One more for the weekend road…
The U.S. Marine Corps is 231 years old today. (Also see The magic of “a few good men”) Happy birthday! You make us proud.
I know of at least one former marine who reads this blog regularly. Are there other former and current marines (or relatives of marines) reading LBC? Let us know.
The few, the proud…yeah, I love a man in uniform. 
Addendum: I didn’t realize that Veterans Day is being observed today. Once again, and always, I thank you for defending the freedom of this great country.
Blogger tributes: A Soldier’s Perspective (video tribute), Hot Air, Argghhh!, Blackfive, Michelle Malkin, Lorie Byrd, Mary Katharine Ham, Church and State…
More blogs: Blue Star Chronicles (very nice), video tribute at Elocutio…
Related post:
(Photo source: Famous Marines)
Trivia Update: Alaska is home to the most U.S. veterans. Follow the link to find out why. Alaska is described as a “sparsely settled state.” The older I get, the more appealing that sounds. 
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I’m an ex marine…….. served 3 and one-half years up to jan 1970. spent 13 months in Vietnam.
Read your site several times a week, sometimes daily as time allows…. good site ….. you are brave to take the stands you take. They seem common sense to me but I’m out of the mainstream.
I teach elementary music now in public schools.
Thank you, Marines! You guys are great! You do us proud!
Eventually the barkeep at Tun’s Tavern signed up the first Marine, and gave him a free beer as a bonus. The Marine looked about, found a table, and took a seat.
A while later another freshly enlisted Marine showed up, with two free beers. “Hi! I’ve just joined the Corps.” he said to the other Marine, “look what they gave me!”
“Hummmph.” replied the older, “things have changed since I joined.”
I didn’t get a beer at all!
I come by most days, and enjoy your writing even when I don’t agree — or perhaps especially when I don’t, as you express your ideas well.
Semper Fi!
Thanks for remembering the USMC. My dad was a marine during the Vietnam War. And guess what, he volunteered, he wasn’t drafted! I am very proud of him. Semper Fi!
I was Air Force, and my husband was Army. 2 of my uncles and one cousin were Marines. One of my uncles fought in Korea. My cousin fought in Vietnam. My husband’s father was a Marine. I think he barely missed out on WWII due to his age as he would have turned 18 in 1945.
Thank you for your appreciation.
I am an army veteran. A draftee. It was one of the best things that happened to me. I was going nowhere but down in life and the experience pointed me in a better direction. Plus, I am proud to call myself a vet.
The current crop in my family has not served (cousins). My late step and natural father were in WW2 as well as all my uncles. My grandfathers fought on the side of the British in WW1. Our family is not career military but we went when called.
John
Church and State
Please change your comment to reflect “John Kerry” Instead of “Liberals”
Some of us have family and friends and ourselves that are in the military.
Thank You
That’s a trackback, Zakia, not a comment. You can ask Nathan to edit his post here:
http://nathanbradfield.blogspot.com/2006/11/american-heroes.html – Admin
Happy Birthday Marines!
May your proud tradition be an inspiration to all.
I read regularly. I was in 1/5 in Nam from 1967 + 1968. Like Jim Webb I’m a former 5th Marine. Like Jim I never got the Bull Dog tattoo but a lot of the guys I was with did. As well as a lot of Fifth Marine wannabees. Fifth Marines are the folk the Germans labeled “Dogs from Hell” 79 years ago. We also were at Guadal Canal, Iwo Jima and the Frozen Chosen with Chesty(who BTW got 2 Navy Crosses with the Fifth Marines at GC an IJ).
Am I a proud ex Fifth Marine – - you bet!
Both myself and my husband are Navy officers and many of our friends are Marines and serving around the world. My father-in-law was a Marine during Vietnam. My grandfathers served in the Navy (during WWII) and the Army. My father is also a Naval officer so the military is a large part of our family.
I have just recently started reading your blog … usually check it daily. I enjoy reading your writing. This is the first time I have commented. Thank you to all who serve and thank you for your support.
Proud Mom of Two United States Marines. Several of my cousins were also Marines or Soldiers, my brother was Navy. I read your column daily.
Hubs was a Marine during the Vietnam era. Though he was never there, many in his squadron had been.
My dad was a Navy gunner’s mate in WWII in the Pacific. I got to meet many of his shipmates and their wives at a reunion several years ago. What an incredible group of people!
this is quite something ….
Bush, Cheney Meet With Senate Democratic Leaders
My father was a Marine, and his funeral was one of the most awe-inspiring, breathtaking events I’ve ever attended.
In one crystal moment, I understood why he was ever-faithful to the Marine Corps.
Semper Fi!
Dad was not a Marine, but spent two years with the 1st Marine as a Navy Corpsman. He is very active in the Marine League in the area.
However, don’t talk about Chesty Puller with Dad. He was/is not impressed with the man.
Semper Fidelis!
I served from sept ‘93 – dec ‘97. Stationed with Marine Corps Base Came Lejeune, NC.
I just happened upon your blog via a very honorable mention from The Pyromaniacs. Keep it up!
My brother was/is a Marine. He served in Okinawa for 2 yrs. God Bless Our Troops! Semper Fidelis!
Let us not forget the Marine who jumped on a grenade to protect his brother Marines:
President Bush announced on Friday that the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration, will be awarded posthumously to Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham.http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/10/medal.honor/
Thanks for the post La Shawn!
Every year my mother and I would say to each other, “Happy Birthday, Marine!”
I lost her last January and was dreading today, but between this post and my daughter emailing me to say “Happy Birthday to the Marines this morning,” I was blessed.
Semper Fi!
I served from 1989-1994 in the Marines. On our birthday, I’d like to give a shout out to Senior DI Kirkpatrick and DI’s Potts and Wyatt for shaping a kid going nowhere into an adult who got into med school.
Thanks La Shawn,I read your blog almost every day but this is the first time I have posted a comment. I am a former Marine Veteran. I served on active duty from 8/24/1960 until 9/9/1980. I served two years in Vietnam. I retired as a Master Sergeant in 1980. Today is not only Veterans day but it is also my birthday. I always tell my family that I was born to be a vet.
God bless you.
Semper Fidelis
Michael Bryant, MSgt USMC (Ret.)
Thank you for reading my blog, Michael, Tugboat, and all the rest. I can’t tell you cool – for lack of a better word at the moment – it is that so many people who served in the armed forces read this blog.
I’m also hearing from former marines via e-mail. Once again, THANKS for your service.
Thanks La Shawn! We are parents of Marines and we are so proud of them and wish them a Happy Birthday!
Thank you, to all that have and do serve. You have my respect and gratitude forever!
THANK YOU
Is it wishful thinking or was I that former Marine that you were talking about. If so I am honored if not I am still honored because I learned alot during my time in the Corps which still has an impact on me today.
Semper Fidelis La Shawn!
Yep, I was talking about you.
– Admin
It is not possible to thank our veterans adequately. Their service, sacrifice, heroism, and humanity is above any expression or acknowledgment. Yet, we must try. Specifically but not exclusively, we must try with respect to our Brothers and Sisters who served in Vietnam because they, unlike other generations, were neglected (or worse) upon their return home.
Please check out the AoG (http://www.bix.com/person/AoG) and the Voices of Veterans. Please post a story or a photo if you can. And please pass along to your Brothers, Sisters, friends and family.
To LaShawn and her readers,
A belated THANK YOU for the wonderful birthday wishes.
Julie the Jarhead (USMC 1980-1985)
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