Category: Marine Corps Stories

Sgt. Grit,   I wanted to share this speech my father, GySgt Richard N.  Steiner, gave during our 237th Marine Corps Birthday Ceremony.   Attached is a photo of the Marines from Fox Co., 2nd Battalion,  23rd Marines Salt Lake City, UT, escorting the best birthday  cake I've ever seen! You guys helped make this year's charity a  success.  Thank you for all your support Sgt!  Semper Fi!   My son Jeff asked me to give a short talk on the Marine Corps  Birthday.  I thought I would do it with Marine Corps Bumper  stickers.  On November 10, 1775, the Marine Corps was founded in  a small tavern in Philadelphia.  The founders believed in "Life,  Liberty and the Pursuit of Anybody Who Threatened It." They were  determined that "America, be the Home of the Free Because of the  Brave," and they were bound and determined to "Provide Enemies  of America an Opportunity to Die for Their Country since 1775."    Who here can tell me what day the US Army birthday is on?  Or  the US Navy?  Or the Air Force?  Or how about the French Foreign  Legion? Other services don't celebrate their birthdays like we  do.   Every year on November 10th there are hundreds of Marine Corps  balls, and Marine Corps Birthday celebrations throughout  America, in many of the other nations of this world, and even  aboard US Ships on the seven seas.  How many of the US services  even celebrate their existence at all other than the United  States Marine Corps? We, on the other hand, celebrate our  service openly, proudly displaying the Eagle, Globe and Anchor  and adorning our cars with unique bumper stickers reminding  others and ourselves of who we are.   What makes the Marines different?  In 1969, I was in the Ashau  Valley, Vietnam, with "The 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, the  Walking Dead".  We were in the bush for 63 straight days,  engaging the enemy every day.  Part of our duty was to go  through the personal effects of the dead NVA we found finding  anything that would provide intel for us.  I did a lot of that,  and found that the NVA approached the Marine units in Vietnam  entirely differently than other military units.  The NVA  respected them, but they feared Marine Corps units. They knew  they could fragment many military units with relative ease, and  that Marine Corps units were much harder to fragment, and the  NVA needed much stronger firepower and more soldiers to fight  against them.  Marines know that hero's don't win wars, that  armies do.  We don't fragment.  We know that the key to military  success is teamwork.  From the first day a Marine enters boot  camp, he is taught to forget everything civilian he knows and  how to become part of a team.  Boot Camp is "Just Another Day in  Paradise – USMC" and that "All Men are Created Equal,but a Few  Become Marines."  Marines win battles and wars because Marines  follow orders, and follow them without question.  To a Marine,  the success of his unit is everything.  There is plenty of room  for heroics, but the welfare of his fire team, squad, platoon,  company and battalion come first.  We know that "Failure is Not  an Option."   The Marines are a force to be feared.  We believe "A Dead Enemy  is a Peaceful Enemy, and Blessed be the Peacekeepers."  We  believe that "We are in the Azs Kicking Business and Business is  Good." We believe that you "Should Not Wish Ill for Your Enemy,  but Should Plan It."  In terms of battle strategy Marines  believe "Gun Control is Hitting Your Target" that "When in  Doubt, Empty the Magazine" that "Happiness is a Belt-fed Weapon"  and we believe that "Artillery Brings Dignity to What Would  Otherwise Just Be a Brawl."     On a more serious note Marines always live in the shadow of  death. Every Marine knows that death may be required of him to  protect the other men of his unit, and to ensure victory to the  battle. Marines don't pray for their own safety, they pray for  the strength to do their job.  That, folks, is what makes us  different.  Marines are "Brothers to the End", we believe that  "Death Smiles at Everyone, but Marines Smile Back"  We also  firmly believe that "He Who Shed Blood With Me Shall Forever Be  My Brother" that "All Give Some, and Some Give All" and that  "There is No Such Thing as a Former Marine." That is why we are  here tonight.     Marines don't question whether wars or police actions are right  or wrong.  We simply carry out the wishes of those who make  those decisions.  "People Sleep Peacefully In Their Beds at  Night Because Rough Men Stand Ready To Do Violence On Their  Behalf."  We know that in many instances "America Is Not At War,  America's Military Is At War.  America Is At The Mall".  We know  that "Pacifism is a Luxury Paid For By Warriors" and that  "Patriotic Dissent Is A Luxury Of Those Protected By Better Men  Than They."  But we also know "You Only Have The Rights You Are  Willing To Fight For", and we understand to the fullest that  "For Those Who Fought For It, Freedom Has A Flavor The Protected  Will Never Know".     Marines are a special breed.  We know "Some People Spend An  Entire Lifetime Wondering If They Made A Difference.  The  Marines Don't Have That Problem."  We know that America is "One  Nation Under God and His Marines Standing Guard."  Marines know  that "Once a Marine. Always A Marine" and that "Semper Fidelis  Is Not Just a Saying, It Is a Way Of Life".  When all is over,  and said and done a Marine can say "You Will Die, but I Will Die  A Marine"   To this we say "Oohrah… It's a Marine thang".  Semper Fi.  Let the Birthday Celebration begin.