Comments

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  Pat Henderson April 10, 2013 at 6:13pm

  Barber shop chit from December 1970.

  It may be difficult to see, but the green paper has faint markings on it like a check. ( The financial health of the Navy department obviously depended on curtailing recruits from getting too many haircuts.)  I'm wondering if "J-1" was the barber shop on the Nimitz side. (a.k.a. "Squirrel Island".)
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  Thomas Collier April 10, 2013 at 4:33pm

  Alvin,

  Was in Keyport in 1961. Because of a mistake in my orders, I left in Oct of 61.

  Was "assigned" to the retriever boats until transfer to Sangley Point PI Supply Depot. Actually got a "sorry for the mix up," from personnel. 
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  Lindsey E. Ford HMC (SW) April 10, 2013 at 4:11pm

  In 72 there were no chit books that I can remember. We did not have to pay for anything, our first day we got the free head shave and then the free wardrobe. Then we were taught how put our last name on the uniforms. As I recall we were like a couple of weeks from graduation before we were allowed to go to the exchange and have to spend our own money, at that time we were earning a whopping $120 a pay day. The first trip to the exchange was a big deal, that was when we got to make that phone call home! The other two things was most everybody bought an "awol" bag and on the counter at cash register was a giant fish bowl that was filled with "gedunk" ribbons for I think 15 cents each.

  I remember that the barracks on "worm island" were more modern then the ones on the "other side" of the base. Brick on "worm island" and old wooden WWII or Korean War vintage on NTC.

  I remember the M-1 rifles, for graduation we used our pencils and "colored" the barrels so they would shine in the San Diego sunshine! I never understood why the RCPO's sword was broken in half and welded back together, made absolutely no sense - unless back then it was a case of busy work:)

  The first liberty after graduation, I ended up going out the gate and my first stop was the 7 Seas Club! I think I wandered up and down Rosecrans and went back on base.
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  Alvin Jeffery Phillips April 10, 2013 at 2:54pm

  Thomas Collier-- what were the dates you were in Keyport, I went to diving school there in 1961.  A.J. Phillips
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  Thomas Collier April 10, 2013 at 1:53pm

  Bob,

  Think that would have been the best method. Learned a lot through life that way.
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  William A. Whisenant, Jr April 10, 2013 at 1:52pm

  Great site.  Just recently found it and signed up.  I was in two companies at RTC San Diego from July to September 1960.  The first was CO311.  I had a run in with the company commander whose name I can't remember.  Anyway I got a throat infection and was in sick bay several days.  When I was released the Company 311 commander wouldn't take me back.  I ended up in company 338 with Chief Townes as commander.  CO 338 was about two weeks behind CO 311 so I got to repeat some things and had an extra two weeks of boot camp.

  The company 311 commander i believe was a first class petty officer but I don't remember the rating.  If anyone out there was in that company and remembers the CO's name I would like to know.
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  Bob Coombs April 10, 2013 at 1:37pm

  Tom, you probably noticed I was a SK too. No school though, just on the job training!
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  Bob Coombs April 10, 2013 at 1:32pm

  Speaking of shaving, we had no specific recommendation for razor or shaving cream other than the CC told us not to bother with electric shavers, as they would not shave close enough to pass inspection. We were told to send them home with our civies early on. But one recruit had a Ronson shaver with thin foil screen that would give a close shave. Not only was he allowed to use it, it got passed around to anyone running late in getting ready for muster.
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  Thomas Collier April 10, 2013 at 1:21pm

  Bob , Have to congrat you on the photos as they bring back memories. I was in company 040 in 1960 and photos capture memories lost. My CC was MCBSN Brackett. Went to SK school and 1st duty Keyport Wash. Travel to San Diego quite often and always make sure to go to the NTC site and remissness.
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  Bob Coombs April 10, 2013 at 1:23am

  Pat and Terry, I must have just missed the "new" barracks across the bridge at Camp Nimitz. I'm guessing they were located just north of the grinder and older H shaped barracks. We did spend the first three weeks or so in the more modern Nimitz barracks before moving to the old wooden buildings on the other side of the bridge. I found some pictures of the place. Google "Camp Nimitz" for more. Here are a couple of links. The first is a 1960 aerial photo of Nimitz with labels. My barracks was on the bottom level, lower right corner of the group labeled buildings 66-73, and it is still there! (you'll see why the burn marks are there)

  http://www.flickr.com/photos/27667193@N03/2957853368/

  The second link shows a present day photo, and USS Recruit, TDE-1 is still there.

  http://wiki.worldflicks.org/former_camp_nimitz;_navy_recruit_traini...

  I don't remember the chits so either we didn't have them, our company commander took care of them, or the more likely reason is my memory isn't what it used to be!