We went through a number of Guides in Second and Third Phase. Our Squad Leaders didn't change much, but we changed guides at the drop of a hat. We finally settled on a former Army Ranger, who graduated as the platoon Honorman. We had three guys with prior military service, one from the Navy, and two from the Army. Most of us were in our teens, but one of our squad leaders was in his twenties and had a college degree.
One night, I went into the head to do my hygiene, without a shirt on. As I walked out of the head, I went by the mirror in the squadbay, and had to stop and go back, because I didn't recognize the person in the mirror. There were all these lines in my stomach, and bumpy muscle. My cammie bottoms were folded over at the waist and cinched down. They started out a little big, but now there was a whole handful of material folded over. I looked at myself long enough to convince myself that that really was me, and then proceeded back toward my rack. I walked past the door to the duty hut, and after a couple steps, the DIs yelled at me to come back. I reported to SSgt Clancy, and they demanded to know "what the hell was going on with my uniform". I said, "Sir, the Private has lost a lot of weight, Sir!" They laughed and sent me on my way. There was a guy n my platoon whose last name was "Thrasher". This was unfortunate, because that was the term our DI team used to reference exercise. When we were punished, it was called "being thrashed". He lost a lot of weight in bootcamp. It turned out he had a huge barrel chest, and now his stomach was cut way back in. He looked like the guys in the old weightlifting advertisements on the back of cartoon magazines.
I remember one funny thing that happened in Third Phase. We were very near graduation, and everyone was to the wind. Some were at Dental, some were at Medical, some were getting final alterations to our uniforms, we were all over the place. SSgt Klingman was supervising about a dozen of us on the quarterdeck. We were sanding our brass, shining our shoes, and he was talking to us, in a pretty normal way. There was a guy in our platoon named Rudolph (no idea what his first name was). He was egg-headed and lightly built. He was also very quiet, and didn't screw anything up, so he was pretty much invisible. SSgt Klingman looked at him and said, "Rudolph, I haven't thrashed you in a long time, have I?"
Rudolph said, "Sir no sir!".
SSgt Klingman then said, "Bends and thrusts, Rudolph.", so Rudolph put his stuff down and started to bend and thrust. SSgt Klingman let him go for a minute or so, and then said, "So, Rudolph, you want to be an officer, huh?" (Rudolph, myself and a few others were pulled aside and considered for OCS)
Rudolph (bending and thrusting): "Sir, yes, sir!"
SSgt Klingman: "Y'know, officers don't do anything."
Rudolph (bending and thrusting): "Sir, yes, sir!"
SSgt Klingman: "So, why do you want to be an officer?"
Rudolph (starting to work up a sweat): "Sir, because I don't want to have to do anything!"
SSgt Klingman: "MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS!"
Family Day was on a Saturday, if I remember right, because we were graduating early because of Thanksgiving. We didn't do the Moto Run back then. We just marched up to where the families were and fell out, and there we were. I remember standing there for a few seconds, and then I saw my Mom and Dad. I ran over to them and we all hugged. It felt great! We got some burgers to eat and then we walked around for a while. I took them over by the barracks and chowhall. We couldn't go in, but they could see them. We also walked around behind the chowhall, and I showed them the different training areas, like the confidence course, were we did rifle PT, etc. They took a picture of me sitting in the doorway of a helicopter mockup, and also a picture of me and Dad. He had been to bootcamp at MCRD San Diego in the 40s, after WWII, but was disqualified for medical reasons after just a few days, and released. I don't remember us talking about "then vs. now" as we walked around. I don't think he even made it through receiving. so he might not have gotten to see much of the Depot. Anyway, we just walked around a bit and then it was time for them to leave and for us to get back to the barracks.
The company graduating one week participates in the graduation ceremony of the company graduating the week prior. It helps fill up the parade deck, and gives everyone a chance to see how it all works, so they get it right when their turn comes. We did that on a Friday, and then it was our turn the next Wednesday (again, because of Thanksgiving). I don't remember who was the Guest of Honor or what he had to say or much else about graduation. I found Mom and Dad, and we gathered my stuff and took a shuttle over to the hotel. Before we left, I saw Sgt Jones walking away, and called after him to "take care". I really wanted to chase him down and talk to him and apologize about reporting him to SSgt Clancy, but he didn't turn around when I called out, so I left it at that. I still regret not making it a point to stop him and talk about it.
After dropping my gear off, I changed from Alphas into Charlies and we went to Sea World and had a nice afternoon together. The next morning we flew back home to Wisconsin. I had 18 days of leave on my orders instead of the normal ten, for some reason. I spent Friday through Sunday deer hunting with Dad, which was always a big deal in our family. It was funny, because I could run up all the hills. It was amazing. Zip! Up I went, while everyone struggled along behind.
I visited my high school, in my Alphas. A few people said hi and congratulated me, but nobody seemed to care a whole lot. So, I hunted deer, helped Dad fish, and finally it came time to report to Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, VA, for training as an Amphibious Landing Intelligence Analyst Specialist (MOS 0231). Along with consideration for OCS, I had been offered the chance to change my MOS from the Mechanical/Electrical Option group to Intelligence, Signals Intelligence, or Presidential Duty. I chose Intelligence, and spent a fair amount of time signing waivers and filling out a Special Background Investigation form, which would qualify me for access to Top Secret and higher material. Rudolph, the guy I mentioned earlier, got Signals Intelligence. The nice thing about it was that I had to call home and get a lot of information I needed to fill out the form. I was on the phone for at least 15 uninterrupted minutes before someone came out and yelled at me. The Secret Service scared the begeezus out of my high school librarian a few months later when they walked in and flashed their badges at her. Anyway, Dad drove me to Norfolk and I reported in, and then he drove home again.
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