As I woke up this morning and read the first Facebook post of the day, which was from my wife, I was swept up in a wave of both nostalgia and pride. I remember boot camp, field training, squad in the offense, squad in the defense, M60's, parachute jumps, helicopter rappelling, field days, friends, brothers, and sisters. Katy, my wife has, without fail, greeted me on the morning of November 10th for the 16 years that we have been married by answering my call, "Back in 1775..." with "my Marine Corps came alive". This morning, she started it and I answered. I have spent the last two hours of my day looking at Facebook posts from Devil Dogs barking from every corner of the United States, "Happy Birthday, Marines!" Now, I know that not every single prior service Marine had a great experience in the Corps and is not as fond of the Corps as I still am. I get that. I don't have a problem with it. However, the vast majority of Marines look back on their experience on 10 November every year and they tell another Marine, "Happy Birthday". They dig through the closet and put on an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor for the day. They may even look back through some old pictures and try to reconnect with old friends. Many will try to find a Marine Corps Ball to crash! There's just something about 10 November that speaks to us. What is it?
As I reflect on my own time in the Corps and I think about the reaction from people when they find out that I served, I think the answer is in the legacy and in the reality of what a Marine truly is. I substitute teach at the Middle School next door to the church where I am currently serving as student pastor. Kids ask me if I served in the military. I tell them yes. Many automatically assume, "Army?" When I say "Nope. Marine Corps". There is a different reaction. There is a sudden reverence, not for me, but for that very name. There is often a moment of understanding that we are different. What is it about being a Marine that causes people to give pause?
Now, I'm not knocking my Army, Air Force, Navy, or Coast Guard brothers and sisters. I hold you all in high regard. I am grateful for every single one of you, so don't take this as an inter-service attack. I'm merely commenting on the experience.
We're sized up differently. No sane criminal attacks a person wearing an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. Why? I can imagine that a criminal wanting to attack a person sizes up each target individually. Size, weight, gender, build, numbers, lighting, etc. However, if I am a criminal and I detect that a potential target is a Marine, I now have a GREAT DEAL more to add to the equation. If I am a criminal I have to add to my understanding that this person WILL kill me if I hesitate. I'm pretty sure it will be a brutal, swift, and relatively violent death, so now I have two choices. I can certainly proceed, but I need to make sure I have surprise on my side. The knife I have in my hand suddenly seems very small and inadequate. "I'm gonna need a gun for this one...but then again...maybe I should just move on to another target...yeah, that'll probably be safer". Whether or not evil recognizes it or not, it fears the Marine. People gravitate to Marines because they know that their chances of survival when the proverbial sewage hits the fan is increased when they have a Marine on their team. They are encouraged by the authority that Marines command. They rally to a cause when Marines are present. They know that they have a fighting chance when "the Marines have landed". Let's face it. Marines are STILL convinced at 40 years old and have been out of the Corps for over 15 years to believe that three to one odds in the enemy's favor still aren't that bad. We think, "Okay. I got this. I kill that one first, break a leg over there, push his nose into his brain housing group and move on".
There's MORE, though. Let's say I am a criminal preparing to attack a person whom I am pretty sure is NOT a Marine, but I see an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on a t-shirt nearby. He looks like he may be a Devil Dog. Here's what I know. I may not be attacking him or his family, but that Marine will still kill me. Why? Because he's trained to protect. He's a paladin. He's a samurai. He's one of the good guys. He has been trained to die for people whom he doesn't even know. Why? Because it's the right thing to do. Because one of the most American things to do is to support and defend the weak. Marines will counterattack and neutralize someone simply for harming or attacking someone smaller or weaker (if you happen to survive a counterattack by a Marine, the limp or scar that you carry will remind you of your folly for the rest of your life). He was born a warrior and will continue to be a warrior until the very day that he draws his last breath. On 10 November, each of us are reminded of the oaths that we once took. Not ONE SINGLE MARINE I know considers himself or herself to have been released from that oath. We know that we STILL support and defend the Constitution. We deal death to evil and life to the good. We, until we are released from this life by death, will continue to do so and to look at every single law abiding American as sheep to be protected...
...at least THIS Marine does...
