Go here and look at the video. Inspiring.
After you read the story, scroll down to the bottom of the page and
click that “VIDEO” button to watch the video of the story.
Deborah Johns – the northern California Marine Mom – is a hero who gives us hope to present a positive alternative to the likes of Cindy Sheehan who seem determined to undermine American resolve to win the war against terrorism.
Watch the video and pass this along to others. It will inspire them!
Can you imagine if the “You Don’t Speak for Me, Cindy” caravan could attract hundreds upon hundreds of vehicles. What a great story it will have become!!!
SERIOUSLY… Watch the video link. It will make you proud that there are such wonderful Americans fighting the good fight:
This is an excellent post, Cao. Ms. Johns has as much right to voice her opinions, as does Ms. Sheehan. Ms. Johns is correct, even if Bush’s decision turns out to have been a wrong one: We must not abandon the program until the work is done. Our commitment to finish the work is a guarantee that those stout young men and women who have given their lives in Iraq will not have died in vain.
As for Ms. Sheehan, I really do feel sorry for her because whether out of omission or commission, she has given up her dignity in order to become a “media star.” Worse, she has taken away from her son’s memory his sense of values, and his commitment to a better world. I do believe that she will live to regret what she is doing, and this of course goes far beyond the fact that she has an absolute right to do it.
I comment “move american forward” for their resolve, and again, I commend you for putting this up.
Marines And Their Parents Are A Different Breed – OOHHRRAAHH To Deborah Jones!
I wonder how many times during Operation Iraqi Freedom that the phrase “Goddamn Marines” was uttered? Even in the best of times, Army and Air Force officers have been heard muttering some epithet about Marines, invoking either heaven or hell. Interestingly enough, we Marines find it all rather reassuring and, at times, amusing.
Most of the time, Marines do not go out of our way to be obnoxious; we are just doing what Marines have done for over 200 years.
A good example is the fact that Marines always raise the American flag over mountains or cities they have conquered. From Mt. Suribachi to the City of Hue, to Kuwait City to Baghdad, U.S. Marines have raised the Stars and Stripes-in the latter examples, much to the chagrin of higher headquarters. You don’t get these kinds of problems with the Army.
So what is it about the U.S. Marines that they stick U.S. flags on everything and do more with less, a less that is either old or an army hand-me-down?
We call it Esprit de Corps, but it goes deeper than that.
We learn and maintain myths of the past, which also means living up to those historical examples. Marine Corps boot camp is the longest of the services; it is where we mold young men and women into the mythical image called a Marine. You can be in the Army, you can join the Air Force, but you become a Marine. All of the other uniformed services have songs; the U.S. Marines have a hymn. The basic pattern of Marine Corps uniforms comes from the late nineteenth century; our emblem “the Eagle, Globe and Anchor” has remained largely unchanged since 1868. The buttons on our dress blues, whites and greens date back to the founding of our Corps. The Marine Corps is the only service that requires its officers to carry a sword, whose pattern dates back to 1805.
I think that the path of being a Marine was established long ago. On the 10th of November 1775, the Marine Corps was first established…in a tavern. To this day, no matter where in the world, Marines celebrate the founding of our beloved Corps, much to the confusion of the other services.
A few years ago, a congresswoman from Colorado felt that the Marine Corps was radical and extreme. She contended that the Marine Corps was not politically correct, nor did we seem to be part of the Department of Defense’s transition to a “kinder and gentler” military. She was correct, and the Marine Corps took it as a compliment.
But the proof is in the doing, and during Iraqi Freedom the Marines demonstrated what Marines can do. I watched with some amusement as a reporter asked a young lance corporal about being in Iraq and under rifle fire. “Love it, sir!” was his response. The reporter was taken aback and asked, “No, really.” The Marine then tried to explain that this is what he was trained to do, he looked forward to doing it and was now happy to be doing it. No doubt in boot camp he was told that he was “a minister of death praying for war.” Contrast that with the poor U.S. Army Apache pilots who said that if they had to take life, they would do so reluctantly. You are either a warrior or you are not.
Marines are mission oriented. Live or die, the most important thing to a Marine is accomplishing the mission. Whether taking the bridge, river or town, accomplishing the mission is the Holy Grail of being a Marine. How the mission is accomplished is not so important, as it is expected of all Marines to accomplish the mission with the tools available. This is probably why we heard that Marines in one engagement were fighting with knives and bayonets. This was hardly high tech, but it was effective. These Marines now have bragging rights, for they have proven that they talk-the-talk and walk-the-walk. I doubt there is a single Marine who is not envious.
Marines are practical, as well. I enjoyed hearing two reporters interviewing each other, one embedded with the Army, the other with the Marines. The reporter with the Army noted that the sandstorm had blown down many of the soldiers’ cots. The other reporter countered that the Marines did not have this problem because they slept on the ground. The Marine learns to live with what he can carry on his back. He expects to be moved around on the battlefield via his two black Cadillacs (boots). If he is lucky and gets a ride on an amtrack, so much the better – but it is not expected. At the end of a mission, the priority for cleaning is weapon, then equipment, and finally, body. When the other services talk about “quality of life,” they are referring to housing, clubs and food. Marines are talking about better weapons, equipment and training, winning the battle and coming home alive is considered “quality of life.”
All of this translates into combat power. In comparison to the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, the Marines of I Marine Expeditionary Force were lightly equipped. Yet, they battled through the heart of Iraq, fought to the center of Baghdad and then moved off to Tikrit, taking that city as well. The press was so enamored with the Marines that in the final days of the war they even credited the Marines with deeds actually accomplished by the Army. Little wonder we heard “Goddamn Marines!” so often. So we need to give the Marines some slack when they do something politically incorrect, such as raising the flag or appearing insensitive when killing the enemy. In the field, they look sloppy compared to the Army, but are aggressive in the attack and generally unhappy in the defense.
Marines take pride in their work, even if that work is war.
We are just Marines and that is what we do.
OOHHRRAAHH – Semper Fi!
We were just invited to the fall fundraiser for the Marine Military Academy in Texas, where my son went to High School. It should be an elegant dressy affair, and the former secretary of the Navy, James Webb, will be the guest speaker. I am looking forward to it and am planning to go–it’s $200 a plate. Those pansies who haven’t had much affiliation with the military in any shape or form have no idea what these black tie affairs are like, or the people who attend them.
Cao — excellent clip. I’d love to see Sheehan and Johns face-to-face, but of course Sheehan will lay down her trump card; her son died, John’s is still alive. Still, it would be an interesting meeting if Sheehan’s handlers let it happen.
And to the great comment by SSgt Yatahey: Sergeant, if you don’t have a blog, you should start one!
Cao – you know I’m from deep South TX; if you’ve never been to Harlingen, TX, you’ll enjoy it … but, if you have, I wish you a safe trip and a great time!
Granny — LOL; I do have a Blog — just click my name and you’ll find it on my main site.
I agree, protest Sheehan!
Somehow I doubt you’ll see the media beating a path to this woman’s door. Great post.
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There were 1,627 or so candlelight vigils across the country last night. The one in the conservative, white-flight suburb Valencia, CA was really beautiful and, of course, very sad considering the loss of American sons and daughters. The 27 year old woman who organized our community’s vigil lost her husband and the father of her child; it was unfortunate that we were coming together because of this tragedy, but I’m glad that she had friends and allies aplenty. I was happy to see how many generations were represented at the vigil–there were people from ages 5 to 85. I made friends with a 78 year old retiree who had great stories to tell about his children and their families. I wish you all could have been there holding candles with us. It was a night to remember. I hope you and yours are safe and content and I send my warmth if you have experienced the same tragedy as so many across this great nation.
Actually I gave some thought about what you said there, Tom. Do you mean the mother above, or do you mean Cindy Sheehan’s house? Or do you mean that the woman in the post won’t have the media following her? Actually, Move America is going to make sure there is media coverage, and there will be some coverage at their site, even if the lamestream media doesn’t report on it.
That has been a very interesting day as far as lefties coming over spewing their bile.
What I’d like them to know is–we learned from Vietnam, and I’m not interested in the people joining hands together across the country singing “I’d like the world to sing in perfect harmony”…I’d like to know many people protested the candleholders? How many parents of fallen soldiers stood out there with pictures of their sons? Just remember, we’re organizing to protest these stupid commie protesters–and most importantly, it’s too bad that people don’t know or remember that
FREEDOM ISN’T FREE.
Most people “support our troops”. That isn’t the problem with what your blog calls a “leftist agenda”, at least for me, my problem is once we leave we’ve set up Iraq to be controlled by Iran. Iraq’s population is primarily the same religion as Irans. Their religious teachings (the majority) are largely based in Iran. The power Iran will wield in a post US Iraq is undeniable, except to a select few. We’ll leave, the Constitution Iraq has will be shredded and Iraq will become an Islamic Republic and a close ally of Iran. Attacking Iraq, while nice to get rid of Hussein and his ilk, produced a lot of partying in Iran where they know once the US leaves, they’ll fill the power vacuum and things in the Middle East will be worse, not better.
As for the protesting woman in Texas, I agree her protest is futile and she should have stopped long ago but I can see the logic in her emotions. Finish the mission marine supporters say. It wasn’t finished in Vietnam where thousands of Americans died in vain leaving anguished family members. The mission wasn’t completed in Lebanon where hundreds of Americans died without the mission being completed, leaving anguished family members here in the states. And ultimately, the mission will not be completed in Iraq where they have fought and been uncivilized for centuries and were slavers (owning White Europeans in the Janissary Corp) long before Europeans owned Black slaves. No, we’ll leave, any democratic constitution we leave will crumble, Iran will take over, and all of out military deaths will be in vain. Mission not accomplished and more American family in anguish over a senseless death, unless removing Hussein is the only goal that counts.
Problem? We’ve politicized wars. If we could go back to WWII style fighting where generals actually could fight without whining politicians and WIN, then great. I’d all be for actions like in Iraq but for the last 50 years, most American deaths in armed conflicts have been senseless, in vain, and mission not accomplished in major conflicts like Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Your blog claims to support Bush and ridicules the anguished mother of a dead soldier. It’s the wrong fight in my opinion. Fight the government’s politicization of war and let the soldiers do their job without handcuffs on them. Let’s actually complete some missions instead of pretending we complete them as evidenced a few years after we pull out of a country. Just my opinion, I know it won’t be popular here and I am open to suggestions. And no, I’m no left winger. I’m a Republican willing to criticize our current system of fighting small scale wars where our citizens die without results. Gulf War? Great. Afghanistan/Iraq? Yes, we had to do something so no real issue with beginning the military actions. Now it just has to do with realizing where it will all end when we leave. More American deaths seem senseless. Iraq as a whole will not accept or practice democracy. The Kurds perhaps, perhaps southern Iraq, but not the central part of Iraq which leans towards Iran anyway and HATE OUR GUTS.
I’m not, as the leftists who leave their troll droppings here seem to think by looking at my blog and what’s in my sidebar, someone who’s marching in lock step with the current administration as I have many issues with it. If people actually READ what’s here instead of ASSUME what it is I’m saying, they’d know that.
For the most part, I believe that staying the course in Iraq right now is our only choice. It’s too late to argue about the reasoning for going in, but leftists are constantly bringing up the tired old memes they’ve been conditioned to accept; Blood for oil, Halliburton, Bushitler, etc., etc..
I disagree on what you say about the war in Iraq not being worthy of more American lives. The Iraqis themselves understand what’s at stake; I’ve been watching closely as to whether their constitution is going to be based on sharia law and only about 26% of Iraqis think that should be the case. The majority of them believe in federalism; they understand the concept.
We’re not fighting Iraqis in Iraq right now, we’re fighting foreign fighters who represent Al Qaeda.
The fact that Iraqis have been under a totalitarian regime for over 35 years is what the issue is; it’s going to take time for them to understand and take ownership. I agree that there is a vacuum now that the Baathists are no longer in power (we toppled the Baathists very quickly), but they need to have the new government in place before we leave, otherwise we’re inviting the Taliban-style forces that you describe to fill that vacuum.
Here’s a great post on the progress we’re making in Iraq–and not politicized, but the nitty gritty military view of what it’s going to take. I agree that the war has been “politicized” and it’s despicable.
But in the end, the solution IMO, is absolutely not to cave in to the anti-war people who are pulling for the terrorists and talking alongside people like Lynne Stewart. That’d be akin to giving Bin Laden the key to the city of Baghdad.
And, on top of this, what on earth do people think is going to happen on our soil if we “cave in” in Iraq? If you read the Northeast Intelligence Network, you’re aware that we’re also battling right here in the US and that Islamic crimes and murders have already occurred here. So don’t you think the domestic terrorists will be encouraged if we fold ‘em in Iraq? There’s more at stake here than just Iraq–the lives of our citizens here in the US most of whom don’t even recognize there’s a terrorist threat on our soil, and don’t seem to be aware of all the indictments/arrests/imprisonment of domestic islamic terrorists connected with Al Qaeda that have occurred over the past several years.
I meant Cindy not Sheehan. The media loves to see people who will prostitute the memory of their children, its so Jerry Springer. The media won’t show the number of parents who respect their children’s sacrifice and memory because that’s like the media covering a successful plane landing. They rather cover the bizarre. Because the more out in the Twilight Zonme it is, the more anti American it is, the more it is in the MSM’s neighborhood.