Happy Birthday Marine Corps (from a Marine Corps B.R.A.T.)

       While I ended up joining the Navy (6 weeks of Leatherneck during the summer after my junior year of college was enough for me to know that I was not cut out for the Marines)  I have always had a profound respect and admiration for the Marine Corps.  There is no greater, ruthless and expedient fighting force on the planet.
       My father is a Marine (and my grandfather and grandmother, as well as an Uncle and Cousin on his side are also Marines).   I always felt a point of personal pride to call myself a Marine Corps B.R.A.T. growing up.  Those of you my age may recall the movie entitled The BRAT Patrol (1986 starring Sean Astin) in which the kids of military service members save the world (more or less).  Of course BRAT stands for Born Raised And Trapped.  I can remember running around the neighborhood as an 9 year old singing the BRAT Patrol songs and conducting "missions" with my fellow USMC BRATs.  Below are two links to the movie for those of you who are curious:

"The BRAT Patrol" youtube excerpt (first ten minutes of the film)

IMDB link: The BRAT Patrol

I'll close out this column with two quotes, one from a modern day marine maestro of quotable quotes( http://www.theatlanticwire.com/features/view/feature/16-Most-Hair-Raising-General-Mattis-Quotes-1573/) :

"I come in peace, I didn't bring artillery.  But I am pleading with you with tears in my eyes:  If you fuck with me, I'll kill you all.

Marine General James Mattis, to Iraqi tribal leaders

and the other from my favorite Marine Corps Commandants (yes, Marine kids have favorite Commandants...I had a poster of this one) Gen 'Lou' Wilson (MOH recipient).  Having a plethora of Marine buddies I can personally vouch for the veracity of the sentiments he expresses in his closing lines:

The wonderful love of a beautiful maid,
The love of a staunch true man,
The love of a baby, unafraid,
Have existed since time began.

But the greatest of loves, The quintessence of loves.
even greater than that of a mother,
Is the tender, passionate, infinite love,
of one drunken Marine for another.


"Semper Fidelis"
General Louis H. Wilson
Commandant of the Marine Corps
Toast given at 203rd Marine Corps Birthday Ball
Camp Lejueune, N.C. 1978