As I March with the Old Breed

In the military service, I have found that all too often we are reminded at every turn of the men and women that came before us.  These servicemen guarded our nation for us until we were strong enough to do so, so that we may carry their torch and march on into the cold night, always alert, and always ready.

It is with this thought in mind that I wanted to touch on those who came before us, and those that will come after.  I have heard countless stories from Marines in World War Two, Korea and Vietnam as they were making life very difficult for the enemy.  Ultimately, that is the Marine's goal, to seek, close width and destroy the enemy as quickly and violently as possible. It is with this tenacity that Marines are the worlds emergency response force, first to fight, the tip of the spear, Always Faithful.

With these Marines who came before us, how could any of us ever fit into those metaphorical boots?  How can I ever compare myself to these war fighters and heroes that wore this uniform before me?  The answer is simple: you simply must do it.  There is no second chance, and no one will be there for you if you fall behind, you must simple do it, and fight to a level that is expected of you.  Ultimately, the Mission and only the Mission is sacred. Specifically in the Marine Corps, we hold our mission above all else, ultimately echoing transparently in the halls of Battalions across the world: "Mission accomplish before troop welfare".  This is what sets servicemen apart from our civilian counterparts. It is those that came before us the who bled their last drops off of their soul that instilled this core value into our spirit, welding it to us and making it a part of who we are, what we beleive and that we must acheive.

 Many of my peers believe that we can never compare to our forefathers, but is this not what the next generation will think as well, as they patrol near a small village in a far off land?  As we move forward as a service, whether you are called a Soldier, Airman, Sailor or Marine, you have done more than most and that is most admirable.   It is this time in our lives that we have sacrificed that will ultimately make this world a safer place.  One thing that was always drilled into me as a young Marine is that I was to reflect upon what Marines have done before me, and try in every way possible to emulate it.  This is a daunting task for an 18 year old young man, but I took it in stride and tried as hard as I could to act as those who came before me.  I have found, however, that each generation is defined by its unique evolution in its social construct.  It is this minor shift in mindset that allows for Marines to continue to win wars and defeat those who would do our nation harm.