[SoCal Pubbie]

"There aren't many rich Orange County mall rats that come to the Marines out of high school."

The Orange County Register had a picture of SSGT Billy Harrell and his wife a few days ago. Harrell died from a bullet wound to the neck in Iraq, serving with the Marines. Harrell grew up in Placentia, in Orange County. If the author is implying that OC kids don't make the sacrifice he can kiss my ass.

[broadsword]

Beyond words of praise. Great job!

[SoCal Pubbie]

I used the world "if", which I assume you read in a dyslexic fugue state.

As a native of Orange County, who's lived in So Cal my entire life, with parents who came here in the 1920's, I know a bit about the area. I know it was home to not one, but TWO Marine bases for decades, and has produced its share of not only veterans but Medal of Honor winners.

I noticed there was not one mention in your article about the Hispanic subculture here, and the recent immigrants who called Orange County home before going off to fight and die in Iraq. Maybe just a few words about the contrast of poor immigrants who arrive with nothing yet give all, but no, Orange County kids are all white surfer dudes who hang out at the beach spending their parents' money.

I'm sorry, but I think it is the height of poor taste to write an article that basically trashes the entire youth of an area of several million people at the very same time that hundreds of school kids are conducting candlelight vigils for their fallen classmates who've died in Iraq, without at least one throw away sentence for those who've fallen.