A GREAT DAY

I had a great day yesterday. I was invited to be a guest for the School of Infantry changing of command ceremony at Camp Pendleton. Located on the coast between Los Angeles and San Diego, Camp Pendleton is a base of some several thousand acres, for the United States Marines. The many miles of the base that lie along the ocean allow for extensive amphibious landing and helicopter support training while the interior land is ideal for all phases of combat training. It would not be a stretch at all to say that the freedom our country enjoys is due in no small measure to men and women who did their boot camp here before shipping out to hot spots the world over.

As I turned off of Pacific Coast Highway on to Basilone Road and headed away from the ocean to the entrance gate I remembered the last time I was here. Many years ago I used to surf a beach called Trestles. It is located right where the Basilone Road off ramp is and is considered one of the best surf spots on the west coast. At the time I was surfing here it was a part of the base and thus was considered off limits to civilians (It is now open to non-military personnel). Those willing to take the risk, like me, would park our cars in the brush, cover it up with tree branches, and go surfing. Periodically (it always seemed to happen when the surf was good) the Marines would appear out of nowhere, park their jeep yards from the water, sit their menacingly with their rifles and wait for us to get out of the water. We surfers had three options. Out wait them, paddle miles north to the city of San Clemente and exit the water there or meekly get out of the water and face the music. I chose the latter. Whatever feeble excuse I gave them they did not buy so they loaded me and my surf board in their jeep and we took off. They drove me several miles inland to their barracks, handed me a broom and ordered me to sweep up the place. I guess this satisfied them because, when I finished, they took me back to the beach and released me and my board.

This time the Marine at the gate, decked out in a well starched uniform and standing at rigid attention, saluted me smartly and welcomed me to the base. After driving several miles inland past the PX, rifle ranges and barracks I was directed by Marines to parking next to the parade grounds. Adjacent to the parking lot was a display of various hand held weaponry, each with an attendant soldier to explain what it was and what it does. There was everything from rifles that could hit a gnat in the eye at 1,000 meters, to those that could pierce an 8 inch thick concrete wall, to hand held missile launchers. There was also a couple of space age looking tanks I would not want to see fighting for the other side.

As the program began the narrator told us of the time honored tradition of the changing of command. Everything is done for a reason. I learned, for example, that the history of parades stems from the massed formation of troops on one long line at close interval that made possible the massing of firepower of the muzzle loaded muskets of yesterday. She also explained that the marching cadence of the assembled troops goes back to the Romans discovering that their legions could cover ground more rapidly and maneuver more quickly if they were in step. Even the square formations the soldiers used with its wheeling turns and countermarches dates back to 300 B.C. when “Alexander’s Macedonian Phalanx of spearmen conquered all enemy from Greece to India”. I also learned that this School of Infantry provides training to every single Marine, regardless of their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), as infantrymen, thus giving proof to the phrase “every Marine a rifleman”.

The precision marching of the band and the troops was a sight to behold. Crisp salutes were the order of the day as various rituals were performed leading up to the Pass and Review so that the Commander can review the marching ability, state of training and discipline of his unit. This was followed by the passing of the colors between Col. B.T. Byrne and Col. K.T. Wooley. Each gave very moving speeches telling of thanks to many and their love of their country. Each gave particularly heartfelt thanks to the assembled troops who stood at attention before them. I could not help but think of the men and women these soldiers have prepared and sent off to war in the defense of our country.

I felt very moved and privileged to be among those standing at attention and saluting as the band played the Marine’s Hymn to wind up a memorable day. The following quote was featured on the back of the program.

“SOME PEOPLE LIVE AN ENTIRE LIFETIME AND WONDER IF THEY HAVE EVER MADE A DIFFERENCE TO THE WORLD, THE MARINES DON’T HAVE THAT PROBLEM…”
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN