Observations from After Boot Camp

Why did I join the Marines- Honor? Integrity? Feelings? We all enlisted for different reasons. I was in the thick of things during high school – living in Florida- the Cuban Missile Crises- some adults feared this time as they lived through World War 11- and saw ships torpedoed of Miami Beach – planes overhead day and night. Also, we as kids grew up with a lot of war movies on TV and the Movies as well. After my time in high school – was undecided as what I wanted to do = or where I was headed? Decided to join the Marines – one of my friends had a brother who was a Marine and came to visit his family. He was a little guy- but very confident and carried himself with a head held high- and approached a bully among us- and the guy was a big guy- and got in his face and told him to back off and stop pushing others around. The guy backed off as with all bullies – they do not want someone to challenge them. The Marines gave me confidence- and integrity- and taught me to work with others- and be compassionate too. Help those who need help- and be there for your comrades. Teamwork or Gung Ho! was important- and pick up the slack in a joint effort to overcome an obstacle. You are one out of many- but if one or two take the lead the others will follow- and you accomplish the mission or job at hand. I realize that as an athlete you are faced with a huge payday- but I would not take a knee- so to speak- I think it is disrespecting the FLAG and what it stands for!!! I understand that some take a knee to protest the police and in some instances racial inequality- but I feel this is the wrong forum to express your discontent this way in this manner. I also think our President is not correct in his manner of addressing this issue. We follow our leaders, but at what cost. Everything is not black and white either. I am a Marine from 1963- old timer and times change – weapons change- theaters of operations change- the enemy changes his way of fighting too! We are Marines and we adjust as always. Never thought of who I am or what I would be without being a Marine- Semper Fi! and God bless Our Marine Corps and our Country.