[Idabilly]

I received this following email:

From SCV Missouri Division

I have always been proud of my time spent as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. I served in the Republic of Vietnam in 1969 and, while I was certainly no “John Wayne” type, I tried to do my duty to the best of my ability and I did bring all of my platoon out of Vietnam alive.

This past summer, the son of a friend of mine was very ‘gung ho’ about joining the Marines and asked my opinion, which I tried to give as honestly as possible, warts and all. I don’t know if my discussions had any influence on him, but he enlisted, completed all of the pre-enlistment tests and physical exams and went to all of the pre-enlistment meetings. To say the least, he was very excited about serving his country in the Corps.

Shortly before he left Nashville for boot camp, he was told he could not serve his country because he had a Confederate Battle Flag tattooed on his shoulder in an area that would be completely covered by a t-shirt, and certainly by his uniform.

When informed of this, I went to the local recruiting station that had processed this young man to see if I were getting the entire story. The recruiter, a staff sergeant, told me, “Yes, sir. The Marine Corps considers the Confederate Flag a ‘hate symbol,’ but if the young man in question had a state or U.S. flag tattoo, that would be acceptable.”

I informed the young sergeant that my family had defended the State of Tennessee (also his home state) against a sadistic invasion under that flag and to call our sacred flag of honour a ‘hate symbol was an insult to ALL southerners, but especially to those southereners who had risked or even given their lives in service to the Marine Corps. Southerners had served at Belleau Woods, at Taraw and Iwo Jima, at Inchon and the Chosin Reservoir, and at Khe Sahn and Hue City, but now we are no longer wanted in the politically-correct don’t-offend-any-minorities military? (This was just prior to the Fort Hood massacre)

He was polite, even sympathetic, but said the flag policy was a Marine Corps policy from Headquarters Marine Corps and not a local decision. After informing the sergeant that it seemed to me that our military was building a mercenary force of illegal aliens while rejecting native-born Americans in order to have a ready force to turn, without question, on American citizens, I asked the sergeant if he had taken out the trash yet. He replied that he hadn’t.

I then said, “Please add these to the day’s garbage,” and returned my lieutenant’s bars, my gold and silver Marine Corps emblem from my dress blues, my shooting badges and my Vietnam ribbons.

I, like many of you, have always been told, “Once a Marine, always a Marine,” and “There are no ex-Marines, only former Marines,” but for me that is no longer true.

I was born in the South. I was raised here. I raised my family in the South and some day, God-willing, I hope to be buried in the native soil of our Southern homeland. I have always considered myself a Southerner first, and will remain so, despite any other organization that I may temporarily join.

I will never make a critical remark about a veteran, from any branch of the service, but from now on, I will do everything in my power to discourage any Southern young man, or lady, from becoming a future veteran. I am now an ex-Marine.

[Salamander]

And ~whose~ superior battle strategies and tactics do they still teach at West Point, to this very day?

Ironic, isn’t it?

[southernsunshine]

“United we stand, Divided we fall” is a phrase that has been used in mottos, from nations and states to songs. The basic concept is that unless the people are united, it is easy to destroy them. This is a counter to the maxim divide and rule.” (Wiki)

“I was born in the South. I was raised here. I raised my family in the South and some day, God-willing, I hope to be buried in the native soil of our Southern homeland. I have always considered myself a Southerner first, and will remain so, despite any other organization that I may temporarily join.” (email)

Hate to tell them.....without the Southern spirit we will fall. Perhaps this is the intent. What the young recruit experienced is discrimination. Last time I checked, discrimination is illegal. The PC destruction of our military and nation is breathtaking! When nations engage in pacifying the few to the detriment of the many, that nation cannot stand.

Oh, but I forgot...”Teh One” said we are but one nation among many.

[mac_truck]

I informed the young sergeant that my family had defended the State of Tennessee (also his home state) against a sadistic invasion under that flag and to call our sacred flag of honour a ‘hate symbol was an insult to ALL southerners, but especially to those southereners who had risked or even given their lives in service to the Marine Corps.

That's a crock of sh!te.

[cowboyway]

After informing the sergeant that it seemed to me that our military was building a mercenary force of illegal aliens while rejecting native-born Americans in order to have a ready force to turn, without question, on American citizens,

Obama's 'domestic security force', perhaps? Shades of disHonest Abe.........

[manc]

so let me get this right.

a good kid cannot join because he has a battle flag tattoo but homosexuals can join and even if they chain themselves to the white house railings they still do not get thrown pout

Now that is one messed up situation plus if I was that kid I would do what the left does and sue the marine corp, yes bbozo is is corp not corpse

the far left have been infiltrating the military, church and family groups for years knowing that is where they have to destroy

My SCV had a dinner and had a kid just come back form his 2nd tour of Afghanistan and he had the battle flag flying over there from his chopper

seems this SGT might be the one wiht the problem and not the marine crop

[Still Thinking]

I’m disgusted on your behalf and on behalf of all veterans, not just the Southern ones. This policy is a repudiation of what they all fought and sacrificed for.

[bushpilot1]

[MagnoliaB]

Have you checked this email for it’s validity? If this email is the real deal and I had served is VN in ‘69 then I would tell this young man to remove his confederate flag if that is the rule for enlisting and it’s something he really wanted to do. I don’t know any Marines that put the Confederate flag before the American flag in this day and age. However, I would also like to know what ‘other’ tattoos are NOT acceptable. Is the military up on gang tattoos? ‘What about religious symbols? I would want a list of what was not acceptable.

[the OlLine Rebel]

“Yes, sir. The Marine Corps considers the Confederate Flag a ‘hate symbol,’ but if the young man in question had a state or U.S. flag tattoo, that would be acceptable.”

That’s funny, because it shouldn’t be. It is a sacrilege to put a regular US Flag on a piece of clothing, much less on the body. The Marines should know the Flag Code.