes I got to wear though). Was sent to "A" school in Port Hueneme, and then to my first tour at Midway as a duty electrician at the main power plant where I worked my first 6 months as an engine watch, then my last 6 months as a board watch. Learned a lot though, and LOVED Midway enough to request it as my "Re-enlistment Duty Incentive" when I re-upped several years later....



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Navfac 1973-1975
A Midway Island Two-Timer


Second Class

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It was in bootcamp that I learned the meaning of 'Hurry up and wait!'.

I also learned 'Never Volunteer' for anything!   smile.gif

GaryE


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Chief

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  It will be 48 years ago April 3rd that I had my physical in an old abandoned school house in Fargo ND and that night after we left the old school burned to the ground, my dad sent me a picture and clipping to boot camp from a paper about it, I think When they said "bend over and spread your cheeks" I probably thought I can put my fingers in my mouth and spread my cheeks but why do I have to bend over for that. I don't remember anything about the year 1961, such as number one song or movie but that was the prettiest year Cadillac and Chevrolet ever had I thought and I still think so.

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Perry Smithberg 
AEWBARRONPAC ramp service div.
Midway detachment 1963-64


Chief

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Howard wrote:

41 years ago this coming Sat. [3-7-68]I reported to NTC San Diego Co 182 a date I won't soon forget. I was scared shitless as the bus stopped at MCRD first & if we got only 1/2 of what those poor fellows got we'd be Lucky. It was raining cats & dogs to Boot!! We were headed to the Fleet by May 10. It don't seem possible.

Howard usa



Howard....it was 52 years ago this August 14th that I was told to spread my cheeks, and then raise my right hand and swear after me.  It is as fresh this moment as it was on that day in Oklahoma City at the Navy Recriting station.
The Movie, "The King and I" was the big show in town....days later I was in Company 307....getting up to 8 shots and than doing push-ups.  San Diego was hot in the day time and cold at night.  QMC Woodburn was our CC.  Years later, for my first shore duty station, I was a CC in Great Lakes.  Led 13 companies from formation to graduation.  There was only one billet on Midway Island for a MMC, a friend told me about it.  There must be 2,000 MMC's in the Navy, possibly more.  But from that conversation with a friend, I called my detailer and was lucky to have him fill that billet with me.  Prior to that I had never seen a Sea Bee, now I was stationed with them......it was great....most of the Navy experience was great....
GS

 



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Gary Scott
Midway Island
June '70 - August '75


Chief

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Reading backwards a bit...............We got Midway because Paul was on the USS YORKTOWN CVS 10 and the Navy was moving it from Long Beach to Norfolk.  Not wanting to move all of the personnel 3,000 miles with all their worldly goods on the Flight Decks, they move 3 (count them, three!) "families" to other duty stations.  We got Midway, 3,000 miles away and one of the other families got Rhode Island (3,000 miles away.)  Don't remember what happened to the other family.  The rest went 'round the Horn.  Go figure!    I'm still thankful that we were "un"lucky enuff to have gotten Midway.

 

emote.img?ID=3913emote.img?ID=3913



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Fran Kraus - Midway Island 1968 - 1970

The BATTLE for MIDWAY ISLAND isn't over yet!
"Sometimes private groups can do more than the federal government"
Gale Norton, Head of fws, Parade Magazine 9/30/02


Chief

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41 years ago this coming Sat. [3-7-68]I reported to NTC San Diego Co 182 a date I won't soon forget. I was scared shitless as the bus stopped at MCRD first & if we got only 1/2 of what those poor fellows got we'd be Lucky. It was raining cats & dogs to Boot!! We were headed to the Fleet by May 10. It don't seem possible.

Howard usa

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Howard Gillins [AKA] Howdude,Midway 70-71 ABH-2 Fire Dept,Group Member since 2001.Retired since 2002.
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