Marines

 
Photo Information

Private First Class John P. Cash, India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, stands next to his squad bay at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, March 7. Following recruit training, Cash will continue his schooling at Marine Combat Training in Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and then on to his military occupational specialty school to learn his profession of communications. Today, all male recruits recruited from recruiting stations west of the Mississippi are trained at MCRD San Diego. The depot is responsible for training more than 16,000 recruits annually. India Company graduated recruit training March 11.

Photo by Cpl. Jericho Crutcher

Johnny Cash joins the Marine Corps

11 Mar 2016 | Cpl. Jericho Crutcher Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego

Growing up in an impoverished country often leads people to seek a better life with more opportunities in places such as America many times, these immigrants feel the desire to pay back their new country for all the positive for all the positive they now have.

            Private First Class John P. Cash, India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, was born and raised in the Philippines until he made a life-changing move to the United States.

            “My mother wanted to raise enough money to bring my brother, sister and me to the United States, but in the Philippines money was hard to come by,” said Cash. “She moved to the U.S. and started working to raise money. Then she met my now step-dad, who committed to bringing the family to the United States.”

            Although the family was eventually able to move everyone to the U.S., it was a long process that didn’t happen overnight.

            “I was the last to go,” said Cash. “Around the time of October in 2008, I was able to move to the U.S. and reunite with my family.”

            The Cash family chose San Jose, Calif., as their new home once they got settled in the United States.

            Cash recalls the differences between his old and new home.

            “Poverty was a pretty common thing where I grew up, but fortunately my family could afford the essentials of a healthy living style,” said Cash. “We allowed other families to come to our property for water since the town did not have running water and we did. There was a lot of trash everywhere and the homeless steadily grew in numbers.”

            Before moving to the United States, Cash took the initiative to learn English while he was attending school.

            “My biological father was able to send me to private school in the Philippines where I was able to learn the English language,” said Cash. “It made life a lot easier when I arrived in America. I didn’t realize how well my English speaking skills were until I was able to interact with an entire culture that speaks the language.”

            Cash immediately started attending school and continued his education immideatley upon arriving in San Jose.

            “Making friends at school was tough at first,” said Cash. “Everyone already knew each other, and I was the new kid from a different country, so it was hard to fit in.”

            After graduating school, Cash explained he knew it was time to make some life changing decisions.

            “My mother and I were at the movies, and my brother called and said he needed my help,” said Cash. “Before I realized what was going on, we were both standing in front of a Marine Corps recruiting office. I have several family members in all branches of the service, except the Marine Corps. My brother and I committed that day to becoming the first.”

            It wasn’t long after that both of the Cash brothers were leaving to attend recruit training with plans to graduate together.

            Unfortunately Johnny’s brother suffered a hand injury and was held back to another company to ensure a full recovery before continuing on with recruit training.

            “I was hoping our mother could call us both Marines on the same day, but unfortunately things didn’t work out that way,” said Cash. “I know my brother though; he’s strong and will pull through and earn his title Marine just as I did.”

            Cash looks back at recruit training with a few fond memories.

            “A couple things I enjoyed the most about recruit training was learning how to shoot during range week and also field week, where we learned how to navigate with a map and compass,” said Cash. “The instructors thought it was pretty awesome that I have the same name as Johnny Cash, the country singer. While we were on the firing line, my instructors asked me what I was doing so I could reply to them by saying ‘I walk the line’ which is a country song by Johnny Cash. The instructors also liked to ask me if I fell, where would I fall into, and I would reply by saying ‘a ring of fire,’ which is also another Johnny Cash song.”

            Recruit training had its tougher challenges as well, explained Cash.

            “The Crucible was tough to conquer,” said Cash. “I remember reaching the top of Reaper Mountain and thinking to myself that I finally made it, and I am finally a Marine. I have never experienced a greater feeling than that.”

            Now that the new Marine has earned his place among United States Marines, he will continue his schooling at Marine Combat Training in Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and then on to his military occupational specialty school to learn his profession of communications.

            I can’t wait to see what my career has in store for me,” said Cash. “I also can’t wait to see my brother graduate and earn his title as a Marine. This first Marine Cash brothers.”