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Our Nation's Finest
By Slab
Sometimes it's hard to articulate to others outside the military why I continue to serve in the Marine Corps. Sometimes it's hard to articulate to myself why I am still doing it. However, I think that, deep down, most of our senior leaders in the Marine Corps stayed in, at least partially, because of the young Marines with which we have the privilege of serving, and in the end it figures very strongly in my reasons for continuing on.
I've said a few times that the Marines portrayed in Generation Kill very much resemble the Marines that I have served with in the infantry - cocky, profane, irreverent, and generally pissed off at the world. But there is another side to the Marines that I serve with, and a mortar section leader from Company E, 2d Battalion 2d Marines absolutely exemplifies this side.
Parents rarely expect their children to be born with a debilitating birth-defect, so when the parents of Balquis Rajib Ascar discovered her inability to walk, they were a bit unprepared.
...
Cpl. Michael A. Goodman, mortar section leader with the Warlords of Company E, Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, Regimental Combat Team 5, discovered Balquis’ disability and has since devoted his off-duty time to assisting the little girl and her family. Coordinating with his wife, a nurse in Georgetown, Ohio, Goodman arranged for Co. E to present Balquis with a custom-built wheelchair July 12.
“Iraq’s future is dependent on its children,” Goodman said. “I saw it as a good opportunity to give back to the Iraqi people, since Iraq doesn’t have any kind of children’s hospital set up yet. I had access to this resource, so why not help?”
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Another of the many reasons I am proud to call myself a Marine. Strong work Corporal.
Strategic Corporal indeed!
As a civilian, I can't agree fast enough with the coporal. . . "Iraq future is dependent on its children". Win the hearts and educated the minds and demostrate through our Marines and other military personnel by their desire to help those who need to be helped.
As the Marines believe. . .
NO GREATER FRIEND. . . NO WORSE ENEMY.
Let's all hope and pray that the 'Children' truly want to be friends instead of enemies.
Job well done Coporal!!!
From a civilian who truly understands Semper Fi and respects those who live by its meaning. Blessing upon all who have/had worn the EG&A.
Awww this is too nice
Not sure if ya'll noticed this...but "Major Eckloff" had a quasi substantial role in tonight's episode of Generation Kill. Whereas for the first 4 episodes he was pretty much just hanging around pointing at maps, tonight he actually showed and up made some moves and delivered some lines.
Could they have gotten a worse actor to portray him, by the way?
Junior Marines are the reason I keep doing what I do
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The Strategic Corporal at work. Any chance Al-Jazeera or CNN will pick this up and contrast it to Haditha and Abu Grhaib? I thought not.