Veterans of TOO.COM
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Something I had never heard before ….
www.americanrifleman.org
An Official Journal Of The NRA | Arms Of The Mail Guard Marines
While difficult to imagine today, brazen armed thefts of the U.S. Mail in the 1920s became all too common and beyond the abilities of mail personnel to handle. Enter the U.S. Marines—armed to the teeth.
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Came across this picture from 25 years ago. Rucked up the three tallest mountains in mainland South Korea in one day. Each about 6k in elevation. 45lb ruck. Ruck to the top and back down, hop on the truck and go to the next one. Before each one we were given a brief on the battles and lives required to take the peaks. Rucking up them I remember thinking about the men who took each of those summits inch by inch under heavy fire carrying ammo, charges, and weapons. When the terrain would suck worse than usual, and in some spots it SUCKED, i remember a few spots where it was so steep I had to lean so far forward to counter the ruck i could have touched the ground with only half an outstretched arm. When the quit started creeping in I'd remember those guys and what they would have given for such an easy ascent to the top. I could see them in my minds eye sitting along the trail, rifles in their lap, bloodied, dirty, cold, smoking a cigarette, some covered in tarps. I wasn't about to quit and turn around, failing felt like i was failing them, all I had to do was keep putting one foot in front of the other. If memory serves me correct it was a total of 32 miles and 18k feet of elevation. All total i think it took 22 hours. That skinny fucker was a ruck marching SOB.
Bottom left kneeling. The guy I'm grabbing hands with was Darel from Brooklyn. The guy top right was Joey from LA, often confused with one of our KATUSAs (male mandatory service soldiers in south Korea). Then you had my Bama ass. Coast to coast. The other guy is just some dork ass captain .
Judging by my lack of rank this was my 2nd time being an E-1, I would go on to achieve the rank of E-1 once more that year.
Bottom left kneeling. The guy I'm grabbing hands with was Darel from Brooklyn. The guy top right was Joey from LA, often confused with one of our KATUSAs (male mandatory service soldiers in south Korea). Then you had my Bama ass. Coast to coast. The other guy is just some dork ass captain .
Judging by my lack of rank this was my 2nd time being an E-1, I would go on to achieve the rank of E-1 once more that year.
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Ah, memory lane regarding my multiple attainment of the E-1 rank. Years later, my 1Sgt wanted me to go fishing with him. It was likely because he had found out i knew the on base lakes like the back of my hand. When the platoon leader told me to meet Top at the ramp Saturday, I met Top at the ramp. We spent most of the day on his boat, and as an E-5 buck sargeant, I jokingly told my 1SGT (E-8) that I outranked him. How so Sgt? Because I've been promoted more times than you top. "You really like being a fuckn private, don't you, Sergeant?"OH come on Top, don't tease me like that, the most you can bust me down to is an E-4 "yeah but I can make your life hell." "You win Top, You win"
It's even funnier because Top knew damn well I didn't want my stripes. I was perfectly happy being an E-4. The $300 a month wasn't worth the added responsibility and expectations. I was in a new MOS in technology with a very young enlisted footprint, and they were pushing me. Minimum promotion points, so all I had to do was exist to make points, I bombed my voluntold promotion board. Somehow, I still made the damn promotion list. Top had to have fudged my board review for that to happen.
It's even funnier because Top knew damn well I didn't want my stripes. I was perfectly happy being an E-4. The $300 a month wasn't worth the added responsibility and expectations. I was in a new MOS in technology with a very young enlisted footprint, and they were pushing me. Minimum promotion points, so all I had to do was exist to make points, I bombed my voluntold promotion board. Somehow, I still made the damn promotion list. Top had to have fudged my board review for that to happen.
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Stressless
Well-Known Member
In 1783, King George III asked an American painter what George Washington would do now that he had virtually won the war. The painter replied that the General intended to return to his farm in Virginia. The King was stunned. He reportedly said, "If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world."
Throughout history, victorious generals almost always seized the throne. From Caesar to Cromwell, military success usually meant political dictatorship. The concept of voluntarily walking away from absolute power was practically unheard of.
But George Washington wasn't like other men.
By December 4, 1783, the British surrender at Yorktown was past, and peace was finally assured. Washington commanded a powerful, seasoned army that adored him. Conversely, many of his officers were unpaid and angry at the inefficient Congress. They had the guns, the manpower, and the loyalty to install a new monarch.
He could have been King George I of America.
Instead, on this day in history, Washington walked into the Long Room at Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan. The room was filled with his most loyal officers—men like Henry Knox and Baron von Steuben—who had frozen with him at Valley Forge and bled with him for eight long years.
The atmosphere wasn't celebratory. It was heavy with inevitable separation. Washington, usually stoic and commercially reserved, poured a glass of wine and looked at his brothers-in-arms with visible emotion.
"With a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you," he said, his voice shaking. "I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable."
He didn't order them. He didn't demand their allegiance. He hugged them.
One by one, the hardened soldiers wept openly. Washington embraced each man in silence. There was no pomp, no ceremony, and no speeches about future conquests. It was just a quiet goodbye between warriors who had done the impossible.
Immediately after leaving the tavern, Washington didn't march on Congress to demand payment or power. He rode to Annapolis, Maryland, resigned his commission, and went home to Mount Vernon to plant crops.
He did the impossible.
He refused the crown.
He trusted the people.
By stepping down, he ensured that the United States would be a republic ruled by laws, not a kingdom ruled by force. He proved that the military serves the people, not the other way around. It was the final, and perhaps greatest, victory of the Revolution.
The world watched in awe as the American Cincinnatus returned his sword to its sheath, proving that character is the strongest constitution of all.
Sources: Mount Vernon Ladies' Association / Library of Congress
#history
#hearhear! #raisedmyglass
Throughout history, victorious generals almost always seized the throne. From Caesar to Cromwell, military success usually meant political dictatorship. The concept of voluntarily walking away from absolute power was practically unheard of.
But George Washington wasn't like other men.
By December 4, 1783, the British surrender at Yorktown was past, and peace was finally assured. Washington commanded a powerful, seasoned army that adored him. Conversely, many of his officers were unpaid and angry at the inefficient Congress. They had the guns, the manpower, and the loyalty to install a new monarch.
He could have been King George I of America.
Instead, on this day in history, Washington walked into the Long Room at Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan. The room was filled with his most loyal officers—men like Henry Knox and Baron von Steuben—who had frozen with him at Valley Forge and bled with him for eight long years.
The atmosphere wasn't celebratory. It was heavy with inevitable separation. Washington, usually stoic and commercially reserved, poured a glass of wine and looked at his brothers-in-arms with visible emotion.
"With a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you," he said, his voice shaking. "I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable."
He didn't order them. He didn't demand their allegiance. He hugged them.
One by one, the hardened soldiers wept openly. Washington embraced each man in silence. There was no pomp, no ceremony, and no speeches about future conquests. It was just a quiet goodbye between warriors who had done the impossible.
Immediately after leaving the tavern, Washington didn't march on Congress to demand payment or power. He rode to Annapolis, Maryland, resigned his commission, and went home to Mount Vernon to plant crops.
He did the impossible.
He refused the crown.
He trusted the people.
By stepping down, he ensured that the United States would be a republic ruled by laws, not a kingdom ruled by force. He proved that the military serves the people, not the other way around. It was the final, and perhaps greatest, victory of the Revolution.
The world watched in awe as the American Cincinnatus returned his sword to its sheath, proving that character is the strongest constitution of all.
Sources: Mount Vernon Ladies' Association / Library of Congress
#history
#hearhear! #raisedmyglass
JARHEAD
Active Member