Something that's been on my absolute nerves...

[geckohaven]

hey NY, its great that you are willing to fight for our country and i'm sure that everyone is very proud of you but at the same time very worried for your safety! i would never have the nerve to put down or at any note tell a soldier that hes gonna die and i cant beleive that any American would stoop that low. i would go on about that but i already got a warning for something far less than what i want to say about that. i too joined the armed forces but i found out my father had cancer 2 weeks before leaving and didnt get on the plane. i still wonder what it would have been like. i will be very glad when we get out of iraq and get all of our troops home but surly if they come home before the retard bush get out of office we will invade some other country and find nothing again but keep our troops there for years for no reason. well i kinda got off topic a bit there but good luck and have fun with your experience!

 

[The NY Gecko]

Thank you John.



Jesse, I've already gotten to meet a few guys who are joining. I love it, the Delayed Entry Program allows me to meet fellow Poolie's in my area and they're good guys. None of them are there for education or handouts.

 

[Perefalcon]

Tom, you will go in a smart mouth kid...yes you still are one...don't deny it you know you are

But what you will come out as is wiser, and you will bear the heavy burden of seeing what war can do to people, and the things that you will see will change your outlook on life, make you want to be the better person and add to the society of our country.

Be safe, be smart, and don't let us see you in that list of the fallen...it may be the greatest honor to die for your country...but it is far better to fight for it over and over again to keep it the way it should be.

 

[malt_geckos]

TOM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

I honestly appriciate everything you and your brothers and sisters in uniform do for this country, even though some don't seem to appriciate it.

I work with a former marine (I learned quickly not to say ex lol), and he says it was one of the greatest things he has ever done. Stay with it, and you will learn many things, and go very far.

Matt

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Tom, you will go in a smart mouth kid...yes you still are one...don't deny it you know you are

But what you will come out as is wiser, and you will bear the heavy burden of seeing what war can do to people, and the things that you will see will change your outlook on life, make you want to be the better person and add to the society of our country.

Tom, I agree with this. My dad spent 20 years as a United States Marine, and a tough one, too! Being in the Military is not all about shooting people. It is dedicating your life to something you believe in. It is about commitment, honor, and integrity.

I am proud to be an American, and prouder still of our troops in the Armed Forces. I am proud of you for making this commitment, and feel confident that in the process you will become the person you never even knew you could be!

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

You have made a big choice, and certainly a brave one. I hope you have a safe return!

My cousin Matthew is in Iraq now (he just got there) and he serves in the Marines as well. The majority of people in my family have served in the Marines and say it is a life changing experience. None of them take their rights for granted anymore. Another of my cousins Abby said that before she never had even learned to value life before she went to Afghanistan a few years back.

Don't let anyone tell you that your choice was wrong or that you will die. My uncle Jim experience the same treatment when he was leaving for Vietnam. He came back and unlike some men he is perfectly fine mentally and physically. He told me that you never die unless you give up, and that you only change if you let the war change you. But it is, none the less, an eye opener beyond your imagination.

You may not be dying, but you are making a sacrifice. For that you have no idea how much I respect you. For those who cannot serve you are a representation of the people and their rights, and you must always remember that.

Have a safe time.

 

[RaiQuee]

Altho I do not support why we are still acrossed seas, I really have no ground to stand because I haven't been following it too closely.

Do you ever think that the people that say "you'll get shot or will die" maybe are the people that don't know what to say? Maybe they AREN'T supporting the war, and the thought of more soilders going over seas isn't something they support? They don't want to say good job! Not because they don't want you to straighten our your life and get a good education and be there for our country. Probably because they don't see the point anymore, and the more people we send over the higher chance of that death rate to go up.

Tom, to be blunt honest with you, if small sayings from people are putting you back a few steps, I don't think your ready for the Marines. You need to be much much mucccch tougher than that to deal with your friends and co-workers getting injured, possibly killed. If you let hate lead you through your time in the marines, when you are finally out of the marines, you won't be able to live a normal life in the U.S.

I'm not putting you down, I'm glad your joining the marines. You've found a place to properly start to put disapline on your life. However you really need to go in for our country and the people you are protecting. As Marica said, this is a -life- dedication. You really need to realize who and what your protecting before you go over.

Your young, but the marines will make you grow up really fast. Are you ready for that? If you are, welcome on soldier.