| A memory
that scared the hell out of me was when the Corporal in charge
at Receiving Barracks in MCRD had everyone empty their pockets.
By the time we got to this stage, my mind was in a turmoil and
I do not recall just where I was, other than in the first rank
in the receiving room and next to where we were to bunk for the
night.
I remember hearing the DI scream “Firecrackers!?!
Who in the f*&* would bring firecrackers to Boot Camp?”
He found the guilty culprit and told him to drop his
drawers and bend over. He then told his buddy to pick up the
firecrackers (they were round cherry bombs). He then ordered
the buddy “Stuff them up his ass. We are going to light
them!”
About that time everyone began to shuffle and I almost
came unglued. None of us could imagine it actually happening
but by then we would have believed anything the Corporal said.
Anyway, the guy stuffing the firecrackers was trying
but we kept hearing these things falling on the floor. The receiver
of the firecrackers was not saying a word, just bent over with
his trousers down around his ankles. Finally the Corporal screamed
at the stuffee and said “What the hell is taking so long?
I don’t have all night!”
“Sir, the keep falling out Sir.....”
In due time the effort was abandoned and the two boots
were sent to bed in the next room with the rest of us. We were
told to go to bed and then go to sleep. I remember putting my
head on that pillow and the next thing I knew, it was 0500 and
that Corporal was screaming to get out of those sacks and fall
out for chow.
By the way, the Korean War was in full swing at that
time...
Richard E. Nygaard, SSGT USMC 1953-1963
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