Marine Boot Camp
098-Stripping%20Civilian%20Clothes-BW-b%20copy.jpg)
In July, 1951, LIFE photographer Mark Kauffman did a photo assignment that involved following a bunch of new Marine recruits through boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. We start with the recruits stripping off all their civilian clothes, above. We'll see the curly-headed guy at right again.
103-Lined%20Up%20After%20Stripping-BW-tn%20copy.jpg)
Having stripped, they stand at attention ...
110-In%20Line-BW-tb%20copy.jpg)
and line up for the next step.
201-Inspecting%20Genitals-BW-b%20copy.jpg)
Their genitals get inspected ...
206A-Spraying%20Genitals-BW-b%20copy.jpg)
and sprayed with DDT to kill any critters.
207-Spraying%20Anus-BW-n%20copy.jpg)
And it's not just the front that gets sprayed. Spread 'em!
303-Haircut%20Line-BW-tn%20copy.jpg)
Then a barber shaves off all their hair. Our curly-headed friend from the first photo is next.
417-Shower%20Room-BW-tn%20copy.jpg)
They shower.
519-Issuing%20Pants-BW-n%20copy.jpg)
Then they're given sacks and line up to receive their Marine uniforms. The guy at left is one of them who has been deputized to help by holding open the sacks.
530-Issuing%20Pants-BW-n%20copy.jpg)
"Sound off trouser size and shoe size" says the sign. After this, the recruits get dressed. In the next eight weeks they will be transformed into Marines. But they've already learned that in the Marines, there's no such thing as privacy.
329B-Haircut-(Published%20Oct%208%201951)-BW-m%20copy.jpg)
Kauffman took almost two thousand photos for this assignment. Only a few of them were published in an article in the Oct. 8, 1951 issue of LIFE (above), and that didn't include any nude shots. LIFE didn't publish male frontal nudity, though they did sometimes publish rear nudity in those days. But all of Kauffman's photos are in the amazing LIFE photo archive online.
13 comments:
Again I have to lament the fake modesty and shame that is forced upon us males. I don't know if the military still throws men together like this, but if so, that's the exception.
I was in the locker room at my gym yesterday, and walked to the shower without covering my penis. The older men paid no attention, but the younger ones, to a man, gave me the stank eye.
I'm sure photo #2 never made it to press because the recruits' genitals are clearly on display as they stand nude behind the wooden baracade. The photos which showed frontal nudity were archived but never used, correct? It's great that these archived photos are finally seeing the light of day. (PS: the civilian barber got quite an eyeful as the totally nude recruits got their first haircuts. I wouldn't mind having that job!).
So many fine asses at that age.
@Big Dude - Yes, it's a generational thing. Older males think it's normal to be naked around other males, and they think younger guys are prudish. Younger males think it's normal to cover up in front of other males, and they think older guys are exhibitionistic.
@Anon - There are 4 million photos in the LIFE photo archive. Among them, there are hundreds showing male frontal nudity, including some in this photo set, and you're correct: they were never published. There are hundreds more showing rear nudity, and LIFE published a few of them, but none from this particular photo set.
very interesting
Noticed in the barbershop photo that the lads are all cupping. Wonder if that was for the photographer or general practice by the Marines.
@Treeclimber - I think that's because they saw the photographer. They're not cupping in the other photos.
If Life had been in the habit of publishing photographs showing penises, I definitely would have liked that.
Mister with the lamp doing crotch inspections hangs to the left and is happy doing the inspections I think.
do you have other photos of this assignments and how can i find kauffman's photos.
@anon - You can search the LIFE photo archive by going to
https://artsandculture.google.com/search/entity?p=life-photo-collection
If you type "kauffman marine boot camp" in the search field, you will get 1,898 photos from this photo set by Mark Kauffman. Most are not nude, but among them are about 50 nude photos.
To see all the work that Kauffman did for LIFE, type Kauffman in the search field. This returns 69,408 photos, but you can then narrow down the results by further searching. For example, scrolling down a bit shows a photo of Paul Newman. Changing the search field to "kauffman paul newman" (because other LIFE photographers also photographed Paul Newman) returns 910 photos of Newman by Kauffman. None of them are nude, by the way.
Post a Comment