Comments

• 

  Richard J. Boersema June 5, 2010 at 10:41am

  Yeah! I liked it better the second time around. Not that the first time was so bad. Definitely learned a lot both times. Will always be an experience I will never forget, nor the people who made it unforgettable.
• 

  Donald Krein June 5, 2010 at 12:26am

  Ah bootcamp all over you can't beat it
• 

  Ron Ruiter May 17, 2010 at 8:25pm

  Well I was the religious petty officer for our company and not even sure how I get selected for that position. But, it worked. Lot of memories from boot camp. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. (Co. 57 Graduated 4/17/1964)
• 

  Dwain Barefield May 1, 2010 at 8:48pm

  I arrived in Great Lakes on July 3, 1967. We were temporarily housed in former WWII baracks the first night. It would be the first night that I would serve on guard duty. It's been so long. I was in company 292 or 293 can't remember. My class yearbook has been missing for some time. Anyway, the CO was a Chief Quartmaster by the name of Newbie, or Newby (sic). He asked if anyone had been in ROTC, etc.
  
  I was the only one to raise their hand. I was made RPOC at that point.
  
  I was nominated for the american spirit award just before graduation but I wasn't really sure what that meant and I didn't feel I deserved it, so I asked that they award it to my 2nd platoon leader instead. Sure enough, during graduation ceremony, they presented him with the award. To tell you the truth, to this day, I'm still not sure what that award was for.
  
  After boot, they made me a Co Cmdr. aide. I had one company before being shipped out to "A" school in San Diego.
• 

  Ronald Earl Bereman II April 28, 2010 at 1:32pm

  I got to Great Lakes August of 63. When it came time to get our rifles for whatever reason the CO picked me for 1st Platoon Leader. The CO told me that if anyone lost their rifle I was responsible. How in the hell could anyone lose a rifle I thought. Two did. I also got a demerit for every demerit issued to the 1st Platoon. I was in the Drill Hall every night except Sunday. I was in great shape when I got out in November. Every once in a while the Chief would round up all the Recruit Petty Officers and take us to the Gas House. Now thats not much fun at all.
  Company 353 Summer of 63
• 

  Patricia Moseley April 27, 2010 at 12:32am

  I was at Great Lakes for Radarman/Operations Specialist "A" School Aug 73-Nov 73. Met my husband to be there. There were only 3 girls in my class and we were the first females to graduate from that school. I remember how the Autumn Rains washed up giant nightcrawlers all over the sidewalks there (yuk) and my boyfriend carried me so I didn't have to step on them. I remember Dantes Inferno Pizza under the elevated rails, that had the best Chicago Pizza ever and the Brat Stop that I had my first Bratwurst from in Milwaukee.
• 

  Ronald Earl Bereman II April 26, 2010 at 1:32pm

  August 63 to November 63. Company 353
• 

  Leon James Guisburg March 8, 2010 at 11:10am

  Hey ladies and gents--I happened to be to talking to a co worker of mine and we found that we were at Great Lakes and Millington at the same time!!! We've been working together for at least 13 yrs. Beyond that we discovered that another co worker was stationed at NAS Oceana with him back in the 70's
  
  Funny how paths cross. You never know who you're talking to what experiences you might share in life--even from the distant past
• 

  Leon James Guisburg March 5, 2010 at 2:48pm

  AMS3 Leon J Guisburg--arrived @ RTC Great Lakes from Philly in Dec 1975 (Dec 10th to be exact)--strange how you remember the milestones in life!!!
  
  I was originally in Co 392--but got puemonia after swim qual (it was 1 below outside and they considered that warm!!!). After a stint at the hospital ("sick lame and lazy") on "mainside"--I was re assigned to Co 393 (GM2 K Brumment CC)
  
  The word was we were his first Co to "push". Mr Brummett wasn't a hard-case--but I do recall one day while we were in class & returning from chow he and Seaman York (our asst CC) had flipped every rack in the compartment because somebody left their personal drawer opened
  
  We were "mashed" immediatley and then Mr Brummett appealed to the brigade inspector to send us to the infamous ''HAPPY HOUR" @ that gigantic drill hall. We still had those (I believe) 13lb Springfield "pieces" that after drilling at port and high port weighed about 130lbs!!! We didn't become a color company (that went to our sister co 394)--be we squared away after that
  
  Even with all of this being said--I had more fear of my dad (Leon Guisburg Sr MM1 retired and deseased). I was a typical big city teen from Philly who couldn't stay out of trouble. I managed to graduate high school--and I figured the best direction for me was not at home. I went to Norfolk VA to stay with relatives--but while I was there--my cousin was murdered and I retured home--but it wasn't feelin right--so to the recruiter I went
  
  Truth be told--up to that point in my young life--I didn't have much confidence or self worth going for myself. After I passed the pre-screen and then the actual AFEES exam--the recruiter tells me that I qualified for training in the aviation fields--I couldn't believe he was talking to ME!!!
  
  I just wanna say--thanks dad and Mr Brummett--wherever you have sailed to--I guess I didn't turn out too bad....................
• 

  Ron Ruiter February 19, 2010 at 1:33pm

  Remember those days in camp Moffett, the old wooden barracks. Went in there in Feb 1964 and talk about cold. Then the day came when we went into the new barracks I think camp Porter, but not sure. Thought I was an "old salt" then. LOL, hey, I didn't know jack. Ah yes, the good ol' days.