“Six Seconds”

neveryetmelted ^ | 25 May 2015 | Lt. Gen. John Kelly

[virgil283]

"The truck’s windshield explodes into shards of glass as their rounds take it apart and tear into the body of the son of a b@@@@ trying to get past them to kill their brothers.....American and Iraqi – bedded down in the barracks, totally unaware that their lives at that moment depended entirely on two Marines standing their ground. Yale and Haerter never hesitated. By all reports and by the recording, they never stepped back....."

[familyop]

"I continue to be amazed that we find, recruit and have these MEN to protect us. Where do they come from?"

They come from some rough, tough initial training. I've watched and experienced the transformation in person. It was Army instead of Marines, but it was still 13 weeks in one unit, one station, total control for a real combat MOS!

Good work, men!

[sean327]

I think you missed the point he was trying to make. Marines don’t give a rat’s ass what color, or religion the Marine next to him is. We don’t care if you came from a small town or the big city. All we care about is the fact that he is Marine.

[familyop]

BTW, Army drill sergeants for the few real combat specialties and Marine drill instructors for the same few specialties are among the best in the world! [We were separate from other specialties in initial training.]

[Jet Jaguar]

Active Duty ping.

[familyop]

Same here. I went through initial training with many men of various ethic backgrounds—a few of them fulfilling propositions from judges for very serious first offenses (yes, still happens contrary to myth)—go in as problem children and come out as great men. Would’ve trusted any one of them with my life after that 13 weeks. They were from Detroit, Chicago, Louisiana, Hawaii (oh, yeah, Samoan), Puerto Rico—all over.

Over 10% of them didn’t make it through the first, eight-week phase (various backgrounds, suicide attempts, stress fractures, etc.). Don’t know how many more dropped out during the remainder of the 13 weeks. But those who graduated were all great men. I was 31 and the only “old man” who made it. All of those who were from rough neighborhoods made it, if I remember correctly.

[familyop]

...ethnic backgrounds, even—not “ethic.”

[LucyT]

.

“Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don’t have that problem.”

— President Ronald Reagan

[ProtectOurFreedom]

GeronL understands that. He was speaking broadly to all leftists out there.

[familyop]

And before any of you prior servicemen sound off against what I wrote about “very serious first offenses,” yes that was done—maybe not often but yes. Judges can see to it that those who have not been convicted have records that look good enough. One deal was for a recruit to serve 3 years regular Army without getting in trouble. I pulled him off of other recruits several times early on. He was a big boy (as in tall and strong). Later, he was respectful, respectable and high speed—one of the best.

Might have had something to do with our being on total control for the whole 13 weeks, too (no passes except for the one between Phase I and Phase II).

[MasterGunner01]

God bless the souls of these young Marines. Their full measure of devotion saved the lives of scores of their brothers-in-arms. Semper Fi, Marines!

[Jack Hammer]

God keep them close.

[Okimi2200]

You may rest easy Chesty the new guard has the watch

[RaceBannon]

its why todays Marines make me just as proud and yesterday’s Marines

[mabarker1]

Yes Sir

Thank You for Your Service.

[null and void]

I continue to be amazed that we find, recruit and have these MEN to protect us. Where do they come from?

Sir, they are Americans.

[Baynative]

"Yale and Haerter never hesitated. By all reports and by the recording, they never stepped back. They never even shifted their weight. With their feet spread shoulder-width apart, they leaned into the danger, firing as fast as they could. They had only one second left to live, and I think they knew. The truck explodes. The camera goes blank. Two young men go to their God. Six seconds. Not enough time to think about their families, their country, their flag, or about their lives or their deaths, but more than enough time for two very brave young men to do their duty."

It is men like this that make it possible for us to sleep comfortably in our warm beds at night. They serve liberty without question. Their sacrifice deserves much more than the snide remarks coming from this president and his anarchistic minions.

[houeto]

Great post! Thank you sir.