Family Business
Sgt Grit:
I enjoy, as do all Marines who read your letter, the success stories, the trials and the pride of fathers and grandfathers who attend a graduation ceremony for their own family members who are keeping the tradition alive. When my son finished high school he spoke to a Marine Recruiter and then came home to discuss it with me. While my chest swelled at his selection of the Corps for his inquiries, I had one question and that was what his goal in life would be. He said he wanted to be a doctor and to have a military career and I informed him the Corps has no doctors. Lots of bayonet operators but no doctors.
In 2000, I got to swear him in as an Ensign in the Navy Medical Corps and today he is a Flight Surgeon and Lieutenant, U.S. Navy Medical Corps and keeping up the tradition of service to Country. He did do some time with the Corps at Camp Pendleton during his Medical Training at Bethesda and says he will return again one day as a Battalion Surgeon. The attached is a picture of he and I at Newport, RI for his graduation from OIS. Our family has served in each of the services since WWII and continues to this day with over 110 years conbined. A huge OOOORRAAAHHH to all Marines and families in service.
Jim McDonald
CWO4 USMCR RETIRED
Plt. 248, MCRDSD
June to Sept, 1958