VP-21/ VPB-111 Veterans Association Message Board and Discussion Forum

none

VP-21/ VPB-111 Veterans Association Message Board and Discussion Forum
Start a New Topic 
Author
Comment
Where do we get such men?

Where do we get such men?
>
> **********************************
>
> "They are so **** young"
>
> I was going to the gym tonight (really just a huge tent with
> weights and treadmills), and we had heard that one of the MEUs
> (Marine Exp Units) that had come out of service in the "triangle"
> was redeploying (leaving country). We saw their convoy roll in
> to the Kuwait Naval Base as the desert sun was setting.
>
> I have never seen anything like this. Trucks and humvees that
> looked like they had just come through a shredder. Their equipment
> was full of shrapnel blast holes, and missing entire major pieces that
> you could tell had been blasted by IEDs. These kids looked bad too!
> I mean, sunken eyes, thin as rails, and that 1000-yd. stare they talk
> about after direct combat. Made me pretty **** embarrassed to be
> a "rear area warrior".
>
> All people could do was stop in their tracks and stare... and feel like
> me...like I wanted to bow my head in reverence. A Marine Captain
> stationed with me, was standing next to me, also headed to the gym.
> He said, "Part of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 8th Marines, sir. Took
> the heaviest losses of any single unit up north as part of Task Force
> Danger, sir."
>
> As the convoy rolled up, all of us watching just slowly crept toward
> these kids as they dismounted the Hummers and 5-tons. Of course,
> we were all shiny and clean compared to these warriors. This kids
> looked like they had just crawled from Iraq. I had my security badge
> and id around my neck, and started to help them unload some of
> their duffle bags.
>
> A crusty Gunny came up to me and said "sir, you don't have to do
> that..." I said, "Gunny... yes I do..." They all looked like they were
> in high school, or younger!! All held themselves sharply and confident,
> despite the extreme fatigue you could tell they had endured. "You guys
> out of the triangle?" I asked. "Yes, sir. 14 months, and twice into
> the grinder, sir" (both fights for Fallujah).
>
> All I could do was throw my arm around their shoulders and say
> "thanks Marine, for taking the fight to the bad guys...we love you man."
>
> I looked at these young kids, not one of them complaining or showing
> signs of anything but focus, and good humor. 'Sir, they got ice cream
> at the DFAC, sir?" "I haven't had real ice cream since we got here..."
> They continued to unload... and after I had done my handshakes and
> shoulder hugs, the Captain and I looked at each other ...
>
> They want ice cream, we'll get them ice cream. You see, a squid O-5
> and a focused Marine O-3 can get just about anything, even if the mess
> is closed. Needless to say, we raided the closed DFAC (mess tent), much
> to the chagrin of one very ****** off Mess Sergeant and grabbed boxes
> of ice cream sandwiches (as many as we could carry), and hustled back
> to the convoy. I felt like Santa Claus. "Thank you, sir.." again and
> again from each trooper, as we tossed up the bars to the guys in the
> trucks. I'm thinkin', "Son, what the hell are you thanking me for?
> I can't thank you enough."
>
> And they are so ****ed young ... I will sleep well, knowing they are
> watching my back tonight."