Free Republic

Bittersweet day today I saw the daughter of an old friend graduate from Parris Island today, and she is welcomed as my new little sister in the Marine Corps. On a sad note, one of the family members sitting on the section for the Woman Marines platoon 4037 had an apparent heart attack while watching his daughter or granddaughter in her ceremony. His condition is unknown, they did not stop working on him and they took 10 or more minutes once he was in the ambulance and it did NOT leave screaming from the scene. If anyone can tell me...

The Marines Wednesday, February 21, 9:00pm CHANNEL 24 (WEDH) View more broadcast times Director John Grant's documentary examines the culture of being a marine. Included: recruit training during boot at Parris Island, S.C.; a tour of the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va. Also: comments from retired general Michael Hagee.

Going to war, more than job opportunities and money for college, is the post-September 11 allure for joining the armed services, military officials say. And, in a trend that bewilders and dismays those opposed to the war in Iraq, enlistment numbers are up and recruiting goals are mostly being met or exceeded.

No matter where Marines are serving, from the Pentagon and Marine Barracks in Washington, to the loneliest outposts in Iraq and Afghanistan, Marines will stop, shake hands, say happy birthday, sing the Marines' Hymn and, if it is available, have a piece of cake. It doesn't matter to us if its an elaborate cake from some big hotel, a smaller cake from the great cooks aboard ship, or a cookie from an MRE, we're going to celebrate!

Recruit Daniel Murphy, who in college was a 325-pound offensive lineman protecting quarterbacks and opening holes for running backs, lost 100 pounds to join the U.S. Marines, the military's swift-moving, expeditionary shock troops.

All right. That does it. I am going to say it. EVERYONE who ever went to boot camp was humiliated more than these people were in Baghdad. And I mean EVERYONE!

LETTER FROM A WEST VIRGINIA FARM KID, NOW AT PARIS ISLAND MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT Dear Ma and Pa: I am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the Marine Corps beats working for old man Minch by a mile. Tell them to join up quick before maybe all of the places are filled. I was restless at first because you got to stay in bed till nearly 6 a.m., but am getting so I like to sleep late. Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot and shine some things. No...