Happy Birthday

to the United States Marine Corps.

Happy Birthday to You.

Happy Birthday, Uncle Sam's Misguided Chirrens.

Happy Birthday to YOU!!!


I say that with all due respect and affection. I am lucky enough to know many fine Marines who have served our Country past and are currently serving in far flung places. God and Goddess Bless and Keep them safe.

Marines are like no other creatures on this Earth. Even in my favorite Sci-Fi movie sequel {and I'm not a big Sci-Fi fan to begin with, and I usually loathe sequels} Aliens, the kick-a$$ characters were Marines. Course they had to be led by Ripley, the biggest, baddest Woman EVER on screen, BUT they knew when to follow a TRUE leader, because they were MARINES!!!

Marines just have a special place in my heart. They have since I was a child. I don't know if it was all those John Wayne movies, even when he was a Cowboy, he was a Marine.
My favorite anecdotal books about VietNam feature Marines. They just have a certain cache.

Colonel John H. Glenn USMC (Ret.) is my favorite Buckeye, and my favorite Astronaut. I remember his historic Friendship 7 orbit around this and was enchanted by its recreation in "The Right Stuff". He is also the oldest Astronaust to make two trips into space. How thrilling that must have been for him. And how typical for a Marine to stay in shape for a lifetime that he could be "fit" enough to go on the space shuttle after retiring from the Senate!

I see another Marine once a year at a party. He is just a joy to talk with. Retired now, but always entertaining, and his wife is a lovely woman as well.

Some Marines are good shots, too. The ones I know personally are. And as R.Lee Ermey says in "Full Metal Jacket", Charlie Whitman and Lee Harvey Oswald learned their shooting skills in the Corps. If you don't know who those men are, use your preferred search engine to find out. They have a certain notoriety. They used their skills for evil purposes. Most Marines use theirs shooting skills more appropriately. Thankfully.

So, Happy Birthday, Marines! Enjoy your Day!