“A little different”??
That is putting it mildly! When I entered the Corps in 1976, the first SGTMAJ I met had fought on Okinawa in 1945! In 1979, I don’t think there was a Marine Infantry SNCO who had not been in combat and I don’t think there was a E-8 or E9 who had not been in two wars…..Well, there were, but the vast majority had fought in both Korea and Vietnam!
Just look at who became Commandant of the Marine Corps in 1979….Gen Barrow - He had fought in three wars!
Oh yes those were different times…..
they did not play games and they were not politically correct back then! They knew that your life depended upon the Marine next to you and expected them to be the best!