Marine Family
August 15th, 1981 I stepped on a plane for the first time to Parris Island South Carolina into a world I knew nothing about. What a wonderful world it was. I left the Marine Corps on February 2nd, 1987. I became a mother of three and “Once a Marine, Always a Marine”. My children knew about the Marine Corps. They all insisted that they would never be Marines. At one point in life I believed them. But, it was my foundation and other than my faith, it was what kept my head above water in the bad times and what I could attribute to my good times.
My oldest son, Adam, turned 19 and was going nowhere in life. I had told him to join, but he said no. Then one day; on the right day a recruiter called him. He said yes. Needless to say I was so psyched. Going to San Diego was so awesome. But wait, that same year my daughter, Kathleen, enlisted in the delayed entry program. I was going to be returning to my old stomping grounds in Parris Island along with my parents who had been there 24 years before with me. It was like walking into another dimension; a time machine into my past. She looked so good in that uniform.
There was still one more. He fought and fought with me to leave him alone about it. Even the recruiters didn’t push him. They knew, like me, he would walk in one day. He was 18 and I told him to move out and get a job. Well he moved out, but had a terrible time trying to find a job. He said that one day it hit him, “It’s only natural to become a Marine like the rest of the family. He knew it wouldn’t be a waste of time. Sean asked me to make the call and to go with him. Another vacation to boot camp; it was great.
They all chose because of the foundation they knew it would give them for life and for the educational benefits. The thing I am most proud of; they didn’t hesitate because there was a war. They all knew that serving God, country and corps with honor, courage and commitment would make them the good and whole people that they have become. Adam has served in Afghanistan and Iraq; Kathleen is in Iraq now and Sean is going on his first MEU soon.
Former Marine Cpl. Patricia Aragon-De Herrera