| Author | Message | ||
     Southernmarine |
We just spent a weekend remembering and honoring veterans of D-Day. My Grandfather served in WWII. I have never heard him talk about it. We've had several family gatherings and the topic of war, etc... always came up, not once have I ever heard anyone ask him about it, nor have I asked him. I left it up to him if he wanted to tell me. I figure that if he has unpleasant memories of the past, I don't want to bring them back up. God Bless all those who served and gave their lives for us. On to the main reason for my post. I've heard many times people talk about the difference between the young men and women of that era and those of today, how we are better trained, but some feel that the patriotism, the passion that we have for our country might not be as strong, that our young men and women care more for themselves and not others. Sometimes I wonder that myself of our new Marines. "Are they here because they want to serve, or are they here for a job and college money?" I was a Marine Recruiter from 1993-1996 and back then I had many young men and women who cared more about a job and what they could get for themselves. As a recruiter your duty is not to sell them a job, or college education, but to sell them on the idea of being a United States Marine and the intangibles that come with being a Marine. Although many liked what they heard, they wanted college or money. Since then I've seen what I have felt has been too many that have joined for the wrong reasons. War brings out uncommon valor in men and women, this war that we fight now has done so too many times, and will unfortunately will continue. One of my favorite quotes, and I paraphrase it, "There is no greater gift than for one to lay down their life for another." Here is a quote of an article in the Marine Times, 7 June 2004: RARE HONOR A corporal who was mortally wounded when he cupped his helmet over a grenade, saving fellow Marines from the blast, is being recommended for the Medal of Honor. Marine officials said information about Cpl. Jason L. Dunham's nomination for the award would be released if and when it is approved. According to a May 25 report in The Wall Street Journal, Dunham, 22, was struggling with an insurgent wielding a grenade when he warned off two other Marines on April 14. The corporal, with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, then placed his Kevlar helmet and body atop the grenade before it exploded. he died eight days later at Bethesda Naval Medical Center, Md. In a letter putting the Scio, N.Y. native forward for the nations's highest award for valor, Lt. Col Matthew Lopez said, "I deeply believe that given the facts and evidence presented, he clearly understood the situation and attempted to block the blast of the grenade from his squad members. His personal action was far beyond the call of duty and saved the lives of his fellow Marines." If awarded the medal, Dunham would be the first Marine recipient of the award since Vietnam, according to the Marine Corps Histroy and Museums Division. Dunham's parents, Deb and Don, said details they have learned about his life as a Marine in Iraq have comforted them. "We've gotten letters from men that served with him," Deb Dunham said. "We found out that the packages we sent him - Jason would share them with his men. [And] Jason would stand last in the chow line and wait for everyone else [in his squad] to go through "Those are the things that mean the most to us," she said. "We've been very, very impressed with how leadership skills so much surpassed a 22-year-old." God Bless the Dunham family, and thank you for raising such a fine, upstanding, and honorable young man. His fellow Marines, both there and here stateside, even those who did not know him, will miss him. | ||
| Bigj |
Thanx for the post | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
God bless ALL of you. FB | ||
| Bartimus |
Semper Fi !  | ||
| Seanp |
Don't tell the Army I said this, but Marines have always impressed the hell out of me. You guys definitely have something that the average joe in the Army doesn't. I respect that. May he rest in peace. Sean | ||
| Bomber |
God Speed corp (Sean -- given the source, I'll let your comment slide ;-}, beside, I agree with you) | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Word traveled quickly of this Marines heroism. Fair winds and following seas brother... Sean, To paraphrase a favorite song of mine: "If the Army and the Navy ever look on heavens scenes, They will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines" Semper Fidelis |
