Corporal David McCarroll

Phoenix, AZ

I joined the Marines in 1957, three years after the end of the Korean conflict. I lettered in four sports in high school, confident that I would excel at whatever physical challenges I faced to become a Marine. I breezed through the obstacle courses, confidence courses, and conditioning courses with ease. Every challenge I faced was believably accomplishable-- until the 22 mile hike. During the last week of boot camp a rumor began to circulate that we were to make a 22 mile hike with a full field marching pack.That's 55 lbs. plus cartridge belt,plus canteen,plus rifle( M1's were 9 lbs. plus 1 fireteam member carried the Browning Automatic Rifle, a 20 lb.monster ,plus bed role ,bayonet etc. We took off in the morning, headed toward Camp Matthews, just north of La Jolla and our mustering point with the field chow trucks, exactly 11 miles from our debarkation point. We marched behind a Gunny Sgt. that had been a decorated Korean veteran. One of the math nerds estimated that we were covering about 4 miles an hour! By the time we reached the bivouac point, I was beat. I was convinced that there was no way we were going to go another step farther. Surely they were going to send trucks to pick us up. After chow the order was passed, "saddle up". If someone had asked me at that point, "could I go another 11 miles" or get shot, I would have said, "just shoot me". I, as well as many of my fellow, soon to become Marines, grossly underestimated our capabilities. I and 71 other guys made the return hike in record time. Some of the troops had to be carried part of the way by their buddies, but we all made it that last 11 miles. The Marines taught me the most valuable lesson of my life. I was capable of accomplishing a great deal more than I ever imagined. I've told this story many times to people in my life who were ready to give up on themselves or their dream. I give the Marine Corps the credit and my thanks for a lesson that has carried me through many challenges with complete confidence and the vision that if you just keep taking that one more step you'll reach you goals, no matter how far away they seem to be.