Originally posted 30 July, 2009.
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Reader and commenter DaveC found the original Pressure Point over in the video library of Military.Com. The video was uploaded by Cdr Michael G. Brattland Usn-Ret.
Thanks, Dave! You just made a whole bunch of people very happy!
I’d embed it here but they don’t have that capability on Military.Com.
Note: You may have to sit through a Military.com commercial for something.
Fred Sanders // Mar 2, 2010 at 5:39 pm
SSGT David T. Penn was my Marine DI at Pensacola in 1974. I have since made contact with him. He retired as a Lt. Col. “Pressure Point” the movie does not tell half the story. It was a trip, and a bonding of men. I went on to fly A-7s off the Kennedy and Ike. Taught for two years at P’cola. Got out in ’80. Retired as a CDR from the reserves. Still trade emails to this day with Dave Penn. Good man.
Randy Hazelton // Mar 5, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Good morning Fred,
I too have memories of SSGT Penn! Not quite as favorable though!
) I had GSGT Hill USMC class 648-76! Although I opted out after my 9 week AVROC class, I have never forgotten my experiences in Pensacola!
Greg Peterson // Dec 26, 2010 at 12:55 am
Randy
I was in that class with you, in GSGT Hill’s class. Went on to fly p-3′s. That was an experience.
Tom T // Oct 26, 2010 at 8:44 pm
My DI as well, 01-74. Also in contact. A great man in many ways.
Scott C230 Ehrlich // Jun 9, 2010 at 2:13 pm
This was my 1st time seeing the original. wish I had seen it before 21-80 kicked off late Aug’80.
I will always remember SSG(now ret0.1st Sgt Roger Thixton USMC(possibly his 1st class). This was more like I saw then the updated version. Got my Butter bars and stayed with class despite being in walking cast for a month.
One of few in class who earned his wings. The 1st class with women(4). THEY WERE OKAY EXCEPT FOR TALL BLONDE EVENTUALLY DOR’D. We had A HARD CORE NY’er WHO CHEATED AND HONOR VIOLATIONED OUT….LIKE IN THE MOVIE’O&G COULDN’T OF HAPPENED TO A BETTER GUY. TRUE A-HOLE TO THIS SO.CAL GUY WHO LIVED IN BROOKLYN 1ST FEW YRS. OF MY LIFE. WILL CHERISH ALL THE MEMORIES & ENJOYED THIS REPLAY TO THE BRAIN BANK
Kerry Lumpkin // Aug 16, 2011 at 5:56 pm
Scott, hate to tell you this but we had two women in my class (05-78 under Sgt. Suttler). Both were slated to be air intel types. I totally agree with all of the posters here that AOCS changed my life although I had already been through Marine boot camp in 1973 (made it to Sergeant before leaving active duty in 1977).
Semper Fi!
Scott C230 Ehrlich // Jun 9, 2010 at 2:15 pm
This was my 1st time seeing the original. wish I had seen it before 21-80 kicked off late Aug’80.
I will always remember SSG(now ret’d.1st Sgt) Roger Thixton USMC(possibly his 1st class). This was more like I saw then the updated version. Got my Butter bars and stayed with class despite being in walking cast for a month.
One of few in class who earned his wings. The 1st class with women(4). THEY WERE OKAY EXCEPT FOR TALL BLONDE EVENTUALLY DOR’D. We had A HARD CORE NY’er WHO CHEATED AND HONOR VIOLATIONED OUT….LIKE IN THE MOVIE’O&G COULDN’T OF HAPPENED TO A BETTER GUY. TRUE A-HOLE TO THIS SO.CAL GUY WHO LIVED IN BROOKLYN 1ST FEW YRS. OF MY LIFE. WILL CHERISH ALL THE MEMORIES & ENJOYED THIS REPLAY TO THE BRAIN BANK
Stephen G. Page // Jul 17, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Gentlemen,
I am attempting to get contact information for LtCol Dave T. Penn for my father Stephen Keith “Bubba” Page. Any information would be helpful. Please email me at stephen.page@usmc.mil.
Semper Fi,
Gabe Page
Capt USMC
FSGT John Crouch // Aug 10, 2010 at 7:26 pm
I forwarded your posting to LTCOL Penn with your E-mail address attached.
Sylvia Renshaw Smith // Nov 7, 2010 at 3:38 am
I was pleased to find this particular video. My late husband (LTJG Doane Renshaw) was in LTCOL Penn’s class of 09/76 (still have the shirt and I hope I have the number correct) and I’m glad to be able to send the link to my son so he can see the man he’s heard mentioned many times. I’ll never forget Doane telling me that the “movie” came to life for him after he arrived in Pensacola. He asked if I remembered the DI in the movie? Well, “I’ve got HIM”! Fond memories for me to recall (except for week after week of failed inspections), but I know Doane also had immense respect for all.
Elizabeth Penn-Haas // Jun 7, 2011 at 9:25 pm
Wow! In reading the responses to this, I am very proud of my father. He was and still is a respected man and has obviously made a name for himself in his field, his calling. Thank You for the smile you have put on my face. He is so proud of what he has accomplished and the men and women he has helped in his military career. We are all one family.
Elizabeth Penn-Haas.
Daughter of David Penn.
Francis Pytlik // Jun 12, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Eelizabeth, I was in AVROC in you fathers last
Frank Pytlik AVROC 649-76 // Jun 12, 2011 at 8:58 pm
Elizabeth, sorry about the last post, I got cut off with a bit of a computer glitch. I came acrosss this blog and couldn’t help but think back to the days when I was an AVROC. I believe I was in your fathers last class, 649-76. Thanks to your father, the lessons that he taught me on respect and discipline have stayed with me throughout the years and I am confident that I am a better man because of him. I would love to touch base with him if nothing more than to drop him a line to say hello. I am sure he doesn’t remember all the men and women he has had under his command over the years but I can assure you that there are few who will ever forget him. If you would be so kind to forward this post to your father I would greatly appreciate it or psooibly provide me with an e-mail address so I could contact him. Or, if anyone else can provide me contact info. 2pytlik@gmail.com
Virginia Watson // Aug 23, 2011 at 6:38 pm
Frank, I have forwarded your information to our dad. He is a great man and I also have great pride for his service and all the lives and military careers he has touched. My husband is also a Marine and when I showed him this video years ago, he smiled fondly and said it hadn’t changed much through the years. When I want a good laugh, I watch the video and poke fun at my dad’s “coke bottle” rimmed glasses. Then I stop laughing because the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. I have his eyes.
I hope you reconnect soon. Best wishes and Semper Fi.
Virginia Penn-Watson
Daughter of David Penn
Stephen Sale // Jan 9, 2012 at 4:33 am
Elizabeth, I was stationed with your father at Lowry AFB in 1977. I would very much like to get back in touch. Retired as an O6 in 2007 and still remember the lead pot explosion at your house prior to a black powder target practice outing. Warrant Officer Penn was a great inspiration and I am pleased to hear of his successes.
Best wishes,
Stephen Sale, Capt, USN-Ret
Goat Lawson // Nov 12, 2012 at 3:54 pm
I was in class 31-75…”Staff Sergeant E.M. Ramos, United States Marine Corp Sir!” was my DI in Batt III…SSGT Penn was one of a cast of “helpers” for my class…He was joined by Gunny Hill and others…Being a former enlisted guy in the SeaBees, I had been through boot camp before… I can assure you AOCS was in a whole different league…Through flight training I selected P-3s and flew them for years…I retired as an O-6…Bottom line is my experience at AOCS in the mid-70’s gave me a reference point as to how tired, how miserable you could be relative to challenges during a long aviation career…I’m glad I experienced it…A. Lee “Goat” Lawson, Capt, USN-Ret
Tom Glenn // Feb 23, 2013 at 1:21 am
Hi Lee,
Tom Glenn here! I stumbled across this site. I would love to get an update on you.
Please contact me. I live on Whidbey Island and am in the book.
Tom Glenn