Originally Posted by LAJ (Post 15794321)

Obviously, I am far from a genius, but it is what it is. I am not part of the Marine Brotherhood, but any person that has been in that branch, deserves my respect. All who served deserve that respect, but the Marines have a particularly strong bond, and you're right, I won't get it.

Grandfather was a WWI sailor on a diesel powered sub, height restrictions and all. Other was Royal Army WWI and WWII. Uncle was on the Bunker Hill, and was in the water for a few days, 7 of those hours without a life vest. This was after taking on a couple kamikaze hits. Dad was on the Philippine Sea carrier during the Korean war. I was ready to be a SeaBee, but Dad saw the path I took through high school, and told me to hold course, and do what I trained for. Course, this was right at the Vietnam Wars end, and enlistment wasn't high on a lot of folks list.

Imagine my surprise when I saw this.

http://imageshack.us/a/img585/8858/a1e3.jpg


http://imageshack.us/a/img838/9770/j3iq.jpg

Originally Posted by rjones28 (Post 15794496)

Wait. @LAJ was a Seabee?

Originally Posted by Bah Humbug (Post 15794587)

Oh the itching now. :cry::twitchy:

Originally Posted by Bah Humbug (Post 15794587)

Oh the itching now. :cry::twitchy:

Originally Posted by WHOOOSSHHH... (Post 15794584)

Nice story and great statue pictures, with words of motivation that and that never dying spirit, that makes this country what it is....not a perfect place, but a place of freedom where everyone is free to make their own choices....

Originally Posted by Bah Humbug (Post 15794587)

Oh the itching now. :cry::twitchy:

Originally Posted by Rowan (Post 15794620)

Have the bites developed into decent sized lumps?

(I sympathise. The experience we had in Japan with the bites at the campground by the lake is not one we will forget easily...)

Originally Posted by LAJ (Post 15794666)

Not at all perfect, but I can't imagine a better place to be.

Originally Posted by LAJ (Post 15794668)

To quote my favorite sociopath: #htfu

Originally Posted by RUOkie (Post 15794357)

Wow, I was ready to come here and post some silly ****.

Originally Posted by Bah Humbug (Post 15794697)

They already went into large pimples, which I managed to ignore for most of the week until I woke up in a fit of itching this morning and popped most of them in a haze. I was then ok until about 5:30 getting home from work, when no combination of near-scalding water, ice packs, cortisone, and Advil would do more than provide very temporary relief.

I want to go back to that field...

Originally Posted by WHOOOSSHHH... (Post 15794589)

Dropped on your head at birth? Focus on the material presented.

Originally Posted by rjones28 (Post 15794800)

I landed on my feet. ;)

Originally Posted by rjones28 (Post 15794800)

I landed on my feet. ;)

Originally Posted by Bah Humbug (Post 15794875)

Wow that's big.

Originally Posted by Bah Humbug (Post 15794875)

Wow that's big.