Question to all the Old Salts

[cycoe]

Whats up everybody? I am new to this forum and got a quick question. After serving my 4 yrs, I decided to move on to what I thought were bigger and better things. Holy crap was I wrong. But, thankfully I finally found my niche. I went back to school and got my EMT-Basic certification. I now work on an ambulance and I love it. I get to play Doc now. Ha ha. My question is this: When I am at work, I often pick up former Marines from all eras. (WWII, Korea, Nam, and later.) Now I don't have much of a problem talking to the younger jarheads, but to be honest I don't know how to strike up a conversation with an older Marine. I am just in awe when I find out that they were in Korea or Vietnam. (I picked up a Frozen Chosen vet once and just stared at him, stupified.) I thank God every day for what they did and for giving me the chance to be what I am today. I don't want to embarass them or maybe bring back bad memories or sound like a boot and ask something stupid like "Did you kill anybody?" I served during peacetime and have no combat experence. So, should I just ignore the fact that they were in a conflict, or try to talk to them? And while I'm on the subject, should I be feeling the anamosity I feel toward these sh**birds I find were kicked out of the Corps for going U.A. or dope or other crap. I may be a PFC but I still got my Honorable. Well I guess my quick question turned into a long one but what the hell. Thanks for the help.

[Zulu 36]

No problem with the "old guys." Just thank them for their service and mention you were in the Corps for four. Things will usually flow from there. If not, then drop the subject. Some may be too sick to tell sea stories (few Marines are that sick, but...) others still have painful memories they're still working out.

I was an EMT/paramedic for eight years working part-time for a private company. Sometimes the old Marine Corps background is a help. We had to convey a guy who had gone absolutely nuts and was restrained to the max. He started threatening that he used to be a Marine and when he got loose he'd kill us all. I mentioned that I too had been a Marine. His whole attitude changed and he became conversational with me. He knew the right things so I think he really had been a Marine and we actually had a nice conversation chatting about our different times in the Corps (he was a Korean War vet). My partner thought I'd hit the guy with a club and knocked him out he went so quiet. He promised me that he would behave for the staff at the mental hospital and was doing OK when we left.

[mcrd67]

A Semper Fi..... Welcome Home ........

[jinelson]

No problem one thing about Marines we are all equally in awe of those that went before and after us. One question though is it even possible to embarass a Marine?

;)

[GySgtRet]

Zulu 36 said all that needed to be said. jinelson, glad to see you back in the mix. Where the heck have you been...??? And I agree with you can you really embarass a Marine...???

[jbrocatomarine]

Zulu 36 hit the target,cycoe, I can't improve on what he said

[BamaFan]

Why not just say " It's an honor to meet you " ...thats what I say . I did 8 years from 82-91 served in Beirut and The Storm . I have an Uncle who served Korea and is one of the lone survivors from Pork Chop Hill..

[BamaFan]

OOoops ,,,,,,,I tell him it's an Honor every time I see him....

[tomleighkendall]

Offer him a drink, It may be me/ thanks for picking me up and taking me home/ Semper fi/

[drumcorpssnare]

Whenever I find myself in the presence of another Marine, I just say, "Semper Fi, Marine." That at least opens the door to further conversation. Then, they can start flappin' their gums, if they want to.

That is all.:usmc:

[Camper51]

Whenever I find myself with another Marine, usually identified by his hat or some other item of apparel having the Marine Corps emblem on it, I just say "Semper Fi, Marine" and let things flow from there. I have had a lot of great conversations start that way.

I always thank them for their service no matter when they served (because it doesn't matter), or where they served. To me someones having served in the Corps is more than enough justification for thanks, whether they served in WWII (met one of those day before yesterday) or if they just got back from the sandbox, or just got out yesterday and never saw combat...

[Poppy]

I too am an EMT-Paramedic and when I meet a fellow Marine, whether caring for them or meeting them on the street, "Semper Fi" is all it takes to get the ball rolling. I served for 17 years in the Corps and that training and experience has helped me tremendously in dealing with all patients.
Semper Fi
Poppy
Oklahoma
:flag:

[Chewy]

SF works for me

[vfitch]

Semper FI Marine and it usually goes from there.
:flag:

[fthicklen]

"Semper Fi" is the call every Marine answers.

[6yrforMar]

Usually when you can ID another Marine by a Cap,belt buckle or T-shirt etc. A Semper Fi greeting with a handshake starts great conversations.

[iamcloudlander]

Being one of the "older Marines" I find it very satisfying when a younger Marine--active or former--comes up to me and introduces himself. It usually doesn't take long at all before we begin to feel as if we have known each other for a long time. One thing about Marines is that they love to talk to another Marine regardless of his age etc. Always getting invited to coffee get togethers around town by groups of Marines also as stated in another post Marines aren't bothered by embarrassment

[6yrforMar]

When I am working my part time job at a large home improvement store,I meet lots of people especially former Marines,it seems to me that we all are held together with a common thread The USMC,the age of the Marine does not really matter.I have met Former [legend]Marines that fought on Gaudlecanal,Tarawa,Iwo Jima,Korea,Vietnam,peacetime,Iraqi-Freedom to present.We are all the same,except for the time frame we served.

[Osotogary]

Being that I was never in the Marine Corps but I do have a son who proudly served I would never call myself "an Old Salt"...I might just call myself "an Old Coot". LOL
Anyway, I personally have had Marines come up to me when I'm by my truck, which has a "Proud Parent of a U.S. Marine" decal on rear window, and say, "Semper Fi". I aways respond, "On behalf of my son and his fellow Marines...thank you". With that in mind, I have often walked up to people who were wearing Marine Corps t-shirts or covers and asked, "Which Battalion and Regiment were you assigned?" To my surprise and dismay most have said that the weren't in the Marine Corps or Navy Seals etc., etc. Then I say to myself, "Why the poop are these people wearing clothes/covers that are identifying them as U.S. Marines etc. when they aren't?", but that's another topic and ball of wax.
All in all, it is not too surprising that family members of Marines, past and present, and Marines develop a bond of mutual respect. May it always be that way.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Perhaps they are wearing the stuff just to show support. Nothing wrong with that, esp if they readily admit not serving.

BTW, "Semper Fi" is always what I use....and it always works...I've yet to meet a Marine that doesn't want to swap sea stories...

[6yrforMar]

Semper Fi and a handshake works everytime.

[Camper51]

I was just leaving a fine restaurant last night that was honoring all veterans with a free entree when another former Marine spotted my cap ahd hailed me with a loud "Semper Fi, Marine". This led to a conversation of at least 15 minutes while my Army buddy and our wives stood around haplessly while we reminisced about the places where we had been in the Corps. We both kind of wondered why there wasn't a loud roar coming from out brother Marines who we knew had to be around somewhere drinking up a storm as Marines do (well I had, ummm, lemonade)

Yeah, a good hearty Semper Fi will do it every time...

[tomleighkendall]

I got out in 63, OLD Marines are thinking like young MARINES. Lets do what we can and do it together! as the OLD SALTs said to me "GUNG HO" we work well together. I found a simple Semper Fi got the job done.

[Old Marine]

Offer him a shot of Ever Clear and he will talk your leg off.

[Airfares]

Being one of the "older Marines" I find it very satisfying when a younger Marine--active or former--comes up to me and introduces himself. It usually doesn't take long at all before we begin to feel as if we have known each other for a long time. One thing about Marines is that they love to talk to another Marine regardless of his age etc. Always getting invited to coffee get togethers around town by groups of Marines also as stated in another post Marines aren't bothered by embarrassmentI can identify with what you've said and agree completely! :banana:

[JohnEaceHunt]

gy sgt ret, I know you or anyone else can not embarase me. What people think and do, are usually two different things. Semper Fi, Ready-App.