In regards to "name withheld" and his observations regarding the "lack" of Esprit de Corps… I've worked as a civilian construction contractor at the nearby VA hospital, and the brotherhood was alive and well there, amongst all the Marines who were no longer wearing uniform. One of the former Marines working in the Maintenance Dept. gifted me with a small USMC sticker to wear on my hard hat… guess where he bought those?
I can't say I saw any Marines in uniform while I was there, but then, I'm not surprised, and I really don't understand "name withheld" 's complaint. When he was on active duty and took leave to go home, what the h-ll did he do with his time? I know I spent as much time as possible pursuing civilian females when I wasn't eating home cooked meals or sleeping off the previous night's adventures. Perhaps "name withheld" is near an active duty base, where Marines in uniform is a common occurrence, but where I'm from, it is fairly rare.
I'm not suggesting that those Marines receiving care at the VA facilities don't deserve our attention and respect, but in my experience, they get it plenty from VFW, Legion, Marine Corps League and other veterans who get to spend every day with their families and look forward to making those visits. If any former Marine reading these letters hasn't taken an afternoon to visit a local VA, I highly recommend it; you'd be surprised at how a little banter and an appreciative audience can improve the outlook of many a veteran in their declining health, whether they happen to have served with the USMC or elsewhere. I've heard many an epic story and met my share of true heroes, from conflicts both before and after my time of service, and nothing compares to hearing them from the living history themselves.
Let's leave the active duty to do what they do best, and let us out of uniform Marines carry on the mission for our veterans.
-Sgt Weaver, R.M.