Todays Moto

[jinelson]

This Generation

by Micheal Woodall Pfc USMC

Dedicated to Cpl. Dave Blaylock for his undying spirit, determination, friendship, and espirit de corps.

There is always time to ponder how the world might be today or what the future may hold if not for the actions of countless young men who have selflessly taken up the call for freedom. We must ask ourselves if tyranny would reign supreme and overshadow the light of liberty. Even today young men take up this same desire to preserve freedom and ensure that the light does not fade or perish from this land.

We may not be the "Greatest Generation" of the World War II era or the "Lost Generation" whose test in Vietnam was overcome with gallantry and heroism and helped preserve a world for equality, free from oppression, and would lay the cornerstones for eternal freedom among all civilization. We however are a generation much like those before us who have sacrificed our normal everyday lives to answer the call; to combat a new age of warfare and ideals pitted squarely against the United States of America

The horrific attacks of September 11 placed the world in a divide. This foreign vice caused nations to choose between chaos at their doorsteps or to force these radical war mongering idealists to flee from their ways and abandon their countries as strongholds. Some chose the path to darkness, but others reached deep, beyond their selfish desires, understanding the consequences of terrorism, and thus dedicating their very existence to combat this evil.

During this challenging time in our country's history it is those men who stand up for their fellow man, for a stranger, for their country, and who is willing to sacrifice their own life to protect every one of them and their posterity who is the wisest of all men. These are the men for which I've joined ranks. These are the men who those beside me have become. We are willing to leave it all behind: our families, our friends, our jobs, and even our country, in order to straddle the line between war and peace in an unknown land and fortify all that is good in the world and while doing so blast all that is evil back to the hell from which it arose.

Though we are not different from the ordinary man, we are cut from a different stone. We have a righteous calling that demands us to forge a new identity within ourselves strengthened by a new form of integrity that exemplifies the values of HONOR, COURAGE, and COMMITMENT. It places us around the world, in every corner of the globe in order to cement an international society of liberty for the generations of the future and set forth for them a tradition of peace so that they may live in it, among it, and protect it, the same way as those who have come before them.

We ask not for compensation or charity for our deeds, but by humbly carrying this burden for all Americans we ask only for your utmost respect. We are the fathers, sons, and brothers of this country sewn from the seed of the heroes of our ancestry and the fathers of this great nation. Let us be known as the "Generation of Prophetic Guardians" We, though made of flesh and blood, not only had the foresight to recognize a threat that uses unconventional and coverse means to spread death and destruction masked by an ideology of hate; we knew their survival alone would crumble the fabric of American freedom and spread like a virus around the world. We were not only able to recognize this threat however. We are the ones with the unshakable courage to stand face to face with these cowardice killers hellbent on destroying everything our country stands for and in the process allow no American man, woman, or child to survive their deadly onslaught.

We will NOT stand by idly for our Armageddon. We will stand fast and fight and if necessary we will die for OUR country and OUR ideals. Some may sit at home ignoring this threat while others even protest our actions to stop it. However, there are those courageous men who continue to stand up tall and protect every American citizen’s freedom to speak and live freely. I am one of these men. If I must lay my life down and sacrifice everything I have for the freedom of America. I must say that the price is cheap. I know that the very days I have been allowed this opportunity by Almighty God to live free in this country is worth more than life itself.

Whether in life or death I will always be known for my morals and my values molded by the freedom of these states. Therefore through all eternity my name will ring loud...because my name is United States Marine. However, the Corps will always be bigger than one man. It is because of this spirit of team over self, mission over all else, and death before dishonor, that has made the Marine Corps what it is to this day. Let the Corps forever be known as the savior of America, born before the country itself, and bound to its protection forevermore. By the blessing of God and those who stand for freedom may the Marine Corps and America live forever.

[jinelson]

LOVING A MARINE

by Elizabeth

Loving a Marine is not always gay
Loving him truly is a high price to pay.
It's being alone with nothing to hold,
It's being young, but feeling old.
It's loving him whisper his love for you,
It's whispering back, you love him too.
There's always a kiss and a promise for more,
As his ship slowly glides away from the shore.
Reluctantly, painfully, letting him go,
While you're dying inside from wanting him so.
Watching him leave with eyes filled with tears,
Standing alone with your hopes, dreams, and fears.
It's sending a letter with the stamp upside down,
To a far away love, in a far away town.
It's going to church, to kneel and to pray,
And really meaning the things that you say.
Days go by - no mail for a spell,
You wait for some word to hear that he is well.
Then a letter arrives and you're given in,
To open this letter and read with a grin.
Yes, he is well and misses you so,
And filled with the love you wanted to know.
Weeks are like months, and months like years,
You wait for the day you'll have no more fears.
Days go by slowly - how many have passed?
Then suddenly you realize it's here at last!
Yes loving a Marine isn't much fun,
But it's worth the price when the battle is won.
And remember he is thnking of you every day,
He's sad, he's lonely, while so far away.
So love him and miss him and hold your head high,
Be strong and have faith - wipe that tear from your eye.
Your man is a Marine, like those who have gone before,
It's a high price to pay for loving a Marine!

[RockSteady85]

Just to heal a tortured heart

by SSgt. LeMay USMC

Just to heal the tortured heart: I will relay a hero chart
You know the Marines are built to part
Every two, they deploy to be smart
In preparation they do train, every clime to be prepared.
Come March, they did arrive to impart
A relief to the Army, so they could depart
To see those heroes souls to America cart
Though not to happen, a plan designed the ground be shared.
In the year 04, they felt this change start
Commander Bush needed our best to, again, depart
To fight with vigilant resolve to dart
The insurgent evil in Falloujah was despaired.
As the fight progressed, the public felt this heart
In every note, or news, all felt apart
The headquarters sorted those that would be marte
And every Marine's work to execute was totally squared.
The battle was pit, as the strategy of tacticians prepared a flip-chart
1st Marines collected prepared to battle this jarvik-heart
As deemed in history, day one saw the honor of the purple-heart
With honor and resolve the Marines did as were dared.
Marines, in true tradition, fashioned their tart
As Echo Company dispatched to mark a head-start
While pinned in an alley, some lost, they diverted with some martial art
Response came to alert, as the enemy strength was stared.
Never to lose their spirit, the Marines advanced on belly to take freedom-heart
Upon a mission devised for compassion, and right-smart
One designed and focused as of Descartes
As the news chatter continued; as politicians compared.
The pundits did chatter in struggle to take part
Of an American election soon to be fought, seeking victory in-part
Upon the lonesome, tough work of heroes a-la-carte
The unfettered Marines continued the fight to restore those spared.
In the Sunni Triangle...the war did impart
Marines doing business without a star-chart
For the love of each other and nation, always state-of-the-art
They pitted their trained skill to destroy the evil laird.
Marines doing business to secure a good start
Crawling, sleepless to prepare love and heart
In a nation of turmoil, skillfully to avoid the destruction to tear-apart
Brave warriors shared, to restore a rose where thorns were shared.
A mother's love is always perceived pure within her heart
While a Marine's mother's love remains hard to pick-apart
The loss of courageous souls of the future provides a kick-start
And carries forward a mission of purpose-n-resolve;
That the history of such heroes always be aired.

That is an AMAZING quote, really it is. I wish I had the talent to write like that.

[jinelson]

Marine

by Stacy Boes

He rises before the sun
He keeps a watchful eye,
Often pushed beyond the limits
He never questions why?

The answer is in the many faces
He sees each and everyday,
It's freedom that he protects
It will never be taken away.

He rarely receives a passing glance
This angel defends our way of life,
Fighting here or on foreign land
Often with great sacrifice.

His halo is a helmet
He has combat boots for wings,
His rifle is his trumpet
The cadence of freedom he sings.

His honor is unmistakable
His bravery will never part,
His pride resonates from within
His courage comes from the heart.

He belongs to a sacred brotherhood
The EGA is his family crest,
Always Faithful till the end
He is the best of the best.

As the bell of freedom rings
He is fighting for me and for you,
He is a United States Marine
Preserving, forever, the red, white, and blue.

[Master Sephiroth]

Remember, you are First Marines Not all the communists in hell can overrun you!

-Chesty Puller

[jinelson]

THE FIGHTING FIRST MARINES

by Jim Curtis

OH SAY MARINE ALL DRESSED IN GREEN
WITH RIFLE BY YOUR SIDE
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THE TWO OF YOU
CAN TURN THE BATTLE'S TIDE
MISS IT ISN'T JUST THE TWO OF US
ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS THAT WAY
MARINES THAT GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR YOU
FIGHT WITH US EVERY DAY
AND SO YOU SEE THE ENEMY
DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A CHANCE
CAUSE THERE'S SEVERAL THOUSAND LEATHERNECKS
HERE TO KICK HIS ASS
OH SAY MARINE ALL DRESSED IN GREEN
WITH RIFLE BY YOUR SIDE
YOU MUST BE ONE OF CHESTY'S BOYS
YOUR HEART IS FILLED WITH PRIDE !

[jinelson]

He was only 19

by GySgt Marvin Bush USMC Retired

He was an only son and he was only 19,
as long as he could remember he wanted to be a Marine.

Then one day he decided to enlist, in the service of his choice,
his parents weren't too happy, you could hear it in their voice.

Mom and dad, this is what I have dreamt to do, so please do not try to stop me, I will make you proud that I went, you just wait and see.

He finished at the top of his platoon, his graduation was really loud,
When he came home on leave, his parents were very proud.

When he got orders to go to a land that he had never seen,
to a land very far away, he was only 19.

When he arrived in Vietnam, the weather was cold and damp.
The helicopter landed on the pad and the Marines ran down the ramp.

They looked around and saw the terrain was dark and green,
Just a bunch of raw recruits, they were only 19.

They were sent to an outpost, up on top of a hill;
they were told to store their gear and take cover if they didn't want to get killed.

They were issued ammunition and two full canteens,
a bunch of gung ho grunts, they were only 19.

Then when the battle began, he took a shot to the head,
The Corpsman went to his aid, but he was already dead.

Now he's on his way back home, from the land that he had never seen,
From the horrors of a war, he was only 19.

When the aircraft landed at the airport, they offloaded his casket draped with an American Flag, A detachment of Marines were there to honor their fallen comrade.

He was laid to rest in a place that honored our brave Marines,
On a spot high on a hill, he was only 19.

[jinelson]

A Marine Poem

Kai Laemoa

Honor, courage and commitment as one is Pride
so pure and strong as a stallion at full stride
Its grace and beauty like an eagle soars through the sky
pride that is seen in every Marines eye

To hear the words of our nations hymn brings tears of delight
our stars and stripes waving in the breeze, a heartwarming sight
Young children with innocent faces, hands on their heart
our veterans saluting, remembering how they fought their part

These are but a few privileges we Americans have every day
we have choices to believe in God and the choice to pray
our troops are fighting with pride for this gift to you
let us show them the power behind the red, white and blue

Support our sons and daughters, husbands and wives
who are fighting for justice and freedom with their lives
Lets not forget about that awesome feeling of pride
let us unite as a nation and stand strong side by side

[recruitcampbell]

I just have to say thank you to those of you who have gone to iraq and other wars and i hope that i will soon have somebody looking up to me like i am to you.

[jinelson]

My name is Bryce Walters. Im from comanche texas and Im 18 years old. Im enlisted in the Marines and ship out for San Diego on July 20th of 2007. My older step brother is also in the Marines and currently serving in Baghdad. I wrote this poem to my family so they would understand why im making this choice that others are too scared to make.
Bryce

Why?

by Bryce Walters Poolee USMC

There are people who don't understand
Who just don't realize
Why I'm doing what I am
And why I'll pay the price

I tell them someone's got to go
It might as well be me
But if you really want to know
I do it for Liberty

Because the freedom we all have
Didn't come for free
It was won with the lives
Of others just like me

Sons and daughters who gave it all
Who put it on the line
Some of whom would sadly fall
And leave us all behind

They left their friends and family
Doing what was right
Protecting those in need of help
That couldn't stand and fight

With honor shinning in their eyes
They held their chins up high
And now they're waiting for the day
When we will reunite

So as you see I made this choice
Because I love this land
And will defend it with my own life
Until the very end

So mom and dad and sis and bub
I have to leave you now
And if we never meet again
I hope I made you proud

So if your wondering who I am
Or if these words I mean
I'll simply say just one thing
I'm a United States MARINE

Very well said Poolee well said indeed!

Jim

[jinelson]

THE AMERICAN DREAM

By: Sergeant Aaron M. Gilbert

Through all the fires,
Through all the pain,
The Marines stand tall,
To fight once again.

Always on call,
The Presidents own.
Always fighting,
To protect our home.

My life for our freedom,
My freedom to you,
These are gifts that we give,
For the Red White and Blue.

We die for you,
We die for them,
We do not complain,
About where or when.

For this is our job,
To fight around the world
And give the gift of our freedom
To every boy and every girl.

And yes peaceful solutions,
Can not always be found,
To free a trapped people,
From the terror around.

So we fought in this war,
With resolve in our hearts,
To help Iraq's people
Have a new and free start.

So speak of your "Peace,"
And how war is so wrong,
But shut your face when we're called
To give out the freedom we've won.

For you did not fight,
And you did not bleed.
And you did not die,
For the American dream.

[JSam]

So we fought in this war,
With resolve in our hearts,
To help Iraq's people
Have a new and free start.

So speak of your "Peace,"
And how war is so wrong,
But shut your face when we're called
To give out the freedom we've won.

For you did not fight,
And you did not bleed.
And you did not die,
For the American dream.

Man... you people have some powerful stuff here.

[jinelson]

Leatherneck Visitations

Cal Atwood USMC

Here in this quiet plenitude of life,
surrounded by sweetwater oaks
and splendid truth-blue hydrangeas
and grass plucked free of weeds
by slender fingers
and orchids taller than my carbine.

Marines come wandering here
whose blood bled through my hands
some sixty years ago;
they wonder how I reached
these golden beaches
after the flaming ones we knew.

They laugh at me some, they jest -
no envy in their visit here -
they come to find
the love they missed.

The kisses on my lips are meant for me
but also them.
Their pictures on the wall
and all the other ones behind my eyes
tell them they have every right
to come here,
help themselves to beer,
the whiskey, the cheese.

The Frigidaire is theirs, the books,
my uniform, my Kabar on the bar.
How honored we you come -
keep coming here.

[jinelson]

A Marine Corps Poem

by Author Unknown

There is a story, that I love to tell, of thirteen weeks of misery, thirteen weeks of hell, I was living in the city, working everyday, Until one day a man in blue, happend to cross my way, I signed my name, upon the dotted line, Packed all my trash, got on the plane, Off to serve my time. They sent me to an Island, Where they made Marines, They say a thousand boys may come, But only men may leave, They issued all my gear, Combat boots and skivy shirts, In a few short hours, They had me in the dirt, My Drill Instructor, Trained me rough and hard, He taught me how to fight, He taught me how to march. In three short months, As long as it had seemed, I finally had earned, The Title of Marine, How well I remember, Graduation Day, As I left I swore, I wouldn't be back this way, I went to my Drill Instructors, And gave them my hand, They made this boy a Man. I served my time proudly, Out in the FMF, But back at Parris Island, There was something I felt I left, So I'm back a second time, A smokey in my hand, Training U.S. Marine Recruits, The vary best I can, I found out what I lost, In the very end, The making of Marines, Down Where It All Began.

[HABU]

some good stuff there!!