a Marine NEVER loses the Title

[Cole11]

As I once said on another website, I was driving my car and i saw a bumpersticker that says "Your not an Ex-Marine unless your dead" WHAT BS! So i guess Gysgt. Basilone, and Lt.Gen Chesty Puller arent Marines anymore? That statement is completly untrue. I also believe theres no such thing as a former Marine because former means the same thing as no- longer. No Marine can lose the Title. Its not a word that makes us Devil Dogs, its the experiences, and the basic experience for every Marine is boot camp. The Title can never be taken from us because you cannot turn back the clock and erase our time at MCRD or OCS. Marine is not just a Title, its who a person is. Semper Fi

[artymarine]

I could not have said it any better.

You might forget your wifes name, but you will never forget your Senior DI's.

[1stSgtMell]

I beg to differ with you. Any person receiving anything less than an Honorable Discharge gives up that right to be called Marine. His actions, either intentionally or otherwise, negates that right.With a Dishonorable Discharge the person foregoes the right to vote, along with forfeiture of all uniforms, pay and allowances insignia,etc. and most times incarceration. When he's sitting his butt for 30 years in Federal Prison he isn't known as a Marine any longer.
Semper Fi,
Jerry Mell
1stSgt(Ret)USMC
'54-'73

[hump_drop]

Originally posted by 1stSgtMell
I beg to differ with you. Any person receiving anything less than an Honorable Discharge gives up that right to be called Marine. His actions, either intentionally or otherwise, negates that right.With a Dishonorable Discharge the person foregoes the right to vote, along with forfeiture of all uniforms, pay and allowances insignia,etc. and most times incarceration. When he's sitting his butt for 30 years in Federal Prison he isn't known as a Marine any longer.
Semper Fi,
Jerry Mell
1stSgt(Ret)USMC
'54-'73

I agree, totally.

Anyone who disrespects or discredits the Marine Corps by actions or words may still call themselves Marines and people may believe them, but in their hearts they know they are not Marines, and are not worthy of the title. That is what counts.

I have met many people who say they were in the Marine Corps, and then when they tell me some b.s. story about why they aren't anymore (you know the kind, you can tell they are full of crap) I can see the regret in their eyes and hear the envy in their voices when they know they are in the presence of someone who still holds the title of United States Marine.

[Joseph P Carey]

Gents,

Did you ever hear of the Ghost Battalion? It is on the internet where there are registered names of the dead Marines! I guess it only goes to prove, there just is no GETTING OUT!

[Old Marine]

Originally posted by 1stSgtMell
I beg to differ with you. Any person receiving anything less than an Honorable Discharge gives up that right to be called Marine. His actions, either intentionally or otherwise, negates that right.With a Dishonorable Discharge the person foregoes the right to vote, along with forfeiture of all uniforms, pay and allowances insignia,etc. and most times incarceration. When he's sitting his butt for 30 years in Federal Prison he isn't known as a Marine any longer.
Semper Fi,
Jerry Mell
1stSgt(Ret)USMC
'54-'73

Agree with the above except the giving up the right to vote part. The voting polls in this country are so lax anymore that practically anyone can register to vote, even non-citizens.Convicted felons can and do vote and I would bet that many people with a DD do vote.

[PTWARRIOR]

I disagree with 1st Sgt.Mell what ever the MARINE did to dishonor THE CORPS or himself still can't take away the experience at bootcamp whether in Hollywood or Parris Island the land that God forgot. A marine will always be a marine bootcamp makes MARINES make no misstake about it. Exception if HE didn't graduate he can't lay to that title MARINE. 1st Sgt. Mell I have question for you " If you have children if your son or daughter does something to disgrace you and your family does that mean that they are no longer your or son or daughter"? I guess what trying to say is bootcamp gives birth to a Marine the Drill Intructor is the father the experience is the mother and graduation is when he is born and unfornately I must say some are aborted some by choice some not .Think about it Hardchagers think about it.

SEMPER FI
R. JONES Cpl(Retired)Golf Co. 2/4 Boat Plt. 90-93 Camp Lejuene N.C.

[Namvet67]

Only the United States Marine Corps can take away your title! You would have to be drummed out of the Corps! Otherwise you are a Marine all the time! Professional fighters are taken down to "bare wood" and built back up to think and act differently...same as the Corps! It never gets out of your blood. Joseph Carey....what is the addy for that web site you mentioned? Semper Fi

[rproctor922]

just google Ghost battalion

That is how I found it

[Catz1611]

I'm guessing then, the Title would be in Individuals eyes. As I've heard so many different opinions on the subject.

I've told people that I'm a Former Marine. But when I say that, it just means the Marine Corps no longer pays my bills. nOt that I don't still hold the Corps values in my heart. (hope that makes sense)

And to me, An Ex Marine is Someone who got booted out of the Corps.

[mrbsox]

I first came to this site a few years ago, and had the same basic question. I never liked the term 'ex', and 'former' stil had that 'used to be' tense to it.

The Drifter (R.I.P. Roger) coined the phrase to me'VETERAN Marine, which I think he got from C.M.C. Gen. Hagee.

I'm a VETERAN Marine
assigned to the 1stCivDiv

ROGER THAT !!

[Joseph P Carey]

Originally posted by Namvet67
Only the United States Marine Corps can take away your title! You would have to be drummed out of the Corps! Otherwise you are a Marine all the time! Professional fighters are taken down to "bare wood" and built back up to think and act differently...same as the Corps! It never gets out of your blood. Joseph Carey....what is the addy for that web site you mentioned? Semper Fi

http://www.scuttlebuttsmallchow.com/ghost.html
This is the site,

But, to make comment about 'Always a Marine', and someone saying that unless you are 'drummed out of the Corps' you are still a Marine. In truth, the Dishonorable Discharge is being 'Drummed out of the Corps'!

A Dishonorable Discharge is just that. All of your awards are forfeit, your rank is forfeit, and your name is forever removed from the records of the unit. I don't think that they make a ceremony out of it any longer whereby the Dishonorably Discharged is lined up before the Company, and the buttons are individually ripped from the uniform, and the EAG is torn from the uniform, and in the case of Officers and NCOs, the sword is broken in half and thrown in the dirt, but it is still being 'Drummed out of the Corps'.

As far as the vote, that was a contention with the Democrats in the last election, that the State of Florida would not allow convicted felons to vote. Actually, some states are getting very strict as to whom they will allow to vote. In Arizona, you must now produce proof of birth within the USA, or Naturalization Papers in order to register, and I believe that a list of felons is given to the registrar of voters and notices are sent to the individuals on the list to ascertain if they have received a Restoration of Rights in their case.

But, in states in the Northwest, one does not even have to go to polls, or prove they are citizens. All they have to do is to go to a computer and register and vote. I am sure that in a close a race, that was in one of these state's, there were plenty of grave registrations voting in the elections, and people that did not even live in the state any longer were voting from other states where they also voted, and no one can say a thing of it, or prove it different.

[Cole11]

I have the same school of thought as those who say you cant lose the experience, but i didnt stop to think about DDs, so i guess the only exception to not being a Marine is a dishonorable discharge in my book

[Cole11]

I have the same school of thought as those who say you cant lose the experience, but i didnt stop to think about DDs, so i guess the only exception to not being a Marine is a dishonorable discharge in my book

[Cole11]

I have the same school of thought as those who say you cant lose the experience, but i didnt stop to think about DDs, so i guess the only exception to not being a Marine is a dishonorable discharge in my book