I believe in:
Training that is rigorous and realistic.
Peace through superior firepower.
Equiping our troops with the best available equipment.
Rules of engagement that protect our folks first.
Killing w/o question anyone that is trying to kill us.
Fighting to win.
I do not belive that "celebrating" the death of any human being is "noble" or shows "strenght" or "conviction".
Expressing relief that a threat has been eliminated yes, joy no. There are too many threats remaining.
My father was a Marine Raider and Recon during WWII. He never seemed to "celebrate" what he had been required to do. I spent 4 hours on the phone with one of the Recon. Co. Commanders (retired Marine Brig General) my father served with. We agreed that neither of us would have felt "unfullfilled" if we had never been shot at or fired a shot in anger. I once asked my father what he did. His answer: "We went ashore on Jap held islands, took prisoners, questioned them, and left". I then asked what did they do with the prisioners? His simple reply: "The sergeants "took care" of them". I think there is no doubt as to the disposition of the prisoners.
These (my father and the General) were two of "baddest of the bad" during WWII and weren't celebrating what they were called to do. They, in fact, were the forerunners of all of the current "special ops teams" today.
I'd like to see a bit less "celebrating" and a lot more empathy and support for units like 3/5, where I served, who returned from their most recent deployment with far too many casualties and short 25 Marines who will never return home. At recent
ceremonies they were not
celebrating. There were 25 upturned rifles, 25 pairs of empty boots, and 25 empty "kevlars" to show for their efforts. What is to celebrate about that?
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011 ... -brothers/
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr/30 ... l-20110430
I have contacted Marine units at Camp Pendleton, offered to pay for a few Marines' transportation to my home, put them up for a weekend, and show them a good time. There is lots to be done but celebrating isn't, IMHO, one of them.
I'll celebrate when all of our troops are home and none are in combat.
Gus
The opinions in this post are my own. My comments are directed to those that might like an alternative approach to those already espoused.There is the right way,the wrong way,the USMC way, your way, my way, and the highway.
"I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it." Klaatu-"The Day the Earth Stood Still"
"You can't handle the truth!"-Jack Nicholson "A Few Good Men"
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. The Marines don't have that problem"-Ronald Reagan