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A young Marine restores my faith
The Orange County Register | June 30 2002 | Ann Baker

Posted on 07/02/2002 12:21:56 PM PDT by chesty_puller

A young Marine restores my faith

Golden Pen Award

Each Sunday The Orange Register recognizes a letter that eloquently expresses a viewpoint or engenders a debate on a topic of public interest.

Today's winner is Ann Baker, a real-estate agent who lives in Huntington Beach

It was our normal Thursday morning business meeting at our real-estate office. No big deal. Before the meeting we hung around the bagel table, as usual, with our coffee. He stood aside, looking a little shy and awkward and very young, a new face in a room full of extroverted salespeople. An average looking guy, maybe 5 feet 8 inches. A clean-cut, sweet-faced kid. I went over to chat with him. Maybe he was a new salesman?

He said he was just back from Kabul, Afghanistan. A Marine. Our office (and a local school) had been supportive by sending letters to him and other troops, which he had posted on the American Embassy door in Kabul. He stood guard there for four months and was shot at daily.

He had come to our office to thank us for our support, for all the letters during those scary times. I couldn't believe my ears. He wanted to thank us? We should be thanking him. But how? How can I ever show him my appreciation?

At the end of the sales meeting, he stepped quietly forward, no incredible hulk. As a matter of fact, he looked for all the world 15 years old to me. (The older I get, the younger they look.)

This young Marine, this clean-faced boy, had no qualms stepping up to the plate and dodging bullets so that I might enjoy the freedom to live my peaceful life in the land of the free. No matter the risk. Suddenly the most stressful concerns of my life seemed as nothing, my complacency flew right out the window with his every word. Somewhere, somehow, he had taken the words honor, courage and commitment into his very soul and laid his life on the line daily for me and us. A man of principle. He wants to do it. Relishes it. And he came to thank us? For a few letters? I fought back the tears as he spoke so briefly and softly.

He walked forward to our manager and placed a properly folded American flag in his hands. It had flown over the Embassy. He said thanks again. You could hear a pin drop. As I looked around I saw red faces everywhere fighting back the tears.

In a heartbeat, my disillusionment with young people today quickly vanished. In ordinary homes, in ordinary towns, kids like him are growing up proud to be an American and willing to die for it. Wow. We'll frame the flag and put it in the lobby. He only came to my office once, for just a few minutes. But I realize I rubbed shoulders with greatness in the flesh and in the twinkling of an eye my life is forever changed. His name is Michael Mendez, a corporal in the USMC. We are a great nation. We know because the makings of it walked into my office that day.

Ann Baker

Huntington Beach


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: tearjerker; usmc
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1 posted on 07/02/2002 12:21:56 PM PDT by chesty_puller
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To: chesty_puller
For some reason (which I can't quite explain), teary-eyed BUMP.
2 posted on 07/02/2002 12:24:59 PM PDT by mattdono
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To: chesty_puller
Thank you for posting this, thanks to Ms. Baker for taking the time to write the letter, and most of all thanks to Corporal Mendez for his service to our country.
3 posted on 07/02/2002 12:25:55 PM PDT by Miss Marple
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To: All
OOH-RAH! Semper Fi!
4 posted on 07/02/2002 12:26:11 PM PDT by devildogO341
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To: chesty_puller; mattdono
Dittos. Not a dry eye at my location either. Thanks for the post.
5 posted on 07/02/2002 12:27:43 PM PDT by My2Cents
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To: chesty_puller
Even a Gyrene gets it right occasionally. Good job. Great post.

U.S. Navy bump.

B-chan

6 posted on 07/02/2002 12:28:00 PM PDT by B-Chan
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To: chesty_puller
In a heartbeat, my disillusionment with young people today quickly vanished. In ordinary homes, in ordinary towns, kids like him are growing up proud to be an American and willing to die for it

Here's some more great young Americans:

Voices From the Military

7 posted on 07/02/2002 12:28:37 PM PDT by TADSLOS
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To: chesty_puller
thank you bump for later
8 posted on 07/02/2002 12:28:51 PM PDT by M1911A1
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To: chesty_puller
So beautiful! Thanks for posting it.
9 posted on 07/02/2002 12:29:24 PM PDT by RAT Patrol
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To: chesty_puller
Semper Fi.
10 posted on 07/02/2002 12:29:47 PM PDT by The KG9 Kid
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To: chesty_puller
Wow. Thanks for the post.
11 posted on 07/02/2002 12:35:03 PM PDT by Mr. Lucky
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To: chesty_puller; dixie sass; LurkerNoMore!; antivenom; Snow Bunny
For your ping lists
12 posted on 07/02/2002 12:37:28 PM PDT by chesty_puller
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To: chesty_puller
great post
13 posted on 07/02/2002 12:38:23 PM PDT by KSCITYBOY
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To: mattdono
Big tears bump.
14 posted on 07/02/2002 12:39:38 PM PDT by ventana
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To: chesty_puller
Wow. Great post. Only in Orange County!! I used to live in LA and the only time anyone ever honked and waved at my "George W Bush" license plate frame was during a drive through Orange County.....
15 posted on 07/02/2002 12:39:51 PM PDT by gopwhit
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To: chesty_puller
A Great story,

This Marine is what is great about our country. He has shown what it means to be free, and what it is like to experience that freedom first hand.

And appreciation should also go to the office that wrote those letters to him while he was serving on Embassy Duty.

My roommate in Okinawa was able to serve a 3 year stint on Embassy Duty, and they are some of the proudest Americans I have come across.

While we Marines are some of the few and the proud, us regular Marines always had a special place in our hearts for those who protected our Embassy's.

Semper Fidelis,
Joe
16 posted on 07/02/2002 12:41:54 PM PDT by Sonar5
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To: chesty_puller
Thank you Chesty...and THANKS to all the men and women who serve in the armed forces..especially the Marines!
17 posted on 07/02/2002 12:50:39 PM PDT by antivenom
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To: Lazamataz
I thought you would like this.
18 posted on 07/02/2002 12:50:41 PM PDT by chesty_puller
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To: chesty_puller
Semper Fi
19 posted on 07/02/2002 12:51:37 PM PDT by kellynla
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To: Bigun; sinkspur
bump
20 posted on 07/02/2002 1:02:28 PM PDT by chesty_puller
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