My pop died in 1988...he was a Marine during WW2..survived that and was called back during the Korean War...Was then a Drill Instructor at Camp Pendleton....for 2-3 years. He never called himself a "former" Marine. He was a Marine. Period.
Any yes...the inconsistencies were in fact yours....when you said SEALS...and then seals. There IS a difference.
FWIW-
“He never called himself a “former” Marine. He was a Marine. Period.”
All Marines, from their first days in boot camp, are taught that non active duty Marines are to refer to themselves as “former Marines.” It is a Custom of the Service. To say “I was a Marine” would be acceptable also.
Note that it is considered an insult by Marines to be called an “ex Marine.” Former Marines on FR threads often referred to PA Rep. John Murtha as an “ex-Marine.” We have collectively disowned him and the insult is openly intended.
“Any yes...the inconsistencies were in fact yours...”
Go back and read through the thread again and you’ll see that one of the poster’s causing your perception of “inconsistencies” claimed that I called myself an “ex-Marine.” Following up with a comment about being a doofus for doing so. I never would use that term, and you apparently misssed his feeble/crass attempt at an insult. He was a coward for not pinging me to that post, but I did see the post and called him on his perfidy. Look farther downthread for my response. To use such posts by reckless and irresponsible poster’s and say that I have been inconsistant is laughible... SEAL v Seal (mea culpa) notwithstanding.
Former Marine is the correct and traditional term whether your father used it or not. Goggle is your friend here if you don’t believe me.
By the way, Marine Boot Camp has never been conducted at Camp Pendleton, except for the Marksmanship Phase when the recruits are bused there from San Diego for a 2 week period, and handed over to PMI’s (Primary Marksmanship Instructors) at Edson Range, for live fire rifle training(impossible in downtown San Diego at MCRD); and then again, in more recent times, in the very last days of their training, for the 3 day “Crusible” challenge. All west of the Missisippi Marine recruits attend Boot Camp at MCRD (The Marine Corps Recruit Depot) in San Diego adjacent to the old Naval Training Center and along the runways of the San Diego Airport. East of the Missippi Marine recruits attend Boot Camp at Perris Island, in Charleston harbor, S. Carolina.
If you watch any Utube clip on Marine Boot Camp (West Coast version), you’ll hear the commercial jets taking off at regular intervals in the background.
`The 1942 film “To the Shores of Tripoli.” about Marine recruit training, and staring John Payne (not John Wayne, lolol) was shot at MCRD San Deigo just prior to Pearl Harbor, and the ending was reshot in Pearl’s aftermath to reflect that event, just before it’s release to the public.
Neither here, nor there. If your father was a DI he served in MCRD San Diego, not Camp Pendleton. Yes a small point, but one most Marines wouldn’t fail to catch.
I knew several men like your father. Many of them, originally Pearl Harbor enlistees, were retiring with near 30 years service during my time in the Corps. Often referred to as “The Old Breed” these Marines were highly respected within the Corps for their service in 3 wars. and the institutional warfighting knowledge gained through hard fought battles in Pacific Theater of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. You should be very proud of him....Korean era Marines had a tough row to hoe, and rarely received the accolades they deserved.