My Son Became A Marine
Jul 11, 2018 19:52:01 #
A cousin sent this to me today. I have not seen it printed here on the UHH before. My apologies if it has been here before. It certainly can't hurt to be seen again. One man's opinion, and mine. I am certain many will agree. What do you readers think?
Dennis
This is a well-written article about a father who put several of his kids through expensive colleges but one wanted to be a Marine. Interesting observation by this dad. A very interesting commentary that says a lot about our failing and fallen society.
By Frank Schaeffer of the Washington Post
"Before my son became a Marine, I never thought much about who was defending me. Now when I read of the war
on terrorism or the conflict in Afghanistan, it cuts to my heart. When I see a picture of a member of our military who has been killed, I read his or her name very carefully. Sometimes I cry.
In 1999, when the barrel-chested Marine recruiter showed up in dress blues and bedazzled my son John, I did
not stand in the way. John was headstrong, and he seemed to understand these stern, clean men with straight backs and flawless uniforms. I did not. I live in the Volvo-driving, higher education-worshiping North Shore of Boston. I write novels for a living.
I have never served in the military.
It had been hard enough sending my two older children off to Georgetown and New York University. John's enlisting
was unexpected, so deeply unsettling I did not relish the prospect of answering the question, "So where is John going to college?" from the parents who were itching to tell me all about how their son or daughter was going to Harvard.
At the private high school John attended, no other students were going into the military.
"But aren't the Marines terribly Southern?" (Says a lot about open-mindedness in the Northeast) asked one
perplexed mother while standing next to me at the brunch following graduation.
"What a waste, he was such a good student," said another parent.
One parent (a professor at a nearby and rather famous university) spoke up at a school meeting and suggested
that the school should “carefully evaluate what went wrong."
When John graduated from three months of boot camp on Parris Island, 3000 parents and friends were in the
parade deck stands. We parents and our Marines not only were of many races but also were representative of many economic classes.
Many were poor. Some arrived crammed in the backs of pickups, others by bus.
John told me that a lot of parents could not afford the trip.
We in the audience were white and Native American. We were Hispanic, Arab, African American, and Asian.
We were former Marines wearing the scars of battle, or at least baseball caps emblazoned with battles' names. We were Southern whites from Nashville and skinheads from New Jersey, black kids from Cleveland wearing ghetto rags and white ex-cons with ham-hock
forearms defaced by jailhouse tattoos.
We would not have been mistaken for the educated and well-heeled parents gathered on the lawns of John’s private
school a half-year before.
After graduation one new Marine told John, "Before I was a Marine, if I had ever seen you on my block I would've
probably killed you just because you were standing there."
This was a serious statement from one of John’s good friends, a black ex-gang member from Detroit who, as
John said, "would die for me now, just like I'd die for him."
My son has connected me to my country in a way that I was too selfish and insular to experience before. I
feel closer to the waitress at our local diner than to some of my oldest friends. She has two sons in the Corps. They are facing the same dangers as my boy.
When the guy who fixes my car asks me how John is doing, I know he means it. His younger brother is in the
Navy.
Why were I and the other parents at my son's private school so surprised by his choice?
During World War II, the sons and daughters of the most powerful and educated families did their bit. If
the idea of the immorality of the Vietnam War was the only reason those lucky enough to go to college dodged the draft, why did we not encourage our children to volunteer for military service once that war was done?
Have we wealthy and educated Americans all become pacifists? Is the world a safe place? Or have we just gotten
used to having somebody else defend us?
What is the future of our democracy when the sons and daughters of the janitors at our elite universities
are far more likely to be put in harm’s way than are any of the students whose dorms their parents clean?
I feel shame because it took my son's joining the Marine Corps to make me take notice of who is defending
me. I feel hope because perhaps my son is part of a future "greatest generation." As the storm clouds of war gather, at least I know that I can look the men and women in uniform in the eye. My son is one of them. He is the best I have to offer. John is
my heart.
Faith is not about everything turning out OK. Faith is about being OK no matter how things turn out.
Oh, how I wish so many of our younger generations could read this article. It makes me so sad to hear the
way they talk with no respect for what their fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers experienced so they can live in freedom. Those clowns in pro football that refuse to stand for our flag and national anthem are so clueless. The Hollywood celebrities
that support them are pathetically entitled. Freedom has been replaced with Free-Dumb.
Dennis
This is a well-written article about a father who put several of his kids through expensive colleges but one wanted to be a Marine. Interesting observation by this dad. A very interesting commentary that says a lot about our failing and fallen society.
By Frank Schaeffer of the Washington Post
"Before my son became a Marine, I never thought much about who was defending me. Now when I read of the war
on terrorism or the conflict in Afghanistan, it cuts to my heart. When I see a picture of a member of our military who has been killed, I read his or her name very carefully. Sometimes I cry.
In 1999, when the barrel-chested Marine recruiter showed up in dress blues and bedazzled my son John, I did
not stand in the way. John was headstrong, and he seemed to understand these stern, clean men with straight backs and flawless uniforms. I did not. I live in the Volvo-driving, higher education-worshiping North Shore of Boston. I write novels for a living.
I have never served in the military.
It had been hard enough sending my two older children off to Georgetown and New York University. John's enlisting
was unexpected, so deeply unsettling I did not relish the prospect of answering the question, "So where is John going to college?" from the parents who were itching to tell me all about how their son or daughter was going to Harvard.
At the private high school John attended, no other students were going into the military.
"But aren't the Marines terribly Southern?" (Says a lot about open-mindedness in the Northeast) asked one
perplexed mother while standing next to me at the brunch following graduation.
"What a waste, he was such a good student," said another parent.
One parent (a professor at a nearby and rather famous university) spoke up at a school meeting and suggested
that the school should “carefully evaluate what went wrong."
When John graduated from three months of boot camp on Parris Island, 3000 parents and friends were in the
parade deck stands. We parents and our Marines not only were of many races but also were representative of many economic classes.
Many were poor. Some arrived crammed in the backs of pickups, others by bus.
John told me that a lot of parents could not afford the trip.
We in the audience were white and Native American. We were Hispanic, Arab, African American, and Asian.
We were former Marines wearing the scars of battle, or at least baseball caps emblazoned with battles' names. We were Southern whites from Nashville and skinheads from New Jersey, black kids from Cleveland wearing ghetto rags and white ex-cons with ham-hock
forearms defaced by jailhouse tattoos.
We would not have been mistaken for the educated and well-heeled parents gathered on the lawns of John’s private
school a half-year before.
After graduation one new Marine told John, "Before I was a Marine, if I had ever seen you on my block I would've
probably killed you just because you were standing there."
This was a serious statement from one of John’s good friends, a black ex-gang member from Detroit who, as
John said, "would die for me now, just like I'd die for him."
My son has connected me to my country in a way that I was too selfish and insular to experience before. I
feel closer to the waitress at our local diner than to some of my oldest friends. She has two sons in the Corps. They are facing the same dangers as my boy.
When the guy who fixes my car asks me how John is doing, I know he means it. His younger brother is in the
Navy.
Why were I and the other parents at my son's private school so surprised by his choice?
During World War II, the sons and daughters of the most powerful and educated families did their bit. If
the idea of the immorality of the Vietnam War was the only reason those lucky enough to go to college dodged the draft, why did we not encourage our children to volunteer for military service once that war was done?
Have we wealthy and educated Americans all become pacifists? Is the world a safe place? Or have we just gotten
used to having somebody else defend us?
What is the future of our democracy when the sons and daughters of the janitors at our elite universities
are far more likely to be put in harm’s way than are any of the students whose dorms their parents clean?
I feel shame because it took my son's joining the Marine Corps to make me take notice of who is defending
me. I feel hope because perhaps my son is part of a future "greatest generation." As the storm clouds of war gather, at least I know that I can look the men and women in uniform in the eye. My son is one of them. He is the best I have to offer. John is
my heart.
Faith is not about everything turning out OK. Faith is about being OK no matter how things turn out.
Oh, how I wish so many of our younger generations could read this article. It makes me so sad to hear the
way they talk with no respect for what their fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers experienced so they can live in freedom. Those clowns in pro football that refuse to stand for our flag and national anthem are so clueless. The Hollywood celebrities
that support them are pathetically entitled. Freedom has been replaced with Free-Dumb.
Jul 11, 2018 20:01:04 #
Jul 11, 2018 20:04:50 #
Jul 11, 2018 20:11:18 #
Wow, powerful story. I wish that my kids would have served, as I did, and then go to college afterwards. They do not like the NFL anymore while not watching it, and at least they respect our veterans and soldiers. We need the draft to return and give these new high school/college grads some structure so they can understand what real respect and pride for their country is. Thanks for this wonderful reminder of what this country means to me. 
Jul 11, 2018 20:13:48 #
coyrahman wrote:
Your eyes have been opened!
Thanks for looking. But my eyes were always open. I spent two tours as a door gunner in Vietnam courtesy of the USMC. It was without a doubt the most prideful gift I have ever received from America.
Dennis
Jul 12, 2018 05:47:27 #
I have nothing but respect for those who've served. For the generations who've gone before selflessly to do their part even paying the ultimate sacrifice so that we here in the the states could enjoy freedom.
My stepson is a Marine, that was his dream growing up and he did his hitch (I think that's what they call it) and I'm very proud of him. After attending several Parris Island graduations and meeting many many Marines, I'm more impressed than ever at the sort of folks they turn out.
Too often military service is looked down upon as less desirable than other occupations and it shouldn't be. I'm of the opinion that a 2 year mandatory military service would be a good thing here in the US.
My stepson is a Marine, that was his dream growing up and he did his hitch (I think that's what they call it) and I'm very proud of him. After attending several Parris Island graduations and meeting many many Marines, I'm more impressed than ever at the sort of folks they turn out.
Too often military service is looked down upon as less desirable than other occupations and it shouldn't be. I'm of the opinion that a 2 year mandatory military service would be a good thing here in the US.
Jul 12, 2018 07:07:10 #
A good post Dennis, I wish we had conscription for some our spoilt yobs over here.
Jul 12, 2018 07:36:08 #
Yes, Denis, thanks for the article. I had never seen nor read it before.
I have five grandsons with four in one family, I told my daughter this was her pay back, jokingly.
Sadly, I do not believe that the boys would understand this article!
I talked until I was "blue" in the face for them to get active in their local High School ROTC. Nothing!
I spoke to them many times about joining the service, any of the military branches, telling them, "you go in as a kid, but come out as a man".
Two of the boys told me that they felt they could not take the strict supervision, etc. and wanted no part of the military.
God Bless our military men and women that serve our country with PRIDE.
Dave
I have five grandsons with four in one family, I told my daughter this was her pay back, jokingly.
Sadly, I do not believe that the boys would understand this article!
I talked until I was "blue" in the face for them to get active in their local High School ROTC. Nothing!
I spoke to them many times about joining the service, any of the military branches, telling them, "you go in as a kid, but come out as a man".
Two of the boys told me that they felt they could not take the strict supervision, etc. and wanted no part of the military.
God Bless our military men and women that serve our country with PRIDE.
Dave
Jul 12, 2018 07:49:03 #
ole sarg
Loc: south florida
We should reinstitute the draft and accompany it with a draft into a civilian corp if one is so disabled as to not serve in the military. In short, everyone should serve their country in some manner. No deferments!
Jul 12, 2018 08:10:41 #
ole sarg wrote:
We should reinstitute the draft and accompany it with a draft into a civilian corp if one is so disabled as to not serve in the military. In short, everyone should serve their country in some manner. No deferments!
you old lying asshole....it hasnt been that long since you stated draftees were poor soldiers & not fit for combat...Altzheimers progressing much???
Maybe you should stand in front of the Vietnam wall & say that...
Jul 12, 2018 08:13:49 #
Jul 12, 2018 08:16:34 #
Jul 12, 2018 08:30:11 #
Thank you Sir at last you have been enlightened....some people never learn.... I thank and wish your son well Semper Fi woo rah!!!!
US ARMY/COAST GUARD combat veteran retired 26 yrs.... Semper Paratus!!!!!
US ARMY/COAST GUARD combat veteran retired 26 yrs.... Semper Paratus!!!!!
Jul 12, 2018 08:52:23 #
dennis2146 wrote:
A cousin sent this to me today. I have not seen i... (show quote)
Give your son a Semper Fi for me. I was in the Corp from 60-67. If he stays in or decides to get out everything in his life will be impacted by time served. After I was discharged I went to college under the GI Bill. I got an entry-level job for a Wall St firm while going to school. It was at least for me, hard. Then I remembered what hard was. Thirty some odd years later I retired from that same firm. He will learn to; Adapt, Overcome and Preserve.
Jul 12, 2018 08:52:58 #
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