Marines do it their own way

MSNBC ^ | 9/30/01 | Sue Lackey

[Illbay]

...you can bet that I have always been proud of his service to his country, and I'd whip anyone who tried to belittle his sacrifice.

Then I apologize for misunderstanding you.

Semper Fi, Marine.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

ping

[COB1]

HAHAHAHAHA!!
I wish someone would ask that Gyrene at the top if he wanted to "stand and wait"!
He wants someone in his sights so that he can express his "aggressive tendencies".

[Illbay]

LOL!

[CHIEF negotiator]

Lemme told you a true story...

THE ORIGIN OF THE
PISSING CONTEST

During our training, we had to go through "Bouyant Ascent - Blow and Go" training in New London, CT. Submarine base.

The tank was over 100' deep. They put us in a pressurized chamber at 50'. We'd put one puff of air in our Mae West life jacket, take a deep breath, lock out, look up, cross our ankles, let go and blow out - we would reach the surface with plenty of air left. Same deal @ the 100' mark.

That night, we went to the bar for a few cold ones where we ran across the Seals who were our trainers. Only three fights broke out that night.

The next day was "free dive" day with mask and fins. We free dove down to 50' - no problem. When it was my turn for the 100' free dive, at about the 75' mark, my mask fogged up and I could find the opening for the 100' chamber. IMMEDIATELY, a Seal grabbed my arm and pulled me into the chamber suspended in the middle of the tank...you got it...a Navy Seal saved my life! He was one of the ones we fought the night before. When I pulled off my mask he said..."Hey Recon, you guys gave us some competition last night." I said, "Yea, that was a good one, wasn't it?"

That night we met the same Seals at the same bar, and we got into arguments as to who was gonna buy who the next round of beers. Everyone had to chug their mug at the same time, and no one was supposed to go the head. After 12 mugs, the first one went, then the second and so on. It seemed like one Seal and one Recon gave in at the same time....when they returned from the head, they bragged about who would piss the longest.

Yep, a fight, turned into a drinking contest that turned into a pissing contest . . . thus the origin of the first pissing contest!

Force Recon Marines have the utmost repect for the Navy Seals, versa visa and visa versa.

[Diver Dave]

Thanks for the ping. When I went through the US Navy Diving Second Class Diving School a hundred years ago, we had 14 Recon Marines enrolled with us in Scuba Classes. These were some really great guys who became friends. Sadly, the Viet Nam Memorial (The Wall) has many of their names inscribed. True Heroes, One and All.

A Squid.

[Godebert]

"But if you insist your beloved p*ssing contest is more important, who'm I do argue? "

Again...you never cease to amaze and amuse. I notice you declined to answer my repeated question about your military service. Then you state:

"I'm much more interested in instilling death in the ranks of our enemies."

I suspect if you were that interested, you'd be in uniform right now, instead of sitting in your cubicle stinking-up this thread with your juvenile attention-getting antics. I think LadyX said it best when she told you:

"You really should withdraw quietly from something you never will understand."

Somehow....I doubt that you will heed her sage advice.

[Justin Thyme]

Semper Fi to all the other Marines here.

I spent 11+ years as a Huey driver, participated in 2 MEU's, plus trips to places like Somalia. I don't think there is another standard operational unit on the planet that can go toe-to-toe with a well trained MEU.

That being said, I know from experience that with Defense budget cutbacks, the level of training today isn't what it could or should be. Additionally, a highly specialized unit such as Delta Force is better equiped and trained for certain specific tasks.

The biggest problem with the MEU's in light of our current areas of concern in the world is that they are amphibious...and Afghanistan is land-locked. Although MEU's do train for long distance, over the horizon missions, where temporary forward refueling and rearming stations are setup, they are geared for more in terms of a limited objective such as Embassy evacuation or hostage rescue, and not extended efforts like will be required in Afghanistan.

I'd also like to give a big Semper Fi to any Navy folk. I've worked with them a fair bit, and their level of dedication to their embarked Marines is admirable, especially in dealing with emergencies. Thanks! Members of the crew of the Grey Ghost pulled me out of the drink in the Persian Gulf back in '87.

[Bubba]

"I've duckwalked up that hill with a full pack and rifle" THAT'S WEAPON DAMNIT.

[JoeSixPack1]

You sit here and get some good replies, but you have no clue,
you gigle at what is our code,
you civilize our mission, you trivilize our cost,
and you are the only one on this thread that does not have a full range of emotions linked to every memory that has been handed to you from men whos nights are spent with their eyes wide open thinking of a lost friend, or of the pain and relief of actually taking life to protect your own, you don't get goose bumps when you hear of missions completed and disgust at captured and tortured warriors or tears of joy at the announcement of a lost soldiers return, you haven't a clue about The pain and sacrifice of training day in and day out, or the pleasure of it, you see no pride here. You are not a warrior. You have no history. You have never suffered the tears of someone else's family's loss knowing it could have been your family. You take pleasure in instructing us to "play nice".

When warriors play, we break things. So stay behind your monitor as you are not sure when we are playing or not. This generations warriors will take up the baton and make us proud and make it safe for guys like you. Bet the farm on it. When all hell breaks loose, change your shorts, and remember who the memorials are for. I'll give you a clue, the dead can't read.

[COB1]

"THAT'S WEAPON DAMNIT."

LOL!
Okay, Bubba!
It's been a long time ago!

[Illbay]

That night, we went to the bar for a few cold ones where we ran across the Seals who were our trainers. Only three fights broke out that night.

LOL!!!

[Slipjack]

JoeSixPack1 - Best damn response of them all. SF

[Illbay]

What do you think of the impact of the "politically correct" sexually integrated armed forces? I know that even the USMC hasn't been immune from that.

I am not speaking from experience, but from what I have seen it has nearly destroyed shipboard morale in the Navy, and "Army of One" was quickly becoming a caricature of itself by the time Togo West left.

Any opinions?

[COB1]

I don't think I looked as young as these kids look when I was born!
Good grief, did we look that young when we were combat ready?

[dpa5923]

Great History. Let me add a little more.

Enlisted Marines did not wear the Eagle, Globe and Anchor on their lapels of the service uniform (Alpha's) until after the battle of Belleau Woods.

The Asst Sec of the Navy, Franklin D Roosevelt (yes the same one) was so impressed with the Marines performance he petioned the Sec of the Navy to decree that from that day forth enlisted Marines would also wear the Eagle, Globe and Anchor on the lapels of the service uniform.

That is all fact. The rest of the story I've heard, and it has been pass on but I have been unable to confirm it.

Supposely, the Marine Corps was immediately faced with a dilema. It needed a boat load of Eagle, Globe and Anchor devices and did not have them on stock. It (the Corps) sent out a contract and had a boat load made. However, the Eagle, Globe and Anchors were slightly different than the ones on stock (no Cuba, rope wasn't detached, slightly smaller). Again in a dilema, the powers that be fixed the problem the only way they knew how.

The Eagle, Globe and Anchors on hand were now officer's devices and the new ones were enlisted devices.

And in my best Paul Harvey voice...
"Now you know the rest of the story."

Semper Fi and "Let's roll!"

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Good grief, did we look that young when we were combat ready?"

Not to long ago I found a pic of me in uniform.
Then I found a pic of me and some of my shipmates.
We all looked really, really young.

[lds23]

God Bless the Marines. And the Army. And the Air Force. And the Navy. And the National Guard. And the Police. And the Firemen. And the Coast Guard. And the citizens of the US who ain't gonna take this lying down. Go get 'em. If this spawns retaliation, we go after the retaliators, ad infinitum (aka Infinite Justice). Go Noble Eagle. Let's Roll!

[JoeSixPack1]

NO, we didn't!

We Looked Younger!

[sneakypete]

Hiya Pete, I gotta say that being Marine Infantry is greatest endeavor of my life!

You betcha! Being elected president or Pope might be ok too,but NOT better. Not even as impressive in MY book.Neither one takes as much "heart". Then again,I don't think like most people.

I think the Army refers to the infantry as 'the backbone of the Army',

Actually it's "The Queen of Battle",but it's probably fairly safe to say that calling a bunch of infantrymen "Queens" isn't a real clever idea.

but I prefer the analogy that we are the cutting edge of the sword that is the Marine Corps.

Same thing with the army infantry. In fact,without the army and marine infrantry,the other branches have no reason to exist. Hard as this may be for some people to believe,it is true,none the less

. Recon is the tip of the sword, and all the components made up the heft of the weapon, but, in a fight, its the cutting edge that takes the worst damage.

Yup,it takes nothing less than total committment to excellence and duty to be recon. Not to mention a fair amount of self-confidence.(G)

Best regards and Semper Fi

Right back at ya.