My Marine friend wrote me this email last week and I wanted to share it with you. He is ex-Marine, but as all Marines know once Marine, always Marine. I have changed his name.


"Everyone gets knocked down, but the tough get up! Marines know that victory comes not from being the strongest or the fastest, but from the refusal to fail."

This attitude was how a man who was short in stature (5'6" and only a 135 pounds) was able to elevate himself from being just an ordinary kid from a small town to being a member of one of America's most elite fighting forces. This attitude allowed him wear (with great pride, I might add) the conveted Eagle, Globe and Anchor the very symbol of the United States Marine Corps. That mere boy who became a man is me. The Marines gave me a purpose, and a drive to be a better man......something that I won't soon forget.

As a former Marine, I don't need to brag about or stress the qualities needed to make a ordinary individual person a Marine, because the name speaks for itself. In this modern day military you have professionals, and then you have Marines.

'Nuff said.

This goes out to every single man or woman that bears the honor of being called a Marine. Whether you're a Veteran, or still on the clock in either the Active Duty or Reserves, you men and women out there are Marines, and you are my brothers and sisters, with whom I was proud to serve with! OO-RAH!!!

Signed,
John Doe
Corporal / USMC