[Taxman]

We have something in common: for the first 16 weeks I was in the Navy, at the Naval School of Pre-Flight in Pensacola, the United States Marine Corps was in charge of my life. It was a hellofaneducation!

I have always respected the Marine Corps — those crusty Sergeants had their work cut out for them, and they came through in magnificent style, if I do say so myself!

Armed with the special set of survival skills those very special men taught me, I was able to proudly serve my country for 28 1/2 years.

Furthermore, because I never left my locker unlocked, I never landed with my wheels up!

Semper Fi!

[Warrior Nurse]

1982 PLT 2043 SSGT Wilson, SGT Gilliland, SGT Racel and SGT Degeso
OCS 1983 SST C.Q. Timberlake aka Timberwolve, CAPT T.E> Rankin. I served for 8 years in my beloved corps.

[Chieftain]

I graduated from MCRD San Diego in 1971. I was in Platoon 3056, India Company, 3d Battalion. My 'hard hat' Drill Instructor, Sgt Eggleston, came up to me when I was standing at attention waiting to get on the bus and congratulated me. My eyes never moved from the 500 yard stare, because I wasn't going to do or say ANYTHING that might cause him to keep me there one extra second!

Fast forward 35 years later and my twin sons graduated from MCRD San Diego, Platoon 3071, India Company, 3d Battalion!

My sons' Senior Drill Instructor, SSgt Good, posed for this photo with my sons. I know they were PROUD to be photographed with him, they really admired him.

It has been almost 4 years since that day now. Both sons are Iraq veterans and now one is in Afghanistan and one is in Haiti.

I got an email from their Senior DI last November and he asked about them and said they were good recruits. He said he knew they would be good Marines. He is now a Gunnery Sergeant and both my sons are now Sergeants.

One thing for sure, MCRD San Diego and Drill Instructors are prominent in our family's history. Maybe my sons will make the trek back to MCRD San Diego and become Drill Instructors... who knows??