Fifty-three years ago, Marine recruit James W. “Bill” Oxford stepped on the legendary yellow footprints at Parris Island.
The huge sign hanging above a street at Parris Island, S.C., states the mission clearly – "WE MAKE MARINES." It could also be said that the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) makes national commanders.
Fifty-three years ago, Marine recruit James W. “Bill” Oxford stepped on the legendary yellow footprints at Parris Island. It would mark the beginning of a military career that would last nearly 35 years and include service in the Army Reserve and North Carolina National Guard. It also marked the first day that Oxford became eligible for the organization that he now leads, The American Legion.
Oxford led a delegation of South Carolina American Legion Family members on a tour of MCRD as part of his department visit on March 2. While the Marines serving at MCRD treated Oxford with considerably more kindness than during his initial exposure, he was struck by how much the Marine Corps has changed since the Vietnam era.
“It’s hard to fully understand all of the differences because generations change, but the Marine Corps is still the Corps, and it’s still a brotherhood and sisterhood,” he said.
A major change that the Marine Corps is still currently developing is the integration of female recruits into previous all-male training battalions. “Congress ordered us to continue efforts to integrate recruit training. But that comes with a cost. That means bigger squad bays,” said Parris Island Chief of Staff Col. Christopher Williams.
Although there are currently no plans to integrate at the platoon-level or share actual living space, Williams pointed out that the male and female platoons will be grouped together in adjacent quarters by their companies and will participate in more joint training activities.
“We are absolutely about being in compliance with the law and we have no issue with it,” he said. “Are we doing it 100 percent correct right now? No, we’re going to make mistakes but we are still gathering data and we will learn better ways.”
One thing that has not changed is the rigorous training enhanced by the presence of ubiquitous sand fleas. “All the bugs that bit you while you were here,” Williams told Oxford, “they’re still here.”
Oxford will continue his tour of the Palmetto State by visiting several American Legion posts and the Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia. He will be addressing a joint session of the South Carolina Legislature in the state capitol on Wednesday.
- Commander