thedrifter
11-14-02, 08:19 AM
LADIES, GENTLEMEN, HONORED GUESTS, MARINES; FIRST OF ALL, I MUST
TELL YOU
> THAT I AM DEEPLY MOVED AND HONORED TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SPEAK TO
THE
> MARINES AND SAILORS OF EWTGPac TONIGHT. IT IS ALSO FITTING THAT WE
> CELEBRATE WITH OUR NAVY BRETHREN, AFTER ALL, WE ARE THE BOAT PEOPLE.
THE
> STEEL OF THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS TEAM HAS BEEN HONED IN COUNTLESS
FIGHTS IN
> EVERY CLIME AND PLACE. IN A WORLD OF UNPRECEDENTED POLITICAL
INSTABILITY,
> THE POTENTIAL FOR EMPLOYMENT OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS TEAM IS
EVER
> PRESENT. WHEREVER SALT WATER CAN REACH, IN ANY OCEAN OF THE WORLD -
MARINES
> AND SAILORS ARE ON-WATCH AND READY. THERE WILL BE NO QUESTION THAT
THEY
ARE
> READY TO DO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL
INTERESTS,
> WHEREVER THEY ARE THREATENED.
>
> I ALSO REALLY ENVY THIS OUTFIT WORKING FOR THE LIKES OF HIMSELF: COL
RIC
> WEST and COL JEFF POWERS : TWO MEN ABANDONED BY WOLVES AND RAISED BY
> THEIR PARENTS...I KNOW THAT HE'S THE TYPE OF LEADER WHO I WOULD
FOLLOW
INTO
> HELL ITSELF JUST TO WATCH HIM MAKE THE DEVIL DANCE!!!
>
> YOU KNOW, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHERE WE CELEBRATE OUR BIRTHDAY. IN
A
GRAND
> BALLROOM WITH A CLOSE COMPANION BY OUR SIDE OR IN A DARK, MUDDY
FOXHOLE IN
> SOME 3RD WORLD ****HOLE WITH A MATCH STUCK IN AN MRE CHOCOLATE DEATH
CAKE,
> THE SENTIMENT IS THE SAME. OF COURSE , YOU WILL AGREE IT'S ALWAYS A
NICER
> EVENT WITH APPROPRIATE LIBATIONS.
>
> OUR GATHERING THIS EVENING REPRESENTS THAT ELITE FRATERNITY OF
CITIZENS
WHO
> HAS PUT OUR NATION FIRST. YOU HAVE EACH GIVEN UP YOUR MOST PRECIOUS
COMMODITY-YOUR TIME. NO
> ONE CAN EVER GIVE THAT BACK. [24 hrs x day//24
> beers x case//coincidence< I think not] YOU EACH REALIZE THAT OUR
NATION
MAY PERISH BECAUSE
> TOO FEW OF ITS PEOPLE HAVE FOUND WHAT FREEDOM REALLY COSTS. IT
DOESN'T
COME WITHOUT SACRIFICE
> OFTEN ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE. IN OUR HISTORY AS A NATION ONLY 4
MILLION
AMERICANS HAVE EARNED
> THE RIGHT TO BE CALLED "MARINE". IN EACH GENERATION THE MARINES HAVE
FOUND
THE FEW, THE PROUD,
> THE BRAVE. IT IS THIS BROTHERHOOD OF MARINES THAT HAS STOOD TOGETHER
NOT
ONLY IN THE PRIDE OF
> OUR NATIONS AND CORPS GREAT VICTORIES, BUT ALSO IN THE PAIN OF
DEATH. THE
MARINE CORPS HAS BEEN
> BETTING ITS HONOR,- ITS MISSION AND THE COLLECTIVE AND
> INDIVIDUAL HIDES OF ITS MEMBERS FOR MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES ON THE
PREMISE
THAT TEENAGED MARINE
> PRIVATES WHO ARE AS GREEN AS THEIR FIELD UNIFORMS CAN BE TRUSTED
ABSOLUTELY TO RISE TO THE
> DEMANDS OF THEIR DUTY. AT THE COST, IF NECESSARY, OF OUR LIVES.
THINK FOR
A MINUTE ABOUT THE IWO
> MEMORIAL IN WASH,
> D.C. THE MOST FAMOUS MONUMENT OF THE 20TH CENTURY. THE WORDS
INSCRIBED IN
STONE ARE 'UNCOMMON
> VALOR WAS A COMMON VIRTUE" IT DOESN'T SAY, IT WAS EASY.... AS I LOOK
BACK
I THINK OF HOW LUCKY
> WE ALL ARE TO BE HERE TONIGHT. MANY OF OUR CONTEMPORARIES WERE NOT.
THEY
NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO
> FULFILL THEIR DREAMS,
> AND IT IS IN THEIR MEMORY AND THAT OF COUNTLESS OTHER MARINES THAT
WE
HONOR THIS EVENING.
>
> DESPITE A LOT OF HOLLYWOOD HOORAH AND HYPE TO THE CONTRARY, THE
MARINE
CORPS DOES NOT RECRUIT
> ROCKET SCIENTISTS OR IN MONASTERIES, SO WHY ARE WE SURPRISED THAT A
YOUNG
MARINE LIKES TO FIGHT,
> RAISE HELL AND CHASE MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX. OUR SECRET IS THAT
WE
CAN TAKE ORDINARY YOUNG
> AMERICANS AND TEACH THEM THAT IF THEY WILL WORK TOGETHER AND DEPEND
UPON
EACH OTHER TOTALLY,
> THEY CAN WORK MIRACLES. THAT TRUST, THAT CONFIDENCE IN OTHERS
DEPENDABILITY, THAT SURE KNOWLEDGE
> THAT OTHER MARINES WILL NOT LET HIM
> DOWN IN THE CRUNCH, IS THE INDIVIDUAL MARINES' SWORD AND SHIELD.
>
> MARINE DRILL INSTRUCTORS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MASTERS OF AN UNFAILING
ALCHEMY
> WHICH CONVERTS DISORIENTED YOUTHS INTO PROUD, LEAN, SELF-RELIANT
CITIZENS -
> INTO WHOSE HANDS OUR NATION'S MOST SENSITIVE AND CRITICAL AFFAIRS
CAN BE
> ENTRUSTED. EVERY ONE OF US SHED THE VESTIGES OF CIVILIAN LIFE AND
STOOD
> BEWILDERED ON THE YELLOW FOOTPRINTS AND WONDERED WHAT THE HELL WE
WERE
DOING WHILE SOME MANIAC
> BERATED OUR FAMILY LINEAGE, UNLESS YOU WENT TO S.D., WHERE THEY
NEVER
RAISE THEIR VOICE. YOU
> KNOW AT PISC, WHEN WE MEMORIZED THE GENERAL ORDERS, YA HAD TO SAY
'EM
BEFORE A MATCH BURNED
> DOWN, BUT I HEAR TELL THAT IN SD THEY USE A FLASHLIGHT AND WAIT FOR
THE
BATTERIES TO RUN OUT!!!
>
> EACH GENERATION OF MARINES SINCE 1775 HAS FACED CHALLENGES. YOUR
GENERATION
> IS NO EXCEPTION. WE MARINES KNOW WHEN WE TAKE THE OATH OF ENLISTMENT
THAT
> THE TASK THAT AWAITS US WILL NOT BE EASY. THIS IS INDEED A DIFFICULT
TIME FOR OUR NATION AND OUR CORPS. MAKE NO MISTAKE; WE ARE AT WAR WITH AN
ELUSIVE
> AND DETERMINED ENEMY. I SPENT MY ENTIRE CAREER FIGHTING THE EVIL
EMPIRE
A.K.A.
> COMMUNISM, AND WAS VERY PROUD TO DO SO. AMERICA WON THAT FIGHT
AGAINST A
> VERY TOUGH OPPONENT. IT TOOK GREAT EFFORT AND MANY YEARS OF
SUSTAINED
> VIGILANCE AND SACRIFICE BY SO MANY WHOSE NAMES WE WILL NEVER KNOW.
YOUR
> NATION NEEDS YOUR SKILLS NOW MORE THAN EVER. THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE
LONG
AND
> ARDUOUS, AND I KNOW YOU WILL MORE THAN RISE TO THE CHALLENGE. OLD
OSAMA,
> SADAAM AND THEIR PECKER-HEAD RUNNING MATES ARE GONNA BE IN A WORLD
OF HURT
> THAT'S FOR SURE.
>
> BELIEVE IT OR NOT YOU ARE ALL JOINED TOGETHER ON AN EXTRAORDINARY
JOURNEY,
> THE MEMORY OF WHICH WILL LAST FOREVER. THERE WILL BE AS MANY
WONDERFUL
> MOMENTS AND GREAT SEA STORIES OF WHO YOU WERE AND WHAT YOU DID, THE
RULES
> YOU BROKE, AND THE SCAMS YOU PULLED, AS THERE ARE MARINES ON THE
MORNING
> REPORT. HELL, LETS ADMIT IT, SOME OF US ARE JUST INCIDENT REPORTS
WAITING
> FOR A DATE TIME GROUP. REMEMBER:
> * TELLING MOM AND DAD AND FAMILY THAT YOU ARE ENLISTING AND
SEEING DADS
> EYES WELL UP WITH UNABASHED PRIDE AND THE LOOK OF WORRY COME OVER
MOMS
FACE
> BECAUSE SHE KNOWS WHAT MARINES DO.... AND WHERE HER BABY WILL BE
GOING
> * THE INITIAL SILENCE AND UNEASY JOKES AS THE BUS ENTERS THE MCRD
GATE IN
> THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
> * THE FIRST SHATTERING LOOK AT WHAT USED TO BE YOU AFTER THE FIRST
RECRUIT
> HAIRCUT
> * OPEN SQUAD-BAYS, LINED UP ROWS OF LOCKER BOXES AND DOUBLE-DECK
STEEL COTS, AND
> SIDE-BY-SIDE CRAPPERS, BECAUSE MODESTY IS A THING OF THE PAST
> * THE QUICK FLICKER OF TIME BETWEEN TAPS AND THAT AWFUL SOUND OF A
****CAN
> ROLLING DOWN THE CENTER OF THE SQUAD BAY ACCOMPANIED BY THAT AWFUL
BRAYING
OF GET UP, GET UP AN
> LOCK YOUR BODY
> * FEET ACHING FROM HOURS ON THE GRINDER, LICKIN' AND STICKING AND
MAGGIES
> DRAWERS
> * COUNTLESS PUSHUPS AND A STRANGE NEW SOUND AS REAL BULLETS PASS
CLOSE
> OVERHEAD
> * THE DOWNRIGHT HAUNTING BEAUTY OF CADENCE SUNG BY UNSEEN MARINES
IN
> FORMATION IN THE EARLY MORNING FOG,
> * CORFAMS ON LIBERTY IN A STRANGE NEW TOWN - HOW DID JA' KNOW I WAS
A MARINE
> * LONG WEARY HOURS OF FIELD DAYS, FORMATIONS, AND WAITING FOR THE
WORD THAT
> ALWAYS CHANGES
> * THE SMELL OF THE INSIDE OF A GP MEDIUM ON A HOT AFTERNOON
> * LISTER BAGS AND CHOW LINES, AND "...SPREAD OUT ******* IT..."
> * LONG HUMPS AT NIGHT AND SLEEPING ON COLD, ROCKY GROUND, FOOT
POWDER,
> MOLESKIN, ACHING BLISTERED FEET, THE SOFT GREY LIGHT OF DAWN MIXED
WITH
CLEARED THROATS, LOUD
> FARTS AND WRY COMMENTARY: COME ON YOU SCROUNGY RAT BASTARDS, TIME TO
RISE
AND SHINE AND BEHOLD
TELL YOU
> THAT I AM DEEPLY MOVED AND HONORED TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SPEAK TO
THE
> MARINES AND SAILORS OF EWTGPac TONIGHT. IT IS ALSO FITTING THAT WE
> CELEBRATE WITH OUR NAVY BRETHREN, AFTER ALL, WE ARE THE BOAT PEOPLE.
THE
> STEEL OF THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS TEAM HAS BEEN HONED IN COUNTLESS
FIGHTS IN
> EVERY CLIME AND PLACE. IN A WORLD OF UNPRECEDENTED POLITICAL
INSTABILITY,
> THE POTENTIAL FOR EMPLOYMENT OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS TEAM IS
EVER
> PRESENT. WHEREVER SALT WATER CAN REACH, IN ANY OCEAN OF THE WORLD -
MARINES
> AND SAILORS ARE ON-WATCH AND READY. THERE WILL BE NO QUESTION THAT
THEY
ARE
> READY TO DO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL
INTERESTS,
> WHEREVER THEY ARE THREATENED.
>
> I ALSO REALLY ENVY THIS OUTFIT WORKING FOR THE LIKES OF HIMSELF: COL
RIC
> WEST and COL JEFF POWERS : TWO MEN ABANDONED BY WOLVES AND RAISED BY
> THEIR PARENTS...I KNOW THAT HE'S THE TYPE OF LEADER WHO I WOULD
FOLLOW
INTO
> HELL ITSELF JUST TO WATCH HIM MAKE THE DEVIL DANCE!!!
>
> YOU KNOW, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHERE WE CELEBRATE OUR BIRTHDAY. IN
A
GRAND
> BALLROOM WITH A CLOSE COMPANION BY OUR SIDE OR IN A DARK, MUDDY
FOXHOLE IN
> SOME 3RD WORLD ****HOLE WITH A MATCH STUCK IN AN MRE CHOCOLATE DEATH
CAKE,
> THE SENTIMENT IS THE SAME. OF COURSE , YOU WILL AGREE IT'S ALWAYS A
NICER
> EVENT WITH APPROPRIATE LIBATIONS.
>
> OUR GATHERING THIS EVENING REPRESENTS THAT ELITE FRATERNITY OF
CITIZENS
WHO
> HAS PUT OUR NATION FIRST. YOU HAVE EACH GIVEN UP YOUR MOST PRECIOUS
COMMODITY-YOUR TIME. NO
> ONE CAN EVER GIVE THAT BACK. [24 hrs x day//24
> beers x case//coincidence< I think not] YOU EACH REALIZE THAT OUR
NATION
MAY PERISH BECAUSE
> TOO FEW OF ITS PEOPLE HAVE FOUND WHAT FREEDOM REALLY COSTS. IT
DOESN'T
COME WITHOUT SACRIFICE
> OFTEN ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE. IN OUR HISTORY AS A NATION ONLY 4
MILLION
AMERICANS HAVE EARNED
> THE RIGHT TO BE CALLED "MARINE". IN EACH GENERATION THE MARINES HAVE
FOUND
THE FEW, THE PROUD,
> THE BRAVE. IT IS THIS BROTHERHOOD OF MARINES THAT HAS STOOD TOGETHER
NOT
ONLY IN THE PRIDE OF
> OUR NATIONS AND CORPS GREAT VICTORIES, BUT ALSO IN THE PAIN OF
DEATH. THE
MARINE CORPS HAS BEEN
> BETTING ITS HONOR,- ITS MISSION AND THE COLLECTIVE AND
> INDIVIDUAL HIDES OF ITS MEMBERS FOR MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES ON THE
PREMISE
THAT TEENAGED MARINE
> PRIVATES WHO ARE AS GREEN AS THEIR FIELD UNIFORMS CAN BE TRUSTED
ABSOLUTELY TO RISE TO THE
> DEMANDS OF THEIR DUTY. AT THE COST, IF NECESSARY, OF OUR LIVES.
THINK FOR
A MINUTE ABOUT THE IWO
> MEMORIAL IN WASH,
> D.C. THE MOST FAMOUS MONUMENT OF THE 20TH CENTURY. THE WORDS
INSCRIBED IN
STONE ARE 'UNCOMMON
> VALOR WAS A COMMON VIRTUE" IT DOESN'T SAY, IT WAS EASY.... AS I LOOK
BACK
I THINK OF HOW LUCKY
> WE ALL ARE TO BE HERE TONIGHT. MANY OF OUR CONTEMPORARIES WERE NOT.
THEY
NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO
> FULFILL THEIR DREAMS,
> AND IT IS IN THEIR MEMORY AND THAT OF COUNTLESS OTHER MARINES THAT
WE
HONOR THIS EVENING.
>
> DESPITE A LOT OF HOLLYWOOD HOORAH AND HYPE TO THE CONTRARY, THE
MARINE
CORPS DOES NOT RECRUIT
> ROCKET SCIENTISTS OR IN MONASTERIES, SO WHY ARE WE SURPRISED THAT A
YOUNG
MARINE LIKES TO FIGHT,
> RAISE HELL AND CHASE MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX. OUR SECRET IS THAT
WE
CAN TAKE ORDINARY YOUNG
> AMERICANS AND TEACH THEM THAT IF THEY WILL WORK TOGETHER AND DEPEND
UPON
EACH OTHER TOTALLY,
> THEY CAN WORK MIRACLES. THAT TRUST, THAT CONFIDENCE IN OTHERS
DEPENDABILITY, THAT SURE KNOWLEDGE
> THAT OTHER MARINES WILL NOT LET HIM
> DOWN IN THE CRUNCH, IS THE INDIVIDUAL MARINES' SWORD AND SHIELD.
>
> MARINE DRILL INSTRUCTORS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MASTERS OF AN UNFAILING
ALCHEMY
> WHICH CONVERTS DISORIENTED YOUTHS INTO PROUD, LEAN, SELF-RELIANT
CITIZENS -
> INTO WHOSE HANDS OUR NATION'S MOST SENSITIVE AND CRITICAL AFFAIRS
CAN BE
> ENTRUSTED. EVERY ONE OF US SHED THE VESTIGES OF CIVILIAN LIFE AND
STOOD
> BEWILDERED ON THE YELLOW FOOTPRINTS AND WONDERED WHAT THE HELL WE
WERE
DOING WHILE SOME MANIAC
> BERATED OUR FAMILY LINEAGE, UNLESS YOU WENT TO S.D., WHERE THEY
NEVER
RAISE THEIR VOICE. YOU
> KNOW AT PISC, WHEN WE MEMORIZED THE GENERAL ORDERS, YA HAD TO SAY
'EM
BEFORE A MATCH BURNED
> DOWN, BUT I HEAR TELL THAT IN SD THEY USE A FLASHLIGHT AND WAIT FOR
THE
BATTERIES TO RUN OUT!!!
>
> EACH GENERATION OF MARINES SINCE 1775 HAS FACED CHALLENGES. YOUR
GENERATION
> IS NO EXCEPTION. WE MARINES KNOW WHEN WE TAKE THE OATH OF ENLISTMENT
THAT
> THE TASK THAT AWAITS US WILL NOT BE EASY. THIS IS INDEED A DIFFICULT
TIME FOR OUR NATION AND OUR CORPS. MAKE NO MISTAKE; WE ARE AT WAR WITH AN
ELUSIVE
> AND DETERMINED ENEMY. I SPENT MY ENTIRE CAREER FIGHTING THE EVIL
EMPIRE
A.K.A.
> COMMUNISM, AND WAS VERY PROUD TO DO SO. AMERICA WON THAT FIGHT
AGAINST A
> VERY TOUGH OPPONENT. IT TOOK GREAT EFFORT AND MANY YEARS OF
SUSTAINED
> VIGILANCE AND SACRIFICE BY SO MANY WHOSE NAMES WE WILL NEVER KNOW.
YOUR
> NATION NEEDS YOUR SKILLS NOW MORE THAN EVER. THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE
LONG
AND
> ARDUOUS, AND I KNOW YOU WILL MORE THAN RISE TO THE CHALLENGE. OLD
OSAMA,
> SADAAM AND THEIR PECKER-HEAD RUNNING MATES ARE GONNA BE IN A WORLD
OF HURT
> THAT'S FOR SURE.
>
> BELIEVE IT OR NOT YOU ARE ALL JOINED TOGETHER ON AN EXTRAORDINARY
JOURNEY,
> THE MEMORY OF WHICH WILL LAST FOREVER. THERE WILL BE AS MANY
WONDERFUL
> MOMENTS AND GREAT SEA STORIES OF WHO YOU WERE AND WHAT YOU DID, THE
RULES
> YOU BROKE, AND THE SCAMS YOU PULLED, AS THERE ARE MARINES ON THE
MORNING
> REPORT. HELL, LETS ADMIT IT, SOME OF US ARE JUST INCIDENT REPORTS
WAITING
> FOR A DATE TIME GROUP. REMEMBER:
> * TELLING MOM AND DAD AND FAMILY THAT YOU ARE ENLISTING AND
SEEING DADS
> EYES WELL UP WITH UNABASHED PRIDE AND THE LOOK OF WORRY COME OVER
MOMS
FACE
> BECAUSE SHE KNOWS WHAT MARINES DO.... AND WHERE HER BABY WILL BE
GOING
> * THE INITIAL SILENCE AND UNEASY JOKES AS THE BUS ENTERS THE MCRD
GATE IN
> THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
> * THE FIRST SHATTERING LOOK AT WHAT USED TO BE YOU AFTER THE FIRST
RECRUIT
> HAIRCUT
> * OPEN SQUAD-BAYS, LINED UP ROWS OF LOCKER BOXES AND DOUBLE-DECK
STEEL COTS, AND
> SIDE-BY-SIDE CRAPPERS, BECAUSE MODESTY IS A THING OF THE PAST
> * THE QUICK FLICKER OF TIME BETWEEN TAPS AND THAT AWFUL SOUND OF A
****CAN
> ROLLING DOWN THE CENTER OF THE SQUAD BAY ACCOMPANIED BY THAT AWFUL
BRAYING
OF GET UP, GET UP AN
> LOCK YOUR BODY
> * FEET ACHING FROM HOURS ON THE GRINDER, LICKIN' AND STICKING AND
MAGGIES
> DRAWERS
> * COUNTLESS PUSHUPS AND A STRANGE NEW SOUND AS REAL BULLETS PASS
CLOSE
> OVERHEAD
> * THE DOWNRIGHT HAUNTING BEAUTY OF CADENCE SUNG BY UNSEEN MARINES
IN
> FORMATION IN THE EARLY MORNING FOG,
> * CORFAMS ON LIBERTY IN A STRANGE NEW TOWN - HOW DID JA' KNOW I WAS
A MARINE
> * LONG WEARY HOURS OF FIELD DAYS, FORMATIONS, AND WAITING FOR THE
WORD THAT
> ALWAYS CHANGES
> * THE SMELL OF THE INSIDE OF A GP MEDIUM ON A HOT AFTERNOON
> * LISTER BAGS AND CHOW LINES, AND "...SPREAD OUT ******* IT..."
> * LONG HUMPS AT NIGHT AND SLEEPING ON COLD, ROCKY GROUND, FOOT
POWDER,
> MOLESKIN, ACHING BLISTERED FEET, THE SOFT GREY LIGHT OF DAWN MIXED
WITH
CLEARED THROATS, LOUD
> FARTS AND WRY COMMENTARY: COME ON YOU SCROUNGY RAT BASTARDS, TIME TO
RISE
AND SHINE AND BEHOLD