I was a long haired hippy maggot when I joined the Marines in 1968. Went to MCRD San Diego as pictured here. Served 13 months in Vietnam. At the time I didn't like the Marines but now I'm so proud of my service I could pop. It was a good thing, I fought to protect a people that threw themselves into dingys to cross the Pacific to get to America after we left. God bless America and God bless the freedom loving people of Vietnam, we both sacrificed a lot for liberty.

That was the late Darren McGavin (1922-2006) He also played in "Kolchak, The Night Stalker".

Darrin Mcgavin was a great actor. He was excellent as the father in the "A Christmas Story"

RIP Mr Vincett !! Troubled Soul so sad im 55 years old grew up on your movie's you are sadly missed Big Wednesday Bite the bullet the Mechanic !!! Airwolf loved your movies

Remembering Jan-Michael Vincent (1944 - 2019). No more problems.

My Dad was One of the Few, The Proud, The Marines during the Korean war. He was my Hero. ❤🇺🇸

In 1970, I was a hippie girl with a military father; a drill sergeant, no less. I loved this movie, and since I learned today that Jan-Michael Vincent recently died, this clip made me a little bit verklempt. RIP

I'm 64 just barely too young for Vietnam. I remember when this movie came out it really left a lasting impression on me.

I saw an interview with Ernest Borgnine once in which he talked about working with Jan-Michael Vincent on the TV series 'Airwolf.' He said that JMV would open the script up, look at it quickly, close it and have it all memorized. He said when he asked JMV how he did that - he just shrugged. Apparently JMV had a photographic memory.

One of the best made for television movie ever.

I was at Parris Island in October 1971 when my mother watched this movie , boot camp was nothing like this to me and that character would have had a fast bus ticket home in my platoon.

My friend joined the marines at 18,,,33 years later retired a General. Wow

I was there. NTC San Diego. 1970. I remember the bus ride, the Yellow feet painted on the ground, the yelling Sir, Yes Sir. It was the shortest trip to discipline there is. I ended up a SeaBee and went to Vietnam. I enlisted rather than being drafted. I had a draft number of 99, sure to go, so I joined the Navy. Best decision of my life.

Interesting movie... remembered watching this movie in High School... with the Vietnam War in the background of reality. My Dad served in WWII and Korea - didn't want either of his boys in the military during Vietnam.

I always thought Jan Michael Vincent was one of the most handsome men.

That was a GREAT Movie...this is why I joined the USAF! lol

I remember seeing this movie on TV when I was a kid. I still remember how it ends.

That was me August of 1980. No AC on the bus, got to PI at 3:30 in the morning, let the games begin.

Jan Michael Vincent was great in that movie 👍. Sorry that he is gone. R.I.P Jan Michael Vincent.

DARREN McGavin drill sergeant.. Excellent actor who gave the screen his best. To you two excellent actors R.I.P.

I was never in the military but being a D I must be damn close to the hardest job on earth.........what a responsibility

I remember watching "Tribes" when it was first broadcast in 1971. I was 13 at the time. It's one of the first made for TV movies to be critically acclaimed. It's a great film. One thing about this movie that has stayed with me is this "ability to escape a horrific situation by keeping pleasant thoughts in your head." You'd really have to see this film to understand what I mean.

I was in High school when this movie came out....this movie is Iconic in so many ways.....counter culture meets the establishment...and a well acted movie ....I'll never forget it

AWESOME,AWESOME MOVIE.

I still remember seeing this when I come home from boot camp. I had a 15 day leave before going to fort Rucker for flight school then over seas. That was 1971. Seems like yesterday.

This was a serious drama anti-Vietnam war movie in 1970. My dad was USMC from 1951-1953. I was at Marine Military Academy from 1973-75. I wasn't in the real thing but it was a close imitator since we had retired USMC DI's from that era in our face almost all the time. Dad and I watched this movie once when he was in the hospital. We both couldn't stop laughing at the various situations which reminded both of us of situations we'd been in. Funniest was when Pvt. Adrian was caught not wearing skivvies doing push-ups and Gy. Sgt. Drake is in his face. "Why aren't are you wearing skivvies?" And Jan Michael Vincent says, "I like the freedom, Sir!" When Drake's eyes begin to roll and he's trying to formulate a response, he says, "Now hear this! There will be no FREEDOM in this camp!" I was sitting in the chair and Dad was in his bed. We both almost fell to the floor laughing so hard since we'd both seen stuff like that before even 20 years apart. This is a great movie and very funny but you had to have an experience similar to it to appreciate it.

How sweet! They're being ever so gentle

Remember this when it first came out. I was back from the Army by then. Very good movie. ABC I believe.

Watched this in 1971 With my friends All gone now.

Man, JMV was such a cutie pie!!

I just got goosebumps at that first shot of him!! Dayum he was the most perfect man on Earth! So gorgeous! I've been crushin' on JMV since 1974!!!!! Oh man I love him

A great movie, I remember this when it came out, yes I am a veteran.... I loved night stalker too .

God bless all those great American heroes like BattleCat. I was a little kid in 68-69. You are still my heroes.

I remember Jan M Vincent from Airwolf back in the 80s-90s. Very saddening that he's had some rough times since but he has supportive family and friends. Jan, God Bless and best wishes to you guy.

I remember this show. Lived it when I was a kid. Can't really watch it now that I'm older.

My roommate volunteered for the Marines during Vietnam. At the local induction station with the volunteer Marines & draftee guys were together briefly. An announcement was made that they were short of Marines. So they counted off down the lines to fill the quota "1,2,3 you're a Marine" He said there was lots of meltdowns. That's the story at least, anybody else heard that?

This movie has one of the most famous haircutting scenes ever. My uncle was a barber for the Marines from the late 1960s through the mid 70s. He told me many stories of the huge mops of hair he had to shave off the heads of the young, shocked recruits. Some squirmed, some cried, but my uncle was a no-nonsense barber and they all had their heads shaved whether they liked it or not.

OH MY GOD! It's the dad from A Christmas Story! I can't believe this is the same guy that was obsessed with a leg lamp. His Drill Instructor presentation is amazing.

I was set for a hitch... pussed-out after seeing this movie. Later, I ended up "next door" at the Navy boot camp; It was like scout camp; loved it. Did 2 active, and 4 reserves. Stayed in SD for college. It's a great idea for a kid from a poor family.

Where's Gunnery Sergeant Hartman when you need him?

Does anyone remember the movie "Sand Castles in the early 70's Vincent did? My friends n I loved him in that... man o man he was gorgeous...

Those barbers were being so gentle. When I went to Army basic training in '99 they sat me down and this short Filipino lady clamps down on my head with one hand like an eagle talon and manhandles my head, within less than a minute I was damn near bald. I never recovered, after 8 years in uniform I was as bald as the day I was born never to have a full head of hair again.

I know he doesn't measure up to Lee Ermy's DI or even Lou Gossett, but I think Darren Mcgavin does a good job in this made for TV movie. Remember, this is Hollywood. The movie has to tell a story, not get tied down to factual accuracy for a documentary. The Navy pilots who consulted on "Top Gun" had lots of laughs and criticisms of that movie when they finally saw it. Yet, none could argue that they didn't love the he!! out of it. ;) I think Darren did okay, here. If you want to see a really brutal DI, watch the Gary Cooper flick "Beau Geste" 1939. Sergeant Markoff (played by Brian Donlevy) is one brutally bad mother. Homicidal, in fact. Great flick. Check it out if you haven't seen it. It's a classic.

Say, wasn't the DI here, the 'Old Man' in a Christmas story?

Darren McGavin was brilliant

Hated this scene broke my heart all that beautiful blond hair shaved off 😢 Jan Michael Vincent was always so drop dead gorgeous with or with out hair 😍 love you Jan

RIP JMV! You have been my childhood hero!

Every High School graduate in the United States needs to go through those glorious 13 weeks at MCRD Parris Island, SC. It's a better education than any college or University could EVER hope to give. "Tribes", "Full Metal Jacket", "Heartbreak Ridge".....any of the above don't do it justice. It's something you have to experience to fully appreciate. "Good Night Ladies"

I`m just your age and I always remembered this one and the Robert Culp movie "Outrage!"...

All in all it was a pretty good movie , it had a good but different kind of message in it .

Saw this film when it was on T.V., i was about 12, watched with my father who was a WW2 B 25 pilot, really freaked me out...

This is an awesome movie. I remember watching it when I was only about 10 back in '70 or so. I came from a Navy family. I was always watching John Wayne war movies and that kind of shit. Used to really aggravate my dad, which I thought was odd insofar as he was a career Naval aviator. Anyway, this was the first counter-cultural, anti-establishment movie I ever saw and it really, REALLY opened my eyes. What I especially appreciate was how the DI gradually comes to see JMV's view.

This is one of my favorite movies. Almost impossible to find.

RIP Darren McGavin

Ahhhh….. memories that have lasted a lifetime 🙂

Darren McGavin was a great Actor!

I used to be that hippie..........Its beautiful to watch the change........

Ah, yes, the haircuts. My grandaddy (LTJG, USN ret.) used to take my brother and me down to MCRD San Diego in the 1960s to get our hair cut. I don't remember the barbers going this slow, or being this careful!

MCRD San Diego..yes...Hollywood....Sept, 71....they had just wrapped up filming this made for TV show, soon after we got there..a lot of civies where still roaming around, and for awhile all Drill Instructors were looking over their shoulders,making sure no one was "watching". From what I remembered earned and Emmy...Jan M. Vincent was the Hollywood heart throb at the time...went down hill after that police helicopter show. For TV, it was the best it could do at that time. Didn't air til the following year, we were all geeked up when we spotted stuff we recognized. To all Jarheads...where ever you are, SEMPER FI !!...STAY STRONG....STAY GUNG HO

My dad was a DI at MCRD San Diego from 65-69 during the height of the Vietnam war. I followed him by joining in 1976, a long haired high school drop out going no where in life. The Corps changed me and 21 years later I retired as a CWO. Semper Fiedlis.

I did Navy Jan 1969,still really "got" this in the day!

This was an ABC movie of the week in 1970, I was 6, living next to Camp Elmore (Marines) in Norfolk Va. Must of had a big impact on me, because I joined the Corps two weeks after graduation. Did one hitch ‘81-‘85. For years I couldn’t remember the name of the movie until about ten years ago. It was some cable channel. Always remember Jan Michael Vincent in “The Worlds Greatest Athlete” RIP.

Not the first time Jan Michael Vincent played a Marine. He was in the Baby Blue Marine. Got washed out of the Corps so they sent him home in a baby blue uniform.

Been years, caught this late night, product I think of the times - thnx 4 post :)

I used to see him in the lineup at Paradise Cove now and then...he was allright...

Darren McGavin as a DI great movie

That actor, was in "a Christmas story" 😂😂😂😂😂😂 Awesome Movie... What he forgot to say is don't lock your legs reason why you wind up falling down

Totally forgot about this movie, it was pretty good actually.

Also saw this in high school.....thought it was great!

Never forget that bus ride from HoLabird to P.I. 1970

Darren brilliant and real

So this is where Stringfellow Hawke began his training to become a helicopter pilot worthy of flying Airwolf…

little known but great movie!

reality check.....this movie is 50 years old.....

As an Army vet, I can honestly say this movie

These guys are lucky. They had a bus. When I reported into MCRD-San Diego, it was just me and one other guy. We flew in at night and had to take cab to MCRD. The cab wouldn't go on the base, so we had to walk in. This was in 1977. Back then, they timed things so that most recruits arrived at night. And yes, we had to stand on the Yellow Footprints when more guys showed up.

What a great trippy movie.

Jan was Beautiful

I remember when this movie came out on ABC Movie Of The Week. I enlisted in the Army in 1971. Saw gang bangers, but no hippies

Darren McGavin? Awesome!

this was a grrrreat movie.

Great film, Spent 20 Years as a Navy Corpsman, Went Fleet Marine Force too. I am not sorry for it, no not for one fraction of a mili second. Some see us as robots but I would rather say we cooperate for the common good of our unit. We may not like the orders we recieve and we do think about them but questioning authority is not what is done, questions relevant to the job are tolerated and encouraged. Even if they are not the answers we dont want to hear.

"I hear your eyeballs moving boy!"

Will grow you up ! I don’t see the Pajama Boys stepping up ? Even the thought makes me laugh ! 😆

"In a world where there's 8 Jan Michael Vincents, and 16 quadrants..."

The old man from A Christmas Story. Awesome.

The irony of of the movie is that as boot camp progresses, the hippie turns out to be the finest recruit in the platoon. A great scene later is when he uses mediation techniques to overcome physical stress and hold up buckets of sand in a strength test. He then teaches all of the boots how to do it, including chanting meditation, much to the consternation of Gunny Drake.

I remember when this movie first came out. It was called 'The Flower Child," on the ABC Movie of The Week.

Reminds me of my first platoon Sergeant.

We were greated with 3 DI's. 2am we arived from Philadelphia PA.

Calling all Jan Michael Vincents !

this was over 40 yrs. ago--see how these guys are dressed--still holds up well for drama

i got jan michael vincent fever

R.I.P.

Stringfellow Hawk as a young Boy? Holy Jeez is that good.

Unless you were alive back then and old enough to understand what was going on in Vietnam and in the United States at large, you would have a hard time understanding the underlying themes of this movie.

"boots"- that's a good one. I think "pukes" is the more common term. Ultra slow and careful haircuts too.

There are way too many people, who can vociferously complain that this movie *is NOT, "The D.I.", with Jack Webb!*

When I hear guys say I almost joined the Marines… I turn and walk away…

0.05 First thing we see is Blonde Hair Flying in the Breeze 😇👍🏼