June 1963: my whole life changed when I stepped on the yellow footprints at MCRD, San Diego. Thirteen and a half weeks in Platoon 340, L Co, 3^rd Bn, 1^st RTR changed me from a I-don’t-want-to-go-to-college-now kid but I want to leave home. Yes, it was tough, but that was what I signed up for. Yes, there were times I thought about quitting, but I didn’t. A lot of hard work, a sore body, a sun-burned body, well parts of it any way, and some determination got me to Sept 13^th 1963 when GySgt Wilkerson said “Platoon 340…as you were, Marines, Fall Out” made it all worthwhile. Earning that Eagle, Globe, and Anchor was one of the hardest but most meaningful things I have done in my life. It changed me forever. I have thought back over the fifty-six years and wondered what I would have done or been had I not become a Marine. I will never know. I guess I could guess, but would probably be wrong. I do know that I would be who I am today nor have what I have if I hadn’t joined the Marines. If I could go back to June 19^th 1963 again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Yes, there was bad things over the 14 years I was in….trips to Vietnam and not being home when my first son was born, a couple of crappy duty stations and/or officers or senior enlisted I had to deal with, but all in all there are a lot of good memories, a lot of good friends, being part of the history of the Corps, and the fact that I know I did my job as a Marine should. Being a Marine means accepting an attitude, a way of life, and high standards. That in itself has made me what I am today….and for that I am thankful. Semper Fi!