Why is it that soldiers are under represented?

[Santa Kona]

First off I am retired US Army but you are correct Marines are different they seem to have a tighter bond. Not sure way that is? However my son is a Marine and sometime ago he posted this by a Unknown author on his facebook page;

"Infantrymen have a pride and arrogance that most Americans don't understand and don't like. Even Marines who aren't infantrymen don't understand. The pride of the infantryman comes not from knowing that he's doing a job that others can't, but that he's doing a job that others simply won't. Many infantrymen haven't seen a lot of combat. While that may be so unideal to the civilian or non-infantry......... Marine, it pains the grunt. We signed up to spit in the face of danger. To walk the line between life and death and live to do it again -or not. To come to terms with our own mortality and let others try to take our life instead of yours. We have raised our hands and said, "Take me, America. I am willing to kill for you. I am willing to sacrifice my limbs for you. I will come back to America scarred and disfigured for you. I will be the first to die for you."

That's why the infantryman carries himself with pride and arrogance. He's aware that America has lost respect for him. To many he's a bloodthirsty animal. To others he's too uneducated and stupid to get a regular job or go to college.

Only he knows the truth. While there are few in America who claim to have respect for him, the infantryman returns from war with less fanfare than a first down in a high school football game. Yes, people hang up their "Support Our Troops" ribbons and on occasion thank us for our service. But in their eyes the infantryman can detect pity and shame; not respect. Consider this: How excited would you be to meet the average infantryman? Now compare that with how excited you'd be to meet a Kim Kardashian or professional sports player and you will find that you, too, are guilty of placing the wrong people on a pedestal.

You wouldn't be able to tell me how many Marines died in the war last month, but you'd damn sure be able to tell me if one of the actors from Twilight died.

Yet the infantryman doesn't complain about that. He continues to do his job; to volunteer his life for you, all while being paid less in four years than Tom Brady makes in one game. It's a job most Americans don't understand, don't envy, and don't respect. That is why we have pride as infantrymen." -Unknown If you're an 03xx, re-post

[bigdad1]

Santa Kona that is a wonderful piece you posted. Thank you for sharing it. I consider myself fortunate that my service as a Navy Corpsman was with Marines. A more courageous group of men (although we were mostly boys in 1965) I have never seen. And as for intelligence there was no shortage of that either. I enlisted because I already loved my country and all these years later I love my country more than I did then. And I am enormously proud of the men and women who serve today. Regardless of their branch of service. May they all come home safely.
And yes I do display Marine Corps decals and shirts and I wear the Leatherneck tartan with pride. I trained and fought with them and will never forget that. Semper Fi.

[kiltedjoss]

I've got mine ordered. http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...mi-trad-71365/

[David Thorpe]

***

"How do you spell Marine? Muscles Are Required Intelligence Not Essential"

Or... My A$$ rides In Navy Equipment Sir!

I'm going to use the Canadian Navy tartan as my starter DIY kilt material. Much nicer than the US version.

[Highlander31]

...For those of you who are not veterans, here is the difference between a war story and a fairy tale. A fairy tale starts "Once upon a time". A war story starts "This is no BS, once when I was at..." And that's the only difference.

Geoff, don't forget the other lead in for a war story, which starts out with "And there I was..."

First off I am retired US Army but you are correct Marines are different they seem to have a tighter bond. Not sure way that is?

During the '60's, I was in a youth group sponsored by the Marine Reserve and the Elks (if I remember correctly,) from the age of eleven to eighteen (for the Marines reading this, I had the pleasure of taking a leisurely walk up Old Smokey when I was fourteen.) We were an equally mixed group of Black, Latino, and Caucasian. While there were heavy racial problems in those days, we thought of ourselves as only one color (OD. Green) more like family then anything else. We learned the value of honor, loyalty. discipline, and hard work, along with love of God and country. It felt like family more than anything else. At eighteen, I planned on joining the Corps. However, a friend from that youth group, who was four years older) returned from a hitch in the Army. After several beers (actually several six packs,) he helped me to join the Army. My MOS was 11B. (For those not familiar with these terms, MOS means Military Occupational Specialty, and 11B is the general code number for Infantry.) There is a different feel to the Army. Partly, I believe, is because it is a large organization when compared to the Corps. I am proud of our country's military, and I am thankful today's generation is there defending our freedoms.

Thank you for posting the piece from your son.

[Mickey]

Very well said, Santa!

I once did some training with some Royal Marines, bunch of fruitbats the lot of them...

Okay, I read that with the accent while I was at work and nearly choked to death on my icewater, then giggled for hours. I am still chuckling.

Ranks right up there with Sushi's story about fried bees.

The strangest things strike me as drop dead hilarious.

[Joshua]

Geoff, don't forget the other lead in for a war story, which starts out with "And there I was..."

Must be the equivalent of the hillbilly lead-in, "You ain't gonna believe this... but..."

[longhuntr74]

Army under-represented?? I haven't noticed it here. I know at least 4 or 5 other US Army vets here on XMTS. As for me, I wear the Army tartan proudly and represent LOUDLY on XMTS.

Tewksbury Redux Edition
Army Tartan Vest

[bigdad1]

If you feel under-represented perhaps you need to speak up more. Marines make enough noise to be represented whether one man or many men (and women). Kinda like the old Texas Ranger saying "One riot, one Ranger."

[Barb T]

If I can even find the army tartan I shall have to do my part in rectifying such grave injustice.

DC Dalgiiesh weaves the US Army tartan as a stock tartan. Not sure what you mean about not being able to find it.

http://www.dcdalgliesh.co.uk/tartan_found.rpy?id=107625

I've made several kilts for customers in this tartan.