It is that wonderful time of year again (10 November), where ALL DEVIL DOGS, current and former look around for a fellow Marine to say...
HAPPY 236th BIRTHDAY, MARINE!!
The year 2011 has brought us the 70th Anniversary (7 December 1941) of the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the 10th Anniversary (11 September 2001) of the Attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon & a Field in Pennsylvania!
The four events bring forward in our memories the Two Most Tragic and Horrific Terrorist Attacks on U.S. soil in United States history.
The tribute point this year from the Commandant of the Marine Corps & the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is the strength of all Marines... INDOMITABLE SPIRIT!
"INDOMITABLE SPIRIT" is the core of the United States Marine Corps and all Marines!
Socrates once said: "Ordinary people seem not to realize that those who really apply themselves in the right way to philosophy are directly and of their own accord preparing themselves for dying and death".
Since 1775, the United States Marines have made the world a safer and better place to live by doing just that.
I wished to share some of my favorite quotes & terms about the United States Marines...
** President Ronald Reagan said in 1985,
>>> Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem!
* "INDOMITABLE SPIRIT "
* "UNCONDITIONAL COMPASSION"
* "FIERCE NATIONAL PRIDE"
* "UNSHAKABLE RESOLVE"
** RAdm."Jay" R. Stark, USN; 10 November 1995 said,
>>> "Marines I see as two breeds, Rottweilers or Dobermans, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean, or skinny and mean.
They're aggressive on the attack and tenacious on defense. They've got really short hair and they always go for the throat."
* "HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS!"
* "UNCOMMON VALOR"
* "NEVER GIVEN. ALWAYS EARNED" (ref the title MARINE)
** Karen Aquilar, in the U.S. Embassy; Mogadishu, Somalia, 1991 said,
>>> They told (us) to open up the Embassy, or "we'll blow you away." And then they looked up and saw the Marines on the roof with these really big guns, and they said in Somali, "Igaralli ahow," which means "Excuse me, I didn't mean it, my mistake."
** "MARINES NEVER LEAVE A MAN (or WOMAN) BEHIND!"
** "NEVER HAVE SO MANY, DONE SO MUCH WITH NOTHING, IT IS NOW POSSIBLE TO DO ANYTHING WITH NOTHING"
* "FIRST IN THE FIGHT"
** Major General James Mattis (USMC), said to Iraqi tribal leaders in 2004,
>>> "I come in peace, I didn't bring artillery. But I am pleading with you with tears in my eyes: If you fuck with me, I'll kill you all."
* "ONCE A MARINE... ALWAYS A MARINE"
* "MARINES DO NOT STAND DOWN UNTIL THE MISSION IS COMPLETE"
** Thomas E. Ricks; Making the Corps, 1997 said,
>>> "The United States Marine Corps, with it fiercely proud tradition of excellence in combat, its hallowed rituals, and its unbending code of honor, is part of the fabric of American myth."
* "TO OBSERVE A MARINE, IS INSPIRATIONAL. TO BE A MARINE, IS EXCEPTIONAL."
* "ALWAYS FAITHFUL" or in Latin... "SEMPER FIDELIS"
I can honestly say that there is no truer calling than to be a United States Marine.
There is only one thing in this world that I hold near and dear to my heart.... Family, which includes every United States Marine (which, I too am proud to claim "The Title").
This which has always been and will continue to be one of my most cherished accomplishment.
Here are some links to an OUTSTANDING 236th United States Marine Corps Birthday Tribute, from the Commandant of the Marine Corps & the SgtMaj of the Marine Corps!
* G.E. Investigations (Company Site)... http://www.GeInvestigations.com
* 2011 Video Tribute (Marines.mil) ... http://www.marines.mil/usmc/Pages/2011MarineCorpsBirthdayBall.aspx
* 2011 Video Tribute (You Tube)... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=s0XpK1QHP2s
* 2010 Video Tribute (You Tube)... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxSoEudUsRc
The CEO & Founder of GoDaddy.com, Bob Parsons, is himself a Decorated Former Marine (Purple Heart Recipient - Vietnam). OOH-RAH!
2011 Video: http://www.godaddy.com/holiday/usmc/usmc-2011.aspx
2010 Video http://www.godaddy.com/holiday/usmc/usmc-2010.aspx
As a final note, in history, as always there is a war on somewhere in the world and the UNITED STATES MARINES are ALWAYS there to PROTECT THOSE WHO CANNOT PROTECT THEMSELVES!
"SEMPER FIDELIS" or "Semper Fi" as it has come to be known, is the Marines motto and it means "Always Faithful"!
I have always believed this to be true.
SEMPER FIDELIS... is a Way of Life!!
And with VETERAN's DAY tomorrow ( 11 November )...
I also wish to say Thank You for their sacrifice and eternal dedication to"DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY".
As to my cousins in other branches of the armed services, I also send best wishes for a safe tour and GODSPEED home to your families.
"FAIR WINDS and FOLLOWING SEAS" to all my brothers, sisters & cousins of the Armed Services!
