From 2007 to 2011 I served as a machine gunner in the Marine Corps infantry and during my late teens/ early twenties I vacationed twice to Mesopotamia. Now I live the tedious life of a salesman.
I don’t want to write too much, but this was a good article and I have much respect for what you are doing. I was in the exact same predicament as you and I went from being a Corporal of Marines who was highly respected among all the men in the platoon to just being another twenty-something face in crowd of the civilian world. The realities of coming back and living in a society that puts little value on the abilities of war hardened former Marine grunts can be difficult. All the death, violence, and fear that are part of daily life while fighting on the front line don’t just leave your psyche. Fortunately, unlike many of the men I served with, I was lucky to have two great and successful parents who continued to push me to go back and get my education. The ironic thing is that much of the personal growth that I perceived I would attain from forgoing college to join the Marines eventually came after my service when I went back to school. In reality my job and everything that came with it just made me more lost than ever.
I think a large problem among some vets is that as much as they don’t want to admit it, they miss the war and some have a hard time functioning as normal people. This sort of crazy realization caused my uncle to reenlist to do more tours in Vietnam and well into the 1970’s, even though he knew it was a lost cause. He has always said that nothing in life has ever made him feel so “alive” as flying his chopper over those tree-lines and not knowing what was hidden from view. I can honestly say that the only time in my life I didn’t have to worry about the ultra competitive nature of American society, which forced me to start planning my life in middle school, was in Afghanistan. It offered me the ability to truly live in the present because my entire being was completely focused on survival, by an means necessary.
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I feel your pain man. I’m older than you by about 5 years, but in about the same place. What is ridiculous is that my father still has a full head of hair at 68. I blame 2 years at war, stress, partying, and my grandfather. I do a buzz cut and i suggest that as being the way to go in like 3 years. Anything under 30 is young to start losing your hair, but after that it is commonplace. Just stay in great shape past 30 and you will look far better than most of the fat-asses with a full head of hair.
Just like the Iraq War, Vietnam was obviously a huge mistake and I’m not defending either one. I’m just saying there were other ways to express themselves than to treat the vets coming home like dogs and nearly tear the country apart. The baby boomers didn’t listen to anyone, which is why many of them are working past 70 when they should be retired. A younger person should have their job, that’s how it is suppose to work. All i’m saying is that if they want to continuously insult our generation they should at least be called out on their shit.
The two irrational and unqualified buffoons running America since 2000 have definitely been the multi-layer icing on that shit cake. Thankfully we have plenty of great candidates to vote for in the next Presidential election……………
“Utter extravagance” and excess is always a great thing to aspire to… We are the poorest on record? You need to check your facts. This thing called the great depression created over 25% unemployment. Our generation is just too stupid to invest and manage our money well because we learned money management from our parent’s generation who have lived in complete excess since the 1970s. We might be the poorest since the 1950s, but guess who’s fault that is?
They can say whatever they want… the baby boomers were just as bad as us, if not worse. At least we didn’t bitch and moan like they did about our generation’s war. Im not sorry dad, im sorry grandfather. Greatest generation truly was the greatest.
These imposters don’t understand that all they are doing is making themselves look fucking stupid. I never understand what these fools are trying to gain by wearing utilities or cammies. Even if I could have worn my utilities outside base, which Marines can’t anyways unless you live off base and go directly home, I wouldn’t have been caught dead in them. Cool someone says “thanks for your service,” but thats about as far as it goes.
You are right about that fratanomics and now that the Stolen Valor act was repealed people can wear full dress uniforms with medals and can’t be touched by the law, which pisses me off. Cammies don’t mean shit, but guys wearing medals and ribbons for combat actions and various campaigns when they have never even served makes my blood boil.
Its funny though because he picked the worst unit to lie about because the Ranger community is incredibly close knit, small, and has a good alumni base.
Any school in the country would take Mark Richt in a second. I have no affiliation with UGA and I know that. Richt has no idea how to pick coordinators though…maybe he should grab Muschamp? Since he is a UGA alum and all.
Im all about free speech and people having the right to be racist morons if they choose to do so, but if you write racist things on any form of social media people are going to have problems with it. In this day and age everything is monitored and very little you do online is private. No reputable company wants anything to do with a person who goes on racist rants over social media because they are a fucking moron and a liability.
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I don’t want to write too much, but this was a good article and I have much respect for what you are doing. I was in the exact same predicament as you and I went from being a Corporal of Marines who was highly respected among all the men in the platoon to just being another twenty-something face in crowd of the civilian world. The realities of coming back and living in a society that puts little value on the abilities of war hardened former Marine grunts can be difficult. All the death, violence, and fear that are part of daily life while fighting on the front line don’t just leave your psyche. Fortunately, unlike many of the men I served with, I was lucky to have two great and successful parents who continued to push me to go back and get my education. The ironic thing is that much of the personal growth that I perceived I would attain from forgoing college to join the Marines eventually came after my service when I went back to school. In reality my job and everything that came with it just made me more lost than ever.
I think a large problem among some vets is that as much as they don’t want to admit it, they miss the war and some have a hard time functioning as normal people. This sort of crazy realization caused my uncle to reenlist to do more tours in Vietnam and well into the 1970’s, even though he knew it was a lost cause. He has always said that nothing in life has ever made him feel so “alive” as flying his chopper over those tree-lines and not knowing what was hidden from view. I can honestly say that the only time in my life I didn’t have to worry about the ultra competitive nature of American society, which forced me to start planning my life in middle school, was in Afghanistan. It offered me the ability to truly live in the present because my entire being was completely focused on survival, by an means necessary.
.
I feel your pain man. I’m older than you by about 5 years, but in about the same place. What is ridiculous is that my father still has a full head of hair at 68. I blame 2 years at war, stress, partying, and my grandfather. I do a buzz cut and i suggest that as being the way to go in like 3 years. Anything under 30 is young to start losing your hair, but after that it is commonplace. Just stay in great shape past 30 and you will look far better than most of the fat-asses with a full head of hair.
Just like the Iraq War, Vietnam was obviously a huge mistake and I’m not defending either one. I’m just saying there were other ways to express themselves than to treat the vets coming home like dogs and nearly tear the country apart. The baby boomers didn’t listen to anyone, which is why many of them are working past 70 when they should be retired. A younger person should have their job, that’s how it is suppose to work. All i’m saying is that if they want to continuously insult our generation they should at least be called out on their shit.
The two irrational and unqualified buffoons running America since 2000 have definitely been the multi-layer icing on that shit cake. Thankfully we have plenty of great candidates to vote for in the next Presidential election……………
I would eat the pizza out of her mouth.
“Utter extravagance” and excess is always a great thing to aspire to… We are the poorest on record? You need to check your facts. This thing called the great depression created over 25% unemployment. Our generation is just too stupid to invest and manage our money well because we learned money management from our parent’s generation who have lived in complete excess since the 1970s. We might be the poorest since the 1950s, but guess who’s fault that is?
That would make too much sense.
They can say whatever they want… the baby boomers were just as bad as us, if not worse. At least we didn’t bitch and moan like they did about our generation’s war. Im not sorry dad, im sorry grandfather. Greatest generation truly was the greatest.
Baltimore should never be on a top 25 list for anything, let alone a top 10 list for places to move to.
And a very high man.
#36: Dad bod?
It truly depicts everything the Corps is about…fucking shit up and being stupid as hell. Miss it, but not really.
Dakota Meyer is a fucking animal.
These imposters don’t understand that all they are doing is making themselves look fucking stupid. I never understand what these fools are trying to gain by wearing utilities or cammies. Even if I could have worn my utilities outside base, which Marines can’t anyways unless you live off base and go directly home, I wouldn’t have been caught dead in them. Cool someone says “thanks for your service,” but thats about as far as it goes.
You are right about that fratanomics and now that the Stolen Valor act was repealed people can wear full dress uniforms with medals and can’t be touched by the law, which pisses me off. Cammies don’t mean shit, but guys wearing medals and ribbons for combat actions and various campaigns when they have never even served makes my blood boil.
Its funny though because he picked the worst unit to lie about because the Ranger community is incredibly close knit, small, and has a good alumni base.
Any school in the country would take Mark Richt in a second. I have no affiliation with UGA and I know that. Richt has no idea how to pick coordinators though…maybe he should grab Muschamp? Since he is a UGA alum and all.
Exactly.
Im all about free speech and people having the right to be racist morons if they choose to do so, but if you write racist things on any form of social media people are going to have problems with it. In this day and age everything is monitored and very little you do online is private. No reputable company wants anything to do with a person who goes on racist rants over social media because they are a fucking moron and a liability.