We stood In ranks that morning cold
In June of forty one
Not knowing what we would be told
Boot Camp had just begun
I had joined the Corps at seventeen
They offered bed and board
And twenty one bucks a month in green
A fortune I could hoard
A depression youth of hunger bred
Seeking solace from that storm,
it was Three square meals, my very own bed
And clothes to keep me warm
Brand new shoes, not hand me downs
And greens of olive hue
A campaign hat with pointed crown
A coat of deepest blue
A Springfield rifle, nineteen aught three
Tin hat and stove pipe pack I
thought this can't be all for free
They're bound to take it back
Two button skivvies, and high top shoes
Square Fields scarfs and Battle Bars
Peter Bain belts and buttonless blues
Blanco, green and khaki in jars
Two man tents, and parade ground drill
And those big three squares a day
Where a hungry lad could eat his fill
And that twenty one, green, in pay
I had never experienced life so fine
Nor owned such worldly things
From Chicago slums, which had been mine
It was like living the life of Kings
Hey what's the catch? I asked that day
It was my first day in the Corps
I laughed, as I heard the Sergeant say
There's gonna be a war
We're going to make a Marine of you
For a civilian you are no more
Childhood days are gone and through
You're now a member of the Corps
They taught me how to shoot and shave
And how to shine my shoes
To handle a boat in crested wave
And hang up clothes with clews
To roll my pack and column right
And how to polish brass
Rear march, rear march, day and night
With methods I thought crass
Inspections, daily troops and drill
Better keep your rifle clean
Pass in Review, oh what a thrill
To this lad of seventeen
I hear the band play Adjutants Call
See Troop Commanders, Post
We stood in ranks, so straight and tall
That's what I miss the most
That cool June morn, I stood there green
So fearful, I could never forget it
The first day of 7300 as a Marine
And I've never had cause to regret it
