Posted: 8/17/2008 5:27:39 PM EDT
I had to fly to California today for training this week in Anaheim, CA. I decided to fly into San Deigo so that I could tour Camp Pendleton. When I got to the gate the guard who was a Sgt asked me what my business was. I told him that the Camp Pendleton website said that individual tours were allowed with a proper driver's license and proof of insurance. He told me that that policy is no longer valid and that I would need a military sponser or a government ID to gain access. I then showed him my FAA ID, since I know there are FAA assets there (a radar for sure), but he didn't seem to bite since my ID clearly states my location as Houston. I then told him that I was a former Marine and that I had left the Marines in 1994. That is 14 years and I told him that it may be another 14 years before I make it back out here, if ever. That Sgt then turned supercool and told me to be cool and not do anthing stupid and that he would turn the other way. He said he didn't like turning former Marines away. So I got to see my old barracks, they are still there in the 22 Area. The Eclub is now a Taco Bell and the Flight Line has changed completely. I then had to go to the 52 to see if the Quanson (sp) Huts were still there. Mercifully they have been replaced. All in all, my drive through the base was a very neat walk down memory lane. I got some pics too. On a side note, I'm so used to having a sidearm when I travel and being out here without seems a little strange, allthough I never had one while I was stationed here. Still, I almost staid out here when I got out and now I'm VERY glad that I did not. Texas will be a welcome site when I return on Friday. God Bless the Marines. **EDIT** I plan on veiwing a Recruit Graduation on Friday. 
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I wa sstationed at Pendleton from Jan 81 til I got out in June 83. I lived on base in base housing just inside the main gate I worked in the compound on the west side if I5 where the big radome is just across from Edson Range... MCTSSA LOVE Pendleton. If I could own 1 piece of CA that would be it. Semper Fi brutha' |
That housing area looks almost the same as when I left. What was your MOS? |
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5982.. Digital Data Systems Technician (Computer Tech). And remember, this was before IBM introduced the PC Been doing this shit A LONG TIME Worked on Speryy Univac and Philco and DEC mainframe systems. Some for RADAR imaging and communications... Went to school up at Mare Island. Naval Combat SystemsCommand. (before they shut it down) Another nice base. Saw the Nautilus decomissioned up there. MCTSSA, where I was stationed is actually attached to Quantico. Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity... |
That is really cool. I can't tell you how much I wished my five year old son could have been with me. He would have really got a kick out of it. |
Cool, I was a radar tech 5954. I'm going to MCRD to see a recruit graduation on Friday. That is going to be a good experience sitting on the bleachers this time. |
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Boy, I remember that like it was yesterday...and it's frickin' 29 years ago... HOW DID WE GET SO OLD  I think one of the things I will always remeber is the smell of the cammies we were issued that first night of boot camp...holy crap.... The training I got has kept me constatntly employed for that 29 tears too. I owe a lot to the USMC. My dad was also a jarhead. He served in Korea. My son-in-law is a Marine up at the Fort Worth Navy base working on planes! My brother was in the Army, but we don't talk about THAT too much ! |
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I was station there in 78-80. My area was pretty close to one of the gates going in and I remember when I first caught the bus in Oceanside I got on the wrong one (going in the other gate from Oceanside. My bus left from around the corner) After several HOURS on the bus, I reached my area. That's one of the lessons that soaked in REAL fast! I befriended a sgt. there who owned a truck and didn't leave base much so I could use it as much as I wanted. He was a fellow Texan from San Angelo. My friends and I took that truck all over California. That was some fun times! I wouldn't mind going back and seeing the place. It's probably changed quite a bit in the last 28 years. Semper Fi. |
) and I can still remember the smell of mct..... wow!!!!
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Or goin' to the beach where no one else could go...SWEET! I remeber many a bonfire and drinking with guys I worked with and families I remeber a particular night when we had a firefight with Roman Candles and Bottle Rockets from Tiajuana Woke up with burns and blisters all over... I think the Tequila helped. I also remember doing a pig roast down there on Del Mar beach |