THE BRAVE DIE YOUNG

AuthorHouse

Chapter One

My name is Retired SGM Rockwell Gregory Night. My friends call me Rock and my enemies call me the Rock. I Graduated from Lafayette High School on 2 June 1967. Three friends and I had already enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. April 9th 1967, On April 8th Nick, Harley, Robert and I were sitting at the Pizza Hut in St. Joseph, Missouri. We had all taken 3 years of JROTC and were all Cadet Majors. We were talking about what we were going to do after graduation. Nick said he was going into the Marines. I said, "I have been thinking about the Marines or the Army, also my uncles and dad were all in the Army and I was named after a Marine that saved my dad's live on Guadal canal." Harley said, "Why not join up together." Robert then said, "I heard they have a buddy program that allows you to stay together until you finish all your training." "That's perfect we all said." Nick finished our thoughts, "Let's go tomorrow after school and enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps." We agreed.

By the 20th day of April we had finished our GCT's, now replaced by the ASFABS, and Gunny Anderson said, "Well you men have scored high enough that you can pick any job you want in the Marine Corps." We looked at each other and said "Infantry." Gunny said, "All Marines are basic Infantry, so you can pick your first assignment, you will get one of three choices if available." We again looked at each other and said in unison, "Vietnam." Gunny Responded "I have not doubt you men will get your 1st choice." The next day April 21st we took our physicals, and our oath, signing our delayed enlistment.

We were scheduled to attend Boot Camp beginning August 10th however we got bored and decided to leave early. On 20 June we were all again gathered at the Pizza Hut. I said, "I'm getting board this summer, anyone else." Rick and Charlie both agreed, but Robert said "I'm having a ball." With the exception of Robert we then agreed to cut our summer short and go early. 27 June 1967 it was a bright, sunny, summer afternoon, I was standing in front of my house when my friends Nick and Harley and Nick's brother Walley and his friend Lumpy pulled up to take me to the United States Armed Forces Induction center in Kansas City, MO. We called Walley's friend Lumpy because he reminded us of Lumpy on "Leave It to Beaver". We checked into the YMCA in Kansas City and smuggled Walley and Lumpy into our room.

We went out for our last civilian supper for a while, the name of where we ate escapes me, and then we went to a movie. Our selection of movies later turned out to be a little unsettling. We wanted something with some action and war in it, so we saw Steve McQueen in "THE SAND PEBBLES". As we came out of the theater we all had wondered if we would be able to handle that kind of action. You see "THE SAND PEBBLES" was at that time the most realistic and graphic portrayal of war ever.

On the morning of June 28th at 0700 hours we were present for role call and retook our physicals and oath of enlistment. Early in the morning a couple of really big guys had made the statement that we were crazy for joining the Marine Corps, that's a rough outfit. "We just waited to be drafted." they said. "The Army won't be so bad." Not 10 minutes later a Marine Gunny came out and said, "All you draftees raise your hands." He then walked down the row and pointing one at a time, said "You, you, you, you, and you just volunteered for the UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS." The first two he picked where those two really big guys who were just waiting to be drafted. At around 1300 hours we were sworn in and began our military career. By 1400 hours we were marching across the street to the Kansas City Union Station and boarding a train to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, CA where we began training. We were surprised that we had compartments 2 men to a room. This was going to be OK, we thought.

The train pulled into the station at Emporia, Kansas, where Nick's aunt lived. We stepped off the train for a moment and Nick's aunt met us with a box of fruit which the conductor inspected before we got on board the train. When we reached our room we found the box had a false bottom, under the fruit was a case of Coors Beer, so for the next few hours, Nick, Harley and I were going to have a really good time. After a few hours and many beers later we learned that the toilet flushed with a vengeance, so we began to through fruit into it to watch it devour the fruit like some kin of vicious creature. During the trip we found that we could not buy liquor on the train because we were only 18 so we found Snappy Tom a blend of tomato juice and green chilies, so that was our drink when we went to the club car for the rest of the trip. I began to talk to this beautiful girl. We were getting until I ask where she was going and she said that she was going to Big Bear California to meet her father. As the conversation progressed I found out that her father was a Marine Corps Colonel. She was beautiful but I thought I don't need a Marine Colonel upset with me, just as I am starting my Marine Corps career.

Chapter Two

After three days we reached San Diego, California. The one and only Navy recruit on the train was met by a Chief Petty Officer and a Seaman 1st Class. There was no one there to meet the 300 Marine Corps recruits that were on the train, so the Chief had us get into 10 thirty man groups, in three columns of 10 each and wait.

After 15 or 20 minutes ten Marine Corps busses pulled up and out of the bussed jumped the drivers saying what the hell are you waiting on get on the damn busses. So we got on and were told in a loud and angry voice, "Sit with your hands on your knees at attention with eyes straight forward and don/t move or talk.: Our driver sat down released the break put the bus in gear and moved forward then slammed on the breaks pulled the emergency brake jumped out of the seat and smacked the guy sitting next to me and said "Damn It, I told you not to Fricken move, now sit the hell down and don't move". I swear I didn't see the guy move. When we reached the depot the driver stopped and said, "What the hell are you waiting on, an engraved invite; get the hell of my damn bus."

Soon the Drill Instructor, a very large burly SGT, said, "You ladies are now Platoon 2016 and from now on, every time one of the drill instructors gives you a command you will respond, Sir, Platoon 2016 eye eye Sir." Then he said "What the hell are you waiting for ladies. Are you deaf?" We then responded, "Sir, Platoon 2016 eye eye sir" He then Said "I can't hear you." We repeated it louder and he said, "I still can't you." We then screamed at the top of our lungs and he said, "That's better, now that is how you will respond from now on."

Because of my three years of High School ROTC and because my three "friends" wouldn't admit to the fact that they also had three years of High School ROTC, I was selected Platoon Right Guide. This job was basically the Student Leader of the class, a job, which got the crap beat out of me throughout the entire 9 weeks of Boot Camp.

I remember every time that we weren't marching perfectly as a unit our drill instructor would yell stop mob, or stop ladies, wow mules. He would then put us in the front leaning rest position or push up position and we would then do endless pushups or squat thrusts (going from standing to squat, to pushup position and back to squat and then to standing position. There was a time when our gunny had the duty on Sunday and on the way to noon chow, It was 105 degrees and he yelled stop mob, get into front leaning rest on your knuckles so we did then he call forward march and marched us to chow 2 blocks on our knuckles on the sand covered melted asphalt.

Our Gunny was just plain mean. One Sunday he had the duty toward the end of our cycle and one of the recruits got a package from home and Gunny had him open it. Inside the package was cookies and candy, this was a very big no no. Gunny made him hand out the cookies to the platoon and get his bucket. He had him put the candy in the bucket and go to the wash rack and cover the candy with warm water. Then Gunny instructed him to drink the melted candy and warm water until he threw up and then made him continue to drink until he threw up again. He then told him do dump the rest in the toilet.

One day we were on the confidence course and 2 recruits climbed to the top of the rungs of life and were afraid of heights and couldn't move over the top and Gunny was sitting on top, he reached over and pulled their fingers of the rung and said get of my tower. They fell and were sent to the hospital.

One day we were cleaning the Quonsets huts we lived in and one of the platoon members didn't want to pull his share and began to talk back and before I knew it I had him slammed against a wall locker with my hand on his throat and his feet of the ground. He then was ready to do his share and no one else balked or talked back. I was tired of suffering when someone in the platoon didn't do their job.

While ate the rifle range at Camp Pendleton we were field daying (cleaning) the barracks the when our senior DI the big burly SGT now a Staff SGT yelled Nigh to the duty hut and I didn't immediately hear him and he had to call a second time. One of the members of the Platoon told me he had just called a second time for me. I began running on the freshly waxed floor in my stocking feet. The floor was so slick I couldn't stop so the DI braced himself for impact and his elbow caught me in the stomach and knocked the wind out of me. The DI then knew I had a grass stomach and every time he called me after that he hit me in the stomach. The day after graduation he called me into the duty hut and when I got to the door I slammed my fist against the door frame and when he called who is tapping on my chamber do I said "Sir PFC Night request permission to enter the duty hut sir". He said "enter" and I did but he came up from the floor with his fist right into my stomach and I stood up at attention and said "Sir PFC Nigh reporting as ordered, Sir." Another Drill Instructor then handed him $20.00 and then my DI said Get out of here. Before I could get back to the Quonset hut, he called me again and I repeated the previous procedure and when I entered another Drill Instructor hit me with everything he had and I still snapped to attention and said "Sir, PFC Night reporting as ordered, Sir". The Drill Instructor then handed my Drill Instructor another $20.00, and I was immediately told to get out. This practice would later save my live.

The week before graduation we did the CMCPRT (Commandant of The Marine Corps Physical Readiness Test). The last part of the test was a five (5) mile run in full combat gear, including boots. SSGT Littleton said "All right you terds dress right and cover down." We crossed the finish line in full dress and cover in perfect platoon formation singing the Marine Corps Hymn and there was press and the Commanding General of the base waiting for us. Later we found out that we had set the record for the CMCPRT 5 mile run. As it has turned out, that record has never been broken and never will be as they are not allowed to run in combat boots on the CMCPRT anymore.

After graduation we went on to Infantry Training Regiment to learn to become Grunts. Then, after completion of Infantry Training Regiment we went on to Weapons School.

When we reached Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California we were sent to a new barracks at base camp Horno. We went through 4 weeks of intensive infantry training during which I was struck in the front of the mouth with the mussel of an M-14 rifle, breaking 3 of my teeth. We were sent up the mountains and if we took our rifle in only one hand we got yelled at for thinking we were John Wayne, that doesn't work in real life. One Marine had to run up and down the hill yelling, "I'm John Wayne. I'm a bad son of a bitch."

On our 3rd week at ITR we were given our 1st weekend liberty. I decided to go to San Diego to visit my Uncle and Aunt and 2 cousins. When I got there they were working in the yard and shortly after my Aunt came out and one buy one quietly got the kids into the house and soon she came out and announced that they had to go somewhere and could they drop me somewhere. I said no and just went to the bus stop and went to the USO where I met a Japanese sailor off a Japanese destroyer, The Yadatci DD 108. He spoke very little English and I spoke no Japanese except what was in the song by Q. Socamoto, Sciacci song. We talked to several girls and had a few Pepsis and played checkers and cards till late then he invited me to come onboard their ship tomorrow and take a tour. I said that would be great, how about 1000 hours. He gave me the OK sign. At 1000 hours Sunday after going to early church service I went to the ship and requested permission to come aboard and then saluted the ships insigne. I then explained that I was there at the invitation of the sailor that I meet the night before. They called him to the deck and he escorted me below for a tour and we wound up in the engine room. The engine room crew and I communicated through music we sat there singing all the big rock and roll hits. About 1400 I had to excuse myself because I was getting sea sick tied up in the harbor at San Diego. I then began to hope that I never go assigned to a ship or got sent to Vietnam by ship.

The next weekend we got liberty again but just Cinderella liberty, meaning we had to be back by midnight. Nick, Harley and I went to the share a ride station and a brand new bright Yellow Mustang convertible pulled up and inside was our PMI (Primary Marksmanship Instructor) from Boot Camp. On the last day of qualification the CPL lined us up and bit the fingernail of our trigger finger so we would squeeze not jerk the trigger. It worked because our finger was to sore.

The CPL picked us up and said where you Marines going? Hey! You guys were in Platoon 2016 weren't you? We responded "yes". He said perfect get in I'm getting out tomorrow and need someone to party with. We then headed into town and spent the night drinking in one Marine Corps Bar off base then another. He got us back to the barracks just before midnight.

After ITR We were sent across the road to a tent city to attend BITSS (Basic Infantry Training Specialty School). We slept on cots with mattresses like on the TV show M.A.S.H ... There was a shortage of mattresses and as the tent city started filling mattresses began to disappear and soon there were armed confrontations over the mattresses using the wooden ends of the cots as clubs.

It would get very cold at night and the last week we were at BITSS I would wake up with a very high temperature and would throw up after breakfast then would proceed to complete the days training which was very hard because I had such a temperature. I refused to take my friends suggestion that I go to sick call, because I knew they would set me back however long I was in the hospital or bed rest. We graduated on Saturday morning and had plane reservations for home that afternoon.

I woke up feeling very good that morning and by 1200 that afternoon I was on a plane headed home.

We landed at the old Kansas City Airport which was down town near the river. We landed and walked down the ladder and went toward the terminal building when I saw my Mom, Dad and my little brothers. When then began the drive up old 71 highway toward St. Joseph.

When we got home I visited until about 1600 and then asked Dad to borrow the car. He threw me the keys and said don't stay out late. I drove straight to my girl friend Glory's and picked her up and we went to the Pizza Hut and then to a movie. We went up to Wyeth Hill to make out and then I took her home. I told her I would pick her up at 0830 for church in the morning she said ok.

At 0825 I was knocking on her door her Mom answered and let me in and in just a few moments Gloria came out, she looked like an angle as she always did. I got butterflies every time I got near her.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from THE BRAVE DIE YOUNGby RALPH G. NIGH Copyright © 2012 by Ralph G. Nigh. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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