USMC strikes gold

aristotle · Jan 17, 2009

The Marine Corps just landed a top tier recruit, my son. Forgive this father's pride if I babble on. My son, Ross, will report for basic training at Parris Island,SC in two weeks. He signed a four year contract to drive and operate tanks.
A quiet, polite, unassuming young man who graduated third in his high school class. He has been a model child and a delight to his parents. It stirs my Scot-Irish blood to loan our son to the Marines. I can close my eyes on a still evening and hear the distant wails of bagpipe music. For centuries, nameless faces have stepped forward to serve their country with little or no thanks. I am putting a name on this face.

Suds43 · Jan 17, 2009

Congratulations Aristotle! I"m sure he'll make dad proud!
My son is in the Air Force, has been in a little more than 13 yrs. Less than 6 to retirement!!
Where does the time go?? lol
Anyways, I share you pride on our sons!!! My scottish blood can hear those bagpipes also!!

chefdennis · Jan 17, 2009

Sir, I salute your son...Has the father of 2 sons that have served in the ME, I understand how proud you that your son is a "Great American" and a proud member of our armed services.

May God keep him and cover him in his shadow....

aristotle · Feb 26, 2009

Today, I finally got a letter from my son in Parris Island. He described Marine boot camp as "tough as hell." (I tried to tell him that). He said he and his fellow recruits just finished a four hour course on bayonet training. How can anyone talk for four hours on bayonets I wondered? Apparently, the Marines can and do.

Ross said the food tasted somewhat strange and the water, their only drink, was terrible. They can drink only from their canteens, which they fill from a sink in the communal bathroom. I suppose the ground water in coastal South Carolina might be yucky. They also spend three or four hours a day in class studying Marine history, regulations and traditions. Particular attention is given to UCMJ... the Uniform Code of Military Justice. His only real complaint was the bug bites. Constant exposure to bug bites... not a big deal. Just annoying.

Of course, they spend several hours running, marching and working on physical conditioning each day. That was expected. I thought he might have several questions about news from home: I was wrong. His sole question was to inquire about the University of Kentucky basketball team. I shook my head and smiled as I remembered the innocence of youth.

I promised to mail him the sports page from our statewide newspaper everyday.

chefdennis · Feb 27, 2009

God Bless Your Son, He is a True American Hero..

OntarioVanMan · Feb 27, 2009

aristotle said:
Today, I finally got a letter from my son in Parris Island. He described Marine boot camp as "tough as hell." (I tried to tell him that). He said he and his fellow recruits just finished a four hour course on bayonet training. How can anyone talk for four hours on bayonets I wondered? Apparently, the Marines can and do.

Ross said the food tasted somewhat strange and the water, their only drink, was terrible. They can drink only from their canteens, which they fill from a sink in the communal bathroom. I suppose the ground water in coastal South Carolina might be yucky. They also spend three or four hours a day in class studying Marine history, regulations and traditions. Particular attention is given to UCMJ... the Uniform Code of Military Justice. His only real complaint was the bug bites. Constant exposure to bug bites... not a big deal. Just annoying.

Of course, they spend several hours running, marching and working on physical conditioning each day. That was expected. I thought he might have several questions about news from home: I was wrong. His sole question was to inquire about the University of Kentucky basketball team. I shook my head and smiled as I remembered the innocence of youth.

I promised to mail him the sports page from our statewide newspaper everyday.

From 2 complete strangers please tell your son Thank You from the bottom of our hearts!

Doggie Daddy · Feb 27, 2009

Thank you for your service Ross,you are a great American.

Pilgrim · Feb 27, 2009

aristotle said:
Today, I finally got a letter from my son in Parris Island. He described Marine boot camp as "tough as hell." (I tried to tell him that). He said he and his fellow recruits just finished a four hour course on bayonet training. How can anyone talk for four hours on bayonets I wondered? Apparently, the Marines can and do.

Ross said the food tasted somewhat strange and the water, their only drink, was terrible. They can drink only from their canteens, which they fill from a sink in the communal bathroom. I suppose the ground water in coastal South Carolina might be yucky. They also spend three or four hours a day in class studying Marine history, regulations and traditions. Particular attention is given to UCMJ... the Uniform Code of Military Justice. His only real complaint was the bug bites. Constant exposure to bug bites... not a big deal. Just annoying.

Of course, they spend several hours running, marching and working on physical conditioning each day. That was expected. I thought he might have several questions about news from home: I was wrong. His sole question was to inquire about the University of Kentucky basketball team. I shook my head and smiled as I remembered the innocence of youth.

I promised to mail him the sports page from our statewide newspaper everyday.

Do send our thanks and encouragement to your son. His comments bring back memories, like bayonet training - 40 years ago it used to consist of learning how to properly thrust the bayonet into a dummy made of shredded tires and then kick it off. This was supposed to replicate the thing getting stuck in some Vietcong's ribcage. The water down there is something else - it tastes like sulfur. At least he's getting to go through his basic during the winter months - summer is a lot worse.

layoutshooter · Feb 27, 2009

Thank your son for me. I know the pride and the worry you feel, I too have a son and a nephew in the military. Thank God for all of them. Thanks to all the sons and daughters who serve us. They are the only thing between ours freedom and the rest of the world. AH, bayonet training, Ft. Lenard Wood, MO. I remember it well. Be sure to tell your son the most important thing there is to know in the military. That is to know the difference between his *ss and a hole in the ground and when the need arises to keep his *ss in that hole in the ground. Layoutshooter

SHARP327 · Feb 27, 2009

Congratulations to you and your son! the day that will live with him forever will be the day
his drill instructor finally calls him a Marine!

Boot camp at times seems to be a nightmare but it'll be the training one needs to become the worlds greatest fighting machine.

I'll be a Marine till the day I die, just as every other Marine before and after me.

It's a Brotherhood that last forever!

(not sure on the spelling but) Ooooooohrahhhh!