Sparrowhawk
10-29-04, 02:21 PM
Received this today; don't remember reading it before, it may have been posted before and I missed it, but I enjoyed reading it, so thought I'll share it with you all.
Semper Fi
Cook
<hr>
The following are the remarks of the guest speaker, Col Mile Lowe, the Commander of Marine Corps Base Quantico. The Colonel, in these remarks, lets it be known that these new Marine 2nd Lieutenants will be going into harms way very soon.
These remarks are very much to the point and the Colonel held the absolute attention of everyone at the Mess.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
CHARLIE COMPANY, TBS MESS NIGHT
GUEST OF HONOR REMARKS
BY COLONEL JAMES. M. LOWE
COMMANDER, MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO
FROM THAT ELEGANT INTRODUCTION, YOU MAY OR NOT HAVE PICKED UP ON THE FACT THAT I HAVE HAD 5 TOURS IN MARINE DIVISIONS, SERVING IN ALL 4 DIVISIONS AND 3D MARDIV TWICE.
I HAVE MADE 8 MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT DEPLOYMENTS, SERVED WITH THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND AND HAVE BEEN TO EVERY LEVEL OF PME POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO HONE MY WARFIGHTING SKILLS. UTILIZING YOUR GREAT DEDUCTIVE ABILITIES, INTELLECT AND EXPERIENCE AS LIEUTENANTS, YOU SHOULD HAVE QUESTIONED THE CORPS COLLECTIVE JUDGMENT WHEN THEY DECIDED TO MAKE ME A BASE COMMANDER! I SURE AS HELL DID AND I STILL DO! LOOK UP “BASE” IN THE DICTIONARY! ACCORDING TO MR. WEBSTER.... “LOWEST PART OR BOTTOM. HAVING OR SHOWING LITTLE OR NO HONOR, COURAGE OR DECENCY; MEAN; IGNOBLE; CONTEMPTIBLE; MENIAL OR DEGRADING; INFERIOR IN QUALITY; OF COMPARATIVE LOW WORTH”. SO..... AFTER 28 YEARS OF FOCUSING ON LOCATING, CLOSING WITH AND DESTROYING, I’VE GOT THAT GOING FOR ME! THAT’S OK! GO AHEAD AND LAUGH! THERE IS AT LEAST ONE FUTURE BASE COMMANDER SITTING AMONG YOU RIGHT NOW!
SERIOUSLY, I AM HONORED TO RETURN TO THE BASIC SCHOOL AS YOUR GUEST, AT THIS, ONE OF OUR MOST TIME HONORED TRADITIONS. I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SPEAK ON MY INSIGHTS AND EXPERIENCES AS A LEADER OF MARINES. BASICALLY, I TOLD TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I HAVE LEARNED OVER THE LAST 28 YEARS OF LEADING MARINES. WELL, I HAVE ONLY LEARNED EIGHT THINGS AND IT WILL ONLY TAKE ME ABOUT 60 SECONDS TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU. NOW THAT I THINK OF IT, IF I HAD BEEN INVITED TO SPEAK TO YOU THE DAY CHARLIE COMPANY FORMED UP, I COULD HAVE PROBABLY SAVED YOU SIX MONTHS OF TBS TRAINING. I THOUGHT I WOULD GET THIS STRUCTURED PORTION OUT OF THE WAY UP FRONT SO I COULD TALK ABOUT ANYTHING I WANT TO, SO HERE GOES....
SEEK BRILLIANCE IN THE BASICS, ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING... AND HAVE A PLAN TO KILL EVERYONE YOU MEET.
IF YOU ARE RIDING AT THE HEAD OF THE HERD, LOOK BACK EVERY NOW AND THEN AND MAKE SURE IT IS STILL THERE.
NEVER ENTER AN HOUR LONG FIREFIGHT WITH 5 MINUTES OF AMMO. THIS ONE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF YOU BORN NORTH OF WASHINGTON, DC. NEVER, NEVER KICK A COW CHIP ON A HOT DAY. IF YOU’RE NOT SHOOTING, I CAN SEE BY YOUR MARKSMANSHIP BADGES THAT SOME OF YOU ARE CHALLENGED IN THIS AREA, YOU BETTER BE COMMUNICATING OR RELOADING FOR ANOTHER MARINE.
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF LEADERS. THOSE WHO LEARN FROM READING, THOSE WHO LEARN FROM OBSERVATION, AND THOSE WHO STILL HAVE TO TOUCH THE ELECTRIC FENCE TO GET THE MESSAGE.
ANYTHING WORTH SHOOTING IS WORTH SHOOTING TWICE. AMMO IS CHEAP.
AND FINALLY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO WRITE THIS ONE DOWN.... NEVER SLAP A GROWN MAN WHO HAS A MOUTH FULL OF CHEWING TOBACCO NOW THAT I’VE PUT THAT CHECK IN “PROPER MILITARY INSTRUCTION” BLOCK, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? OF COURSE NOT! WHAT A STUPID QUESTION TO ASK A BUNCH OF LIEUTENANTS SO CLOSE TO GRADUATION! NOW THAT I THINK OF IT, MY TBS CLASS STOPPED ASKING QUESTIONS AFTER THE FIRST TWO WEEKS.
I HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT, SO LET’S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING I LIKE, MARINES. UP FRONT, LET ME TELL YOU HOW MUCH I ADMIRE YOU. WHY IS THAT? UNLIKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, YOU STEPPED FORWARD AND COMMITTED YOURSELF TO A GREATER CAUSE WITHOUT CONCERN FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY OR COMFORT. AND YOU DID IT KNOWING THAT YOU WOULD GAIN NOTHING IN RETURN.... EXCEPT THE HONOR AND CHERISHED PRIVILEDGE OF EARNING THE TITLE OF “MARINE OFFICER”.
INDIVIDUALLY, YOU ARE AS DIFFERENT AS APPLIES AND ORANGES, BUT YOU ARE LINKED FOR ETERNITY BY THE TITLE “MARINE”.... AND THE FACT THAT YOU ARE PART OF THE FINEST FIGHTING FORCE THAT HAS EVER EXISTED IN HISTORY.
IF YOU HAVEN’T PICKED UP ON IT... I LIKE BEING A MARINE AND I LIKE BEING AROUND MARINES. LIKE MOST OF YOU ARE PROBABLY THINKING, I CAME INTO THE CORPS TO DO FOUR YEARS AND FOUR YEARS ONLY. BUT A STRANGE HAPPENED. I WAS HAVING SO MUCH FUN THAT I SIMPLY FORGOT TO GET OUT. HELL, AT THIS POINT, I AM THINKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT MAKING THE CORPS A CAREER! SO WHAT IS THAT I LIKE ABOUT MARINES? THIS IS THE EASY PART!
I LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU ALWAYS KNOW WERE YOU STAND WITH A MARINE! WITH MARINES, THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND OR GRAY AREA. THERE ARE ONLY MISSIONS, OBJECTIVES AND FACTS.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT IF YOU ARE A SELF-DECLARED ENEMY OF AMERICA, THAT RUNNING INTO A MARINE OUTFIT IN COMBAT IS YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE.... AND THAT YOUR HEALTH RECORD IS ABOUT TO GET A LOT THICKER OR BE CLOSED OUT ENTIRELY!
I LIKE THE FACT THAT MARINES ARE STEADFAST AND CONSISTENT IN EVERYTHING THEY DO.... REGARDLESS IF YOU AGREE WITH THEM OR NOT;
THAT MARINES HOLD THE TERM “POLITICALLY CORRECT” WITH NOTHING BUT PURE DISDAIN;
THAT MARINES STAND TALL AND RIGID IN THEIR ACTIONS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS WHEN OTHERS BEND WITH THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND AND ARE AS CONFUSED AS A DOG LOOKING AT A CEILING FAN!
I LIKE THE FACT THAT EACH AND EVERY MARINE CONSIDERS THE HONOR AND LEGACY OF THE CORPS AS HIS PERSONAL AND SACRED TRUST TO PROTECT AND DEFEND.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT MOST CIVILIANS DON’T HAVE A CLUE WHAT MAKES US TICK!..... AND THAT’S NOT A BAD THING. BECAUSE IF THEY DID, IT WOULD SCARE THE HELL OUT OF THEM!
I LIKE THE FACT THAT OTHERS SAY THEY WANT TO BE LIKE US, BUT DON’T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES IN THE “PAIN-GAIN-PRIDE” DEPARTMENT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT THE MARINES CAME INTO BEING IN A BAR, TUN TAVERN, AND THAT MARINES STILL GATHER IN PUBS, BARS AND SLOP CHUTES TO SHARE SEA STORIES AND HOT SCOOP.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT MARINES DO NOT CONSIDER IT A COINCIDENCE THAT THERE ARE 24 HOURS IN A DAY AND 24 BEERS IN A CASE. BECAUSE MARINES KNOW THERE IS A REASON FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS!
I LIKE OUR MOTTO... SEMPER FIDELIS... AND THE FACT THAT WE DON’T SHED IT WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE BATTLEFIELD GETS DEADLY OR WHEN WE HANG UP OUR UNIFORM FOR THE LAST TIME.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT MARINES TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER... IN COMBAT AND IN TIME OF PEACE.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT MARINES CONSIDER THE TERM “MARINES TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN” AS MEANING WE WILL GIVE UP OUR VERY LIFE FOR OUR FELLOW MARINES, IF NECESSARY.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT MARINES KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “CHICKEN SALAD” AND “CHICKEN S---“ AND AREN’T AFRAID TO CALL EITHER FOR WHAT IT IS!
I LIKE THE FACT THAT MARINES HAVE NEVER FAILED THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA AND THAT WE DON’T USE THE WORDS “CAN’T”, “RETREAT”, OR “LOSE”.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA HOLD MARINES IN THE HIGHEST ESTEEM AND THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN COUNT OF US TO LOCATE, CLOSE WITH AND DESTROY THOSE WHO WOULD HARM THEM!
I LIKE MARINES... AND BEING AROUND MARINES.
• I LIKE THE FACT THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AN ELECTED MEMBER OF CONGRESS FELT COMPELLED TO PUBLICALLY ACCUSE THE MARINE CORPS OF BEING “RADICAL AND EXTREME”.
• I LIKE THE FACT THAT OUR COMMANDANT INFORMED THAT MEMBER OF CONGRESS THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT AND THAT HE PASSED ONLY HIS THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENT.
• I LIKE THE FACT THAT MARINE LEADERS --- OF EVERY RANK--- KNOW THAT ISSUING EVERY MAN AND WOMAN A BLACK BERET --- OR POKLA-DOTTED BOXER SHORTS FOR THAT MATTER--- DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO PROMOTE MORALE, FIGHTING SPIRIT OR COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS.
• I LIKE THE FACT THAT MARINES ARE MARINES FIRST... REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, CREED, COLOR, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR HOW LONG THEY SERVED OR WHAT GOALS THEY ACHIEVE IN LIFE!
LET ME GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE: A YOUNG MAN ENLISTS IN THE NAVY IN WWI. WHEN THE WAR IS OVER, HE SHIPS OVER AND JOINS THE ARMY. HE NEXT ENLISTED IN THE MARINE CORPS AND SERVED FROM 1920-1922.
THERE WAS NO AIR FORCE BACK THEN, SO I GUESS HE FELT HE HAD PUT ALL THE CHECKS IN THE BLOCK! WHEN HE SERVED OUT HIS TIME IN THE CORPS, HE WENT AFTER AN EDUCATION: RECEIVING VARIOUS DEGREES IN ENGINEERING, HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE FROM UCLA AND MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY. HE ENTER POLITICS AND SERVED FOR 11 YEARS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. NEXT HE TACKLED THE SENATE WHERE HE SERVED FOR 24 YEARS, AS BOTH THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP AND LATER AS THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER. HE WAS THEN APPOINTED AS THE AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN WHERE HE SERVED FOR 11 YEARS. THIS GENTLEMAN WENT FROM SNUFFY TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROMINENCE... AND WHEN HE PASSED AWAY IN 2001, HE WAS RIGHTLY BURIED IN ARLINGTON. IF YOU WANT TO VISIT HIS GRAVE, DON’T LOOK FOR HIM NEAR THE KENNEDY ETERNAL FLAME WHERE SO MANY OF OUR POLITICAL LEADERS ARE LAYED TO REST. LOOK FOR A SMALL, COMMON MARKER SHARED BY THE MAJORITY OF OUR HEROES.... LOOK FOR THE MARKER THAT SAYS “MICHAEL J. MANSFIELD... PFC... U. S. MARINE CORPS..... YOU SEE, SENATOR MIKE MANSFIELD.... LIKE EACH OF US GATHERED HERE TONIGHT... WAS MORE PROUD OF BEING A MARINE, THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN HIS INCREDIBLE LIFE OF NATIONAL SERVICE.
THERE IS ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED FOR SURE OVER THE LAST 28 YEARS......THE YEARS FLY BY, NAMES CHANGE, THE WEAPONS AND THE GEAR CHANGES, POLITICAL LEADERS AND AGENDAS CHANGE, NATIONAL PRIORITIES AND BUDGETS CHANGE, THE THREATS TO OUR NATION CHANGE.... BUT THROUGH IT ALL, THERE IS ONE ABIDING CONSTANT ---- THE BASIC ISSUE, DO-OR-DIE MARINE.
Semper Fi
Cook
<hr>
The following are the remarks of the guest speaker, Col Mile Lowe, the Commander of Marine Corps Base Quantico. The Colonel, in these remarks, lets it be known that these new Marine 2nd Lieutenants will be going into harms way very soon.
These remarks are very much to the point and the Colonel held the absolute attention of everyone at the Mess.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
CHARLIE COMPANY, TBS MESS NIGHT
GUEST OF HONOR REMARKS
BY COLONEL JAMES. M. LOWE
COMMANDER, MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO
FROM THAT ELEGANT INTRODUCTION, YOU MAY OR NOT HAVE PICKED UP ON THE FACT THAT I HAVE HAD 5 TOURS IN MARINE DIVISIONS, SERVING IN ALL 4 DIVISIONS AND 3D MARDIV TWICE.
I HAVE MADE 8 MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT DEPLOYMENTS, SERVED WITH THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND AND HAVE BEEN TO EVERY LEVEL OF PME POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO HONE MY WARFIGHTING SKILLS. UTILIZING YOUR GREAT DEDUCTIVE ABILITIES, INTELLECT AND EXPERIENCE AS LIEUTENANTS, YOU SHOULD HAVE QUESTIONED THE CORPS COLLECTIVE JUDGMENT WHEN THEY DECIDED TO MAKE ME A BASE COMMANDER! I SURE AS HELL DID AND I STILL DO! LOOK UP “BASE” IN THE DICTIONARY! ACCORDING TO MR. WEBSTER.... “LOWEST PART OR BOTTOM. HAVING OR SHOWING LITTLE OR NO HONOR, COURAGE OR DECENCY; MEAN; IGNOBLE; CONTEMPTIBLE; MENIAL OR DEGRADING; INFERIOR IN QUALITY; OF COMPARATIVE LOW WORTH”. SO..... AFTER 28 YEARS OF FOCUSING ON LOCATING, CLOSING WITH AND DESTROYING, I’VE GOT THAT GOING FOR ME! THAT’S OK! GO AHEAD AND LAUGH! THERE IS AT LEAST ONE FUTURE BASE COMMANDER SITTING AMONG YOU RIGHT NOW!
SERIOUSLY, I AM HONORED TO RETURN TO THE BASIC SCHOOL AS YOUR GUEST, AT THIS, ONE OF OUR MOST TIME HONORED TRADITIONS. I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SPEAK ON MY INSIGHTS AND EXPERIENCES AS A LEADER OF MARINES. BASICALLY, I TOLD TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I HAVE LEARNED OVER THE LAST 28 YEARS OF LEADING MARINES. WELL, I HAVE ONLY LEARNED EIGHT THINGS AND IT WILL ONLY TAKE ME ABOUT 60 SECONDS TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU. NOW THAT I THINK OF IT, IF I HAD BEEN INVITED TO SPEAK TO YOU THE DAY CHARLIE COMPANY FORMED UP, I COULD HAVE PROBABLY SAVED YOU SIX MONTHS OF TBS TRAINING. I THOUGHT I WOULD GET THIS STRUCTURED PORTION OUT OF THE WAY UP FRONT SO I COULD TALK ABOUT ANYTHING I WANT TO, SO HERE GOES....
SEEK BRILLIANCE IN THE BASICS, ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING... AND HAVE A PLAN TO KILL EVERYONE YOU MEET.
IF YOU ARE RIDING AT THE HEAD OF THE HERD, LOOK BACK EVERY NOW AND THEN AND MAKE SURE IT IS STILL THERE.
NEVER ENTER AN HOUR LONG FIREFIGHT WITH 5 MINUTES OF AMMO. THIS ONE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF YOU BORN NORTH OF WASHINGTON, DC. NEVER, NEVER KICK A COW CHIP ON A HOT DAY. IF YOU’RE NOT SHOOTING, I CAN SEE BY YOUR MARKSMANSHIP BADGES THAT SOME OF YOU ARE CHALLENGED IN THIS AREA, YOU BETTER BE COMMUNICATING OR RELOADING FOR ANOTHER MARINE.
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF LEADERS. THOSE WHO LEARN FROM READING, THOSE WHO LEARN FROM OBSERVATION, AND THOSE WHO STILL HAVE TO TOUCH THE ELECTRIC FENCE TO GET THE MESSAGE.
ANYTHING WORTH SHOOTING IS WORTH SHOOTING TWICE. AMMO IS CHEAP.
AND FINALLY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO WRITE THIS ONE DOWN.... NEVER SLAP A GROWN MAN WHO HAS A MOUTH FULL OF CHEWING TOBACCO NOW THAT I’VE PUT THAT CHECK IN “PROPER MILITARY INSTRUCTION” BLOCK, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? OF COURSE NOT! WHAT A STUPID QUESTION TO ASK A BUNCH OF LIEUTENANTS SO CLOSE TO GRADUATION! NOW THAT I THINK OF IT, MY TBS CLASS STOPPED ASKING QUESTIONS AFTER THE FIRST TWO WEEKS.
I HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT, SO LET’S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING I LIKE, MARINES. UP FRONT, LET ME TELL YOU HOW MUCH I ADMIRE YOU. WHY IS THAT? UNLIKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, YOU STEPPED FORWARD AND COMMITTED YOURSELF TO A GREATER CAUSE WITHOUT CONCERN FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY OR COMFORT. AND YOU DID IT KNOWING THAT YOU WOULD GAIN NOTHING IN RETURN.... EXCEPT THE HONOR AND CHERISHED PRIVILEDGE OF EARNING THE TITLE OF “MARINE OFFICER”.
INDIVIDUALLY, YOU ARE AS DIFFERENT AS APPLIES AND ORANGES, BUT YOU ARE LINKED FOR ETERNITY BY THE TITLE “MARINE”.... AND THE FACT THAT YOU ARE PART OF THE FINEST FIGHTING FORCE THAT HAS EVER EXISTED IN HISTORY.
IF YOU HAVEN’T PICKED UP ON IT... I LIKE BEING A MARINE AND I LIKE BEING AROUND MARINES. LIKE MOST OF YOU ARE PROBABLY THINKING, I CAME INTO THE CORPS TO DO FOUR YEARS AND FOUR YEARS ONLY. BUT A STRANGE HAPPENED. I WAS HAVING SO MUCH FUN THAT I SIMPLY FORGOT TO GET OUT. HELL, AT THIS POINT, I AM THINKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT MAKING THE CORPS A CAREER! SO WHAT IS THAT I LIKE ABOUT MARINES? THIS IS THE EASY PART!
I LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU ALWAYS KNOW WERE YOU STAND WITH A MARINE! WITH MARINES, THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND OR GRAY AREA. THERE ARE ONLY MISSIONS, OBJECTIVES AND FACTS.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT IF YOU ARE A SELF-DECLARED ENEMY OF AMERICA, THAT RUNNING INTO A MARINE OUTFIT IN COMBAT IS YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE.... AND THAT YOUR HEALTH RECORD IS ABOUT TO GET A LOT THICKER OR BE CLOSED OUT ENTIRELY!
I LIKE THE FACT THAT MARINES ARE STEADFAST AND CONSISTENT IN EVERYTHING THEY DO.... REGARDLESS IF YOU AGREE WITH THEM OR NOT;
THAT MARINES HOLD THE TERM “POLITICALLY CORRECT” WITH NOTHING BUT PURE DISDAIN;
THAT MARINES STAND TALL AND RIGID IN THEIR ACTIONS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS WHEN OTHERS BEND WITH THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND AND ARE AS CONFUSED AS A DOG LOOKING AT A CEILING FAN!
I LIKE THE FACT THAT EACH AND EVERY MARINE CONSIDERS THE HONOR AND LEGACY OF THE CORPS AS HIS PERSONAL AND SACRED TRUST TO PROTECT AND DEFEND.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT MOST CIVILIANS DON’T HAVE A CLUE WHAT MAKES US TICK!..... AND THAT’S NOT A BAD THING. BECAUSE IF THEY DID, IT WOULD SCARE THE HELL OUT OF THEM!
I LIKE THE FACT THAT OTHERS SAY THEY WANT TO BE LIKE US, BUT DON’T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES IN THE “PAIN-GAIN-PRIDE” DEPARTMENT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT THE MARINES CAME INTO BEING IN A BAR, TUN TAVERN, AND THAT MARINES STILL GATHER IN PUBS, BARS AND SLOP CHUTES TO SHARE SEA STORIES AND HOT SCOOP.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT MARINES DO NOT CONSIDER IT A COINCIDENCE THAT THERE ARE 24 HOURS IN A DAY AND 24 BEERS IN A CASE. BECAUSE MARINES KNOW THERE IS A REASON FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS!
I LIKE OUR MOTTO... SEMPER FIDELIS... AND THE FACT THAT WE DON’T SHED IT WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE BATTLEFIELD GETS DEADLY OR WHEN WE HANG UP OUR UNIFORM FOR THE LAST TIME.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT MARINES TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER... IN COMBAT AND IN TIME OF PEACE.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT MARINES CONSIDER THE TERM “MARINES TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN” AS MEANING WE WILL GIVE UP OUR VERY LIFE FOR OUR FELLOW MARINES, IF NECESSARY.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT MARINES KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “CHICKEN SALAD” AND “CHICKEN S---“ AND AREN’T AFRAID TO CALL EITHER FOR WHAT IT IS!
I LIKE THE FACT THAT MARINES HAVE NEVER FAILED THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA AND THAT WE DON’T USE THE WORDS “CAN’T”, “RETREAT”, OR “LOSE”.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA HOLD MARINES IN THE HIGHEST ESTEEM AND THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN COUNT OF US TO LOCATE, CLOSE WITH AND DESTROY THOSE WHO WOULD HARM THEM!
I LIKE MARINES... AND BEING AROUND MARINES.
• I LIKE THE FACT THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AN ELECTED MEMBER OF CONGRESS FELT COMPELLED TO PUBLICALLY ACCUSE THE MARINE CORPS OF BEING “RADICAL AND EXTREME”.
• I LIKE THE FACT THAT OUR COMMANDANT INFORMED THAT MEMBER OF CONGRESS THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT AND THAT HE PASSED ONLY HIS THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENT.
• I LIKE THE FACT THAT MARINE LEADERS --- OF EVERY RANK--- KNOW THAT ISSUING EVERY MAN AND WOMAN A BLACK BERET --- OR POKLA-DOTTED BOXER SHORTS FOR THAT MATTER--- DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO PROMOTE MORALE, FIGHTING SPIRIT OR COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS.
• I LIKE THE FACT THAT MARINES ARE MARINES FIRST... REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, CREED, COLOR, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR HOW LONG THEY SERVED OR WHAT GOALS THEY ACHIEVE IN LIFE!
LET ME GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE: A YOUNG MAN ENLISTS IN THE NAVY IN WWI. WHEN THE WAR IS OVER, HE SHIPS OVER AND JOINS THE ARMY. HE NEXT ENLISTED IN THE MARINE CORPS AND SERVED FROM 1920-1922.
THERE WAS NO AIR FORCE BACK THEN, SO I GUESS HE FELT HE HAD PUT ALL THE CHECKS IN THE BLOCK! WHEN HE SERVED OUT HIS TIME IN THE CORPS, HE WENT AFTER AN EDUCATION: RECEIVING VARIOUS DEGREES IN ENGINEERING, HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE FROM UCLA AND MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY. HE ENTER POLITICS AND SERVED FOR 11 YEARS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. NEXT HE TACKLED THE SENATE WHERE HE SERVED FOR 24 YEARS, AS BOTH THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP AND LATER AS THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER. HE WAS THEN APPOINTED AS THE AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN WHERE HE SERVED FOR 11 YEARS. THIS GENTLEMAN WENT FROM SNUFFY TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROMINENCE... AND WHEN HE PASSED AWAY IN 2001, HE WAS RIGHTLY BURIED IN ARLINGTON. IF YOU WANT TO VISIT HIS GRAVE, DON’T LOOK FOR HIM NEAR THE KENNEDY ETERNAL FLAME WHERE SO MANY OF OUR POLITICAL LEADERS ARE LAYED TO REST. LOOK FOR A SMALL, COMMON MARKER SHARED BY THE MAJORITY OF OUR HEROES.... LOOK FOR THE MARKER THAT SAYS “MICHAEL J. MANSFIELD... PFC... U. S. MARINE CORPS..... YOU SEE, SENATOR MIKE MANSFIELD.... LIKE EACH OF US GATHERED HERE TONIGHT... WAS MORE PROUD OF BEING A MARINE, THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN HIS INCREDIBLE LIFE OF NATIONAL SERVICE.
THERE IS ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED FOR SURE OVER THE LAST 28 YEARS......THE YEARS FLY BY, NAMES CHANGE, THE WEAPONS AND THE GEAR CHANGES, POLITICAL LEADERS AND AGENDAS CHANGE, NATIONAL PRIORITIES AND BUDGETS CHANGE, THE THREATS TO OUR NATION CHANGE.... BUT THROUGH IT ALL, THERE IS ONE ABIDING CONSTANT ---- THE BASIC ISSUE, DO-OR-DIE MARINE.