Fresh out of High School I left Canada and enlisted in the Marine Corps on 12 November 1963. During my enlistement of four years I served with
the 2nd and 1st Marine Divisions, Fleet Marine Force.
I completed my Basic Training with the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, "K" Company, Platoon 291, MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina
in early January, 1964. Upon completion, I was assigned to "Camp Geiger" N.C. for Basic Infantry Training and then to the "H&S" Company,
81mm Mortar Platoon, 3rd Battalion, "Betio Battalion", 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
In 1964 we were deployed as Battalion Landing Team 3/2 to the Carribean, this was my first experience with Ocean travel and the Navy on
board APA 44 the USS FREMONT.
In 1965 our Battalion was deployed to the Mediterranean and our Platoon traveled on board
APA 31 the USS MONROVIA, with our return, most of us were reassigned to units in
Southeast Asia.