John: I have always felt that I was a MARINE, and never an "ex" or "former" MARINE. However there must be some way of telling the difference between active and non-active MARINES. I only served one hitch in the CORPS, but I will never, ever forget my time in it. There will come a time I think that the world as a whole will pay homage to the MARINE CORPS. As the old saying goes, "They also serve who stand and wait." I am standing and waiting. I carried a flamethrower on Guam, and it got me wounded twice, then a return to the States.