http://www.leatherneck.com/ezine en-us http://www.leatherneck.com/ezine N/A admin@leatherneck.com Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:02:30 -0400 20 http://www.leatherneck.com/ezine/articles/56/1/Marine-and-Navy-Corpsmen-Memorial/Marine-and-Navy-Corpsmen-Memorial.html Marine and Navy Corpsmen Memorial Dedicated November 10th 2004Jacksonville, Florida When the Marines associated with the Jacksonville Semper Fidelis Society wanted to establish a tribute to Marines from the community, it was understood that the special breed of sailor, the Corpsman, would equally share this tribute.  Marines without Navy Corpsmen are like kites without strings.  It has been the Navy Corpsmen who has kept Marines together in more ways than one.  They are beacons of strength and pillars of compassion, unselfish and courageous.  Corpsmen are and have always been held in the highest esteem amongst all Marines and we did not want this Marine emblem or the title Marine on this monument to be displayed without a reference to our brothers in blue. RA0302@msn.com (Robert Adelhelm) Tue, 15 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.leatherneck.com/ezine/articles/53/1/Going-Home/Going-Home.html On the long flight back, I had lots of hours to reflect. Things that came to my mind were; “Why did I get out, with just a few bumps, lumps, scratches from enemy fire and others didn’t?” When I got word that my Company CO a 1st LT, whom I befriended and who had only ten days left of his tour, was sent out with a team, I couldn’t believe it! So I even asked him and he said, ”I was ordered out, I don’t have a choice.” Then word came he had been killed. It really made me angry. His wife sent me a letter and his picture telling me how much he thought of me, and all about him. I sat down in my team’s tent and cried. temp@temp.com (Paul Bailey) Sun, 13 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.leatherneck.com/ezine/articles/55/1/Where-Were-You-When/Where-Were-You-When.html December 8th 1941Franklin Delano Roosevelt"Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." November 22nd 1963Walter Cronkite"In Dallas, Texas, three shots were fired at President Kennedy's motorcade in downtown Dallas...President Kennedy died at 1:00 P.M. Central Standard Time, two o'clock Eastern Standard Time." September 11th 2001Andy Card, White House Chief of Staff"A second plane has hit the tower, America is under attack." September 11th 2001Michelle, My Wife"Wake up honey, a plane crashed into the World Trade Center." michael@ywg-web.com (Michael Kannon) Thu, 10 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.leatherneck.com/ezine/articles/54/1/Patriot-Guard-Riders/Patriot-Guard-Riders.html Valkyrie  - Norse mythology, one of the shield maidens of Odin who flew to heroes slain in battle and conducted them safely to Valhalla.It was November of 2005 when I first heard of people protesting funerals. Not just any funerals. They were specifically targeting funerals of men and women veterans who died in combat. It made me angry and I wanted to do something. Then I heard of a group called the Patriot Guard Riders. I understood from news reports that they were a counter protest group. A group of riders would form a human shield at the funeral. A shield that would protect the family, friends, and mourners from this protest group. black_knights_angel@hotmail.com (Angel Carter) Mon, 17 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.leatherneck.com/ezine/articles/52/1/When-the-Shit-Hits-the-Fan/When-the-Shit-Hits-the-Fan.html You are not alone.When the shit hits the fan, the world becomes a very small place. Imagine if you will, standing on the beach. The incredibly blue Pacific stretched out before you as the sun peeks over the horizon behind you. The sky slowly edges from black to purple to pink. You can smell the coffee brewing as the soft, sweet music from the radio lulls you, caresses you, takes you back home to her, to Mom's bread baking, to Dad's pipe smoke, to Grandpa's farm where the fresh cut alfalfa makes the air even better than this salt-fresh air. Back home, they would all be getting ready for church, this being Sunday morning. As you stare out over the crisp blue ocean at the sea birds flying almost as if in formation, it slowly dawns on you that they really are flying in formation. What kind of birds fly like that? Well, they are flying in to shore, so pretty soon you will be able to identify them. Maybe write back home to let everyone know about them. But they are not birds. They are planes. Japanese Zeros. Deduke@kc.rr.com (Mike Smith) Tue, 11 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.leatherneck.com/ezine/articles/47/1/Veterans-Loyalty/Veterans-Loyalty.html Where do these Veterans with the attitude, "that Vet thing doesn't cut it with me" get off!  That's right Veterans who don't give a damn about their fellow Veterans.  Yes, we have them and I am sure you have run into this strange breed.  I had my experience with a few and unfortunately some that I helped because they were Vets. The aforementioned quote rolled off the lips of a retired senior SNCO, a Sgt Major in fact, and was directed towards another Marine SNCO Veteran. I have also seen it in retired officers who have ignored fellow Marines and Veterans in need.  They understand the brotherhood only when it is convenient to them; they certainly give new meaning to the phrase Semper Fi, Mac! RA0302@msn.com (Robert Adelhelm) Sun, 18 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.leatherneck.com/ezine/articles/46/1/My-Mistress/My-Mistress.html I have a confession to make to my wife. I have a mistress. 35 years is a long time to spend with a mistress, but that is how long we've been together. And, as long as I'm telling the truth, she hasn't treated me very well. In fact, she is the cause of a lot of sleepless nights. She makes me depressed and angry. She makes me feel isolated and numb and guilty. She is the one who makes me feel like I don't fit in, that I'm not normal, that I'm unlovable and unworthy. She is the reason that I drink too much and hide in my bunker. But let's be fair. She also gave me the best times of my life. She showed me what it means to be so close to someone that I would defend their safety at any cost. She was with me when I became a man. She taught me to share my last cigarette, my last can of beans, my thoughts, and my dreams; all of those things that are so hard for me to share with you, my wife. She taught me to recognize the flavor of what it is like to be alive, and the sound of that roaring silence after a fight. She gave me a thousand things that only she could give me; things that I can never give to you, my wife. And I am happy that I can't give them to you. Deduke@kc.rr.com (Mike Smith) Sun, 18 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.leatherneck.com/ezine/articles/51/1/Did-we-ever-really-get-out/Did-we-ever-really-get-out.html Did we ever really get out? Over 20 years later I still have the Corps deep in my bones. I still get a stirring in my heart when I hear The Marine's Hymn or even when someone mentions Chesty Puller.   My MOS of 4063 Mainframe Programmer is now obsolete. However the essential Corps Values are very much alive.   When I first got out I had some difficulty finding a job. Work wasn't the problem. I had a hard time relating to civilian bosses and coworkers. I was used to the outstanding leadership and Gung-Ho spirit that we find in the Corps. Did you know that civilians will actually quit work after 8 hours, even if the job is still not done! michael@ywg-web.com (Michael Kannon) Fri, 16 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.leatherneck.com/ezine/articles/50/1/POWMIA-Flag-Under-Attack/POWMIA-Flag-Under-Attack.html POW/MIA Flag Under Attack   In recent weeks there have been more than a subtle number of op-ed pieces in some major newspapers like the Boston-Globe and even, believe it or not, in the Marine Corps Times (MCT) attacking the POW/MIA Flag.  It is painstakingly clear that these writers have no real understanding of the inner workings of this issue, have no personal reference when attempting to write their commentaries, nor have then made attempts to do so.   Each of these men, James Carroll at the Boston Globe and Robert Dorr the op-ed contributor in the MCT, made no attempt to ask their questions to those that still feel this flag means something and has a symbolism that will linger far into the next century. temp@temp.com (Mary Ann Reitano) Fri, 16 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.leatherneck.com/ezine/articles/49/1/What-is-a-SNCO/What-is-a-SNCO.html What's a Marine Staff NCO? Well aside from all the creeds and poster Marine stuff sometimes you're dad. Or gramps, you are the one everyone looks to when the chips are down.   You're an instructor, a task master, or "that no good S.O.B!". You're the guy YOU wanted to be when you grow up. You're bastard at times, but you know you need to be to maintain dicipline.   You are "comand presence". You are a good listener, a story teller, a joker, a killer, or a cop when you need to be. You're judge and joury, or a lifeguard. Angelstarmorning@aol.com roschultz@mt.gov (Roger Schultz) Fri, 16 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400