I've spent about a week deciding whether or not to post this. Some days, I felt driven to share my experience. Other days, I just wanted to put it behind me; to pretend it never happened, that those people were never there.
But it could have been me in there. I would have wanted someone to tell my story, and I don't think there's anyone else who can tell theirs.
I am a basically trained Marine. I graduated from Boot Camp exactly one week ago. I was received by and graduated with Platoon 1070, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. When training began, Delta Company was composed of 8 platoons, 1069 through 1076. Lead series was 1069 through 1072. Follow series was 1073 through 1076. On graduation day, 7 platoons stood on the parade deck. Platoon 1069, Platoon 1070, Platoon 1071, Platoon 1073, Platoon 1074, Platoon 1075, and Platoon 1076. No one commented on the absence of Platoon 1072, just as no one had mentioned them for 3 weeks, since the night the whole platoon, over 70 recruits and four drill instructors, disappeared. I have gathered that to the memory of everyone else in Delta Company, Platoon 1072 never existed at all.
Comment too long. Click
here to view the full text.