MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- For 23 years, the World War II drill instructors reunion has gathered at Parris Island to remember past accomplishments and revive some of the splendor of their youth.
The glory days they spent on the Depot showing young men how to become Marines may long be a thing of the past, but the Marines still remember it as if it were yesterday.
Led by Albert "Tiny" Renaker, the World War II drill instructors reunion spent its last day at the island they remember with a great fondness.
With statements of "do you remember when," and "we didn't have anything like that," the former Marines were invigorated by the energy of every man and woman who has trained or is training at Parris Island.
As Renaker navigated his way through the Confidence Course obstacles at Leatherneck Square, his daughter, Dawn Marie Cooper, would ask him, "a penny for your thoughts dad."
He would explain what was different or how they used to do things, all the while a smile continually broadened his face while they strode through the obstacles.
As the men told stories about methods that they used to teach recruits or what has changed about recruit training, the Marines closed a chapter in a 23-year book of reliving their past.
While their minds worked overtime and their energy was pulsing, time had taken a toll on the former Marines and it even left some behind, not able to make the trip.
"I have so many guys who say, 'Tiny I would love to come, I would love to be there, but I can't travel,'" said Renaker. "Every reunion has been fantastic. We have enjoyed them and they have been a lot of fun. New ones come just about every year; I have gotten about two or three who have never been here before."
The first year there were about 45 former drill instructors at the reunion, said Renaker.
"It kept getting larger as we went along because I kept getting more men and more names," he said.
Renaker put forth the same efforts he picked up on in the Marine Corps, to get names on his list. He would write letter after letter to various newspapers trying to get in touch with anyone who was interested in coming to the events.
The first year he wrote to 160 newspapers and when he finally stopped writing to newspapers, he had written to more than 750 all over the country to get his names.
All of this effort brought about great results as the reunion's size grew year after year.
"I ended up with roughly 350 names on my roster," he said.
The reunions began to take on more than just World War II drill instructors. They would welcome Marines from other times that wanted to be around other Marines. Edward Cahill was one of those Marines. He is a former staff sergeant, who came through Parris Island in 1950 and was a drill instructor at Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va., where he trained officer candidates and platoon leaders in 1956.
"You see, I'm from the Korean War, these guys are from World War II," he said. "I went in in '50 and was out in '57. I came here with them because I know most of them."
Cahill has been in attendance of the reunions for the last 10 years.
"When I was in the Marine Corps most of these guys were still there, at least in the '50s anyways," said the seven-year veteran.
Cahill looked forward to the reunions year after year, knowing all the while that there would eventually come the day when it would be the last 'oorah' for the World War II drill instructor reunions.
Sergeant Sean Bauhaus, a drill instructor with Platoon 3102, Mike Co., 3rd RTBn., was serving as the escort for the reunion and saw the opportunity as a luxury to be able to soak up some of the information and history that these Marines have made.
"All of the knowledge that we are teaching the recruits, and that we learned through boot camp was set by these former Marines right here," said Bauhaus. "This will set me up with a little bit more pride now, something to lift my head up a bit more."
Ted Hetland, a former corporal, has been attending the reunions for the last five years, but is continually saddened as the numbers of attendees steadily drop. Knowing that it will be the last year for the Marines to reunite aboard the Depot, Hetland still has high hopes that the historical figures will stay in touch beyond the confines of the island.
"Hopefully, some of them will see each other down the line," said Hetland. "I'm sure that will happen because they are such good friends."