Chapter 3: Semper Fi

"When I got to Parris Island I was given a look at what life was going to be like from that point on. I saw recruits doing pushups and running 3 miles nonstop, not even to catch their breaths, and I thought 'Well… I guess this is what I signed up for."

The next few weeks were pure and grueling hell for Rock. Every day he had to run 3 miles and do 60 pushups and 60 pullups every single day. And if that wasn't already hard he had to deal with the constant yelling and spit spraying of the drill sergeants. But Rock pulled through and overtime he excelled at the training.

He managed to score a perfect grade on his ASVAB test and completed the marksmanship regiment with 100% accuracy which greatly impressed his commanding officers. But to Rock this was a mark of achievement.

"Overtime the training became easier, and got to meet a lot of guys in my unit, but there was this one guy with us. I got a strange vibe from him, like something he was just… off. At first I didn't pay him any attention but me and the rest of the unit saw that he got picked on by the drill sergeants the most."

"And whenever we'd turn in for the night they made us sleep with our rifles in hand. But every night I would always here him talking to it his rifle. And when we were cleaning our barracks he would always be mumbling to himself. It really freaked some of the other recruits out."

As the weeks went by Rock was excelling faster and doing better than any of the other recruits, and whenever a recruit was falling behind Rock would always lend a hand to them and made sure that excelled with him. The recruiters took notice of this and glad to see that Rock and his unit were all united and that they were growing beyond their control.

"Eventually graduation was only a few days away but nothing would prepare me for what I found that night…"

That night it was Rock's turn for night watch and as he was patrolling the barracks, making sure that everything was in order he heard talking in the bathroom.

"When I heard noises coming from the bathroom I knew something was wrong so I went and checked it out."

When he looked, inside Rock saw the guy who was weakest in his unit. Rock also noticed that he was in his fatigues and was loading his rifle with live ammunition. Then Rock saw his name tag, he remembered his name.

"The guy's name was Sawyer. Small farm boy from Northern Maine, joined the Corps because his parents pushed him to."

Rock finally spoke up and said, "What're you doing Sawyer? Your not supposed to be in here, if the CO finds us in here were both gonna be in a world of shit."

Sawyer finally spoke up and said, "I… already… am… in a world of… SHIT! You must be proud of yourself huh Rocky boy? Being the best of us here and you get to sit on your high fuckin horse while I'm nothing more than a stupid fuck up."

"Now that's not true Sawyer I don't think that, were all equal here, Semper Fi that's what they taught us" said Rock. "yeah right, Semper Fi, that's a bunch a bullshit dreamt up by these fucking psychos. I can't do it anymore Rock… I'm tired" said Sawyer.

Sawyer gets up from the bathroom he was sitting on and picks up his rifle. He begins to practice rifle drills and recites the rifleman's creed. The commotion quickly woke up the other recruits and eventually the drill sergeant barged in and saw Sawyer and Rock in a standoff. He proceeded to demand what was happening and Rock explained that Sawyer had a full magazine and was locked and loaded.

"The Drill Sergeant demanded that Sawyer hand over his rifle but what happened next…"

Sawyer put the rifle up to his chest and said, "See you in hell Rock!" and he put the rifle in his mouth and pulled the trigger. After the shot was fired Sawyer began to fall to the ground and Rock screamed, "NOOO…"

"When I was still pulling jobs for the Sun Yee On, I had seen a lot of people die, hell 99% were dead because of me… But when you see someone you care about die… be it a father… or a comrade… it is a whole other shit show."

"After that whole incident with Sawyer, they proceeded to a mental psyche check of everyone in the unit and the base altogether. Everyone else, including me, checked out and continued with the training. Eventually graduation came and we came out no longer as 'recruits, or maggots, fags, or turds.' From that point on we were Marines and everything we learned, 'decency, distinction, and honor,' became the corner stones of our lives."

"And Semper Fi became… my… code."