A young Marine restores my faith

The Orange County Register | June 30 2002 | Ann Baker

[LibKill]

Outstanding!

[Cap'n Crunch]

Brought a tear to me eye also.

The story was a little bittersweet though. It made me think of all the Vietnam Veterans who came home to the opposite. Even during my enlistment, 3 years after Vietnam, I heard disparaging comments.

We had a festival in town over the weekend. The Vietnam Veterans of our county had a booth and are raising money for a memorial for the county guys killed in Vietnam, one of them is my wife's cousin. Anyway, I thanked them for their service and sacrifice. I know they appreciated it but they deflected every bit of it to the guys who's names are going to appear on the memorial.

I'm glad times have changed though, and I don't want to appear to be throwing water on this story, because it sure made me get a lump in my throat.

[MudPuppy]

Motivational BUMP

OOH-RAH!

[Smartaleck]

Chesty.....you da man!!!!!

Happy Birthday AMERICA!

[chesty_puller]

amen

[<1/1,000,000th%]

This was a great post that I don't expect to see in any major media outlet. I don't know if privacy is a concern, but I think its OK to post an e-mail if the writer doesn't object.

[dixie sass]

My dearest friend - for three days I have tried to write you and tell you what I felt as I read about this young man and the people who cared enough to write.

You know why I haven't been able to.

What a wonderful story for the Independence Weekend. If it weren't for Jarheaded Leathernecks like you and this young man...

Well, quite simply Chesty, Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

And Coporal Michael Mendez - Thank you. To you, to all the members of the Corps - Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

To all the military men and women out there - Thank you. May GOD bless you and keep you.

[BlessedBeGod]

Bump!

[chesty_puller]

You've always been good to this old Devil Dog.

[tutstar]

bump and ping

[pwatson]

WOW, that made my day, I just got into to work and was attempting to wake up, when I read this. Funny how the older I become the easier it is to cry about anything related to this Country. That letter kind of said it all.
Regards,
Paul Watson and fellow Texan

[chesty_puller]

Same with me old friend.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Chesty you made me cry you old jarhead you GOD BLESS this MARINE

BumPs

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you for the ping .

[Eagle9]

Thanks for the ping, AP.

This is a very uplifting story, Chesty. I do hope that Corporal Mendez is a more accurate representation of the American youth of today, than we are led to believe by the media, Hollywood, and the so-called popular culture.