Excuse to Wear the Leatherneck Tartan

**davedove** · 22nd February 07, 07:12 AM

All you Marines and Marine supporters have a perfect excuse for wearing your Leatherneck tartan tomorrow, February 23. It is the anniversary of the raising of the US Flag on Iwo Jima.

Well done, Marines!!

**cavscout** · 22nd February 07, 07:16 AM

Thank you Dave.

Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue.

I just finished reading "Flags of Our Fathers". An interesting read that gets down to the personal level of the very famous photograph and how perspectives can be very different on the same subject. Many very touching stories about the men who served in a very brutal campaign.

**davedove** · 22nd February 07, 07:19 AM

I've got that book at home in my pile of "to be read" books. I'm reading "Black Hawk Down" right now.

**Kid Cossack** · 22nd February 07, 07:31 AM

Go Ira Hayes! Semper fidelis, Teufulhunden.

**Frog** · 22nd February 07, 06:59 PM

Off-topic, but what did the Japanese call 'em? Teufelhunden (German for "devil-dogs") doesn't quite fit.

Frog

**thescot** · 22nd February 07, 08:08 PM

The Marines at Iwo were much greater men than me. On the otherhand, I am proud to wear the title of United States Marine.

Semper Fidelis is not simply a phrase we all know. It's like the Marine in Viet Nam who was interviewed by a reporter after crawling through terrible fire to retrieve the body of a fellow Marine. When aske why he would do it, his answer was, "because he's a Marine."

"But why through all that for a dead man?"

"He's a Marine. I'll take care of him."

Always means always. God, Corps, and country. In that order.

P.S. Any reason is good enough. Don the kilts.

**kilted in seattle** · 22nd February 07, 08:32 PM

Not a marine.
Five years active in the Navy and 10 years in the Army National Guard. Worst place I've been was New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina.

But I have some love for the marines, particularly since my instructors and best buddies at the US Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, OK were Marines. I do believe that God relies on LTG Chesty Puller and GEN Patton for advice on how the world should be run.

I'll repeat what has been said above. Well done Marines.

1LT Sean Herring
ORARNG/USAR

**thescot** · 22nd February 07, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by kilted in seattle

Not a marine.
. . .I do believe that God relies on LTG Chesty Puller and GEN Patton for advice on how the world should be run. . . .

Heard the old joke about the sailor, the airman, and the soldier who killed each other in a bar fight arguing over whose branch was the best?

When they got to Heaven, they still wanted to know who was right, so St. Peter said he'd have to check in with HQ and get back to them.

One day, a dove dropped a little scrool of parchment to them, and they opened it up.

"My dear sons, you should all be proud of your service to your country as I am proud of you. The question of better is not one of importance now, so just rest for eternity knowing that all of you did your part.

Signed,

God, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC (retired)

**Riverkilt** · 22nd February 07, 10:09 PM

Ira Hayes was so exhausted after 30 some days on Iwo he couldn't climb the cargo net on the transport ship when he was evacuated. He gave all but his life...and this from a man who could open those old beer bottle caps with his teeth.

My Leatherneck tartan hand sewn traditional is still in line at Kathy Lare's. There'll be plenty of other opportunities

Semper Fi

Ron

**Kid Cossack** · 23rd February 07, 05:54 AM

Ron, for me Ira Hayes has always been a cautionary reminder of the cost of war. My general familiarity with his story says this: he stood up when the call went out, he performed his duties "in the highest traditions of the Naval Service" and then we forgot about him. Just a Pima Indian, after all . . . To mangle a Descartes phrase, if we stand so high, it is because we stand on the shoulders of giants.

For our brothers!