U.S. Marines boot recruits with Confederate tattoos

WND ^ | May 04, 2010 | Chelsea Schilling

[fishhound]

A widely regarded Southern symbol of pride and states' rights is standing in the way of would-be Marines in their quest to serve their country – a Confederate battle flag. Straight out of high school, one 18-year-old Tennessee man was determined to serve his country as a Marine. His friend said he passed the pre-enlistment tests and physical exams and looked forward with excitement to the day he would ship out to boot camp. But there would be no shouting drill instructors, no rigorous physical training and no action-packed stories for the aspiring Marine to share with his family. Shortly before he was scheduled to leave Nashville for boot camp, the Marine Corps rejected him. Now, the young man, who wishes to remain unnamed and declined to be interviewed, has chosen to return to school and is no longer an aspiring Marine. "I think he just wants to let it go," said former Marine 1st Lt. Gene Andrews, a friend of the man and patriotic Southerner who served in Vietnam from 1968 through 1971. Andrews is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a group of male descendents of Confederate soldiers. He counseled the young man when he decided to become a Marine.

[fishhound]

I am seeing this "if anyone can be offended" or "if someone says he or she might be un-comfortable" crap more and more. It takes away a persons right to explain him or herself and lets others ruin him or her. All because someone else can , at a whim, say "oh... i am offended or frightened" instead of having a dialogue between responsible individuals. These policies are all anti-individual.

[cripplecreek]

This yankee has no issues with southern pride and has never been offended by the Confederate battle flag.

[Puppage]

A widely regarded Southern symbol of pride and states' rights

It's an HISTORIC flag. Regardless of meaning attached to it, it's part of history.

[screaminsunshine]

Part of Obamas destroy and demorilize the US military program. They are retraining combat troops for riot control here.

[TSgt]

The Marines have forgotten their own history.

The USS Columbia (CL-56) flew a Confederate Navy Ensign as a battle flag throughout combat in the South Pacific in World War II. This was done in honor of Columbia, the ship's namesake and the capital city of South Carolina, the first state to secede from the Union. Some soldiers carried Confederate flags into battle. After the Battle of Okinawa a Confederate flag was raised over Shuri Castle by a Marine from the self-styled "Rebel Company" (Company A of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines).

[caddie]

This is bullshit.

Let's see if they reject some muzzie with tats that say, when translated, "Kill Whitey Infidels".

Sad to see this happening to the USMC.

[Hodar]

For your Consideration . Rules are rules, and especially in the Marine Corps; the rules are expected to be followed.

[Maelstorm]

This is why opposing the removal of DADT and opposing things like ENDA is so important they will result in the rise of an even more oppressive PC culture.

[Old Retired Army Guy]

I have to believe there is more to this story than is being told.

[Marty62]

I’m sure he’s on one of JNs homegrown terrorist watch list.

[texteacher]

Does the military have a list of disqualifying tattoos such as gang related tattoos?

[ClearBlueSky]

How many MUSLIMS are in the Marines?
Lets talk about an anti-freedom/equality/humanity factor- shall we?

[anniegetyourgun]

USMC easily meets quotas these days & rejects tats almost across the board now. I’m not convinced it’s anything personal or political - especially since the Corp is filled with conservatives. They’re taking the best of the best of the best, sir.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

I’m a northern yankee whose ancestors served for the winners... (he, he, jab, jab). Anyways, while I was in, there were plenty of southern boys who had confederate tatoos. No one ever had a problem with this. PC is killing this nation. The confederate flag has meaning to people in the south and that meaning is not one of Jim Crow and racism. Just because it symbolizes that for others, does not mean it symbolizes that for everyone.

[rarestia]

I thought that recruits lose their individuality when they set foot in boot. Are they coddling the Marines now?

[gop4lyf]

I remember watching one of those “WWII in Color” programs in which it showed a landing craft headed toward a beach landing that was flying a Confederate battle flag.

[Inwoodian]

Fags, si. Tattoos, no?

[Poison Pill]

He should get the tattoo removed and replace it with a tattoo of the Bonnie Blue flag, then re-apply.

[tgusa]

So Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children have contracted the PC virus? Sad.

[Palter]

Perhaps he should have been an illegal.