10 November 2008

Happy Birthday to my fellow Devil Dogs, Jarheads, Yellow Legs, Gyrenes, Leather Necks…Marines!

From the minute that bus pulls onto the Island at 2:00am,

 

To when you step on those yellow footprints,

 

To the day you were re-born and earned the title “Marine,”

 

To the day they put you under…

You’ve got what precious few have ever had the privilege of holding.  The knowledge and pride of knowing that you served with some of the toughest, smartest, most loyal men and women on the face of the earth.  The knowledge that you earned and wore the finest uniform on the face of the earth.

You can say “I was that which others did not want to be. I went where others feared to go. And did what others failed to do.”

 

From Tun Tavern…

 

To the Modern Fleet Marine Force,

 

From the Revolutionary War,

 

to the Barbary Pirate Wars…

 

From World War I,

 

to the China Marines,

 

to you magnificent bastards of WWII,

 

From The Lebanon Marines (Hey Mike, Rybs and Ted),

 

through the current conflicts and countless skirmishes, battles and dust-ups in between,

 

In the air,

 

on land,

 

and at sea…

 

The U.S. Marines have been in every decisive and historic conflict in the history of this country.  And they have acquitted themselves with valor and honor and fierce determination.

I am intensely, fiercely proud of my service in the United States Marine Corps.  Not because of what I accomplished.  Because I was privileged and honored and awed to wear the same Eagle Globe and Anchor as Archibald Henderson, Dan Daly, Chesty Puller, John Basilone and Joe Foss.  And Tim Rybicki and Randy Beardsley and Mark Rausch.  And others.

U.S. Marines – No better friend, no worse enemy.

Hat tip to Mike the Marine for this video.

From the halls of Montezuma,
To the shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country’s battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine.

Our flag’s unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines.

Here’s health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we’ve fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven’s scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

 

Oh, and to all you who stand against this country…Come Get Some.

“Grunt” – Term of affection used to denote that grimy, filthy, dirt-encrusted, sweat-drenched, ripped-trousered, sleepy, tired,  beautiful little son of a bitch that has kept the wolf away from the door for over 230 years.”

 

Rick:  Still looking for you Brother.

 

Semper Fidelis.

 

That is all.

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