Few photos of the First Separate Battalion training at Camp Lejeune have survived. The Marines in this series passed through the training facility not long after 1/24 departed for the West Coast, and while most of the men pictured here became aviation supply specialists, the sights of the camp – particularly the obstacle course – would have been familiar to anyone who passed through its gates.
These pictures mainly show members of Company B, Quartermaster Battalion, during their training at Camp Lejeune. All photos are from the webmaster’s collection.
After seeing a stirring sight…
…like the 1942 Hartford Victory Parade…
…with flags waving and troops marching…
…many young men joined the Marines.
(Some went to protect the folks at home.)
Most, like Frank J. Kane, soon found that boot camp was less of this…
…than it was of this….
…and this.
After a stay at the rifle range…
…and your last few days of mess duty…
…you got your forest-green uniform.
Louis A. Thibeault – possibly the original owner of the album.
James R. Randall
There were new sights to learn…
…and new homes to make.
Feeling flush on payday.
When the instructor wasn’t shouting at you, the obstacle course was great fun.
Across a rope with Donnie M. Burns.
Jack H. Turner has a close call.
Sometimes, you fell in.
Donnie Burns negotiates a trench obstacle…
…followed by John P. Perkins.
Most, like Andrew Hughes and Tom Fallon, adored their judo classes…
…not least for the physical benefits.
While there was time to clown around with your friends…
….mostly, you were doing this.
If you were lucky, like this Marine, your family would visit.
You spent every waking moment with your unit….
Donnie Burns spent most of the war as a supply clerk for aviation units in Texas and California.
Another view of “Red,” looking more blasé.
Clarence Manziano became a supply clerk with an air warning squadron in San Diego, California.
Anthony J. Krencik was part of the Quartermaster School. He became an aviation supply clerk.
Nick Fondulis served briefly with a night-fighter squadron before spending the war at Cherry Point, North Carolina.
“The Bird” served with aviation units in Memphis, Tennessee.
Caggige went into aviation supply at Cherry Point, North Carolina.
Frank Grieve was one of the youngest men in the unit – hence the nickname “chicken.” He, too, went to serve at Cherry Point.
And finally….
…at long last…
…you were on your way to your first duty station.
In peacetime, as a technical sergeant.
