Cpl M Reporting as Ordered

Information May 08 2006

— By Marcus

Hello! As CJ posted, I have taken his open invitation to post here at ASP from time to time. I’m greatly looking forward to sharing my somewhat unique view of the Corps and the military in general.

I have one main rule about my posts that should be rather simple to follow. Wait, rule sounds too restraining. We’ll call it a guideline to keep in mind. Feedback is a must! This isn’t just a place for me to run my mouth; it’s your job to respond! We’ll start off with something easy; how I became a Marine.

I was a senior in high school and looking forward to completing the school year and moving on to college. I had a great plan all worked out that involved a full time schedule and being a normal college kid. I had no clue that the entire world as I knew it would change one September morning.

I was outside on the practice marching field with the rest of the band going over our show for the season. Everyone knew not to disturb the band when we were outside working, so we had no clue what was happening in New York. As the class came to an end, we went inside to grab our books and head off to the next class.

I noticed that the halls were very quiet compared to other days. I didn’t think much of it since it was still early in the morning. The television in my next class was tuned to ABC and all I saw was a building with smoke billowing out. I asked my teacher what was going on, and I will never forget what he said next. “Something has happened and two planes have hit the World Trade Center.” I could tell by the concern in this voice that he didn’t think it was any kind of accident.

Needless to say, we didn’t get anything done during the rest of the day. I watched in terror as both towers collapsed killing thousands of Americans. Over the next few months I saw the pain of America turn into determination. I saw us wipe the blood from our nose and strike back, and that’s when I met the US Marines.

The recruiters slowly started coming to school in the months following September 11th asking who wanted to do something about the attack on our country. I had never considered the military and blew them off several times. One Sergeant took the challenge of convincing me of joining the Corps. Over several weeks my pride in our country swelled to the size of the World Trade Centers themselves. I was to become a United States Marine.

My folks weren’t too thrilled in the beginning. My dad was completely against the idea until he spent several hours on a Saturday morning talking to my recruiter. Now he says he couldn’t be any more proud.

(26) Readers Comments

Carole
05/08/2006 at 5:29 pm

First, I’d like to say, Thanks for your service. Then I’d like to say, Great post! Sept. 11 affected all of us in one way or another. I’m sorry that your plans to be a “normal college kid” didn’t work out but you joined the corps and became a MAN instead. I’m so proud of all our military members — it’s hard to express. I’ll just say again, Thanks for your service to our country.

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Cpl M
05/08/2006 at 5:54 pm

Thank you, Carole. I’m quite pleased with my choice not to go to college right after high school. I had a scholarship then, but I can make the government pay for it now!

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CJ
05/08/2006 at 5:58 pm

Keep that motivation alive. The longer you let it slide, the harder it gets to get back into school. I’ve been in 11 years now and I have my first appointment with a college counselor tomorrow to begin work on my law degree. And thanks for accepting the invitation. It’s good to have ya.

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Lauren
05/08/2006 at 6:02 pm

I am a New Yorker and I lost many friends on 9/11 in the towers. My first job out of high school was in the World Trade Center.

I would also like to say Thank you for your service to this country and I look forward to reading your posts.

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Anthony
05/08/2006 at 6:07 pm

Cpl M,

Thanks for serving our Country. I am always amazed at the committment of the young people of the military to do whatever needs to be done. After 9-11, there was a lot of people saying that they felt helpless; I didn’t fell helpless, I felt useless. I was past the age of joining up, had back problems that would have prevented that anyway, and felt like there was nothing I could do to help us get back at those who attacked us. I had to resign myself to doing what I could in terms of support for those in the military. I am deeply grateful that there are enough young people like yourself willing to step forward.

I’ll be looking forward to your future posts. Thanks again.

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Anthony
05/08/2006 at 6:43 pm

Cpl M,

I look forward to reading your thoughts/rants/posts. Keep up the good work.

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Old Ranter
05/08/2006 at 7:12 pm

Welcome aboard Cpl M, you are in good company with CJ. Looking forward to hearing things.

From an old red mud pounder.
Ranter

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Cpl M
05/08/2006 at 7:19 pm

CJ, good luck with that appointment. I’m starting classes up in January (hopefully). It all depends on where I get stationed after the formal MOS school that I’ll attend in September. I just reenlisted and got the CRS MOS.

Lauren, I’m am sorry for the loss of your friends. It is for people like you that I am proud to fight for. Even if it is from behind a desk.

Anthony 1, you are by no means useless. There is so much you can do to fight the War on Terror in your own way besides supporting the troops. One great way is to make those around you aware of the real situation in Iraq; not the one the MSM reports.

Anthony 2, thank you, sir. I added you to my blogroll earlier today, too, so I’m looking forward to more of your stuff.

To everyone, why must I feel the need to reply back to comments? Its the OCD coming out in me!

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Cpl M
05/08/2006 at 7:20 pm

And Old Ranter got one in while I was typing my replies! Thank you, Ranter. I’m looking forward to it as well.

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Faith
05/08/2006 at 11:26 pm

I am very much looking forward to seeing what you have to say, and reading about your life, I am a strong supporter of the Soliders, and have found that I love to create graphics involving soldiers; I have found that I am extra creative after I read a very moving blog. I can’t wait to see what comes from reading your stuff.

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Platoon Mom Terri
05/09/2006 at 4:33 am

Cpl M I must join everyone else in here and thank you for your service and dedication to our country. Each day I am amazed at the pride and dedication young people such as yourself take in our country, despite constant media criticism. People like you are why I continue to do my part in supporting the troops. Welcome aboard!

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TheJewelryLady
05/09/2006 at 6:29 am

Thank you for your service to our country and for sharing your story. America is the great nation she is today because of the service and sacrifices endured by her military personnel.

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SK
05/09/2006 at 6:45 am

Cpl M, I’m just one more (on a list of many) that owes you a huge Thanks for your service! Terrific post, I look forward to hearing more from you.

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Karen
05/09/2006 at 7:56 am

Cpl M, I am going to add my thanks as well. That day in September changed all of our lives. It led me to a group of troop supporters and I have gotten to know alot of our brave men in uniform that I wouldn’t have if not for that fateful day. I,like Anthony,was too old to sign-up so I did the next best thing.As far as spreading the truth about what our toops are doing,I think you’ll find that is something that ASP readers love to do. Welcome to ASP!

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Laurie
05/09/2006 at 8:19 am

“I had a great plan all worked out that involved a full time schedule and being a normal college kid.”

I’m glad that you came to see that serving your country could be “normal”, and I wish more people would see that. Now when you go to college, you’ll be more normal than most of the people there.

Look forward to reading more from you.

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Cpl M
05/09/2006 at 8:35 am

Wow, I can see I’m going to have a hard time keeping up with comments.

Thank all of you for your support! I have to say I’m completely amazed so far.

Laurie, you’ve just given me an idea for the next topic I’ll post about.

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Jenn
05/09/2006 at 10:06 am

Welcome Cpl M!!! I look forward to your future posts and any/all glimpse into the world of the Marines you are willing to share. Also, since this is MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all you endure to keep our wonderful country safe. I am beyond the word proud for all of you..I guess Love you all to pieces fits!

P.S. All of this goes for you too CJ!!

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Beth* A.
05/09/2006 at 11:09 am

Welcome, Cpl M! As the others have said so well, Thank You for your service, and for taking up contributing on CJ’s site. I’m looking forward to it.

CJ – a law degree? – WOW!!! You’ll be the only honest lawyer in the country!!!(okay, there might be two others)

Congrats on going back to school.
Lots of changes going on this year……

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Donna
05/09/2006 at 12:27 pm

Cpl M,
Welcome, as others have said. We are all so happy that you have deceided to post on CJ’s site.

As everyone just about has said, I want to thank you too for your service. I’m so glad that you deceided to serve our country. You guys are my heroes no matter what your job is, you are contributing to the well being of all American citizens and for that I thank you!

God Bless You as you serve and I look forward to your next post!!

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Karin
05/09/2006 at 2:18 pm

Cpl M,
Glad to see your post on ASP. You guys are the true heroes and thanks can never be said enough. What all who serve do on a daily basis is truly a heroic act of selfless courage!!!I look forward to hearing your thoughts again.
God bless!

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CJ
05/09/2006 at 2:34 pm

Beth, I will NOT be a lawyer. I just want the degree so I can help myself and others that need it. I’m still gunning for the Taco Bell drive thru position. I’ll have a legal degree, but because I’d be the only honest lawyer, I won’t go that route.

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Gigi
05/09/2006 at 3:16 pm

Hello Cpl M.
Welcome to ASP. I can never thank you enough for all you do for us. It is an honor to have you here.I am forever greatful to you. Look forward to seeing your posts. We still love you to Cj….

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CJ
05/09/2006 at 6:08 pm

This is no longer about me. I’m just the facilitator for these other great soldiers and marines to speak their minds.

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deb
05/09/2006 at 7:14 pm

Cpl M…

Thank you for sharing your story. Reading and thinking about that day in September still brings tears to my eyes.

Thank you for your service to this great country!!

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Sharon
05/10/2006 at 11:55 am

Cpl M – First of all, let me add my thnaks to you for your service. I live just outside NYC and will never forget what happened that day- and in the two years afterwards when thre was a funeral somewhere around me almost every single day. I found out several months later that someon I knew had died in the towers and I, personally, know a number of friefighters and police officers directly affected by the attacks, one of whom barely made it out of the second twoer as it was coming down. We need young people like you to help protect us. In the 4+ years since the attacks there has been NO other attack on US soil, while there have been several abroad ( Spain, London…) I think people do not make the connection and they should. Please don’t feel that you have to reply to this, just keep posting and thanks, as well, to your family – for “loaning” you to all of us.

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Jess-MI
05/11/2006 at 9:36 am

Welcome Cpl M. and thank you for serving our country and thanks to CJ for extending this site to other soldiers. I’ll be visiting more often

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