I know that for many Afghanistan veterans, seeing the nation fall so swiftly into Taliban hands is sad, disappointing, and infuriating. Many of you spent your youth and the worst days of your life serving in this war.
Just know that you did exactly what your nation asked of you, and the failure in Afghanistan was a failure of policy from the people at the top, not the Lance Corporals on the ground. You fought for the Marines to your left and right to make it through each day.
Reach out to any Marines you know who served in Afghanistan and just ask them how they’re doing. It certainly can’t hurt.
Author: @Terminal Lance
30- Apr.- 1975. The fall of Saigon…..
my husband was a marine and now he is a vetern serving in the viet nam war he so proud of his brother and sisters Marine you did a good job the last 20 years and came home to a tragitie over there it is not your fault but Bidens
OOHRAH
– OEF 04 – 22MSSG Supply – Capt F
Good to hear from you again, Sgt Grit.
Same mud, same blood. God Bless Afghanistan Vets.
Failure of a government they were sent to protect. They did their part the soldiers, airmen and Marines. Support them now. Do not let another pullout stain our record.
When called to arms you have always been there with honor and commitment. Stay proud and true to yourself. God bless and Semper Fi
Very well said Don. Semper fi
Same as in 1975 , just a different country. The ones in charge failed miserably. Not the veterans.
Thank you U.S. Marines !
I was just thinking the same thing.
GOOD FOR YOU SGT. GRIT
Listen up MARINES YOU Did what you were ordered and signed up to do!!!! And you did it well.
Political wars are never won or lost.. Walk with your heads HIGH
Welcome Home
This has nothing to do with the proud men and women who supported their country, I speak from experience, (Vietnam Vet). that is another example of the government we were supporting were not fully committed to serving a just cause the freedom of their country and people. I know it may seem painful now, but it does not detract from the supreme effort that each Marine made to support their country.
Hold your heads High !!
The Few, The Proud, The Marines
Semper Fi
Sgt, T. Golden
Amen! My husband is a Vietnam vet. My heart goes out to the men and women who served and are still serving over there and for all the families of the ones that we lost. My 21 year old grandson was just sworn into the Marine Corp on 8/20/21. I am proud that he wants to serve but I did not want him to go on under this administration! I hope and pray something changes for our country soon, very soon! God Bless all our military!
Hi, Tom! Comparing Afghanistan with Vietnam is apples and oranges. Vietnam hung in there for 2 years after we left and if our congress had not cut off all funding the story would not have ended the way it did. Certainly not on 30 April 1975. Afghanistan quit in 2 days, not 2 years!
To all who were there…oohrah!!!
All the heart felt comments above are felt by this Marine and my brothers, God bless those who gave their all and some even more. Semper Fi Warriors
THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, I THANK YOUR FAMILYS FOR THERE SERVICE, n I THANK YOU FOR FIGHTING FOR MY FREEDOM!! GOD BLESS YOU ALL, n GOD BLESS AMERICA
You, Marines are the best these United States have to defend this great nation. You did your job with Honor and Commitment. I did it. You did it. Nothing else matters. You’re Marines!
Semper Fi and God Bless,
Greg Rentchler SSGT.
We didn’t lose in Vietnam, or Afghanistan. Our leaders quit! There’s a big difference.
Outstanding comment by Sgt. Grit and the many others that took the time to make a comment. Every comment is right on the mark.
Our military people dis an outstanding job and I for one am very proud of every man and women that severed in any capacity.
Do not feel at fault or any blame.
God Bless our Military and God Bless America.
WHY WAS MY POST DELETED?? HARRY
As written in a poem by W.D. Ehrhart:
“We are the ones you sent to fight a war
you didn’t know a thing about.
It didn’t take us long to realize
the only land that we controlled
was covered by the bottoms of our boots.”
SEMPER FI – Len Toombs USMC
Well done Marines! You are the best this country has and more so! No better friend, no worse enemy! You served with honor and distinction and never falted. In every clime & place you served with distinction and we thank you for that. Semper-Fi. Until we meet again. Welcome home!
I am an American citizen and I appreciate all of you brave soldiers who have fought and fight for our freedom every day!??????!My father was a career Marine.We owe a debt of gratitude to all of you!It is sad that this administration chose to turn their backs on the people of Afghanistan!Semper fi !Oorah!??????!God bless our service men and women!???????
While I agree we’ve not done well in the withdrawal, I would encourage you to do some research before laying the etire fault on “the current administrator.” #45 had already negotiated a treaty with the Taliban setting 1 May 21 as our departure; #46 delayed for almost four months. Not many folks will remember Biden’s role in this past the next election cycle much as many don’t remember Ford was the president who pulled us from Vietnam. In 20 years, the Taliban will be in the dustbin, just as Britain, Russia and the US are: No modern nation has ever conquered Afganistan with technology, money or troops.
Afganistan has a 4,000 year history of tribal warfare and has been pretty much a corrupt, negligent and warlord-run country for about 250 years … We had no strategy there or in Iraq to ‘win’ nor any goal but to nation-build. We tried to buy loyalty to their on nation with an uneducated and unwilling people.
Hey Stoney, we should have started the withdrawal as soon as Osama was killed. There is enough blame that could be spread all over . You are right about the History of their war, not much different than Vietnam . Harry 1371
Excellent comments. Pres Biden was left this mess…after 20 years it was the same place we went into in 2001. They took our money, we left our blood. The “natives” we trained and equipped, didn’t fight.
This “bug out” was started by a previous administration, they told the Taliban , 21 May 2021 we were “ out of there”, we pushed it back to Aug.
3 Presidents were involved in this mess. This President is trying to get us out there with some semblance of honor.
God Bless the USMC and the families back home.
Anyone that knows Biden’s 40 year record should have known he would screw this up. Look at the Southern border. All civilians and translators should have been pulled out along with all our equiptment long before our military. The way he did this we wll pay for it for 30 years.
BEING A RETIRED MARINE , I’M SO PROUD OF OUR DEVIL DOGS WHO SERVED AND MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY IN AFGHANISTAN! I CAN’T UNDERSTAND HOW BLEEDING HEARTS AND OUR GOVERMENT CAN OPEN THE FLOOD GATES AND LET THESE REFUGEES INTO OUR COUNTRY. HOW DO WE KNOW THEY JUST DON’T WANT A FREE TICKET TO OUR GREAT COUNTRY , WITH OUT MAKING AN EFFORT TO FIGHT FOR THIER OWN COUNTRY. AND HOW DO WE NOT KNOW IF THIS REFUGEE DIDN’T AT ONE TIME WAS ON THE OTHER END OF A WEAPON THAT WOUNDED OR KILLED ONE OF OUR BRAVE MARINES! “SEMPER FI”
It’s been “THEIR” plan for decades and the climate was right to make an attempt to destroy America from within and from abroad. I have faith we will be back again in full force as the greatest nation on earth !
Semper Fi !
I’m an old salty Marine with a three year old grandson and on behalf of him and all Americans we thank you and never forget you did what was asked of you when you raised your hand and took the oath. You did it with guts pride and glory let not the failures of a rogue administration steal your hearts and minds. Semper Fi my brothers and sisters on behalf of a grateful nation!!
THANK YOU TO ALL MARINES! A SHALOM AND A JABEZ BLESSING FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES. THE POLITICIANS MAY FORGET YOUR SACRIFICE AND SERVICE. THE AVERAGE PERSON [and enemy]WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT U DID FOR THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. NEVER SURRENDER, NEVER GIVE UP.
Semper Fi Brothers and sisters!
I served in the Marine Corps from 1972 to1976. Never thought I would see this happen again. I was working on the Jersey side of the Hudson on September 11th 2001. Saw the Towers burn and fall. To my brothers and sisters who have served since then I want to say. There has not been another attack on our soil because of you! My family and I have been safe since that day. “Well Done”.
Thank you
Those of us who also served in Vietnam felt the same pain and shame after so many dedicated marines fought and fell only to be dishonored by the same people in our government to let us down. You did what you could for what you were allowed to do. Just remember it wasn’t you that gave up, it was your politicians destroying our way of life for their own benefit As USUAL!!
Vietnam combat veteran 1968 tet.
L/cpl. William Intini USMC
This failure by our highest levels of government to include our brain-dead president, is absolutely abhorrent and disgusting! People should be fired over this! We the veterans of war, are thoroughly pi$$ed at your ineptitude!
SGT Grit, superb analogy on Afghanistan and the fight that U.S. Forces, specifically U.S. Marines endured for a long time… for all of us, thank you for your note, your sound advice to reach out to other Vets from the years of war in Afghanistan. The leadership failed our Forces, period, as they fail our nation as well… as you mentioned, Marines fight for their buddy on their right and left, this has been our way since the start, because we are essentially a breed apart.
Semper Fidelis,
Denis Muller
LtCol USMC (Ret.)
Not many of us left now, first marine airwing, VMA 312. Korean war vet.
We are also with you guys, all of you.
Cpl. anthony rondone
To all who served in Afghanistan, you did well. Hold your heads high, you did what your country asked of you! To all those criticizing the current administration, remember a number of Presidents have been involved in the decisions that shaped our policies. Could the withdrawal be handled more effectively most certainly. But as Marines know once the once the plan is implemented all plans go out the window. God bless of country and our allies who serve along side of us!
I am very proud of you all. Outstanding job. SEMPER FI ??
SSGT. Tony Woconish
VMFA-333 ☘️☘️☘️
1976-1982.
Thank you all for your service in Afghanistan. (From a Career Marine’s grandson)
We haven’t lost a war which was the fault of the military. Our defeats always come from the highest levels of government and the loss of political will. This one was no different….while the principles of democracy require civilian control of the military, it is the same civilian control which so often leads the military to defeat.
CWO4 Dudley J Garidel, Jr USMCR [Ret]
17 February 1969 – 1 August 2004
Semper Fidelis!
Non Sibi Sed Patriae!