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October 27, 2004

"We're seeing history written with lightning"

Marine Dad Tony M. asks "Lord...what kind of son have we raised?" His narrative about a recent phone call gives you a look into the mindset of one Marine . . . and there are so many more just like him.

Another one of those calls out of the blue, Saturday afternoon (about 2 a.m., sandbox central time) We talked to Cpl Jeremy almost a half-hour. Amazing, in and of itself. But if you could've heard this kid. This was so inspiring, so scary, and so full of life... Cpl Jeremy said, once again, that he was fine. He said that his platoon has had about 1/3 casualties, but none of them were life threatening, during this tour. But he said, "I can't imagine a better time to be a Marine. We're seeing history written with lightning." And he talked at length about the whole esprit de corps, about how he was closer to his brother Marines than any bio brother he could've had. He talked about their hardships, their joys, about the pure exhiliration of being in the worst place in the worst country... He talked about IEDs, about how just about every convoy had experienced being bombed, but that the armor they had now was so effective ... he said that as long as you kept your head down, chances are you'd be fine... He talked about a buddy of his that a mortar round landed about 20 ft. away, and while shrapnel flew everywhere, this friend didn't even get so much as a scratch... And - VERY non-typically - he talked about the pride of being part of the best group of fighting men ever fielded. "I'll never, ever forget this," he said. He even (gasp!) talked about putting in some time as a RA while home at the end of this deployment. "None of those guys can say they've had two combat tours," he said. And he talked about "The Big One," what, to their minds, is just around the corner. "To think," says he, "that I may be part of one of the most significant offensives ever." Proud? You betcha. Scared? Witless. But, it seems to me that its not so much what kind of son WE'VE raised... it's how the United States Marine Corps has taken this shy, gangly, unassuming kid to the next level. I'm lost in admiration for him and his Corps. Semper Fi!

Posted by Deb at October 27, 2004 02:23 PM

Comments

My prayers are with each and every person fighting for our Great Country...they are the ones who make this country great. God bless the parents who raised them. We will NEVER forget.

Posted by: l. cox at October 28, 2004 05:41 PM

Oooh Rah! Great email. I also served in the Corps from 82-86 as a grunt. I didn't get a chance to see any action, but nevertheless, the Corps does something to you. It makes you grow up fast. Looking back on it, it was the best experience of my life.

Semper Fi,

TC

Posted by: Tim Clark at October 28, 2004 06:08 PM

Godspeed. And God bless.

Posted by: The Skipper at October 28, 2004 06:30 PM

Great, great, great post. Thanks

Posted by: JasonY at October 28, 2004 06:46 PM

God Bless this wonderful young American and ALL the people we have fighting for us. I Pray for them all each and every day and when push comes to shove these people are really all we have between us and those that would slaughter us in wholesale lots. SEMPER FI

Posted by: AL DAMORE at October 28, 2004 07:00 PM

Beautiful letter! Brought tears to my eyes.
Without a vision, the people shall perish.
Sounds like this young man has a vision.

Posted by: bethtopaz at October 28, 2004 07:06 PM

Great letter. May God be with him and your family. He is part of a history that is being written and what he is doing will make the world a better place for years to come.

Side note: There was not a happier day in my life than that sunny day I got out of the Marine Corps because I am not a military-type of person, but I still proud to say I am a Marine.

Posted by: USMC 62-65 at October 28, 2004 07:49 PM

Your son is the reason I am eternally optomistic about this country. In very generation there have been a significant number of young men and women who value things above and beyond themselves. Even USMC 62-65 is a part of that group. Bles you all.

ex-coastie 78-83

Posted by: Edward at October 28, 2004 10:30 PM

I was USAF, my dad was a Raider. He's gone now, but he would certainly be proud of your son. Every year when he attended the Marine Corps birthday dinner, they tried to make something special of his service, and his response was, "We're all MARINES, dammit." Gunny Jim would certainly enjoy hearing your son's stories. He rarely told battle stories, but frequently talked of the Marines he served with. gotta go, I'm tearing up.

Posted by: JorgXMcKie at October 29, 2004 06:25 AM

THANK YOU! I will probably never find the words to describe just how PROUD I am to be an American. MEN like this are the reason that I am able to live free and serve my community as a fire fighter. It truly does take a VERY special person to be a MARINE and while I am not that person, I am PROUD and HONORED to live in the same country as these men. I will NEVER forget the sacrifices made and lives GIVEN (not lost) to keep this country's "shining light on the hill" BURNING BRIGHT!

God Bless, God Speed, come home soon and SEMPER FIDELIS!

Smoke Eater - Fort Worth, TX

Posted by: Smoke Eater at October 29, 2004 08:33 AM

I was Airforce, (62-66), so I didn't have to be in harms way. Looking back it was a good time but these wonderful young men and women put me to shame. I can only support them from the sidelines and pray for them constantly. What
a time and God Bless the ones that are stepping forward to shoulder the load.
Just an Old Fart.
Go with Christ.

Posted by: Paul at October 30, 2004 08:45 AM

My uncle (he died in 1997) was in the USMC during the '50's. He was @ Paris Island during the Ribbon Creek incident. I always remember the fondness with which he recalled his service in the Marines.

I have never served, so I can't really say anything other than 'thanks' to all those who do serve, and particulary those who have been lost. I cringe at the thought of every injury and fatality, and hope that it would be the last.

I have severe doubts about the nation's resolve when it comes to the issue of dealing with radical Islamic terrorism. Though few, the voices of negativity may very well set the stage for a downturn, and it will prove far more difficult to recover from than Viet Nam.

Now, I view the Viet Nam conflict from the perspective of an observer, not really connected in any way with that particular time. If there is anything that I have learned about that war over the years, it is quite simple.

WIN.

Everything else can be negotiated, discussed, debated, tried, convicted and resolved after the dust settles and after the opposition has been thoroughly routed.

My father, whose military service was thankfully free of declared war, always points out, after many viewings of the History Channel, that the Imperial Japanese Army knew they faced an uphill battle when they experienced the resolve of the Marines @ Saipan. Resolve counts, far more than one would think.

Whether you agree or disagree with the administration's handling of the situation, it should be clear that ridding the world of Saddam Hussein and the barbaric murderers who would gladly take his place will send a message to the enemy: "We will not be tread upon! Provoke us and pay the price!"

Though many would say that Iraq did not represent an immediate threat, removing Saddam Hussein permanently prevented him from becoming an any threat. It cannot be known if the lives lost thus far can be balanced against any action Hussein might have taken. It can be known that the sanctions were not entirely effective, his appetite was unchanged and his capacity for causing harm was largely unchecked by the United Nations.

The absence of WMD within Iraq (I believe there were small volumes of suspected weaponry and they were moved to Syria before the outbreak of hostilities) is irrelevant in light of the continued violation of the 1991 cease fire agreement and the 1998 expulsion of the inspectors. In light of the September 11th attacks, that kind of risk could no longer be subordinated to other security issues.

The post-invasion security and the "plan to win the peace" may have been lacking, yet it would not be possible to plan for every contingency nor would it have been possible to police every square inch if Iraq.

The 'insurgency' can only buckle under the full force of the American military, and the restraint shown so far has likely prevented civilian casualties. Our troops can be expected to take only so much, and I hope that they bring about a swift end to the 'insurgency' that has brought so much pain to the people of Iraq.

I am proud to call these soldiers my fellow citizens, and I hope they all come home safe after finishing the job. The cost of cutting and running is just too high.

Peter C. Krieger

Posted by: Peter Krieger at November 1, 2004 07:46 PM