Why Didn'ta Ya Just Say So!!??
Marine Corps mathematics

WARNING! Harsh language alert!

We've posted in the past concerning Lt. Gen. Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller, USMC (ret). And now, it's time for another gem. Enjoy! And yes, this really happened.

A ROK (Republic of Korea) commander, whose unit was fighting along with the Marines, called legendary Marine (at the time, Colonel) Lewis "Chesty" Puller to report a major Chinese attack in his sector. "How many Chinese are attacking you?" asked Puller. "Many, many Chinese!" replied the excited Korean officer. Puller asked for another count and got the same answer, "Many, many Chinese!"

"Damn it!" swore Puller, "Put my Marine Liaison Officer on the radio." In a minute, an American voice came over the air: "Yes sir?" "Lieutenant," growled Chesty, "exactly how many Chinese you got up there?" "Colonel, we got a whole shitload of Chinese up here!"

"Thank God," exclaimed Puller, "At least there's someone up there who knows how to count."

I enjoyed that so much, I think I'll re-post a blast from the past...

____________________________________________Friday, February 03, 2006

Quotes Of The Week
From the greatest Marine who ever lived

"Our Country won't go on forever, if we stay as soft as we are now. There won't be any America - because some foreign soldiery will invade us and take our women and breed a hardier race." --Lieutenant General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller. 1955

"They're on our right, they're on our left, they're in front of us, they're behind us; they can't get away from us this time." - Col. Chesty Puller when told that the understrength 1st Marine Division was surrounded by 8 Communist Chinese Divisions, Chosin Reservoir, Korean War. 1951. The Marines won.

When an Army captain asked him for the direction of the line of retreat, Col Puller called his artillerymen, gave them the Army position, and ordered: "If they start to pull back from that line, even one foot, I want you to open fire on them." Turning to the captain, he replied "Does that answer your question? We're here to fight." Col. Chesty Puller at Koto-ri in Korea. 1951

"Son, if they give you any shit, level the place." Lt. Col. Chesty Puller giving orders to a young Company Commander in the South Pacific, 1944

When asked what kind of Marine his distant cousin, George Patton would have made, Chesty responded; "he would have made a half-assed 2d Lieutenant".

Reporter; "Colonel, you've got Chinese to your front, to your rear, to your left and to your right. What are you going to do now?" Col. Puller; "Damn sight better than the U. S. Army. At least I know they'll be there in the morning!" Chesty at the Chosin Reservoir, Korean War. 1951.

Quotes Of The Week
From the greatest Marine who ever lived

"Our Country won't go on forever, if we stay as soft as we are now. There won't be any America - because some foreign soldiery will invade us and take our women and breed a hardier race." --Lieutenant General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller. 1955

"They're on our right, they're on our left, they're in front of us, they're behind us; they can't get away from us this time." - Chesty Puller when told that the understrength 1st Marine Division was surrounded by 8 Communist Chinese Divisions, Chosin Reservoir, Korean War. 1951

When an Army captain asked him for the direction of the line of retreat, Col Puller called his artillerymen, gave them the Army position, and ordered: "If they start to pull back from that line, even one foot, I want you to open fire on them." Turning to the captain, he replied "Does that answer your question? We're here to fight." Chesty Puller at Koto-ri in Korea. 1951

"Son, if they give you any shit, level the place." Chesty giving orders to a young Company Commander in the South Pacific, 1944

When asked what kind of Marine his distant cousin, George Patton would have made, Chesty responded; "he would have made a half-assed 2d Lieutenant".

Reporter; "Colonel, you've got Chinese to your front, to your rear, to your left and to your right. What are you going to do now?" Col. Puller; "Damn sight better than the U. S. Army. At least I know they'll be there in the morning!" Chesty at the Chosin Reservoir, Korean War. 1951

What Kinda Training You Boys Doin'?
ARRRRRRRRMY TRAINING, SIR!

Is it humanly possible to make what's easy even easier?

The Army has slashed the rate at which young soldiers wash out, allowing it to keep more of the recruits it has struggled to find.

That's due largely to changes in how the Army treats enlistees. Gone are the days when trainees run 'til they drop. Soldiers who need counseling get extra attention, not a screaming drill sergeant.

James Martin, an expert on military culture at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, said the changes make sense but stressed that the Army needs to guard against graduating substandard soldiers.

"Will you have people causing you problems later on?" Martin said. "That would occur if you lowered that standard at the end of training period."

Gee, ya think? But being prejudiced towards my beloved Corps, I give you the following;

Various Things Marines Have Said And What Has Been Said Of Us By Others

"My only answer as to why the Marines get the toughest jobs is because the average Leatherneck is a much better fighter. He has far more guts, courage, and better officers... These boys out here have a pride in the Marine Corps and will fight to the end no matter what the cost." - 2nd Lt. Richard C. Kennard, Peleliu, World War II. 1943

"Our Country won't go on forever, if we stay as soft as we are now. There won't be any America - because some foreign soldiery will invade us and take our women and breed a hardier race." -Lieutenant General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller. 1955

"They're on our right, they're on our left, they're in front of us, they're behind us; they can't get away from us this time." - Chesty Puller, USMC, Chosin Reservoir, Korean War. 1951

When an Army captain asked him for the direction of the line of retreat, Col Puller called his artillerymen, gave them the Army position, and ordered: "If they start to pull back from that line, even one foot, I want you to open fire on them." Turning to the captain, he replied "Does that answer your question? We're here to fight." At Koto-ri in Korea - Chesty Puller at Koto-ri in Korea. 1951

"Retreat, hell! We just GOT here!!" - Capt Lloyd Williams at the Battle of Belleau Wood when ordered to fall back by the US Army. 1917

"The American Marines are terribly reckless fellows... they would make very good storm troopers." - Unidentified German officer at Belleau Wood. 1917

Marines know how to use their bayonets. Army bayonets may as well be paper-weights. [Navy Times; November 1994]

"Do not attack the First Marine Division. Leave the yellowlegs alone. Strike the American Army instead." - Orders given to Communist troops in the Korean War; shortly afterward, the Marines were ordered to not wear their khaki leggings to keep the enemy from immediately fleeing

"You cannot exaggerate about the Marines. They are convinced to the point of arrogance, that they are the most ferocious fighters on earth- and the amusing thing about it is... they are." - Father Kevin Keaney, 1st MarDiv Chaplain, Korean War. 1953

"Why the hell can't the Army do it if the Marines can; they are all the same kind of men... why can't the Army be like the Marines?" -Commander in Chief, AEF, General John Pershing, U.S. Army. 1917

We have two companies of Marines running rampant all over the northern half of this island, and three Army regiments pinned down in the southwestern corner, doing nothing. What the hell is going on!? - Gen. John W. Vessey Jr., USA, Chairman of the the Joint Chiefs of Staff; during the assault on Grenada, 1983

The Corps, which has never lost sight that its primary mission is to fight, remains superbly trained and disciplined -- true to its time-honored slogan "We don't promise a rose garden." When, under Clinton, the Army lowered its standards to Boy Scout summer-camp level in order to increase enlistment, the Corps responded by making boot training longer and tougher -Col David Hackworth, US Army. 1997

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they've made a difference to this world. The Marines don't have that problem."-Ronald Reagan

"There are only two kinds of people that completely understand Marines: Marines and the enemy. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion." -Unknown-

And Probably The Best Testimonial For The Corps....
The following is an excerpt from an email home from an Air Force ordnance demolition unit team member describing his first night at Kandahar airport:

"One of the perimeter positions only a hundred yards or so to our left took some incoming fire and we all went to general quarters, taking defensive fighting positions in our bivouac in case they penetrated to our position. The Marines quickly repelled the attack. It will not bother me should I live my entire life without having to kill a man but I have to say I'm glad to be surrounded by a thousand 19 year-old Marines who can't wait to. They will be leaving in a few weeks and turning over the base to the Army. I will miss them.

"The only tents the Marines use are one-man pup tents and they are everywhere. Each foxhole and DFP (defensive fighting position) around the camp is accompanied by two of these humble little tents. "I have a renewed respect for the Marines. They arrived a month ago, dug in, and have been living out of these ridiculously small, 5 x 5 tents ever since. No heat, no latrines, no showers, nothing but backpacks, weapons, helmets and flak vests, and lots of ammo. And they've been doing it every day. Four man teams at each position, two sleeping, two on watch. God bless them every one."

New Years Resolutions I Fully Intend To Break...
And how long it'll take me

1. Cutting some slack to Barack Hussein Stoogus Maximus Obama. That resolution won't make it to the end of me typing out this posting.

2. It's time to stop trying to rationalize my sins by telling my Father Confessor - "...but Father! He deserved it!". This one could take quite a while. It's become a battle of wills between me and my priest.

3. It's time to stop teaching "my kids" lines from Scarface and Full Metal Jacket (for those that didn't know, I work with disabled kids). This resolution shouldn't even be seriously considered as long as my boyish charm keeps working on the Center Director.

4. Whenever I get into an argument with the House Sergeant Major, I've gotta stop walking over to my framed picture of Lt. Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, USMC (ret) and yelling to him - "Chesty, SHE'S PISSIN' ME OFF AGAIN!!". That' resolution'll last until she pisses me off again.

5. I really must stop my practice of driving by the more liberal-minded Novus Ordo Self-Worshipitoriums and crossing myself saying "...if You're really present, Lord". This resolution should actually last quite a long time. At least until I actually drive by one of 'em.

6. To become more rational, more empathetic, more caring towards those who disagree with my ecclesiastical beliefs, world view and overall opinions. I've got to strive to get more in touch with other people's feelings, especially my own... even more so, my femenine ones.
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BWAHAHAHAHA.... *pant, pant*... BWHAHAHAHAHA... *oh shit, you're killin' me, Smalls!*... BWAHAHAHAHA...*cough, cough*... BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Another Meme
Paul at Regular Thoughts tagged me

If you could meet and have a deep conversation with any five people on earth, living or dead, from any time period, who would they be?" (Explaining why is optional.) Name five people from each of the following categories:

Saints, Those in the Process of Being Canonized, Heroes from your native country, Authors/Writers, celebrities.

Hmmmm. OK, got it!

Saints:
The Blessed Virgin (Just to see her would be enough)
Pope St. Peter (No explanation needed)
St. James Matamoros (Thanks for kicking lots of muslim ass)
Pope St. Pius X (Thanks for kicking lots of Modernist ass)
Pope St. Pius V (Thanks for kicking lots of heretical ass)

Being Canonized:
Pope Urban II (See; St James Matamoros)
Fr. Solanus Casey (Such a simple, holy man)
Fr. Vincent Capodanno (A modern day warrior-priest)
Fr. Diego San Luis Vitores (Converted the Chamorro people of the Mariannas Islands)
Emperor Charlemagne (I think should have been canonized long ago)

Heroes:
Antonio Diaz Perez (My grandfather, and I'd ask him about life during the occupation of Guam during WWII)
Fr. Jesus Duenas (My 2d cousin. He was tortured and eventually beheaded by the Japanese for not betraying six US sailors he helped hide during the war. He often irritated the Japanese by humming "God Bless America" in front of them)
Lt Gen Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, USMC (What Marine WOULDN'T want to meet Chesty?)
Lt Gen James Longstreet, CSA (Why'd you convert?)
President Theodore Roosevelt (I'd ask him about his thoughts on making America a world power)

Writers:
St Jerome (Just to say thanks)
Fr Malachi Martin (Thanks for warning us)
GK Chesterton (Thanks for the blinding common sense)
CS Lewis (Same as above)
Alfred E. Newman (What, me worry?)

Celebrities:
John Wayne (You talkin' to me, pilgrim? Another convert)
Mel Gibson (A fine Catholic gentleman)
Grace Kelly (A fine Catholic lady)
Terry Kath (Excellent guitarist for Chicago. Died much too young)
Quentin Tarantino (Ok, I'm kinda weird)

Tagged:
Cletus
Dave/Amy
Chris (The World... IMHO)
Chris (The Crescat)
Jay

Genetic Meme
Chris tagged me

1. Which famous person would you most like to learn that you are descended from? The greatest Marine who ever lived... Lt Gen Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller

2. Which famous person would you hate to learn that you are descended from? Chesty's less famous (and more effeminate) little brother, Peter.

3. If you could be ancestor to any living famous person, who would it be and why? John Kerry; so I could personally disavow, disown, and possibly sneak in a b*tch slap somewhere along the line.

4. If you could go back in time and meet any known ancestor(s) of yours, who would it be?
The Swaney brothers (who all fought in the Battle of Gettysburg).

5. Tag five others: Tagging Cletus, Jay, Paul, Dave/Amy, and Chris (The Crescat).

Real American Heroes
Corporal Brady Gustafson, USMC - Navy Cross

For those who may not know this -- The Navy Cross is the 2d highest award a Marine can recieve. The only decoration for personal valor in a combat situation that's senior, is the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Here's the entire story from The North Shore Journal; (Emphasis mine)

Lance Cpl. Brady Gustafson Awarded Navy Cross

Lance Cpl. Brady Gustafson, a machine gunner with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, stands in from of the battalion at perfect parade rest, despite the amputation of his right leg below the knee. Gustafson received the Navy Cross and a meritorious promotion to corporal during a ceremony March 27 at Lance Cpl. Torrey Grey Field. Photo by Pfc. Michael T. Gams

Lance Cpl. Brady Gustafson’s parents describe him as “reserved, loyal, stubborn and determined.” This was proven in action July 21, 2008.

His loyalty to his fellow Marines, his stubborn nature when he refused medical treatment and his determination under enemy fire as a machine gunner with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment earned him the Navy Cross, and a place among the ranks of such Marine Corps legends as Lewis ‘Chesty’ Puller, Daniel ‘Dan’ Daly and John Basilone.

He received this medal, the highest awarded by the Navy [technically incorrect, but I'll let that go], for his deployment to Afghanistan is support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Navy Cross was pinned on his chest by Lt. Col. John M. Reed, the commanding officer of 2/7, and meritorious corporal chevrons to his collar by Maj. Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser and Sgt. Maj. Randall Carter, the commanding general and sergeant major of 1st Marine Division, at a ceremony held March 27 at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Grey Field. The ceremony included speeches from his former and current commanding officers.

Gustafson accepted his medal at a perfect position of attention, despite missing his right leg below the knee. His entire battalion was in attendance as well as Marines from across the nation, former service members, family and friends.

According to eyewitness accounts, Gustafson’s actions that fateful day in July 2008 met and exceeded the requirements for a Navy Cross. On July 21 Gustafson was manning the turret of the lead vehicle, a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle, or MRAP, during a four-vehicle mounted patrol riding through the streets of Shewan, Afghanistan.

That’s when things got ugly.

The patrol came under heavy fire from machine guns as well as rocket-propelled grenades from hidden insurgent positions. One of the RPGs hit Gustafson’s MRAP, piercing its armor, rendering the driver unconscious and partially amputating Gustafson’s right leg.

Despite his injuries, Gustafson remained vigilant on his M240B machine gun, locating and accurately firing on several insurgent positions, some as close as 20 meters from the vehicle. He remained in the turret, reloading twice and firing over 600 rounds, while Lance Cpl. Cody Comstock, an Anderson, Ind. native, applied a tourniquet to his leg.

After regaining consciousness, the driver, Cpl. Geoffrey Kamp, an Indianapolis native, put the vehicle in reverse and pushed the disabled vehicle behind them out of the kill zone.

Not until both vehicles were safe from the heavy insurgent fire and all the Marines had evacuated the burning vehicle did he allow himself to be removed from the turret for medical treatment.

“I knew I was hit,” he said. “I guess the adrenaline kept me going.” Gustafson humbly stressed that he was only doing his job, nothing more. “Anyone I served with would have done the same,” said the Eagan, IL native. “Heck, if it wasn’t for everyone else out there, I wouldn’t have made it.”

After being treated by corpsmen at the scene, he was transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and then to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Upon regaining consciousness after surgery, Gustafson called his parents to tell them what happened, said the 21 year-old. “We were worried about him,” said his mother, Kim Gustafson. “But we knew everything would work out, God does have a plan after all.”

During 2/7’s deployment to Afghanistan, “the extraordinary became ordinary,” said Lt. Col Richard Hall, 2/7’s commanding officer during the deployment. “I underestimated my Marines and I’m in awe of what they accomplished.”

Known as the hardest hit battalion in the Marine Corps during 2008, 2/7 lost over 20 Marines and sailors and sent over 80 home with serious injuries during their eight month deployment to Afghanistan.

“I took a lot of photos in Afghanistan,” said Gustafson. “I’m going to go to college in the fall and try and make a career out of it.” Cpl. Brady Gustafson never faltered during the ambush and his heroism helped save the lives of all the Marines involved.

The valor and courage displayed on the streets of Shewan that July day embodied the core values of the Marine Corps and sets an example for all to emulate and be proud of. “I’m proud of all the Marines,” said Kim. “There are so many heroes, I’m so lucky to count my son among one of them.”Keep in mind, Cpl. Gustafson was a mere 20 years old when this happened. Legally "not mature enough" to even buy himself a beer. But old enough to win the Navy Cross.

The Shame Of The Marines
Not starring John Garfield

First off, let it be known this posting is my personal opinion, and that of no one else.

On with the show.

I'm disappointed -- VERY DISAPPOINTED -- with my fellow Marines up in Camp Lejeune. We Marines have always prided ourselves with our stickler adherence (bordering on the psychotic and OCD) to the history, customs and traditions of The Corps.

Ask any Marine, you'll hear about Tun Tavern. Want to know who Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller is? Ask a Marine. 'Blood Stripe', what the hell's a Blood Stripe? Ask a Marine. 18 or 80, show a picture of the flag raising on Mount Suribachi to a Marine, the chest swells more than a wee bit. The Marine Corps Birthday Ball... "March on the Beef", first and second slice of cake to the oldest and youngest Marine present. Hell, you can be stationed in the friggin' desert, but the floor is 'the deck', a mop is 'a swab', and that 26-year old Captain is 'the Old Man'.

Yep, Marines are figuratively eat-up with our history, customs and traditions.

To a very large degree, it's our bulldog adherence to our traditions that separate and differentiate us from those in our Sister Services. The exception, it would seem, would be Catholic Marines and the Traditional Latin Mass.

Since the re-introduction of the TLM at Camp Lejeune, the numbers have winnowed from a decent number, to a mere handful. The congregation is roughly broken into equal thirds -- active duty, retired military, and local civilians. The number of active duty personnel should be through the roof. But in all fairness, during the first few Masses, there were more than a few 'lookie-loos'. To include a father and son across the aisle from me who snickered and made smart-ass comments throughout the entire Mass. Only through the divine aid of St Francis Xavier was I kept from making these two numbskulls the first martyrs for Bugnini.

And for this truly historic Mass that has recently been celebrated with regularity aboard Camp Lejeune, the highest ranking Catholic I've seen present is a retired(?) Navy Commander. In my personal opinion, that is absolutely and utterly shameful on the part of both the senior Officer and Enlisted leadership who call themselves Catholic.

Anyhow, if any of my fellow Marines up Camp Lejeune way should be reading this, I ask of you to consider the following;

1. This Mass goes back 1,500 years. You can't get much more traditional than that.

2. This is the Mass whose roots, the words of Consecration itself, goes all the way back to the exact words used by Sts. Peter and Paul when they preached in pagan Rome.

3. This is the Mass that inspired Catholic Warriors to defend Christendom at the Battle of Lepanto, the Battle of Vienna, during the Holy Crusades, etc.

4. This is the Mass that strengthened centuries upon centuries of martyrs as they were led away to be beheaded, burned or have their guts slit open and their insides ripped out... all for the high crime of being Catholic.

5. This is the Mass that was celebrated at Belleau Wood, Iwo Jima, the Chosin, Hue.

6. This is the Mass of Servant of God Father Vincent Capodanno (CMoH), Father Joseph O'Callahan (CMoH) and Father Aloysius Schmitt (who the chapel was initial dedicated to).

7. This is a masculine Catholicism. Do the right thing, you'll be rewarded. Purposfully do the wrong thing, get ready for your sword to be stomped on in biblical proportions. No holding of hands, or "it's only a sin if you think it's a sin" at the TLM. h8. This is the Mass that is set in stone, unambiguous, in your face in it's moral absolutes... just like the Marine Corps.With all that said, allow me to be so bold as to remind my fellow Marines that yes, I understand that learning Latin seems intimidating. But no one's expecting you to become a Latin scholar... just understand enough to understand the Mass.

Understanding the rubrics of the TLM takes time. But no one expects you to become a professional liturgist... just understand enough to understand the Mass.

Traditional Catholic spirituality and all that it entails can be kind of tough to wrap both mind and soul around, but hey... as Marines, we know that nothing worthwhile comes easy. If anyone understands that painfully simple maxim, one would think it would be Marines.

Yeah, it's tough, but maybe that's why they're called spiritual excersizes.