Located northwest of downtown San Diego, the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) is rich in the history and traditions of the US Marine Corps. The base was born in part of the perseverance of Col. Joseph H. Pendleton and the efforts of Congressman William Kettner. MCRD San Diego was commissioned in 1921 and officially designated as the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in 1948. It is the oldest operational Marine Corps base on the West Coast and graduates over 20,000 new Marines every year. MCRD San Diego is one of only two Marine Corps recruit-training bases in the United States and is responsible for the basic training of all male recruits west of the Mississippi River. Every Marine begins his career by participating in a 13-week training period that isolates him from the civilian world. Basic training at MCRD San Diego emphasizes physical fitness and adaption to the Marine Corps lifestyle.

Inside the marine corps and what it takes to become "One of the few, the proud, the Marines."

'The most recent full-scale study of the Ribbon Creek incident... The book has a longer perspective on the incident than earlier studies, & it includes aids to further research for serious students.'--Booklist.

Camp Pendleton was established in 1942 by the Navy Department as the West Coast training facility for the United States Marine Corps. Located in rugged northwest San Diego County, Camp Pendleton quickly became one of the largest training centers for infantry, aviation, and amphibious units and has long been the threshold for Marines embarking to participate in armed conflicts in the Far East and around the globe. From World War II to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Camp Pendleton has served as the backdrop and staging ground for troops, artillery, tanks, and infantry. Named for Maj. Gen. Joseph H. Pendleton, who pioneered Marine activity in San Diego, Camp Pendleton is situated on approximately 250,000 acres on the California coast and its access to land, sea, and air has been instrumental in cross-training Marines. Thousands of Marines have called "CamPen" home since its inception, including the oldest and most decorated Marine unit, the 1st Marine Division.

Gripping and dramatic, Yellow Footprints reveals the extraordinary journey of becoming one of the proud...and one of the few. Set in 1969 during the height of the Vietnam War, Yellow Footprints details the grueling training of Platoon 3074 to prepare them for the mighty ranks of the U.S. Marine Corps. From the harrowing first few days to the camaraderie forged by the men who shared this ordeal, author Jack Shipman presents an unrestrained look at boot camp not often viewed by the public. Yellow footprints mark the entrance to the Receiving Barracks at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina, and San Diego, California. Along with the other new recruits, Jack Shipman took his first steps on those footprints to either become a proud U.S. Marine or wash out of the toughest military training in the world. Shipman's attention to detail and his frank assessment of his experiences offers a highly readable account for those seeking to learn the fundamentals of Marine Corps history.