Platoon 17B, PISC

My name is Barbara Conover. I am a former United States Marine. I am a member of the American Legion, Post 210, in Danville, Illinois, where my father, Bill Stevenson*, was a former Commander.

One of the greatest accomplishments of my life was becoming a Marine. I graduated November 17th, 1981, on Parris Island, South Carolina. (I am in the middle, left on the photo above)

After bootcamp, I, Private Kanani, stayed on the island for Admin School. I went on to Unit Diary School also located on PI at the time. While attending, I received my first stripe, and I was promoted to Private First Class.

I was transferred from PI, all the way over to MCAS, Beaufort, about 10 miles away! (I think my travel expenses added up to a $1.25 for cab fare!) I worked for a few months for Headquarters & Maintainence Squadron-31 (H&MS-31), a huge squadron with an under-staffed adminitration office. I blended.

A short while later, I was transferred to Training Management Element-23 (TME-23), where I spent close to 3 years as Unit Diary Chief. During all this time, I, met a fell in love with the father of my future twins. I, Lance Corporal Beal, believed TME-23, for a great while was the "best kept secret" at MCAS, Beaufort. This was a small office that supplied admin support for students who were attending aviation training for F-4 Phantoms. I worked for and with the greatest group of men I have never since met. I shined through, too! I was meritoriously promoted twice, up to the rank of Corporal.

Four months after I married, my husband went off to train in another MOS for 18 months! In order to stay together after his training was completed, I was transferred to MCAS, El Toro, Santa Ana, California, where I was assigned to CONsolidated ADmin (CONAD)for Marine Wing Support Group-37 (MWSG-37). Unfortunately, marital trouble began almost immediately and life was spent as a single parent. With two small children to care for, I felt the only option for me was to re-enlist.

If memory serves me correctly, MWSG-37 re-organized in 1986 or 1987, into four distinct units. I became the Unit Diary Chief of MWSS-373 "ACE Support", the largest unit (approx. 1,500 Marines and Officers) of the four.

This proved to be my last tour of duty and the end of my Marine Corps career. As much as I loved my job, and wanted to stay, it simply wasn't working out. The Marine Corps wasn't about to transfer me, and I was slowly, but surely, going broke in southern California. After about six months of living on edge of a breakdown, the corps and I came to a mutual agreement that the best thing for all concerned, would be an Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps for me.

Shortly before my discharge, my estranged husband called me, and wanted to start anew and I agreed. Although, we had good intentions and gave it a shot, we weren't able to salvage our marriage.

The twins and I headed for home in Illinois, where my family lives. That was 1989. I now work for Kraft Foods, have a new husband, live in a small central Illinois town, and the twins have grown up. My daughter is in college, and my son is in the Air Force. Oh, did I mention the part about being really happy??? :-)

I don't regret one moment of joining the Corps, it really made me grow-up, gave me skills, and confidence that apply to all aspects of my life, today. I met many of the most wonderful people on the face of this earth, a few, I've been fortunate enough to keep in touch with. I still get all tingly when I hear the Marine Corps Hymm, or anything by John Phillips Sousa for that matter!

Each platoon that passed through the confines of WRTC, was required to come up with a song to decribe our life, journey, and feelings of being in Marine Corps bootcamp. Here is our song:

(to the tune of: "YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND" By Carol King)