When did pinning on stripes start?

[SE18]

Hi, I'm writing a novel and the year is 1964 (10 years before I joined). Were stripes pinned on back then?

By pinning on, I'm talking about walking through the company gauntlet with Marines punching upper arms. Then, 1st Sgt punching the chevron through your uniform (we wore starchies, not sure of uniform in 1964, so I guess 2 questions).

Thanks!!!

[SE18]

Oh, forgot to mention the promotion is taking place stateside. And it's PFC

[RON 68]

in "1969" i had my p.f.c. stripe pinned on by Sgt. Wingo.at I.T.R.at Camp Pendleton,with a bamboo pole.we all had been lined up to those promoted,he pinned it on my right arm. since i had a J.C. tattoo on my left arm.....he said i don't want to hurt Jesus, so turn around private, my Lcpl at training school at Monford point. was a sheet of paper and here! and my Cpl stripe while serving at Lejeune detached to some 1st. MAW team was a little more formal.i always liked those air wing para wing's.

and don't let anybody ever tell you in the Corp you can't be a Cpl. in 16 month's.i did it. however the first stripe was painfull!

Ron 68

[SE18]

Ron,

Here's a snipped (I know if I get any detail wrong once it's published, Marines from that era will hound me forever):

Ron Walker looked ahead at the smiling faces of his fellow Marines. “Okay, let’s do this,” he said, glancing back at three other Marine privates as they all stepped forward. None were smiling.

There were sickening thuds as Marines of Delta Company rained punches on the privates’ upper arms. As he progressed through the gauntlet, the hits became more painful, not unlike hornet stings. When he reached the end of the gauntlet, he could barely move his sore arms. One of the thinner privates had blood welling up from his bruises. Another puked. They were not yet finished, however.

The first sergeant and company gunny each held a fistful of private first class chevrons, known as “mosquito wings,” in their hands. They removed the grommets from the metal chevron pins, fastened them to Ron’s collar, and slapped them into his chest just below the collarbone. Tears were involuntarily running down two of the privates’ cheeks as their chevrons were “pinned” on by the senior noncommissioned officers. The ceremony was over. They were now officially privates first class. They could lord it over all the privates. Time to get drunk and celebrate.

The newly minted Pfcs. boarded the “Vomit Comet” bus from Camp Lejeune to nearby Jacksonville, North Carolina. They took in a porn movie and bar hopped the length of Court Street, finally settling down at a club called Jazzland, which had a live band. Ron would forever remember that moment when Paul Peek and his band, were playing the “Mountain Dew” song. That’s when Nelly came over and took their order of drinks.

[FistFu68]

:evilgrin: EVER BEEN KICKED IN THE HEART AREA BY A GREEN BERET COL.WHILE STANDING AT ATTENTION RECIEVING THE COVETED U.S. ARMY AIRBORNE JUMP WING'S???DAM HE WAS GOOD,SUNK THEM INTO OUR CHEST THE 1ST.TRY EVERY TIME. ON 303 MEN.CLASS 40-1968.:evilgrin: :thumbup:

[Robert Browell]

In my time the only people who could "pin" ya were Marines in your outfit(enlisted)who either outranked you or were the same rank that you had just been promoted to.Blood Stripes were a different ballgame!!!!!!:evilgrin:At least you could still walk after a "pinning"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ROFLMAO!!

[sparkie]

Ah, the good old days,,,,, My PFC was driven into my collar bone. When it was your turn to pin em on someone else, you were a little more gentle. I never hurt a guy with my taps. I just showed my respect for tradition. Hope to pin em on my son some day, I won't be so gentle. Garinteed.

[sparkie]

Bloodstripe gets pinned on with a swift knee to the leg muscle. Yea, walking was a challenge. LOL.

[Robert Browell]

As far as when did it start? My guess would be when Marines started wearin' them!!!

[sparkie]

As far as when did it start? My guess would be when Marines started wearin' them!!!

Marines is Marines. We are what we are, and that is all we are,,,,, ARRRGH.

[JRHD72]

It started when JC got his 1st promotiom.

[sparkie]

HaHaHaHa,,,,,,

[bucksgted]

I got my PFC stripes in boot camp ( honor man ) and they were "pinned" by every Drill Instructor within earshot of S/Sgt Smith, my Sr.DI. This was May/June 1956.

[Eric Hood]

Hey! Doesn't this qualify as torture?

[JRHD72]

It's actualy hazing. But it is a Marine Corps ritual and right of passage.

[Eric Hood]

I know that. Just don't let the journalists know about it.

[jinelson]

I know that. Just don't let the journalists know about it.

Oustanding comment Eric I can tell you in all honesty that I have been contacted by reporters requesting info on members and threads. Loose lips sink ships so I tell them to contact HQMC for their story. Be very aware that what you post here is read by many journalists.

Jim

[nptwildcat]

Sparkie, you will enjoy it. My son got his PFC in boot, so I didn't get
to "pin" him. But I made up for it on his L/Cpl. What a memory. No dad didn't
let up either. I gave it all I had and he took it like a Marine.

[awbrown1462]

you can always tell a new Cpl he can't raise his arms and walks funny I know I couldn't

[rsharetts]

To answer your question, they were pinning them on in '57, and still at it in '79, so you should be safe

:usmc: OOORAH :usmc:

[jarheadlady]

I just called my dad, he said he got pinned Cpl. in Kbay right after Korea. Said that he was bruised for a month! But only got pinned on the arms.