DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
A war correspondent in Korea during the war told the following story:
In an R & R area, well south of the action, there were two separate camps. The first was a well equipped US Army camp that served high quality hot food and had warm sleep areas. The other was a somewhat bedraggled collection of secondhand tents, with poor quality services available to the war-weary Marines.
The army camp sported a large elaborate sign at their front gate which stated: "WITHIN THESE WALLS RESIDE SOLDIERS WHO ARE SECOND TO NONE"
In front of the shabby Marine camp was hung a poorly hand painted sign, which simply read: "NONE."
...the first reason I like Marines. They set high standards -- for themselves and those around them -- and will accept nothing less.
I like the way Marines march. I like the way Marines do their basic training whether it's Quantico, Parris Island, or San Diego.
I like the idea [that] Marines 'cultivate an ethos conducive of producing hard people in a soft age.
I like the fact that Marines stay in shape.
I like the fact that the Marines only have one boss -- the Commandant.
And
I like the directness of the Commandant.... it occurred to me that the services could be characterized by different breeds of dogs...
The Air Force reminded me of a French Poodle. The poodle always looks perfect ... sometimes seems a bit pampered ... always travels first class. But don't ever forget that the poodle was bred as a hunting dog and in a fight it's very dangerous.
The Army is kind of like a St. Bernard. It's big and heavy and sometimes seems a bit clumsy. But it's very powerful and has lots of stamina. So you want it for the long haul.
The Navy, God bless us, is a Golden Retriever. They're good natured and great around the house. The kids love 'em. Sometimes their hair is a bit long ... they go wandering off for long periods of time, and they love water.
... Marines I see as two breeds, Rottweilers or Dobermans, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean, or skinny and mean. ...They're aggressive on the attack and tenacious on defense. They've got really short hair and they always go for the throat. That sounds like a Marine to me!
So what I really like about Marines is that 'first to fight' isn't just a motto, it's a way of life. From the day they were formed at Tun Tavern 224 years ago, Marines have distinguished themselves on battlefields around the world. From the fighting tops of the Bonhomme Richard, to the sands of the Barbary Coast, from the swamps of New Orleans to the halls of Montezuma, from Belleau Wood, to the Argonne Forest, to Guadacanal, and Iwo Jima, and Okinawa and Inchon, and Chosen Reservoir and Hue City and Quang Tri and Dong Ha, and Beirut, and Grenada, and Panama, and Somalia and Bosnia and a thousand unnamed battlefields in godforsaken corners of the globe. Marines have distinguished themselves by their bravery, and stubbornness and aggressive spirit, and sacrifice, and love of country, and loyalty to one another.
They've done it for you and me, and this Country we all love so dearly. And they asked for nothing more than the honor of being a United States Marine.
And that's why I like Marines!
At Da Nang, a tough, experienced Marine lieutenant was indoctrinating a group of men fresh in for service in his platoon. "Don't never sell these boys out here short! They're rough, tough, real blitzers! Never mind what you learnt in trainin', fergit all that jazz and remember they're battle-tough and take no sh*t. Don't let 'em out of your sight. If they jump fer cover, you jump, too. Don't never take your eye off 'em."
One Marine piped up, "Just how near to the Viet Cong are we, Lieutenant?"
"Who the devil said anything about the VC?" the officer shouted, "I'm talking about my own Gunnies!"
