thedrifter
08-17-04, 07:54 AM
Beaufort Gazette
August 13, 2004
Missing Recruits Found In Marsh
Four tried to escape from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
By Michael Kerr, Gazette staff writer
Four Marine Corps recruits fled from Parris Island under the cover of darkness early Wednesday and spent more than 17 hours hiding out in the marsh before being picked up by an off-duty drill instructor near The Sands in Port Royal.
The recruits were reported missing from their barracks at the training depot's Support Battalion at about 2 a.m. and were discovered in the marsh across from Parris Island at 7:20 p.m., said Maj. Ken White, the depot's public affairs officer.
The recruits, who apparently swam across Battery Creek, were taken to Naval Hospital Beaufort, evaluated and brought back to the depot, White said.
"I saw movement in the weeds over in the marsh area," said Gunnery Sgt. Chad Love, the drill instructor with 1st Recruit Training Battalion who found the four recruits near The Sands boat landing. "I saw a recruit take his shirt off and wave his shirt in the air."
Love, who had been fishing, pulled the recruits into his boat, took them to the landing and called 9-1-1.
One of the recruits was suffering from slight hypothermia and another had a sprained ankle.
While he knew some recruits were missing earlier in the day, Love said he didn't realize who the people in the marsh were until he was close enough to see their uniforms.
"It's just courtesy to help anyone out that's in trouble," he said.
The recruits said they had left their barracks around midnight and had been crawling around in the marsh, stopping twice when they thought they saw sharks, Love said.
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort's Angel One search and rescue helicopter and the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office assisted Parris Island in searching for the recruits throughout the day Wednesday.
Recruits are told that they are forbidden from entering any river, swamp or marsh on or surrounding Parris Island, White said.
After lights out, a recruit is designated to keep an eye on the rest of the platoon, and routinely check to ensure everyone is accounted for, he said.
"The reason we have routine checks is so if a recruit makes an unfortunate decision, we're in position to look out for their best interests and to find them before they get into trouble," he said.
The recruit on watch noticed the recruits were missing and alerted the command, White said.
Two of the recruits had completed the combat swim training, and two had not, he said. The recruits had taken some gear that could be used as a flotation device, which made officials think they were in the water.
White said it was too early to say what action would be taken with the recruits, but said all recruits are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
The recruits were assigned to the support battalion because they had suffered injuries during training that prevented them from continuing with their platoons. While the base tries to keep morale high for those recruits -- taking them to graduation ceremonies and providing counselors -- being pulled from their platoon can be traumatic, White said.
"There's no automatic amnesty around here, but there are a set of circumstances where the rules and the regulations allow us to determine if a particular recruit is suitable or not suitable for further training," he said.
The recruit is evaluated to see if his or her problem is psychological, physical or motivational, and whether it is in the best interest of the recruit, the recruit's family, the Corps and the taxpayers for he or she to continue training, White said.
"We will continue to train you even when you've given up on yourself," he said. "We work extremely hard to not allow you to fail, even when you want yourself to fail."
The Drifter's Wife
Ellie
August 13, 2004
Missing Recruits Found In Marsh
Four tried to escape from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
By Michael Kerr, Gazette staff writer
Four Marine Corps recruits fled from Parris Island under the cover of darkness early Wednesday and spent more than 17 hours hiding out in the marsh before being picked up by an off-duty drill instructor near The Sands in Port Royal.
The recruits were reported missing from their barracks at the training depot's Support Battalion at about 2 a.m. and were discovered in the marsh across from Parris Island at 7:20 p.m., said Maj. Ken White, the depot's public affairs officer.
The recruits, who apparently swam across Battery Creek, were taken to Naval Hospital Beaufort, evaluated and brought back to the depot, White said.
"I saw movement in the weeds over in the marsh area," said Gunnery Sgt. Chad Love, the drill instructor with 1st Recruit Training Battalion who found the four recruits near The Sands boat landing. "I saw a recruit take his shirt off and wave his shirt in the air."
Love, who had been fishing, pulled the recruits into his boat, took them to the landing and called 9-1-1.
One of the recruits was suffering from slight hypothermia and another had a sprained ankle.
While he knew some recruits were missing earlier in the day, Love said he didn't realize who the people in the marsh were until he was close enough to see their uniforms.
"It's just courtesy to help anyone out that's in trouble," he said.
The recruits said they had left their barracks around midnight and had been crawling around in the marsh, stopping twice when they thought they saw sharks, Love said.
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort's Angel One search and rescue helicopter and the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office assisted Parris Island in searching for the recruits throughout the day Wednesday.
Recruits are told that they are forbidden from entering any river, swamp or marsh on or surrounding Parris Island, White said.
After lights out, a recruit is designated to keep an eye on the rest of the platoon, and routinely check to ensure everyone is accounted for, he said.
"The reason we have routine checks is so if a recruit makes an unfortunate decision, we're in position to look out for their best interests and to find them before they get into trouble," he said.
The recruit on watch noticed the recruits were missing and alerted the command, White said.
Two of the recruits had completed the combat swim training, and two had not, he said. The recruits had taken some gear that could be used as a flotation device, which made officials think they were in the water.
White said it was too early to say what action would be taken with the recruits, but said all recruits are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
The recruits were assigned to the support battalion because they had suffered injuries during training that prevented them from continuing with their platoons. While the base tries to keep morale high for those recruits -- taking them to graduation ceremonies and providing counselors -- being pulled from their platoon can be traumatic, White said.
"There's no automatic amnesty around here, but there are a set of circumstances where the rules and the regulations allow us to determine if a particular recruit is suitable or not suitable for further training," he said.
The recruit is evaluated to see if his or her problem is psychological, physical or motivational, and whether it is in the best interest of the recruit, the recruit's family, the Corps and the taxpayers for he or she to continue training, White said.
"We will continue to train you even when you've given up on yourself," he said. "We work extremely hard to not allow you to fail, even when you want yourself to fail."
The Drifter's Wife
Ellie