[earonthief]

Happy Birthday Brothers and Sisters who share this day. Thank You for your service and sacrifices.

And to our sister services Thank You for your services and sacrifices.Through OUR efforts this IS the Greatest country in the world.

1975-1995 0861/9962 (ret)

P.S. The Corps IS the BEST. Bar none. Semper Fi

[OldFriend]

FNC had a nice segment on the cake cutting ceremony this morning. The less said about the two FNC hosts the better.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GODSPEED

[Cvengr]

HB, SF, out

[Ed_NYC]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! SEMPER FI!

[XJarhead]

ON THE SEVENTH DAY WHILE GOD RESTED, WE OVERRAN HIS PERIMETER, STOLE THE GLOBE AND WE'VE BEEN RUNNING THE WHOLE SHOW EVER SINCE

Semper Fi, fellow Devil Dogs, and Happy Birthday!

[opbuzz]

My Dad retired as an infantry Gunny, I retired as a Major air support contrrol officer (same unit as Race Bannon), oldest son was an ANGLICO communicator, got out in '00, youngest son was a Amtrac tech in CamPen and EASed last month.

SgtMaj of the USMC Puckett said he saw me running buckassed naked down the sidewalk when I was about two, chased by my mother. He said to his wife,"Come here hon, there goes officer material!"

From an old plaque

A Marine

Between the security of childhood, and the insecurity of a second childhood, we find that fascinating element of humanity called "A Marine".

He comes in assorted sizes and can be found anywhere…on ships, in bars, in jail, in love and always in debt.

Girls love him, towns tolerate him, and the government supports him.

“A Marine” is laziness with a pack of cards, bravery with a tattooed arm, and the protector of land, sea, and air with a copy of playboy magazine.

He has the energy of a turtle, the slyness of a fox, and the brain of a flea; the stories of a sea captain, the security of a liar, the inspiration of a Casanova. When he wants something it is usually connected with liberty.

Some of his likes are women, girls, females, dames, broads, and the opposite sex. He dislikes answering letters, wearing his uniform, superior officers, Dogfaces, Squids, Airdeles, and getting up on time.

No one but “A Marine” can cram into one pocket a little book, a pack of cigarettes, Ann Margaret’s picture, a comb, a bottle of beer, a church key, and what’s left of last weeks pay.

He likes to spend some money on beer, so on women, some on cigarettes, and the rest foolishly.

“A Marine” is a unique creature. You can lock him out of your house, but not out of your heart.

You would like to forget your bleary-eyed, good for nothing,long-away-from-home lover with his scattered dreams, but his faults become insignificant when your Marine looks at you with those blood shot eyes and says:

“Hi Honey,”
Take off your clothes

Semper Fi to Marines past, present, and future. Health to OUR Corps!

[oust the louse]

To all you MEN/WOMEN who helped serve or are still serving this great country...I wish to thank you all!

[ProudEagle]

Hope you fellas don't mind an Army vet jumping the thread here. But just wanted to wish you a happy birthday Marines.

[redrock]

Semper Fidelis, Corey

Corey DePooter deserved to become a United States Marine. He deserved to grow up, too. But he never got the chance to do either: He was one of the kids murdered in the Columbine library.

Yet DePooter's brave acts that terrible day exemplified the best that the U.S. Marine Corps represents.

The 17-year-old had gone to the library to study during his lunch break, a remarkable act of self-discipline. When the shooting started, DePooter stayed calm and soothed other terrified students, displaying extraordinary coolness under fire.

Most courageous of all, young DePooter then used his own body to shield two other students from the barrage of bullets. That's how he died: protecting his friends.

On the battlefield, a warrior who sacrifices himself for his comrades is called a hero. In certain cases, such valor merits the hallowed Medal of Honor, the highest commendation the United States bestows.

But DePooter wasn't in battle, just at school, when all that he loved - the family he brought so much joy, his enchantment with fly fishing - was stolen from him. He never got his opportunity to join America's elite military service.

The Marines, however, have embraced him. In a rare move, the corps on Wednesday made DePooter an honorary Marine. The unusual recognition is fitting.

DePooter's study of the history of the Marines surely had taught him that the corps values loyalty, courage and personal honor. No one can say whether those studies, and his longstanding ambition to become a Marine, already had led him to internalize the high standards that the corps expounds. Doubtless, though, DePooter's bravery under fire was as much as the Marines could have demanded from one of their own.

The Marine Corps' hymn says the streets of Heaven are guarded by United States Marines. Perhaps Corey Depooter is there, finally clothed in his longed-for dress blues.

[river rat]

Amazed at just how many Freepers are current or former Jarheads....
Must be some kind of connection....
Semper Fi

[Militiaman7]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
MARINES

[RaceBannon]

[2111USMC]

Semper Fi fellow Marines!

San Diego, Class of '74.

[Ol' Sox]

Happy Birthday to you, Marines...

from the grateful son of a China Marine, nephew of a Marine wounded at Okinawa, and grandson of a WWI 5th Battalion Marine.

[fnord]

OOOHRAH!!

My first birthday was at Parris Island during boot camp. Hard to believe after 10 weeks of sheer torture, we were given the complete day off! And treated to a meal of steak and lobster, all we could eat. Of course, we managed to work that off starting the next morning at 0430.

Semper Fi
USMC '75-'79

[colorado tanker]

Happy Birthday to all Marines from an Army vet.