Why I joined the Corps

[EGTSpec]

Allways was a follower. Wanted to be a leader. Lacked the self confidence. Got it in the Corps, but as I've aged and mellowed, I've found I'm back to being a follower. But I'm damn good at it. Thanks to the Marines.

[03Foxtrot]

My Dad retired as a Sgt. Major USMC in January 1968 after 23 years in the Corps and I quit college and enlisted in March of '68. He did not expect or encourage or probably want me in the Marines, but I felt an obligation to my country and what else could I do. What pushed me over the line of hesitation was the photos of Marine wounded being evacuated from Hue on top of a tank, during Tet 1968, I believe Life Magazine published them on the cover. I believed in my country and the Marine Corps before arrival in Nam and after my return and discharge, I believed in almost nothing but myself and my brother grunts I served with.
Semper Fi

[bilesga]

Wow!! Seems we all have pretty simular stories on "why" we joined the Corps. Mine is little different from the one's I've read here. Quit High School, didn't have a clue on what to do, tired of being at home...da da da, so I first spoke to the Army, the Navy, then to the Corps, best decision of my life! Called home, told them I was joining the Marines, and got laughed at! You won't make it, they are too tough! Went into Boot Camp, got my GED, was a requirement at the time,then on through training and prooved them all wrong! The bad part was...I was the only recruit at graduation, that had no family in attendance! I said to hell with them and never looked back! The Marines became my new family! Semper Fi

[thebladegirl]

Circa 1961: I met a man when I was 4 years old. My Mom was divorced and she was dating him. Nice guy, took my sister and I to the movies with them. My Mom married him. He became my "Dad". He was a hard worker and had served in the Marines. He had a picture of himself and his friends in uniform that was displayed proudly. A picture of 3 buddies and him. Everyone in the picture had been killed except for him. He served in Korea. He taught me of the pride and honor of the Marines. He raised my sister and I as his own children. When I graduated high school and was thinking about what I could do with my life I needed to look no further than my "Dad" SSGT Daniel H. Parrow. I knew I wanted to be just like "Dad". We (I speak of myself, my "Dad", and my brothers and sisters of Our Corps) have Honor, Disipline, and Integrity. "Dad" passed away in 1985 but his belief in our Corps and Country live in me. My "Dad" became more than my Dad, he became my Father, my Idol, and my Brother Marine. God Bless you Dad, Semper Fi Brother.

This is so nice. I am sure your Dad must have been so proud of you. Sounds like he was a good father and raised you well. The world could use more fathers like that.

[ABDULA]

Yes you are right
good post

[Cpl Heglar]

When I was a youngin I had no mentor and basically was longing for a Grandfather figure so I hung out with a Marine Charles Bertram. Col. Bertram had a 1 acre garden when he was 86, Still to this day I try to have a 1 acre garden. Charles looked at me one day and strayed from his many stories in the military and stated he had been in WWI WWII and the Korean war. I said really. He said look at my eye. I looked and it did not move with the other it was glass. He stated when he and his driver was going back to the base in Korea a mortar hit a tree and shrapnel hit his driver killing him instantly hitting him in his forhead and peeling his skull back. He put his skull back on like a hat and moved his driver over and drove 1.5 miles to the hospital where he got umpteen hundred stitches and his new eye. I was so inspired by this old guy I joined right after high school.

Thinking of you Col. Bertram

Cpl. Kev

[LuisMatos]

I joined the Marines in 1989 because my cousin was a Marine and my boss at work was a Marine and I was sick and tired of them two telling me, " They are going to kick your butt and you wont make it " I took that to the heart started running and join the Marines a month later. It was true, they kicked my ass me coming out of NY but I did make it and Loved it. Got out in 1993 and to this day I regret that move. In boot-camp out instructors always said you going to see some action soon and you better get your arses in shape!! WE did in, we went to the Gulf War.

[tmoquin]

one half was john Waynes fault,,, The other half was my Azz Hole brother saying I couldn't make it. I guess that is 100%. "Cept for I loved my momma, apple pie, and my country. Thats the other half of the 100%.

LONG LIVE THE MAGNIFICENT BASTARDS AND THANKS FOR YOUR SREVICE.

[jannypan]

Now in 1991 the ONLY reference that I ever had to Marine Corps Boot camp was Full Metal Jacket and Horror stories of those who have been through it....Plus our Marine Corps recruiters were great, their attitude was "Don't waste our time if your not serious" Best decision I ever made was going in the Marine Corps.....worst was getting out in '96.....Semper Fi!................By the way, My best friend got out of his enlistment to the Army and joined the Corps 6 months after I went to boot camp...He was impressed about something when we were hanging out after my graduation from Parris Island!Buy Tera Gold
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[blockhead5]

My brother was in the Marines and I just thought if he could do it so could I. In my later years I've come to realize that maybe I just enlisted for myself if no other reason.

[Range Coach]

Christmas Day of 1984 was -20 degrees, 18" of snow on the ground, frozen water lines and over 100 head of cattle that needed water. I was tired of college, tired of farming, tired of being cold, and tired of carrying five gallon buckets of water to the water trough. I went to the recruiting station on January 8th and the only office that was open was the Marines. I told the recruiter that I wanted to go somewhere warm and, the day after my last day of college, I was shipped off to San Diego.

[vets rep]

I walked into the USMC Recruiting Office.

The first thing the Recruiter says to me is.

"Hello, welcome to the Marine Corps Recruiting Office...Before we begin, I want you to take a look over at that wall"

(He points to a USMC T-shirt that has been pinned to the wall)

On the t-shirt is a picture with a large open hand. And in the hand there were two large steel balls. Underneath the hand there was this written message. "It takes a pair of these to become a Marine"

Well After I looked at the picture the recruiter says to me. "Well, if you don't got a pair of those, you might as well leave this office and go to see the Army Recruiter across the hall."

Damn! There was no way I could leave that office, he got me. A few weeks later I was standing on the yellow foot prints.

True Story -- F-U if you don't believe me.

[montana]

didnt join...was drafted

[Carpshooter]

didnt join...was drafted

You were not alone , but after all these years , I got to admit that it was a good thing as it would set the way I lived , rather than be a career retired drunken womanless old doggy with no offsprings with my last name , who made alot of overseas tours to Germany !

[AnthonyMurphy]

Well different people different ideas. Someone asked me last few days ago why did you join marine when there is lot of different interesting career opportunity outside. I feel about my career prospects, and I feel yes there is lot of career opportunity outside but in my career i have a thrill, adventure, chill and status. And this is something different from the world. I always feel I made a correct decision to choose it.Get it more white kitchen cabinets