Semper Fi

[Bruce Day]

Well of all things. This was sent to me by a USMC friend and it went out to his buddies and one wrote back that he was the father of this kid's company commander and personally knew of this young man. He just made sgt, is in the 3rd Marines at Kaneohe HI, qualled as a sniper, and just passed a PT test and will stay. He did a 2 mile run in 14 min.

And we have a couple graduates from our BSA troop who are muddling their way through college, don't really want to be there and occupy their time playing electronic combat games on their gameboys or whatever they are. I've asked them what about the military and been told that they don't want anybody telling them what to do. With that, I conclude that they are not good candidates for the military and I wish them the best of luck in finding jobs where nobody tells them what to do. I know that young men like this Marine are our true national treasure.

[Old and Reliable]

[quote=Bruce Day;47792]Well of all things. This was sent to me by a USMC friend and it went out to his buddies and one wrote back that he was the father of this kid's company commander and personally knew of this young man. He just made sgt, is in the 3rd Marines at Kaneohe HI, qualled as a sniper, and just passed a PT test and will stay. He did a 2 mile run in 14 min.

And we have a couple graduates from our BSA troop who are muddling their way through college, don't really want to be there and occupy their time playing electronic combat games on their gameboys or whatever they are. I've asked them what about the military and been told that they don't want anybody telling them what to do. Bruce- I recall maybe 14 years ago, my nephew with an IQ of Mensa range- I asked him what games he liked (hoping maybe Baseball or even straight pool) and he said- "Uncle Francis, I like to play computer games (Super Dooper Mario brothers, maybe?) with my friends" I then asked him- did they take turns (like a poker group maybe) and rotate from house to house to play these "games"-- "Oh, no" he replied- "Not at all- we just sit at our computers and play from our own rooms"-- Took him 5 years to graduate college- quit his first job because his boss (also his ex-girl friends father) asked him to do something he didn't want to do--

For every good invention, the ultimate results can be chaos- We have Al Gore's Internet- and hackers like the Limeys that worked for Rupert Murdoch- we have our PGCA website- but there are porn and other garbage sites out there also--I think the computer age has, to a great extent, made many of us "social hermits"--

Now as for the 2 mile in 14 minutes (Full pack and rifle?) as our DI's said at MCRD San Diego (51 years ago for me) would have said-- "Out-%^#$*@%-standing"!!

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Bruce Day

I know that young men like this Marine are our true national treasure.

And, the future of this great country!!!!

I couldn't be more proud of the young men in our military.

[Bill Murphy]

I don't know if this is national news or local news, but Walter Reed Army Hospital had a closing ceremony this week and now Walter Reed is part of the Naval Hospital at Bethesda, MD. An immense building program has been in place for several years at Bethesda Naval. I guess the new, modern complex is a good thing for the patients. Bethesda is a better venue for off campus activities than Walter Reed was. There is a lot of history in both facilities. My Dad was a guest at the dedication of the Naval Hospital in 1940, a big event attended by many dignitaries including FDR. Until recently, I had in my collection, a beautiful program commemorating the event, including the list of attendees. I framed it and gave it as a retirement gift to the senior NCO of the Dental Section at Bethesda. The retirement ceremony was held in an auditorium at the hospital and the reception, attended by more high ranking commissioned officers than I have ever seen in one place. Linda works in a dental office with this gentleman's wife and is acquainted with the whole family. I suggested the gift and he was quite impressed. Because of the proximity of the two facilities to local sporting clubs, Wounded Warrior events are regularly held in our area.