My oldest son has graduated from boot camp and has become a Marine. I never dreamed a child of mine would ever do this so it was quite the shock. But I always said I want for my children that which would make them happy and so ... I share my pride in him for doing what he wants and taking a leap into this new life adventure.
"We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must -- at that moment -- become the center of the universe." ... -Elie Wiesel at Nobel Peace Prize presentation. (copied from Philip McGeath's facebook quotes)
Corporal Philip D. McGeath, killed in action Feb. 18, 2012, Kajaki, Afghanistan
Phyllis's baby died in Afghanistan last week. I would like to hold that mom in my arms and ... I don't know what. Nobody can make it better. I know this family because when my Marine went to boot camp, I became part of a parents', loved ones' group and we shared and supported one another there. This young man is the brother of one who graduated from boot camp with my son. He was killed by suicide bombers in Afghanistan.
In his profile on facebook Philip said, "If you're in the arms of a Marine you're either in the last moments of your life....or the safest place you'll ever be."
An anti-tank guided missilman, he liked bodybuilding, running and Peyton Manning. He was a member of Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines.
He had a wife Sarah, an older sister and was the oldest of six brothers, three of whom were Marines.
Marine Corps aviation had its inception on 22 May 1912, when Lieutenant
Alfred A. Cunningham reported to the Naval Aviation Camp, Annapolis, Maryland.
The following July, he was ordered from Annapolis to the Burgess Company plant
at Marblehead, Massachusetts, where actual flight training was conducted. He
soloed on 1 August 1912, after 2 hours and 40 minutes of instructions. Thus
Lieutenant Cunningham, whose Naval Aviator Number was 5, became Marine Aviator
Number 1. A brief history of Marine Corps aviation
Marines can dig up the Christmas spirit just about anywhere in the world it seems.
Sgt. Maj. Wayne Rumore, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment sergeant major, and Staff Sgt. Kyle Provencher, jump platoon commander, 3rd Bn., 23rd Marines, gather around a Christmas tree, Dec. 25, 2008, at Expeditionary Patrol Base Tanner. Marines living in austere conditions still found a way to celebrate the holiday with minimal assets. Marine Corps News
At home, these Marines work pretty hard at Christmas too. In case you haven't seen it on TV yet ...
It looks like my Marine and his family have a nice bright town to hang in for the season ... seems a lot of people have gotten into the spirit.
President Barak Obama visited the Marines in Hawaii on Christmas day wishing them both Merry Christmas and "Mele Kalikimakas" (Merry Christmas in Hawaiian.). The family attended the Kaneohe Marine Base chapel service, chatted with Marines and Obama played with babies, including one who stuck his hand in the president's mouth. The photo is from last year, but they did this again this year.
Semper Fi and Good Night
Written by Jessica, Wife of a 1/7 Marine
Twas the nite before Christmas,
they lived far from home,
in dark,sandy quarters,
but not all alone
After clearing the checkpoints,
and with presents to give,
I wanted to see the Marines
Who in these quarters did live.
As I looked all about,
an awesome sight I did see,
some of the few and the proud,
U.S. Marines
Some young, some old,
with boots full of sand,
Marine Corps brothers
with rifles in hand.
Seeing bravery, courage,
and toughness of mind,
a sobering thought came thru my mind
For these quarters were different,
housing hardcharging Marines;
Who make it through
with various routines
The only easy day was the one they just got thru;
Uncommon valor, still a common virtue
Yet their spirits were high,
Minds and bodies were strong;
Despite the months
that were trying and long
These were the heroes
of whom I had read;
Whose main purpose was
to make the enemy dead
I knew the Americans
who i saw on this night
owed their lives to these men,
the first ones to fight.
Soon 'cross the country,
Americans would rise;
ready to celebrate
with joy in their eyes
Each one enjoyed freedom,
each day of the year;
because of Marines...
like the ones I saw here
I had to wonder
how many deeds went uknown,
of the men spending Christmas
in a land far from home
Thinking of this,
brought tears to my eyes;
my knees hit the deck,
and i started to cry
Some Marines turned to me,
saying "santa don't cry,"
"We're here for a purpose,
we'll get these bad guys"
We fight for freedom,
each other, the Corps;
and for this reason,
we'll win this war
Before turning away,
they said "This is our job."
I couldn't control it,
I continued to sob
I continued to watch
and silently weep;
seeing the esprits de corps
that ran so deep
I wanted to stay
on that cold desert night,
with these warriors for freedom,
so willing to fight
But a Marine came to me,
eyes steady and voice sure,
"It's Twenty-five December,
So carry on Santa, All is secure."
In that instance I knew,
the cause was just and right,
"Merry Christmas Marines;
Semper Fi and good night"
On January 21, 2010, the U.S. Marine Corps wrapped nearly seven years in Iraq on Saturday, handing over duties to the Army and signaling the beginning of an accelerated withdrawal of American troops as the U.S. turns its focus away from the waning Iraqi war to a growing one in Afghanistan. Marines leave
Now the withdrawl is done, the flag is down and who knows what will come.
The U.S. military officially ended its war in Iraq on Thursday, rolling up its flag at a low-key ceremony with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta nearly nine bloody years after the invasion that ousted dictator Saddam Hussein.U.S. withdraws
Members of the U.S. military retire its ceremonial flags signifying the end of their presence in Iraq at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center in Baghdad December 15, 2011. The U.S military officially ended its war in Iraq on Thursday, packing up a military flag at a ceremony with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta nearly nine years after the invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein. This ceremony is called the "casing of the colors" and signifies the departing and inactivation of the U.S. military's presence in Iraq. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
The U.S. war in Iraq — a conflict that killed more than 4,500 American troops, cost $800 billion and divided the nation — officially ended with a ceremony held under tight security.
"To be sure, the cost was high — in blood and treasure for the United States and also for the Iraqi people," Defense Secretary Leon Panetta called. "But those lives have not been lost in vain."
The fighting resulted, Panetta said, in a "free and sovereign Iraq." U.S.A Today
I am a day late I know. But this is one of those days that can't be left behind easily. Another day that is remembered and soon is not remembered. It's like Sept. 11, or landing on the moon, or ... But now it has been 70 years and those people who can say exactly where they were that day are rare now. In fact, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association is disbanding, only 120 people attended the commemoration ceremony of the organization this year.
"The 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Wednesday drew fewer people to Honolulu than for the 60th or 50th anniversaries. The main reason — there are far fewer survivors of the attack who are still alive today, and they are now in their late 80s and 90s." Pacific News
The United States Marine Corps, of course, was right there too.
The Marine Barracks at Pearl Harbor comprised a Barracks Detachment and two companies, A and B, the men living in a comfortable three-story concrete barracks. Company A manned the main gates at the Submarine Base and Navy yard, and other "distant outposts," providing yard security, while Company B enforced traffic regulations and maintained proper police and order under the auspices of the Yard Police Officer. In addition, Marines ran the Navy Yard Fire Department. Elements of Marine defense battalions made Pearl Harbor their home, too, residing in the several 100-man temporary wooden barracks buildings that had been completed during 1940 and 1941. Less commodious but no less important was the burgeoning airbase that Marines of Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 2 (later 21) had hewn and hammered out near Barbers Point -- Ewa Mooring Mast Field, home for a Marine aircraft group consisting of fighting, scout-bombing, and utility squadrons. Infamous Day
A 5-inch/25-caliber open pedestal mount antiaircraft gun -- manned here by sailors on board the heavy cruiserAstoria (CA-34) in early 1942 -- was the standard battleship and heavy cruiser antiaircraft weapon at Pearl Harbor. The mount itself weighed more than 20m000 pounds, while the gun fired a 53.8-pound projectile to a maximum range (at 45 degrees elevation) of 14,500 yards. It was a weapon such as this that Sergeants Hailey and Wears, and Private First Class Curran, after the sinking of their ship, Oklahoma (BB-37), helped man on board Maryland (BB-46) on 7 December 1941.
At Ewa every Marine plane was knocked out of action in the first attack. Two squadrons of Japanese fighters swept in from the northwest at 1,000 feet and dived down to rake the aircraft parked near the runways with machine-gun and cannon fire. Pilots and air crewmen ran to their planes in an attempt to get them into the air or drag them out of the line of fire, but the Japanese returned again and again to complete the job of destruction. When the enemy fighters drew off at about 0825 they left behind a field littered with burning and shot-up aircraft. The men of [Marine Aircraft Group] MAG-21 recovered quickly from their initial surprise and shock and fought back with what few rifles and machine guns they had. Salvageable guns were stripped from damaged planes and set up on hastily improvised mounts; one scout-bomber rear machine gun was manned to swell the volume of antiaircraft fire. Although the group commander, Lieutenant Colonel Claude A. Larkin, had been wounded almost as soon as he arrived at the field that morning, he continued to coordinate the efforts to meet further enemy attacks. Navy History
Another day in the life a warlike species, another day to "never forget."
Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941View of the Parade Ground at the Pearl Harbor Marine Barracks, between 0930 and 1130 hrs. on 7 December 1941, with smoke in the background rising from burning ships.
Note armed Marines at left, awaiting the possible return of Japanese aircraft. Navy photos
Some surprises here, and some where you just have to say, "well that clarifies a lot." Actually, there are so many on the list, I have only listed four, Wickipedia has a great list, interesting ... wikipedia list of famous United States Marines
Hussein Aidid
Current Leader of Somali
"One of the many oddities in this battered capital is that a son of Gen. Mohamed Farrah Aidid, the Somali faction leader who humiliated the United States in 1993, was a naturalized American citizen, not to mention a U.S. Marine.
But that bizarre footnote took on a new dimension after the general died of gunshot wounds he had received in battle. His clan elders, meeting behind closed doors, selected the same 33-year-old son, Hussein Mohamed Farrah, to become the new president of Aidid's self-proclaimed republic. It was a strange choice. Farrah was living an obscure and mundane life in a Los Angeles suburb, going to school part time and working as a clerk in the West Covina engineering department for $9 a hour. The closest he had come to his father's way of life was when he served as a corporal in the Marine reserves......" Read more at: How a U.S. Marine Became a Warlord in Somalia
Bugs Bunny
The U.S. Marine Corps was so flattered that Bugs Bunny decides to become a marine in the Supper Rabbit film that they insisted that the character be officially inducted into the force as a private, which was done, complete with dogtags. The character was regularly promoted until Bugs was officially "discharged" at the end of World War II as a Master Sergeant. Famous Marines B
Gene Hackman Corporal
(1930 - ) Biography from Baseline's Encyclopedia of Film Occupation: Actor Birth Name: Eugene Alden Hackman Born: January 30, 1930, San Bernardino, CA
Hailed by The New York Times Magazine as "Hollywood's Uncommon Everyman," Hackman is a formidable American character actor turned leading man. Like Spencer Tracy, his "regular guy" looks and manner make it easy for men to identify with his persona of outraged common sense. Hackman's performances are consistently natural, and he excels at playing ordinary men caught up in moments of unexpected crisis. He has been one of America's leading film actors since the 1970's.
Hackman quit high school at 16, lied about his age and joined the Marines. He was trained as a radio operator before being shipped overseas. When his unit's announcer was injured, Hackman stepped in and found radio a hospitable medium. After his discharge, he studied journalism and TV production at the University of Illinois on the GI Bill. Hackman moved to New York and attended the School of Radio Technique, supporting himself through a succession of odd jobs. He next worked as an announcer at small radio and TV stations across the country. Hackman did not decide on an acting career until, at age 30, he realized that his announcing skills would help him in the profession.Famous Marines H
Lee Harvey Oswald
Accused John F. Kennedy Assassin
Oswald was shot to death in the basement of Dallas Police headquarters while being transferred to the Dallas County Jail on November 24, 1963, by Jack Ruby, a local nightclub owner with significant political, police and organized crime connections. As a result, Oswald was denied his Constitutional right to a trial, which would have allowed him to defend himself against the murder charges and expose the conspirators. Oswald's body was ordered exhumed in 1981 after author Michael Eddowes brought suit in Texas to determine who was actually buried in Oswald's grave. The pathologists assigned to the case officially identified the body as Oswald's. However, the funeral director who originally buried the body insisted it could not be the same since the one he buried clearly showed a craniotomy, which had been done during autopsy, and the exhumed skull showed no craniotomy. Also, the pathologists used dental records to identify the corps, but ignored the fact that Oswald had lost a front tooth in a fight in high school (there is a photo of him in class with a gap-tooth smile, and many classmates remember the fight and the missing tooth). The exhumed skull had a full set of natural front teeth. Oswald left high school at age 17 to join the U.S. Marine Corps. Oswald enlisted in the Marines on October 24, 1956, six days after his 17th birthday. In boot camp, Lee was soon ridiculed for his bad marksmanship. His fellow Marines also nicknamed him "Oswaldkovitch" because of his open, apparent support of communism. That did not prevent the Marine Corps, however, from giving this unusual 17-year-old soldier radar training, security clearance and an assignment at Atsugi Air Base in Japan, the CIA's main station of operation in the Far East. The base was home to top secret U2 aerial surveillance spy missions over Russia. Although he was court-martialed twice in 1957, once for unauthorized possession of a pistol and once for pouring a drink on a sergeant, his "punishment" was minor and allowed him to be separated from his normal duties for a total of 48 days. On February 25, 1959, Oswald was given a Russian language test by the Marines. Seven months later, he was on his way to "defect" to the Soviet Union after several strange circumstances resulted in his rapidly obtaining a passport, discharge, unscheduled flights and visa. After AP and UPI wire service news stories appeared about her son's "defection," Lee's mother became convinced that he was working undercover as a U.S. agent.Famous Marines O
11/8/2011 By Lance Cpl. Chelsea Flowers Headquarters Marine CorpsCommandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos cuts the Marine Corps birthday cake during the cake cutting ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington Nov. 8. A sword is used to cut the cake to remind Marines that they are a band of warriors, committed to carrying the sword so that the nation may live in peace.
The founders of the United States of America made many decisions during the American Revolution. The Declaration of Independence being known by most people. Now, the founding of the Marine Corps is not known by most people. It was during the American Revolution that a committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, to write a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore. Approved on November 10, 1775, this resolution officially formed the Continental Marines.
In 1921 Gen. John A. Lejeune issued Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921. Gen. Lejeune's order summarized the history, mission, and tradition of the Corps.It further directed that the order be read to all Marines on 10 November of each year to honor the founding of the Marine Corps.Thereafter, 10 November became a unique day for U.S. Marines throughout the world.
Soon, some Marine commands began to not only honor the birthday, but celebrate it.
The first "formal" Birthday Ball took place on Philadelphia in 1925. Over the years the annual Birthday Ball grew and grew, taking on a life of its own.In 1952 the Commandant, Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr., formalized the cake-cutting ceremony and other traditional observances.For example, Marine Corps policy now mandates that the first piece of cake must be presented to the oldest U.S. Marine present.The second piece goes to the youngest Marine.Among the many such mandates is a solemn reading of the Commandant's birthday message to the Corps. Marine heritage
