Fratres Aeterni (Brothers Forever)

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Pardon me, but I must post the words of some of my fellow Marines. I often feel that the greatest wisdom our nation will ever hold comes from the hearts of our seasoned veterans. Here are some words to ponder and take to heart.

First, from a World War II veteran.

[[ The ranks of WW11 vets are dwindling quite rapidly. Our legs are bowed and our back are bent but our chests still swell with pride when reading of our Marines. Our eyes may leak a little more rapidly than some. We have had a long time to practice.

God Bless America and God Bless the Marine Corps.

Cpl. M.G.Van Lue
7th Marines '43-'46 ]]

Here is the reaction of a Vietnam Marine to the recent deaths of 21 Marines in Iraq. He is most eloquent... and most wise.

[[ Marines around the world feel this loss. The Brotherhood is smaller now by a count of 21. Now, too old to be over there, I can only watch, read about, pray for and deeply appreciate their sacrifice. For those who share these circumstances, our time has come and gone. We still pay attention though.

Young men fighting in the most dangerous combat environments deeply bonded to one another by a blood oath to watch each other's back.no matter what. Each of them, clear on the mission; stop it here and stop it now.

The mindless, gutless rhetoric spouted by some who sent them and now are having second thoughts escapes them. They have long since crossed the line of departure and the fight is theirs now. They have sized it and rationalized it and have determined that those whom they fight and kill and those who kill them in return must be defeated. The concepts and tactics taught them in the Corps make sense now and are put to immediate use.

Their commanders and leaders watch them in awe as they go about the bloody, dangerous business of eliminating a foe that plays by no rules whatsoever. Marines I have had the privilege to know have had that unselfish and uncanny knack of sorting out and accepting the risks inherent in their chosen profession. For that period of time when the value of all else in their lives had to be subordinated to the accomplishment of the tasks at hand, they stepped forward and got them done.

Those young Marines we just lost knew all this. I don't know the specific circumstances involving their loss, but I do know that somewhere in the events preceding their deaths, some selfless, duty-bound decisions were made and 21 Marines gave it all. I know enough from experience that the potential for this outcome was a risk that they quietly accepted as part of their job.

Now, we who survive have a set of decisions to make. Do we look at these losses and say, "Enough"? It's time to quit the field and bring them home. Maybe, we need to cave in to these monsters who want the world order to be designed their way. Do we say to our service-age children, "I don't want you going into the military any time soon"? Do we march in protest against this war and policy? Do we smirk at their deaths and feel these Marines got what they deserved? Or. do we cry our tears, console one another, and comfort their loved ones, pray for their peaceful and eternal rest while recognizing that each of them saw something in all this worth fighting and dying for. Shouldn't we at least try to understand what that is?

Some tough days for the Corps? You bet.but they'll work through it and continue the mission.just like they always have.

Semper Fidelis, Brothers, Rest in Peace. We'll take it from here.

Dave St. John
Capt, USMCR 1964-70
RVN Vet ]]

That men such as these served this country... is an amazing thing. THIS is why our country is the greatest nation ever in the history of the world... THIS is why... because of their spirit.

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