Some of my best times during the 3 years, 8 months and four days in the Navy was in the BJC, from the audition session with Dr. Williams to the morning of my last day at boot camp when all of us guys of the graduating class, in dress uniform, formed a swaying circle in the center of the barracks and sang "Today" (which served as a wake-up for the rest of for the troops). There were a lot of good singers in the BJC. I bet some were refugees from the Metropolitan Opera.
We only had two "outings". One was marching and singing in a parade in downtown San Diego. The other and more meaningful time was a group liberty trip to the San Diego Zoo. We were to all meet just outside the main gate. Just as soon as we all had formed, we sang a few songs and a huge crowd gathered. As we marched off, the applause kept ringing even in the distance. As we marched and sang "Anchors Away" while passing underneath "the catacombs" (near the zoo), the sound was unforgettable. Realizing that you any were a member of the group that made that sound (better than any PA system could deliver) and the green aiguillete, white gloves, and white spats you wore as a special uniform, made you feel as if you were the pride of the Navy.
Would like to hear from anyone who was in the BJC in May or June of 1968.
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I remeber trying out for the Blue Jacket Choir in the Sping of 77. Co 006. After all of those marching parties it was quite a change!. I tried out and the guy said, Hey man, sing it!" It did not become part of the choir. I remeber it well. G Hunt HM3 USN AD Honorable Discharge,, Civilan/ Veteran USN 32 years civilain field medic /total now 36 years field medic.
Recruit Choir was our barracks 337 neighbor at NTC-RTC San Diego during early 1971. I was in the drum and bugle corps at the time, playing bass drum instead of string bass.
I recall both organizations looked really sharp in their Preble cracker jacks, standing on the concrete wash tables getting their white leggings put on.
Choir_prePreble.jpg
What is really interesting is that I remember all these guys! We had a blast....! The back side has names of some of these guys... Which I'll download later. I'm in the upper right corner.
Attention on Deck.......... Admiral,Honor Grad, Doctor............. You know who you are!!!!!
Navy Bootcamp 1868_edited-1.jpg
I was in the Blue Jacket Choir October & November, 1967 under the direction of Dr. Williams. One of the highlights each Sunday at the base chapel was listening to Mr. Hansen play his organ improvisations following the morning's service. We were also the group who got caught with the "secret room" in the barracks attic reserved for the senior recruit of the week. Whoa, did we catch hell for that! Not to mention, marching non-stop out on the grinder for hours and hours! Needless to say, the most recent "occupant" of the room had just graduated and left for the fleet when it was discovered!
I'd like to hear from anyone who might remember this: As we marched through the base and elsewhere, not under watchful eyes, I was posted as the the Road Runner. "Beep-Beep!" I also remember the pride we took in our perfectly synchronized and silent marching. Other companies would have no idea we had marched up behind them till we burst into "Anchors Away!".
I was in the Blue Jacket Choir, late summer, early fall of 1969. It was great to go to sing the National Anthem and then watch the Bears play on two of those weekends. There were other great memories as well.
You returned some clarity to the memories Richard! I had forgotten about the aiguillete, white gloves, and spats(leggings)! Although I was in the BJC in 72 nothing much changed, including Dr Williams! We got to go off base a few times. One was a ceremony for a bunch of Admirals! That sure put us recruits on our toes! One of the BJC's just before us even sang on the Tonight Show!
Thanks, Jim, for your response to my e-mail. Glad it brought back some fond memories. Need some more? Do you remember the Friday night "smoker" where we would go and watch other recruits beat each other to a pulp in the boxing ring? Do you remember "posts", which were skits handed down individually from upper classmen to lower classmen? The bad thing about "posts" was that whenever you were called upon by an upper classman to do one, you had to do it regardless of the circumstances. I remember one night about ten minutes after lights out I got caught in the hallway on the way to the bathroom and was ordered to do the Herman Munster laugh. The whole barracks rolled on that one! I remember a lot about the choir. I even remember that Dr. Williams had an assistant. Yet, I can't remember his name. Was it "Mr. Hansen"?
Sorry you barely missed being on the TONIGHT SHOW. I also barely missed an opportunity. Just right after I got in, the choir made a 33 1/3 RPM recording. I did get a copy of the record upon graduation which I still have. Oh well, you can't win them all.
P.S. O and R rules! (orientation and recruitment)