As a Army veteran whom reenacts US Marine Corps, War of 1812 I certainly hope and support that the Marines continue their independent ways for several more hundred years.

I'm a Korean War Combat Veteran. I wasn't a Marine. Our unit was attached to the 2nd Infantry Div. I've nothing but admiration for their accomplishments. Contrary to Tom Hanks comments about how the Japanese were charaterized in WWII, there was no quarter asked and none given in the island fighting. It's very easy for idiots to second guess what was right or wrong. Of course they never experienced the terror of combat, where length of life is measured in milliseconds.

I am a retired U.S Air Force SMsgt. who started his military career as a Marine. Although I only spent 4 years in the Marine Corps, I am still a Marine. The Marine Corps does build strong, confident men and women who know they will be the FIRST to see action, no matter where conflict or war arises. All I can say is Semper Fi, and God Bless the Marine Corps. They truly are the BEST of the BEST!

I am proud to say I am a former Marine and Vietnam was my war. The author has captured at least in part the secret of being a Marine. It's all about attitude. Take the attitude and with it the swagger and all you have left is the ground arm of the Coast Guard. No offense meant Coast Guard but truth is truth.

As an AF vet of 24 years and the proudest grandfather of a young Marine I have seen the change that he and the Corps has made in him. It is a shame that all our youngsters can't be as clear eyed and confident of his place in this world. I pray every day God will keep them all safe but think He has a special affinity for Leathernecks.

Marine Generals use the word kill. If you want to know where the fighting is find the Marines. They like no others are the Tip of the Spear. Army Generals get the credit, but Marines make the history!

Semper Fi!

Semper Fidelis Charlie. "God; Country; Corps." That is what the Marines stand for. We learned it and spoke it in that order.

Semper fidelis--Always Faithful

Fideli Certa Merces--To The Faithful There Is Just Reward

"Patriotism is supporting your country all the

time, and your government when it deserves it."

--American author Mark Twain (1835-1910)

As a 22 year Army vet, I had the privilege of serving with Marines on numerous occasions. They are unique in their own way. Tough and dedicated, the Marines will always be needed by this country. The negative views about Marines are always from those who are jealous,weak, and who 'just don't pack the gear' to be Marines. 'Semper Fi' Marines!

S.Greenlee

Major US Army,Retired

Semper fedilis -

As a civilian I respect the Marines for always "walking the talk" during service time and for the rest of their lives. Everyone I hve ever met that is, or was, a marine - is still a marine.

Always faithful is a lesson that could be learned and implemented by our elected leaders.

I was in the United States Navy for four years active duty in a joint intelligence command from 1993-1997 and had the opportunity to support all military branches not only of our country, but those of Japan, South Korea, Thailand, England, and Australia. The United States Marine Corps always stood head and shoulders above the rest of them - professional, team spirit, moral, and always shockingly effective in the craziest of environments. They are the standard to meet. (Interestingly, the Australians came second.)

In my 29 years as an active Naval Aviator, my feelings toward them sometimes bounced between love & admiration to hate & disgust. And I always knew that I didn't have the attitude & dedication to be one. They are a different breed and they have my abiding respect. May there always be a an Anchor & Globe in our military. Semper Fi, you Devil Dogs!

My father was a corpsman attached to easy and fox companies of 2/28 5th Marine Division during the battle for Iwo Jima. (Spearhead history lists him in the 27th replacment rgt. but he went to the 28th upon hitting the beach) He never encouraged me watching combat or rat patrol on TV while growing up, stating that if I got a bellyfull of war I would understand. 10 days after he ascended Mt Suribachi and witnissed the first flag being raised he was snipered in the head on way to one of the airfields. After receiving last rights by a padre they decided they could save him and he was taken off the beach to a hospital ship and later to Guam. He and doc Bradley were the only two corpsmen that lived in their outifit. None better than the USMC. He also admired the submariners and I was steered to a career in the submarine force by all the books he had me read as a child.

I was a jarhead for nearly 23 years; I love it as I do my own family. An ever-present saying in the Corps during my entire career was, "America doesn't NEED the Marine Corps, she WANTS the Marine Corps." I don't want to live in an America that no longer wants her Corps. God help us all if that day ever comes.

My father was a corpsman attached to easy and fox companies of 2/28 5th Marine Division during the battle for Iwo Jima. (Spearhead history lists him in the 27th replacment rgt. but he went to the 28th upon hitting the beach) He never encouraged me watching combat or rat patrol on TV while growing up, stating that if I got a bellyfull of war I would understand. 10 days after he ascended Mt Suribachi and witnissed the first flag being raised he was snipered in the head on way to one of the airfields. After receiving last rights by a padre they decided they could save him and he was taken off the beach to a hospital ship and later to Guam. He and doc Bradley were the only two corpsmen that lived in their outifit. None better than the USMC. He also admired the submariners and I was steered to a career in the submarine force by all the books he had me read as a child.

I was almost a Marine. Low lottery number so I went to the Marines to enlist, got all set told 'em I'd be back when I got my notice but it never came. Didn't get drafted so I didn't go, what a mistake! The Corps there's nothing like it. The brotherhood of which I'll never be a part is something I covet. Hate to have a regret but not being a Marine is a huge regret. God bless you, Marines, may your aim be true, your bayonets sharp, and your surviving enemies few!

Thanks for an excellant missive: As a Cuban Blockade thru Vietnam Era Marine (not currently serving), I have tried to convey to my faithfull wife of 40 years why 'Once a Marine, always a Marine'.

The closest illustration I have been able to convey is to a woman who is a mother: If you have never given birth, including other women, you can never understand mother hood.

Semper Fi to all that have served, currently serving and our future replacement at arms!

Lewis Burwell (Chesty) Puller once said; "Old Breed New Breed, what counts is the marine Breed!" LTG Puller was absolutely correct in that assertion. As a former paratrooper with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam, the 82nd Airborne and a "Candy Striper" in support of US Special Forces,and the son of a WWII combat veteran (also a Paratrooper, I can proudly say that no other service has displayed th "Esprit de Corp" (not corpse) that the Marines have always shown. This is not to say that US Paratroopers and Spec Ops have not had their share of vicious and tough battles and skirmishes. However, as Mr. Hanson pointed out, "given that its methods of training, deployment, fighting, counterinsurgency and conventional warfare usually pay off in the end." in the final analysis that is all that counts....Results! Setting all political correctness aside and ideological stupidity, the purpose of going to war is to win it, and Marines (and Paratroopers) have always been up to the task.

Ramon Santiago Villalba

US Army (RET)

Stillwater, Maine

I've met many "former" Marines and my wife's uncle had been in Guadalcanal. I've rubbed shoulders with 'em and liked and respected them perhaps because the "marine" has not left the man.

I don't know how it is done but there's a streak of tenacity and initiative that defies interference from above and a drive to SOLVE PROBLEMS. Sometimes the questions have disconcerted those above 'em on the corporate food-chain, but, really, questions are usually more useful than "answers" from the Adminisphere.

I suspect that the Marines in Afghanistan will find a way to win instead of supporting the Diplomatic mechanism needed to prolong the crisis as long as possible. (I think there's a "Consultants" poster at despair.com that might cover this, though it'd need to be re-named as "Diplomacy".)

To my eye, Marines are inculcated with ideals... and how they manage to maintain enough pragmatism to figure out what doesn't work in the real world escapes me.

I just hope we in the USA are still worthy to have people such as these working for us and protecting us.

Mr. Hanson;

One of my favorite authos is W.E.B. Griffin. Mr. Griffin writes about the Marine Corps with very inspiring stories. You mentioned Louis Johnson and Harry Truman and the Korean War. The 1st Marine Brigade changed Harry's mind about the Marines. An under strength division by 50%, the Marines were rushed into combat shortly after 25 June 1950. "Johnny" Walker, the 8th Army Commander publicly stated that without the MArines he couldn't have held the Pusan Perimeter.

It is very understandable why the Marines take everything with them when they go into combat. In August 1942, after the Marines invaded Guadalcanal, the Navy was terribly short on surface vessels, especially the heavies. When the Pacific Command was informed that the Imperial Japanese Navy was sending massive reinforcements to the "Canal," the Navy steamed off with more than 50% of the needed supplies for the Marines.

If I were in trouble in combat and I had a choice of wishing for extraction or rescue by the Marines; I would ask for the Marines.

Time after time, the Jarheads have proved their worth.

Semper Fi!!! Oorah!!

Duke

Man for man NOTHING BETTER!

As an Army son and officer, active duty & reserves, I always had the attitude of Andy Griffith in "No Time For Sergeants", the Army gets the job, and the rest are just "helpers". That was tongue-in-cheek, hard to pull off in a blog. The Marines are there for a reason, and anyone who questions that reason needs to have their priorities re-arranged. Dr. Hanson has written the truth. Karl von Clausewitz' theories "On War" were questioned in the '50's, '70's, and now again, but human nature and the nature of violent conflict to achieve political ends still have not changed. Our political "leaders" inside the Beltway would do well not to forget that.

God Bless my Marine Brothers-in-Arms, Uncle Sam's Misguided Children (USMC)! Semper Fidelis!

After joining the US Navy after highschool I have had the pleasure of working with the Marines on several tours. Despite of all the razzing I received for being a lowly swabbie, or maybe because of it, I prize those memories. A more professional, motivated, and patriotic group of men does not exist.

To quote one sergeant: "Freedom is not free, but the US Marine Corps will pay most of your share."

I pray it is always so.

I'm a Marine as well, although I was released from active duty in 1975. The Marines would do well, while they go forward and achieve their objectives, to keep an eye facing backwards, as there are political opportunists who would stab them in the back and seek to completely do away with the USMC. They will use excuses like needing to pay for the health care debacle, or reduce the deficit, or the Marines are just a duplication of efforts of the Army or Navy, etc., but there are people who will try their best to kill the Marine Corps.

Unfortunately, the percentage of Congress people who have served in the Armed Forces is steadily declining, with an even smaller percentage who have actually served in combat. Most of our Congress people (and all the people in the White House) know all about political posturing for media cameras, but they know nothing about war, nor do they care to learn.

Go Marines!

The United States Marines succeed where others fail because they understand one thing before all else - the idea of going to war is not to die gloriously, but to CRUSH THE ENEMY. That is what they are trained to do, and - provided the commanders are worthy of their brass - those are their orders. This c^#p of sending Marines into a war zone, equipping them to do the job they are trained and prepared for - better than anyone else, in my opinion - and then telling them to NOT FIGHT is like telling them to enter a round room and sit in a corner; they will do their best to comply with the order, but it is insulting and hurtful to the dignity of The Corps.

If you want to win a war, send The Marines in and let them do what they do: 1, if something moves on its own, fix that; and 2, if anything stands more than 18" high, fix that. When everything is "fixed", let the Marines move on to make room for the logistics people.

If you don't want to let the Marines do their job to the best of their ability, don't even bother going.

God bless you all, Marines! Hope you are all home soon!

I served in the USMC from 1988-2000 and am a veteran of Desert Shield/Storm/Vigilance, Panama and Haiti campaigns. I love my Marine Corps and anyone wanting to support the future of it, please feel free to donate to the Marine Corps League.

If the Marines die, then so goes our Freedom in final and I will not see that day while I still have breath in my body. You can bankrupt me, shoot me, stab me, put me in jail but I will stand with my country and protect her. There was no expiration date when I raised my hand and promised to protect the constitution and I haven't given up since and won't.

Semper Fi

I was a Marine in the 1st Gulf War then did some time in the Army National Guard.

A big difference between the Green Machine and Army - I had more authority to call for fire, more my team, improvise and overcome, and generally do what necessary to win as a Lance Corporal in the Marine Corps than my Company Commander did in the Army.

Maybe the president wasn't just mistakenly mispronouncing "corpsman." Maybe he really was thinking of the demise of the Corps when he kept referring to the "corpseman." Just about the time when the daily litany of stupidity and violence in Chicago and the rest of the world starts to get to me, I am exposed to someone from our military and I think: there goes the hope for our future, all is not lost. To all of you, military past or present, thank you. Those who would disparage you aren't worthy of the privilege of polishing your boots.

Semper Fi USMC (1961-1965) 3rd Marine Airwing

Out####ing standing. I am as proud of being a jarhaed today, as I was when I was 17. God bless the USA, God Bless the United States Marine Corps.

From POTUS on down, there are few in Washington D.C. good enough or fit enough to carry a Marine Privates seabag. Nuff said.,

Once a Marine, Always a Marine!

My Uncle Al was a WW2 vet....

His favorite saying when jawing w/Army Vets was "June 6th Marines hit Omaha Beach, June 7th marching thru Berlin w/Hitler's head on a pole"

I don't pay for HBO.

I saw the first installment in a hotel room travelling for business. Wasn't so good. The producers had a scene where the marines were playing arcade shooting games with a poor, innocent Japanese hohei. I understand it got better later.

At least the series cleared up one thing. The USMC defeated Dai Nippon.

My confusion is how it took the entire Corps to do the job. The Third Reich was soundly destroyed by E/2/506 PIR; the 442 RCT, and the Tuskegee Airmen . . .

Contrary to the now too popular belief, we (the Marines) are not anywhere to make friends. We are there to get the job done, the mission accomplished! Oorahh! Semper Fi, Marines!

If you want peace, send the Peach Corps. If you want war, send the Marine Corps.

I do the care packages, and have supported many a Marine. They indeed are a unique breed, they are just different, and a joy to support. I once thanked a young Marine for being "My Marine" in doing the support effort. His response...."No problem ma'am, everyone needs their own Marine, and I am proud to be yours".

I agree, everyone needs their own Marine.

On another occasion I met a 20 year old Marine that had lost both his legs in Ramadi. His only regret in losing his legs was that he couldn't go back to serve his country. I was in awe of his attitude and dedication.

So yeah, leave the Marines alone, let them do their job, and be grateful we have them.

Thanks to every one who has said what I can't type. Every branch of the Military has its specialized units and they All do a important job, but I beleive the Corps does all of that only in one entire organization.

Pacific was a good mini-series albeit the usual hollywood hype but good none the less.

As someone said, one has to be to understand. No one will ever get into the head of a Marine and try to give an explaination, if we had to explain most would not understand. Any one who has earned the title Marine has fought in every war the Corps has participated in-we are taught them-therefore we have lived them. We posses something that others do not, thats why we are different. I have been loved and hated and know inside that I made a difference.

All the quotes by various people ie; the filthiest minds, cleanest bodies, lowewst morals and highest moralle of any group of people, thank god for the Marine Corps! We have done so much with so little so often we are qualified to do anything with nothing.

We are proud of all the names we are called, the euphinisms made and the respect that follows later.

We train to be first in, we live to be first in, and we train to take as many as we can before we die. We do not relish death but we do not fear it!

God does not like Marines, we kill his children.

The Marines do not discriminate against whopps, spicks, n-----s, gooks, dogfaces, flyboys or deck apes, we only want green. Attitude is everything.

The change is forever. You have to want the change,

you must be willing to live by our Codes forever, no matter what happens.

They have tried to dis-band My Corps many times, but they fail to do so why? They need us on that wall!

Being a Viet Nam Vet of 2 1/2 yrs I'am Proud to be the Few the Proud the Marines. I'am the only Marine in my family tree. My ancestors fought in every battle for this country, some for and some against, but they were there. I may not have been born a Marine but the Marine Corps made me one, because I beleived I could be one. Not everyone can be one of us, some do and some don't and thats okay, and to those who tried and didn't make it, your efforts are appreciated.

The one mistake every nation makes when they choose to fight us is they didn't expect the United States Marine Corps. Semper Fi

Like the previous poster, I am Air Force now, but started my military career as a Marine. What little success I have had in my HIGHLY UN-distinguished military career is because I was a Marine. Best title on earth....MARINE!

The brave men and women of the USMC were the ones who showed everyone how to start putting Iraq back together after things went to hell there. If anything, the rest of the forces in Afghanistan, especially the ones in their big-box FOBs, should shut up and take notes.

Einstein once opined that the only thing he could be sure was infinite was human stupidity. I've got another one for him: The capacity of the United States Marine Corps to meet and exceed any challenge.

President Reagan understood, he said: "Some people go their whole lives wondering if they made a difference, Marines don't have that problem." Some of our bumper stickers say it well also: Travel to Exotic Places, Meet New People, KILL THEM / Carpenters Hammer Nails. Plumbers Fix Pipes. MARINES KILL PEOPLE. / So Many Terrorists, SO LITTLE TIME / Death Smiles at Everyone, MARINES SMILE BACK / A Dead Enemy Is A Peacefule Enemy, BLESSED BE THE PEACEMAKERS / In the face of TERROR and MURDER the call for Peace is NOT PATRIOTIC, IT'S COWARDICE! // I'm proud to be a Life Member of the Marice Corps League & the Veterans of Foreign Wars. DON'T MESS WITH THE CORPS, Barack!

In Korea, it seemed that when somebody was in deep trouble, the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade was called upon to secure or regain lost territory in and around the Pusan Perimeter.

When MacArthur wanted to flank the North Koreans, the 1st Marine Division was called upon to make the daring high-tide landings at Inchon.

Like my buddy says above, "If you want peace, send the Peach Corps. If you want war, send in the Marines."

Super article,

I was an active duty Marine for four years and USMCR for four years and Army National Guard for 17 years but I am still a Marine at 74 years old and wear Marine regalia everyday. "Once a Marine, always a Marine" is not fiction. I had no war only skirmishes and I would go today if I could to do my duty if called. The Marine Corps builds men and women today and everyday. I am so proud of the honor of serving in the Corps that I almost burst with pride when the national anthem is played

Semper Fi till the day I die, Whit

Semper Fi,

I had the honor and privilege to serve in the Marine Corps from August 1963 through August 1967. After Paris Island (PI) my first duty station was K Bay Hawaii 1st Marine Brigade, three of us from the shipload of Marines sent to Hawaii were put into Marine Recon. From Hawaii (1964/65) to Okinawa where we joined the 3rd Division and then onto Chu Lai Viet Nam where we hit the beach on May 7th 1965. We lost a number of our Recon brothers including LT. Frank Reasoner (1st Marine Medal of Honor recipient) in Viet Nam during our tour and a number of us also received wounds. The Corps made me what I am today. I served four years in the Corps, 26 years in the Uniformed Division of the Secret Service and am still serving my country with the DOD. I’m a Marine from 1963 at 17 when I enlisted and for the rest of my life. The men that I had the honor to serve with and the present Marines are the best fighting outfit in the world.

GOD BLES THE MARINE CORPS.

Recon-First in Last Out

I guess the 17 Army divisions and The 7 Army Airforces in the Pacific did nothing. The made more landings and fought more battles than the Marines.

I'm 72 yrs. old and still a Marine. Attitudes of Marines never change. God, what a feeling of pride when I graduated from boot and another Marine called me "MARINE". I've never got over that feeling of pride. Its indescribable except to another Marine.

As a civilian, I am blessed with the presence of several Marine non-coms among my family and friends. There are few titles that impress me, but Marine is one of them. The US owes more than it can ever repay to it's Marines. First there was the Corp, THEN there was a country.

Semper Fi Brothers !!!

1961-1964

BY THE GRACE OF GOD, AND A FEW MARINES.

DARWINN B. RUTZ.

SGT. 1957-1964

USMC.

So the country owes the Marines everthing, Gee name the marine units at The Battle of Princeton; at Valley Forge, at Saratoga, at Bunker Hill, and Yorktown.

Now how about First and Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredricksburg,Chancellorsville, Gettsburg, The Wildness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor. Petersburg, and Appomattox. Then Meuse-Aragon Forest,Chateau-Thierry ( that is where the 3rd Infantry earned the name 'Rock of the Marne'. I'll give you Belleau Wood.

WW11, Sicily, Italy, Normaday, The Battle of the Bulge, the Rhine. And who do think you drove the Luftwaffe from the skies.

Thank you Mr. Hanson for your story. Thank you Whit and Gene (that was my dad's name)for your service. Thank all of you for your service. I am so grateful to have been born in America. The ONLY reasons I am not afraid of what this administration is doing right now are these: 1) Christ is still King; 2) We are still able to vote change out, like they voted change in; and when it all goes really bad 3) Everyone who was serious when they signed their name on the card and took the oath which includes the phrase "to protect and defend the Constitution against ALL enemies, both foreign and DOMESTIC" there will be the Few, the Proud, the Marines! Thank you for my freedom!

i LOVE THE CORPS.MY DAD SERVED IN WW2 MY UNCLES DURING KOREA.MY NEPHEW IN THE 9O'S..ON SEPT 11 MY DAD WAS IN THE HOSPITAL WITH A FRACTURED HIP..HE SAID HE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO KICK THE BAD BOYS BUTTS IF HE COULD ...ONCE A MARINE ALWAYS A MARINE

I'm with you Morris, Marines are certainly great Wrriors but, while they conquered Islands in the Pacific...The US Army conquered Continents in Europe

The same time the Marines were replacing the Flag

in that all American photo op at Mt Suribuchi..I am talking the same day..the 11th Airborne jumped into enemy held territory at Los Banos in the Philipines

and rescued 2600 prisoners of war got them all out

and I think it might have made the 6th or 7th page of the newspapers at home,not tot mention the rescue at canbantuan (Great Raid)Army Rangers

and the whacking of 6550 Japs entrenched topside

on correidor Island by 2000 or so Paratroppers from the "Rock" 503rd as they parachuted on to a drop zone no bigger then a football field in 25 mph winds

Yeah, I would say Go Army!

Hey Morris and Spike, nobody discredited the victories of the Army or any other group.

I beleive the article was about the Marine Corps and not the Army, try and stay on subject.

Well said MARINE ! Sounds like Morris and Spike are a little jealous .This article pertains to the Marine Corps. not any other branch .

Served 1964-68 Two tours with VMA-311 Tomcats in RVN the only two things I can add are "God,Country,Corps,Family and self. Once there is no Corps no Country.Wounded second tour.Marines in all their training learn how to spot and follow great leadership, Ido not see that in District of Corruption Anyway every night pray for our Marines Oooorah! and SEMPER FI

As a 20-year retiree, and the son of a Marine (Pvt) as well as the father of a USMC L/C helio pilot, I couldn't be prouder of my military heritage. God Bless 'em. OORAH!

This is a great article, Thank You Dr. Hanson.

Even better is the comments and I'll tell you why.

Because all the support and stories of how great the Marines are comes from members of "Other" branches (I come from a family that has served in them all and I am proud to have served with all except the Coasties but, I've drank and joined in a few fights with'em), Former Marines, Family members of Marines, a few civilians who wish they were Marines and NOT currently serving Marines.

Why? Because those of us that currently serve need to say nothing to defend our Nation's need for us, for actions speak for themselves.

And true to form some "jealous" individuals when nothing bad was said about their services are crying for attention.

I will add this one recent comment from an Army Officer over where I am. "Friggen Marines just do whatever they want, there was only 6 zones over here now there is 7 because they had to carve out there own zone." Since I'm enlisted it took all my trained professinalism and military bearing to keep from saying "Damn Right Sir, Hoo-Rah".

I love all my service brenthen and those who signed a blank check that can be cashed in at anytime for up to the cost of their life but for my brother/sister Marines (no matter what age) there is a deeper bond that can not be explained.

"There are only two kinds of people that unserstand Marines: Marines and the enemy. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion" General William Thornson, U.S. ARMY