Arranged according to height, which put me at the end, we stood in the sand, with poles normally used for holding electrical wire, at our feet. These were not for wires but were instruments of torture. Of all the physical challenges or recruit training this was the worst. Marines lined up shoulder to shoulder, lifted the poles and did calisthenics with them. "Raise them over your head." "Hold them in front and do arm curls." "Lie on your backs and do sit ups with the poles on your chest." Etc. There was no way to know if all were pulling their weight but no excuses were accepted for not doing as told.
In maudling old age being 65 years from boot camp memories come back. Occasionally I dream of being back in the Marines. In the dream it's like "here I go again." They wouldn't be considered nightmares, just interesting dreams. While Lisa and I were climbing Kilimanjaro I wondered if I'd rather be back in Boot Camp? Nope that was too long!
Takk for alt,
Al
Ed by the barracks at Camp Sukiran, Okinawa, in 1961.
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