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SH*TBIRD!
"SH*TBIRD! How I Learned to Love The Corps" is a humorous account of Marine Corps boot camp based on the author's experiences as well as those of many other jarheads. The book begins with an introductory section that reveals the culture shock that most recruits experience as they step out of their teenage civilian world into one turned upside down. Following are 90 plus funny stories contributed by guys who were there. While most civilians will find the stories funny, they will be especially appreciated by veterans of all services who experienced some form of boot camp.
186 pages, Paperback
Published November 9, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 22, 2020
It was ok. Nothing special, quick read.
March 25, 2017
Sh*t Bird A review
When people ask enlisted Marines what they most remember about being a US Marine, more often than not, they say “Boot camp” and not “basic training” or some other descriptive name. When asked for more information most Marines tell of experiences with their Drill Instructors and how they turned a bunch of young boys (mostly) into Marines.
As a former active duty Marine (1960 - 1964) when I speak about some of my boot camp experiences I get a lot of different reactions. Some people say “how could you have put up with that treatment” or “you gotta be crazy to submit to that kind of shit”. But for most of us who made it through boot camp, we came away with the feeling of accomplishment, confidence and pride. Most Marines that I know come away from boot camp with kind of thread that is part of the fabric of their lives.
Jim Barber, a fellow Marine, has created a book in which he recounts some of his experience as a recruit along with a number of stories retold by other Marines. Most of these stories are funny, ironic, surprising, and often wacko. Of course, to a Marine, the reaction most likely is to say “oh, I had that happen to me as well” or such similar response. But to many people, I suspect, they will not see much humor in the way Marine recruits are treated (and lived to tell the tale) by their drill instructors.
I liked this book as it reflected, and called back, some of the incidents in my own boot camp experience. Honestly I am uncertain how people with zero military interest would take to these stories, and I would not necessarily say that they should read this book. But to anyone curious about Marine Corps boot camp, or considering joining up, it is an interesting and often funny book.
Two last comments.
The term “shit bird” back in my time in boot camp was a derogatory term applied to most of the recruits in my platoon (188) at MCRD San Diego in 1960. From day 1 it seemed that none of us could do anything correct and in the Marine Corps way. It took a while for us to rid ourselves of our civilian habits which continually provoked the ire of those drill instructors responsible for turning us from “shit birds’ into United States Marines.
I read a lot of books and I like to read about marines and the Marine Corps.
I did give the author of this book a written account of one of my experiences while in boot camp (which he included in the book), but I did spend my own money for the book - which I probably would have bought to read anyway.
I have given this book a rating of four stars because of a few typos and the fact that the book contain only about 90 stories instead of 190. Still a good read in anycase.
When people ask enlisted Marines what they most remember about being a US Marine, more often than not, they say “Boot camp” and not “basic training” or some other descriptive name. When asked for more information most Marines tell of experiences with their Drill Instructors and how they turned a bunch of young boys (mostly) into Marines.
As a former active duty Marine (1960 - 1964) when I speak about some of my boot camp experiences I get a lot of different reactions. Some people say “how could you have put up with that treatment” or “you gotta be crazy to submit to that kind of shit”. But for most of us who made it through boot camp, we came away with the feeling of accomplishment, confidence and pride. Most Marines that I know come away from boot camp with kind of thread that is part of the fabric of their lives.
Jim Barber, a fellow Marine, has created a book in which he recounts some of his experience as a recruit along with a number of stories retold by other Marines. Most of these stories are funny, ironic, surprising, and often wacko. Of course, to a Marine, the reaction most likely is to say “oh, I had that happen to me as well” or such similar response. But to many people, I suspect, they will not see much humor in the way Marine recruits are treated (and lived to tell the tale) by their drill instructors.
I liked this book as it reflected, and called back, some of the incidents in my own boot camp experience. Honestly I am uncertain how people with zero military interest would take to these stories, and I would not necessarily say that they should read this book. But to anyone curious about Marine Corps boot camp, or considering joining up, it is an interesting and often funny book.
Two last comments.
The term “shit bird” back in my time in boot camp was a derogatory term applied to most of the recruits in my platoon (188) at MCRD San Diego in 1960. From day 1 it seemed that none of us could do anything correct and in the Marine Corps way. It took a while for us to rid ourselves of our civilian habits which continually provoked the ire of those drill instructors responsible for turning us from “shit birds’ into United States Marines.
I read a lot of books and I like to read about marines and the Marine Corps.
I did give the author of this book a written account of one of my experiences while in boot camp (which he included in the book), but I did spend my own money for the book - which I probably would have bought to read anyway.
I have given this book a rating of four stars because of a few typos and the fact that the book contain only about 90 stories instead of 190. Still a good read in anycase.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews