 A couple days ago, I was looking through some pictures from my Marine Corps days. Jeez did I look like a kid. That's when it hit me: our nation is protected by a bunch of men that look like kids. What really got me thinking about it was watching some ESPN highlights during lunch. Have you ever noticed that even college football players look like men? They're huge and a lot of them are only 18! That's what I thought I'd find when I went into the Corps, but the opposite is true. Most of us are of average height and average build. The guys that look like "The Swede" in Heartbreak Ridge wouldn't be able to stay within weight standards. So what's that special gift? If a kid can't bench 500-lbs or kill a man by crushing his skull with his bare hands, what makes a hero? It's heart. It's courage. It's grit. It's loyalty. It's kindness. The United States military is comprised 99.99% with normal kids doing extraordinary things. Whoever says this country is dying only needs to look at them. They are the shining example of what Americans should be. Brothers 'til the end. So today, as you're going about your day, trying to ignore the crappy news, thinking about what to eat for dinner, remember those baby-faced men who are out there on the front lines defending our freedom. I don't know about you, but I'd take a scrappy kid from the Louisiana bayou over a NFL wide-out any day. I may have a couple drinks for them tonight. Who's with me? Semper Fidelis, CGC
Ralph Kurtzman
10/25/2013 08:14:54 am
I have noticed the same thing as I meander through the airports across the country. BWI is an entry point for our military - I overheard some of them saying how great it was to be back in the US. As a retired AF E-7 knowing how they were feeling I hijacked their checks and bought 20 some folks breakfast a few weeks ago.
Cara Johnson
10/25/2013 08:15:06 am
I'm with you, CG, as is my whole family!! Throughout our nation's history, the men in our family have served in every branch of the armed forces and in every major conflict.
Alan P
10/25/2013 09:17:54 am
Semper Fi brothers. We were young , we were soldiers
Bob Reutter
10/25/2013 11:22:05 am
I was recently at the Marine Toys for Tots conference in VA. I was shocked to see that they were making 14 and 15 year old teenagers E6, E7 and even E8. At least they looked that young to this old Marine. Most of them had been volun-told they were going to run a TFT campaign at their duty station. :)
Alison Munchrath
10/25/2013 12:59:43 pm
Proud of all our Servicemembers. Never forget the sacrifices they and their families make to keep us safe.
Don
10/25/2013 09:36:25 pm
I'm with ya Brother, Cheers!
Vin
9/20/2014 07:11:18 am
Cara, military service has been a tradition in my family also. In our case it has either been Navy or Marines. My father was a Seabee during WWII and spent time on Guadalcanal and Tarawa. My mothers brothers were both Navy with her oldest brother being on the USS Missouri during the treating signing in Tokyo Bay. My fathers sisters husband was Marine Sargent at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. His son, my cousin, also went into the Marines after high school about the same time I went into the Navy. That was almost 52 years ago and we still throw squid-jarhead jabs at each other. Of the entire family I was the only one to make it a career. Entered the Navy in 1962 and retired in 1991.
Richard Pawlikowski
4/4/2016 07:22:37 am
Went to my 40 year reunion for Marine Security Guards Seoul Korea at Quantico about eight years back. I saw some staff sergeants that looked like kids, I knew then I was getting old. I'll Have a couple of drinks in honor of all our service men. Semper Fi. Comments are closed.
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