Semper Fidelis is a motto that is more than words to those of us who have had to "put up or shut up". I am 59 years old. I served in the Corps '67/'70. I did my time with Mike 3/26 in the bush during operations Bold Mariner, Oklahoma Hills and small pieces of several others. I became intimate with the 3 Sisters, Charlie Ridge, Elephant Valley, The Batagan and more nameless rice paddies than I care to remember.
But more importantly, I also returned from a 24 month cruise as a Civilian contractor (IPLO) in Iraq. Even though I spent the vast majority of my time with the Army MPs, I did get several opportunities to work with the Corps. Yes, I walked patrol in the streets and even one Date palm grove that put me right back on top of Charlie Ridge 36 years ago. I got a chance to wo[IMG:top]E:\storage files\Scott\Photos\Personal\Viet Nam/rcbanaedtd.jpeg[/IMG]rk with todays Corps and compare them to my old Bonnie Rat Brothers.
I am able to report that these men, and now women, are every bit as much Marines as ever wore the uniform. They have the training, the guts, the attitude, the motivation and the dedication that you will ony find in a United States Marine. To my B.R. Bro's, rest well, they carry on the tradition that was passed to us and we passed on to them.