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thedrifter
01-01-03, 09:19 AM
Does this sound like you.......????????


"I've been out of the Corps (place your year here), and I still don't carry anything in my right hand, unless it's absolutely necessary. After all, you never know when you'll have to salute someone.
"The Marines Hymn" still gives me cold chills, and a picture of Mount Suribachi brings a tear to my eye.

"I always stand at attention for the national anthem, with hand over my heart. I don't put my hands in my pockets when walking, and walking in step is a must.

"A rack is still a rack (not for hanging hats), a head is still a head (not the one on your shoulders), and the deck is still the deck (we're not talking sailboats, either).

"At the office, co-workers think I'm crazy, using terms like guard mail (instead of interoffice correspondence), direct order (instead of directive), and locked on (instead of understood). The task at hand is always a "mission", and no mission is ever too tough.

"Even the days aren't long enough. Not that I complain about a 9-to-5 job, or working regular hours; I don't. But it seems that others - civilians - are always complaining about how hard and/or horrible their work is. Get real. Join the Marine Corps....

"A headache, stomach ache, or cold might keep the average employee home. Calling in sick, except in case of rare disease or disaster, is out of the question for a Marine. Being late is equally unsat. (What's that? Ask a Marine.)

"The word "Sir" involuntarily rolls off my lip when addressing senior management. Some think it's great; others don't care for it at all. (Remember the first sergeant's cry? "Don't call me 'Sir', I work for a living!") At any rate, I find myself explaining that it's "ingrained Marine Corps training", which is always a door opener for further conversation.

"Such a statement can also be beneficial during other interactions, such as those with police officers. Fortunately, my experience in that area is limited, but any mention of "Marine" is usually a good icebreaker and lead in to conversation about the Corps. It seems that there's a mutual respect between the Police and the Marines; many are Marines (former and reserve). Not everyone can be a Marine, and if you are, say so. A Marine bumper sticker in the window and dog tags hanging in the rearview mirror can also go a long way.

"Speaking of bumper stickers, have you ever noticed how many there are out there/ Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, proudly displayed on cars and trucks from New York to California. Marines are everywhere.

"And when they're not in their bumper-stickered vehicles, you can otherwise spot them in their bright, red and gold USMC jackets, caps (not hats), T-shirts, and other assorted accessories. But not all Marines are that easily recognizable. Some garb is understated in in black, silver, green, or camouflage. Designs range from a simple Marine Corps emblem, to the Tasmanian Devil, or a leatherneck tattoo, to an elaborate display of Marine weaponry. Sayings may include "Once a Marine, always a Marine", "Sempe r Fi" (do or die), or any variation thereof. The words may be different, but the theme is always "Marine".

"Marines will proudly inform you, and anyone else who happens to be listening, that they were in the Corps. Their comment may have no connection with the present conversation or situation, at least not to the common ear, but anything can, and will, rouse memories in a Marine.

"You could be in a crowded doorway, taking refuge from a storm, and a 40-something gentleman tells you he doesn't need an umbrella because he was a Marine, and compared to the monsoons in Southeast Asia or Okinawa, this downpour is just a sprinkle.

"Or the moving man mentions in passing that he developed strength and endurance in the Corps. And there's the real estate agent, who points out, with pride, his previous service, when you pass by the local Marine monument.

"From city to city, women in grocery lines and beauty parlors tell stories about their children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces who are, or were, Marines. From barroom to bowling alleys, from boat to backyard barbecue, fathers and grandfathers vividly recall life in the Corps to anyone who will listen.

"Marines will seize any opportunity to volunteer information about their adventures in the Corps. They may casually note their branch of service, or unload an entire bag of sea stories. Fortunately, most folks don't mind unless, that is, they find themselves in the company of two or more Marines. In that case, they can forget getting in a word edgewise.

"And remarkably, Marines always seem to find each other. In the midst of any crowd, two leathernecks will somehow get together, and when they do, it's an instant reunion. Forget formal introductions; these men are brothers. Call it "Marine bonding".

"(You) recently attended a business conference (not Marine related) and found myself at a roundtable discussion. Actually, it was a luncheon, but the conversation was supposed to be business. Somehow, someone mentioned "Marine", and the gears immediately, and permanently changed. Another gentleman, who also happened to be a Marine, wanted to know what battalion, when, where served, with whom, how long. Of course, he too, was asked to share his case history.

"None of the other people at the table, who included a Navy corpsman, Army sergeant major, and Air Force pilot, could compete. In fact they tried to offer tidbits about their service, but a mere "Oh really?", or "That's nice" was the only reaction they could get from the Marines. Interestingly, the non-Marines didn't seem to be perturbed. They were too busy listening to the sea stories.

"Occurrences like these are not rare. In fact, they're probably the norm. Esprit de corps transcends the barriers of time and space, religion and race. A Marine is a Marine. Once a Marine, Always a Marine. It's training you never outgrow, and a brotherhood you never forget. "


Sempers,

Roger

firstsgtmike
01-01-03, 10:53 AM
Except for carrying in the right hand, ( I don't wear a hat, cap, cover, or lid) a rose is a rose is a rose.

Semper Fi

donaldduct
01-01-03, 11:21 AM
One thing the Marines taught me forever is not to stand around with your hands in your pockets, My DI caught me and made me fill all my pockets full of sand all day,try that sometime

SHOOTER1
01-01-03, 01:38 PM
Ive always found, you can tell a Marine, by the way he walks, and stands straighter than the normal crowd, old habits die hard, some never go away.

Havelka
01-01-03, 02:58 PM
:marine:
Those were very true comments Roger.
I feel the same way..
Thanks for the reminders.
:marine:

wrbones
01-01-03, 03:47 PM
Whatever it is, it's always a mission, and when you use command voice, they always stand to! LOL.

leroy8541
01-01-03, 03:57 PM
I have often wondered and pondered this since i became a civilian, any time I have changed jobs or locations and in my job i travel alot.You put 50 men in a building, parking lot field whatever,and none of these have ever met one another after 2 hrs of beggining to work the marines will locate each other as if by some kind of 6th sense is being used and by first break they will be telling war stories like they have known each other for years. totally amazing and i have seen it time and time again.

SEMPER FI

leroy8541
01-01-03, 04:12 PM
After more pondering on this subject I think I know one of the key factors on this. Its the lingo, it never goes away. I have noticed most of the time if its not a tattoo or marine attire that gives us away it is a single word of the thousands that we use or the way a word is used in a sentence that is unique to marines. And being a former marine these words or syllables won't go unnoticed by other that have used them. I.E $hitbird, clusterf*** so forth and so on most of them usually being colorful expletives. You also have others, bulk head, scuttlebutt, headcall, chow,meaning food not bye-bye.

Barrio_rat
01-01-03, 06:11 PM
One thing I've had happen more than a few times. Is just standing around BS'n with a couple people and then, all at once, 2 or 3 of ya realize you were all Marines. Then the BS's gets deeper and even more fun.

Yeah, I still carry stuff in my left hand - usually. I use my pockets more than I used to, but my hands only go in 'em to retrieve items. I've done the rain thing - hell, live on the Southern Oregon Coast for a while, there's no point to an umbrella!

Even with the weight gain (and it has been considerable) I've had comments on how I stand straight and walk tall - not yer typical fat man. I just tell 'em it's bearing. There's one of those words Leroy was talking about. LOL

And keeping in step... there's a habbit I can't break - I have even tried! LOL

Art Petersn
01-01-03, 06:34 PM
Even with the weight gain (and it has been considerable)

I'm glad I'm not the only one. Has anybody out there got an answer to this problem. I walk 3 to 5 miles a day and thats alot for somebody that has emphysema as bad as I do and I still can not lose weight.

firstsgtmike
01-01-03, 07:13 PM
Art,

Don't sweat it.

I read a report on Americans and weight gain. Too many are overweight. Therefore, to be PC, they will have to raise the average.

So, without losing a pound, we will go from obese to slightly above average.

Statistics are great!

Statistically speaking, the average American has one breast and one testicle.

Thank God, I'm not average.


Mike

Art Petersn
01-01-03, 08:39 PM
Top I hope they change it pretty soon, I'm tried of being over weight.

Top I posted a message to you on the" Your Family Might Be a Little Too Oorah if... " earlier.

wrbones
01-01-03, 09:34 PM
Marine training doesn't wear out...

I'm middle-aged, about half busted up and therefore outta shape. My nephew is 18, about 6' tall. He likes to horse around. I bounced him around a bit, and when he wasn't feelin' so full of himself, I tucked him under one arm and carried him around a bit. I never broke a sweat. I wasn't usin' too many pressure points! Honest!

Come to think of it, he doesn't want to horse around with me anymore.....

:D

Barndog
01-02-03, 02:46 AM
The Wife and I are at the bar New Years Eve - for Prime Rib and drinks (first time we've been 'out' in years). One of the managers says "hey Barndog (yes I am called that more places than here) , I have another Marine over at my table" (her Father was a Marine). So I of course, grab another beer and follow Lori over to the table. She introduces us, and the 'OOHRAHH's and Semper FI's - toasts start flyin. Then we start talkin. He says, "well at least I hear you were a grunt". "Yes for a short period, then reason and intelligence took over and I ended up at Mag-39, after my Mother passed away". He says "thats too bad.. you had to go into the Wing". I stood there for a second before I began my comment.
I said, "well Sir (got out a Captain), I tried my best, served Honorbly in the Marine Corps, then served Honorably in the Army National Guards for 9 years also. I loved every second of what I did for this Nation and my Brothers. But one thing really bothers me, Sir". He looks all serious at me and sez 'What's that"?

"Why in the FVCK are your hands in your pockets, SIR? At least during my time in the Marine Corps, WE DIDN'T PUT OUR HANDS IN OUR POCKETS. Are mine in my pockets now, Sir"?

He looked down, his head slumped, he pulled his hands out of his pockets. I said " what year did you get out Sir? " "1997"

And that, Gentleman - is what happened to our Marine Corps.

Be thankful theres still guys like US around to correct those that so soon forget.

Semper FI

LongShot
01-02-03, 11:24 AM
All of this rings true, you can never ( why would you want to ) forget the training we received. It makes us who we are today, and thats a damn site better than the rest.

I've been out for 12+ years and the haircut is the same and so is the shave. And I still can't eat slow. I'm finished with my entire meal before most are finished with their salads. :marine:

Semper Fi!

thedrifter
03-25-04, 10:15 PM
Bring Back Up......

Marine Training Doesn't Wear Off.........

Ellie

DSchmitke
03-26-04, 07:21 AM
Have never gotten back into old civvie ways. Marine Green.