I enlisted in the Marine Corps for four years the week I turned 18, in 1965. I served in Okinawa, Phu Bai, 29 Palms, and at the Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Seattle, Washington, where I was part of an Officer Selection Office (OSO) team. I was honorably discharged as a Sergeant, went to college, was a computer programmer, went to law school, and have practiced law for 32 years. The Marine Corps gave me discipline and determination, and I am proud to be a Marine.
I appreciate the Sgt. Grit newsletter and the thoughts and ideas expressed. But, I object to part of the quote at the bottom of this newsletter. A Marine is speaking, and he says, "Let me win your hearts and minds or I'll burn your d-mn hut down." That's not funny and it is wrong and unacceptable. COIN does not work by burning down the huts of indigenous people because we think they don't like us. I'm sure this kind of statement is intended to be funny and to show how tough Marines are, but it brings shame and dishonor on the Corps. The Marine Corps way to be tough is to do the right thing, and burning down civilian homes is not the right thing.
Best regards,
Douglas Batey