These are my boondockers. I was issued them in October/November of 1990 at Recruit Training Command, Naval Training Center, San Diego.

In boot camp, I made the mistake of saying that I had once played the trumpet. That got me drafted onto the Drum and Bugle Corp.

Or, as Chief Smith called it, "Bunch of f***ing f***ots playing their skin flutes." I loved that guy. He and Chief D. (later at NSGA Ft. Meade) were able to use the f word as every part of speech and at least once in every sentence. They probably averaged like twice per sentence. (Chief M. "TMC" was no slouch either, but he was more creative in his cursing.)

Anyway, during the fifth week of boot camp, we had to go to Drum and Bugle Corp rehearsal versus working in the mess hall or anything else. Because of the area our barracks was in (Division 3, over Nimitz Bridge, off Halsey), we had to march 1-1/2 miles each way. Four times a day, so six miles a day. Because we were a small detail (group of marchers), we had to "double-time," or run. In these boondockers.

When we showered in boot camp, we had the open bay showers. So, when you were cleaning up, there was a guy standing there watching you, waiting for a turn at the water. I didn't linger there. It's a good thing I didn't have any hair.

The first thing I do on Liberty Weekend (after week 8) is call the missus.

So, the second two things I do on Liberty Weekend were to buy beer for the underaged guys (damn straight I did) and cigarettes for me (rules shmules, sorry Captain Knutson). Next I get myself a hotel room. I said, "Guys, I love ya, but I'm getting some alone time."

I hopped in the shower. I just stood under the hot water for like 10 minutes, enjoying the fact that I could. Then I thoroughly scrubbed every inch of my body. When I got to my calves, I had to do a double-take. My calves were about two inches bigger around than they had been. All that marching and running in those boots had given me a ton of muscle where I hadn't had any before. Those open bay showers had dissuaded me from bending over to wash my calves, so I hadn't noticed.

The boondockers spent a lot of time in my closet over the years. I was an office puke, really, for most of the time I was in. On the sub, we wore sneakers. I got to wear the boondockers some, all that running had made them real comfortable. Lots of midwatches at Ft. Meade I was in dungarees and putting the boonies up on the officers' desks. (Hey, they can't do anything about it now.)

So now, sometimes at work I have to go down onto the Manufacturing floor. You have to wear steel-toed boots down there, so I put on the boondockers. Every time I slip them on, I think about boot camp and the long march we had on Sundays, past those big old palm trees on the way to church.

Your boondockers caught my eye as I was surfing Google Images. I still occasionally wear the boondockers that I was issued in May of 1967 at NTC San Diego (Company 256, CC was BM1 Alexander). They look exactly like yours but had brand new soles and heels back in the late 70's. Ah, the boot camp experience was great (in retrospect!).

Thanks for the comment. Oddly enough, I'm wearing mine at this exact moment.

I was in boot camp Aug 1990. Company 236. Ah, the old Nimitz bridge! The funniest thing I recall were the people who had to salute the seagulls cuz they spit some of that tasty "recruit crud" on them.....memories. Was just surfin' the net, looking for boondockers to buy and found your page. Have a nice day.
Aaron

I lost my original pair years ago but I get pairs at surplus shops and wear them as my regular shoes. Best footwear a man can buy. Thanks for the post!

We were there the same year. Me in June '90. Forgot what barracks. They are gone now.

Just tried to fit into my last pair of boondocker from the late 70's. We usually get snow dusting here in the south but this was like 7-8 inches. I realize this is higher than the boondockers are but hey you do your best. The shoes are in great shape but they are 9R in size and now gravity has taken it's toll. I now wear a 10 and 1/2.