Ex vs Former Marine, not me
Sgt Grit,
Much has been written about being a Ex or Former US Marine, but after doing 4.5 years in the Corps, I am neither an Ex or Former Marine.
For I go by the title of a: Recovering US Marine and I am still in Recovery.
Since I am in Recovery, with some sort of Recovery plan to deal with my Marine Corps ways, for my family and love ones … everyday is a struggle for these good kind people. But with hope, kindest, care, happy thoughts, love, feelings, and other happy words & kind thoughts … I will get over being a US Marine, someday, maybe, if I try hard, I can kick it, I know that I can.
In the mean time I just tell people, when I am asked: are you an Ex-Marine, I say no, I am Recovery US Marine, I am still in Recovery. And some day, with time, hard work, doing some sort of recovery plan, that I will get over being a US Marine. Maybe, with time, it could take a while, I am working in that direction, I am trying, but someday I do hope, maybe with time to get out of recovery and no longer be a Recovering US Marine.
So in the time being; I still ring the ships bell for “all hands man your drinking stations, this is not a drill”, think fat kids should do rifle PT or throw square bales on a farm, my rifle is still my piece, if you say K-Bar … I giggle or grunt, I still like M543s, still have a house wife, a rubber lady, can rant and rave on command, I go to the Chow Hall Store, the head is a head, the shower is the rain room, still sweep and swab, and I can still find my sea bag, I think. For the sea bag, may have to field day below decks aka the basement but since winter is soon to be in MN that could happen.
So, make a Tee shirt out of that! Recovering US Marine. Maybe I should have copyrighted Recovering US Marine, before I told you. But hell, I am still in Recovery!
Take care, Semper Fi,
Pete Berg
Deerwood, MN
73 to 78
