wrbones
09-01-02, 12:34 AM
There was a scene in a movie awhile back that struck me to the core. It was showing some new Marines in the rec room of the barracks watching TV. They were talking and watching TV when the the programming ended. A picture of the flag came on, the Star Spangled Banner started to play, and they rose to attention and saluted the flag on the TV screen. In real life at the then recieving barracks in Tustin in 1977, I was one such Marine to do this. I was not alone. Seeing that scene in the movie brought tears to my eyes as I remembered how I felt about my nation, my fellow Marines and the God I have often ignored.
I joined the Marine Corps for a variety of reasons. It was a "new" Marine Corps. An all volunteer force. I had always wanted to be either an artist (I did have some talent), or a Marine. On a bet the summer of 1976, my younger brother James and I signed the paperwork. One month later we were in MCRD San Diego. I believed in the Constitution, and in the Declaration of Independence. Having some knowledge of God, or rather organized religion, I had more or less written God off. However, as the old saying goes, you can take the man out of the Bible belt, but you can't take the Bible belt out of the man. Many of those lessons linger to this day.
I had learned the value of team work in sports in high school, but I had never really belonged anywhere until I became a Marine. I was proud to become one, and somewhat stunned that I had made it when the final "Dismissed!" came in boot camp in October of 1976. I belonged! I was a part of something special, of something inherently good. I will remain proud of that accomplishment to my dying day. I will also remain somewhat stunned over that same accomplishment til my dying day.
It took some time for me to grow into my new role as a United States Marine, but eventually I became comfortable in it, and in my awesome responsiblilities. I learned and I grew, making many mistakes along the way, but I learned.
I learned that no Marine was complete without his fellow Marines around him. We were a team. The men who came to be under me learned this also, I hope. Take care of each other. Always back each other up. Always cover for each other. Always do what you can to help each other. Don't fight and argue among yourselves in the open. Try not to fight among yerselves at all, but when you do, talk it out later when you've cooled off a bit. I always took the best care of my men as was possible for me to do. When they did well, I told everyone! When they screwed up, I took the hit! They were my men. They were my house! I loved them all in my own way. I was always excited to see one of them get promoted, or get a chance to advance themselves. I did what I could to help them do it. I was proud of them! They learned to work together at all times! They learned to party when the mission was accomplished. They learned to expect more of themselves than others did! They were all good men. They always did more than anyone ever expected them too!
All I can do to help Marines here is to talk to you in this very inadequate fashion. It is the only thing I can presently do to be of service to any of you.
Since I came online just a few months ago, I've been amazed at what I've seen both good and bad from Marines on the net. The knowledge and intelligence and honor and respect and a multitude of good and gracious things among the Marines I've seen and met online has been heartening.
Some things I often see have an effect on me that I do not have the words to describe. The division, the selfishness, the ill thought arguements and attacks upon fellow Marines. One site atacking another site, and not just the two you may have in mind, either. I've seen it again and again all over the web. Yes, even here. Sometimes it is difficult to sleep at night when I consider these things. How can we accomplish any mission at all when we are so divided and selfish? What happened to leadership principles that were principles of service to others. Your Marines can't perform the mission unless you are taking care of them! Good care of them!
I speak to you all, not just a few!
I'm far from naive. I've seen far to much in life for that.
What I would like to see you folks do, is to consider three things:
God
Country
Corps
If what you want is not good for those three first, it is probably not good for you in the long run.
Be at peace, Marines.
There is enough to fight outside of the wire.
I joined the Marine Corps for a variety of reasons. It was a "new" Marine Corps. An all volunteer force. I had always wanted to be either an artist (I did have some talent), or a Marine. On a bet the summer of 1976, my younger brother James and I signed the paperwork. One month later we were in MCRD San Diego. I believed in the Constitution, and in the Declaration of Independence. Having some knowledge of God, or rather organized religion, I had more or less written God off. However, as the old saying goes, you can take the man out of the Bible belt, but you can't take the Bible belt out of the man. Many of those lessons linger to this day.
I had learned the value of team work in sports in high school, but I had never really belonged anywhere until I became a Marine. I was proud to become one, and somewhat stunned that I had made it when the final "Dismissed!" came in boot camp in October of 1976. I belonged! I was a part of something special, of something inherently good. I will remain proud of that accomplishment to my dying day. I will also remain somewhat stunned over that same accomplishment til my dying day.
It took some time for me to grow into my new role as a United States Marine, but eventually I became comfortable in it, and in my awesome responsiblilities. I learned and I grew, making many mistakes along the way, but I learned.
I learned that no Marine was complete without his fellow Marines around him. We were a team. The men who came to be under me learned this also, I hope. Take care of each other. Always back each other up. Always cover for each other. Always do what you can to help each other. Don't fight and argue among yourselves in the open. Try not to fight among yerselves at all, but when you do, talk it out later when you've cooled off a bit. I always took the best care of my men as was possible for me to do. When they did well, I told everyone! When they screwed up, I took the hit! They were my men. They were my house! I loved them all in my own way. I was always excited to see one of them get promoted, or get a chance to advance themselves. I did what I could to help them do it. I was proud of them! They learned to work together at all times! They learned to party when the mission was accomplished. They learned to expect more of themselves than others did! They were all good men. They always did more than anyone ever expected them too!
All I can do to help Marines here is to talk to you in this very inadequate fashion. It is the only thing I can presently do to be of service to any of you.
Since I came online just a few months ago, I've been amazed at what I've seen both good and bad from Marines on the net. The knowledge and intelligence and honor and respect and a multitude of good and gracious things among the Marines I've seen and met online has been heartening.
Some things I often see have an effect on me that I do not have the words to describe. The division, the selfishness, the ill thought arguements and attacks upon fellow Marines. One site atacking another site, and not just the two you may have in mind, either. I've seen it again and again all over the web. Yes, even here. Sometimes it is difficult to sleep at night when I consider these things. How can we accomplish any mission at all when we are so divided and selfish? What happened to leadership principles that were principles of service to others. Your Marines can't perform the mission unless you are taking care of them! Good care of them!
I speak to you all, not just a few!
I'm far from naive. I've seen far to much in life for that.
What I would like to see you folks do, is to consider three things:
God
Country
Corps
If what you want is not good for those three first, it is probably not good for you in the long run.
Be at peace, Marines.
There is enough to fight outside of the wire.