Happy 236th Birthday To My Beloved Marine Corps

Some scars run deep. I've been out of the Corps longer than I was ever in, and I still feel a part of it. That, my friend, is when you know you're dealing with really effective brain washing. Heh.


My beloved Corps is 236 years old today. Semper Fi, and Happy Birthday to my fellow Tuefelhunden.

Here's the annual message from the Commandant of the Marine Corps, along with the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.



Dakota Meyer was awarded the Medal of Honor this year. His citation reads as follows...


"The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

CORPORAL DAKOTA L. MEYER
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

For service as set forth in the following

A light blue neck ribbon with a gold star shaped medallion hanging from it. The ribbon is similar in shape to a bowtie with 13 white stars in the center of the ribbon.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the repeated risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a member of Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 8 September 2009. When the forward element of his combat team began to be hit by intense fire from roughly 50 Taliban insurgents dug-in and concealed on the slopes above Ganjgal village, Corporal Meyer mounted a gun-truck, enlisted a fellow Marine to drive, and raced to attack the ambushers and aid the trapped Marines and Afghan soldiers. During a six hour fire fight, Corporal Meyer single-handedly turned the tide of the battle, saved 36 Marines and soldiers and recovered the bodies of his fallen brothers. Four separate times he fought the kilometer up into the heart of a deadly U-shaped ambush. During the fight he killed at least eight Taliban, personally evacuated 12 friendly wounded, and provided cover for another 24 Marines and soldiers to escape likely death at the hands of a numerically superior and determined foe. On his first foray his lone vehicle drew machine gun, mortar, rocket grenade and small arms fire while he rescued five wounded soldiers. His second attack disrupted the enemy’s ambush and he evacuated four more wounded Marines. Switching to another gun-truck because his was too damaged they again sped in for a third time, and as turret gunner killed several Taliban attackers at point blank range and suppressed enemy fire so 24 Marines and soldiers could break-out. Despite being wounded, he made a fourth attack with three others to search for missing team members. Nearly surrounded and under heavy fire he dismounted the vehicle and searched house to house to recover the bodies of his fallen team members. By his extraordinary heroism, presence of mind amidst chaos and death, and unselfish devotion to his comrades in the face of great danger, Corporal Meyer reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Outstanding.

Semper Fi,
John Bear Ross
Brokedown Former Marine Corporal
0331, Machinegunner, 1995-2001

Comments

Dallas Walker said…
You're never a former Marine.
John Bear Ross said…
Eh...kinda.

"Former Marine" is/was an acceptable term when I was in, describing your post-Corps status if you received an honorable discharge, but you didn't retire.

The Commandant says we (Formers) can call ourselves "Veteran Marines," but I never went to the big show, so I don't like to call myself a veteran. To me, and this is just my opinion, that status is reserved for guys who went to the combat zone.

I wrote the blank check when I enlisted in 1994. Uncle Sam just didn't cash it in during my time of service, despite my fervent prayers for war. ;)

So, while the credo "Once a Marine, always a Marine," is true, "Former Marine" fits me. Others use "Prior-service Marine," but "former" sums it up without a hyphenated mouthful.

All in all, it's no big deal, in the larger scheme of things.

Semper Fi, and I appreciate the sentiment.

Best,
JBR

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