This man has neither earned the right to wear anything associated with the US military. He should apologize for using the shirt as a cheap political trick.
I know exactly how you feel. When I was young and living with my parents, we were all Marines. From dad to mom to all us kids, we were a USMC family. I had the ID card to prove it. :) At that time I would proudly wear a USMC t-shirt. As a little kid I considered myself a Marine... I must have been because I lived on a Marine Base. :)
But after I grew up and had my own family I have not felt the right to wear a USMC t-shirt, though I am an avid supporter of the Devil Dogs and will always stand respectfully when they go by. (Neither have I earned the right to stand at attention)
I still recall how bad I felt when I turned 18 and I had to turn in my ID card. In hindsight, I should have enlisted right then and there... but I didn't, and I'll never deserve to wear a USMC t-shirt for that decision. God Bless the United States of America and every one of her men and women in uniform... AND the supporting cast of civilian employees! <<--that means YOU! :)
Thanks for your service!
To the civilian contractor that posted about working with the Army for 20 years and being in Iraq for eight months: You are so correct in your statement that you feel you should not wear an Army tee shirt because you have not earned it. We truly appreciate your civilian service but I would be upset if I saw even a photo of the late Ronald Reagan ww/ a USMC shirt ( and who doesn’t love the Gipper? ) because despite his incredible achievements, he never had to go through the training to earn the right to wear the shirt. But Obama??? C’mon, this guy probably would have quit USMC boot camp two days into it because he would argue that his civil rights were being violated!!! And he dons the shirt in a basketball game. If someone gives you a USMC shirt, fine. Keep it, BUT DON’T WAER IT UNLESS YOU WERE A MARINE!!!