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7 unusual facts about Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego


Ears, Open. Eyeballs, Click.

The film is an observation of Platoon 1141, Company C, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California.

Eyeballs, Click is a 2005 documentary by Canaan Brumley, about the experiences of Marine recruits during bootcamp.

John S. Grinalds

He was later promoted to major general and, in 1989, became the commanding general of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California, a position he held until his retirement in 1991.

Marine Corps Martial Arts Program

In 1956, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Hayward (captain of the Judo team at MCRD) made Gunnery Sergeant Bill Miller the new Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Hand-To-Hand Combat.

Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego

In a July 14, 2005 public response to the Commission, Gordon R. England, the acting Deputy Secretary of Defense, stated that the Department of Defense did not recommend San Diego's closure because it would create a single point of failure in regard to Parris Island's vulnerability to hurricanes, among other threats.

The Marine base only became a reality due to the perseverance of its first commanding officer, Colonel Joseph Henry Pendleton (later a general and the namesake of Camp Pendleton).

Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon

The marathon originally commenced at 6th Avenue at Palm and concluded at Parade Deck in Marine Corps Recruit Depot.


South Sea Woman

U.S. Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant James O'Hearn (Burt Lancaster) is being tried at the San Diego Marine base for desertion, theft, scandalous conduct and destruction of property in time of war.

Stanley G. Benner

Ordered to the field on May 8, 1942, Sgt. Benner joined Company "A", 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, and, after traveling by rail to San Diego, Calif., sailed for the South Pacific in late May.


see also

Harold G. Schrier

Schrier was Marine Corps Recruiting officer in Birmingham, Alabama and a Provost Marshall at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California.