200 Marines volunteer to extend tours to help mentor new recruits
posted at 8:50 am on May 22, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Partly because they’re encouraged by the progress made in Anbar but mostly because the Corps needed them.
Note: they get no bonus or favorable reassignment for doing this, as one might get from reenlisting. It’s pure, straight Semper Fi:
Lt. Col. Craig Kozeniesky, the battalion commander, and Sgt. Maj. William Jordan, the senior enlisted man, assembled Marines whose enlistments were running short. Marines who were there don’t remember that Kozeniesky or Jordan spent much time speaking of the complexities of U.S. foreign policy in the 21st century. Instead, the two asked the Marines to help the battalion’s younger members.
“I just told them: ‘We’ve been together this long. We need you — the young Marines need you,’” Jordan said…
“Finally I just told them, ‘Everybody who is with us, move to the right side of the room,’ ” Jordan said. Only a handful stayed put. About 175 moved immediately to the right side.
“I was blown away,” Jordan said. “In all my years in the Marine Corps, I never saw anything like it.”
Here’s what they have to put up with. I’m not sure where this comes from, but I suspect it’s the PBS “Crossroads” series that debuted last month, specifically the “Operation Homecoming” episode. Affecting.
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OOHRAH!
georgej on May 22, 2007 at 8:56 AM
What always bothers me is (well, not just the surge)…why can’t our elected leaders stand next to the president at every chance and say we stand together…and keep doing it.
Why can’t leaders around the world atleast say…we support you. I’m just so shocked at those who are just SOOOOO frigging silent. It is scary.
It just brings tears to my eyes the courage of these men who rise above the madness and make our world a better place.
tomas on May 22, 2007 at 9:00 AM
My son is finishing kindergarten. The only thing he wants to do is be in the military. His favorite t.v. channel is the Military Channel. His favorite songs are the National Anthem and America the Beautiful. As a mom, nothing would make me prouder of him if he were to be like one of those marines who acted so unselfishly, like real men, with pride and patriotism and love of country. I hope he grows up to be JUST LIKE THEM.
pullingmyhairout on May 22, 2007 at 9:13 AM
OOHRAH indeed!
doufree on May 22, 2007 at 9:14 AM
Powerful clip …
eforhan on May 22, 2007 at 9:27 AM
No Greater Friend…
BohicaTwentyTwo on May 22, 2007 at 9:35 AM
And the msm chants as it incants, “abu ghraib-booshitler-cheneyburton-gitmo-haditha-surrender; abu ghraib-booshitler-cheneyburton-gitmo-haditha-surrender…..
Oo-hhhmmmmmmmmmm.
locomotivebreath1901 on May 22, 2007 at 9:35 AM
Did anyone catch Newt disassembly that tool Dodd on meet the press sunday? Newt pointed out that the minute the dems pass a timeline bill, our soldiers will convert from trying to accomplish their mission to trying not to be the last casualty in the Iraq war.
As a dad whose son is deploying in 2 months, I find it unconsionable that elected leaders would put our brave troops in such a position.
They DO NOT care about the troops. They only care about expanding their power base. It’s sickening.
csdeven on May 22, 2007 at 9:43 AM
What if the Dems order a withdrawal and the troops refuse?
I think you got your answer. So Dems keep playing around with the funding, and keep giving the Islamofascists all the talking points and encouragement they need to keep killing and continue thinking that all that matters is impeaching anyone remotely associated with the President and in the meantime our Armed Forces will take care of business.
Just do me a favor, all you puffy chested politicians, don’t bother getting your picture made with any of these heroes for your next campaign while you have the knife dug so deeply in their back.
/spit
LakeRuins on May 22, 2007 at 10:03 AM
!SALUTE!
Romeo13 on May 22, 2007 at 10:58 AM
A big THANK YOU to those guys
My nephew starts basic training in October, and he’ll need all the help he can get.
God Bless our troops
Chuck on May 22, 2007 at 12:49 PM
Well said.
Lawrence on May 22, 2007 at 1:39 PM
No worst enemy….
Kini on May 22, 2007 at 2:26 PM
pullingmyhairout, you made me tear up. What a great tribute to our troops, and to this country - we owe them so much. They are simply superior beings from any standpoint. And they protect the thankless just the same.
Entelechy on May 22, 2007 at 2:27 PM
Semper Fi my Devil Dog brothers….
webproze on May 22, 2007 at 2:43 PM
The few, the proud, the brave….the US MARINES
robo on May 22, 2007 at 2:54 PM
Dress right dress, git some.
Alden Pyle on May 22, 2007 at 9:15 PM
Mine is 12, and records every episode on the DVR so he can watch them over and over. He spends hours at the library picking out all kinds of books on various military vehicles, but his favorites are the tanks, and the episode on the top 10 main battle tanks….which he memorized as to what details make which ones better than others.
When he was a couple years younger, he was upset that I was always listening to Rush (he wanted to chatter on about tanks), now he likes to listen….particularly since I explained some things about Democrats and taxes.
91Veteran on May 23, 2007 at 1:49 AM
On the one hand, I’m humbled and grateful that our Marines are such fine, fine people. Thank God for them.
The other side of this, however, is that they shouldn’t be placed in a situation like this, where there aren’t enough Marines to teach the younger ones without having to extend like this. It’s shameful that we haven’t provided them with enough bodies and enough support. I’m embarrassed by that and ashamed.
Kensington on May 23, 2007 at 2:05 AM
Following up on my last post, I have to ask: is this unusual? Was it like this in our previous wars? Has it always been something of a cock-up where people have to extend and extend just to keep things together?
Kensington on May 23, 2007 at 2:07 AM
God bless and god speed
EricPWJohnson on May 23, 2007 at 7:17 AM
Is it me or did they mix up the use of “InshaAllah” (God Willing) with AllauAkbar (God is Great) in that video. They have very different uses and meanings…
BadBrad on May 23, 2007 at 8:27 AM
My son had to extend in order to go back to Iraq.
Semper Fi
1sttofight on May 27, 2007 at 11:30 AM