marines

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Letter from a farm kid (now at San Diego, Marine Corps Recruit Training)

Posted by Cappy on June 26, 2012
Posted in: Funnies. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a Comment

Marine Cartoon

Dear Ma and Pa:

I am well. Hope you are too. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer that the Marine Corps beats working for old man Minch by a mile. Tell them to join up quick before all of the places are filled.

I was restless at first because you have to stay in bed till nearly 6 a.m., but I am getting so I like to sleep late. Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot and shine some things. No hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay… practically nothing. Men got to shave but it’s not so bad… there’s warm water. Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon, etc., but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, ham, steak, fried eggplant, pie, and other regular food, but tell Walt and Elmer you can always sit by the two city boys that live on coffee. Their food plus yours holds you ’til noon when you get fed again. It’s no wonder these city boys can’t walk much.

We go on “route marches,” which the platoon sergeant says are long walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it’s not my place to tell him different. A “route march” is about as far as to our mailbox at home. Then the city guys get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks.

The country is nice but awful flat. The sergeant is like a school teacher. He nags a lot. The captain is like the school board. Majors and colonels just ride around and frown. They don’t bother you none.

This next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting medals for shooting. I don’t know why. The bulls-eye is near as big as a chipmunk head and don’t move, and it ain’t shooting at you like the Higgett boys at home. All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it. You don’t even load your own cartridges. They come in boxes.

Then we have what they call hand-to-hand combat training. You get to wrestle with them city boys. I have to be real careful though, they break real easy. It ain’t like fighting with that ole bull at home. I’m about the best they got in this except for that Tug Jordan from over in Silver Lake. I only beat him once. He joined up the same time as me, but I’m only 5’6″ and 130 pounds and he’s 6’8″ and near 300 pounds dry.

Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join up before other fellers get onto this setup and come stampeding on in.

Your loving daughter,
Alice

Memorial Day

Posted by Cappy on May 26, 2008
Posted in: Miscellaneous. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

I changed my MySpace Profile, www.myspace.com/captcurt31, in honor of Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a day that we are to reflect deeply on what our military forces have given for each one of us.

My father and all of my uncles served in various branches of the service. I listened to my Uncle Don tell stories from his service in Korea. I watched his eyes tear up any time any patriotic song was played. He’s gone now, but he was one of the most patriotic people I knew.

There’s something special about those who have served in the military. They develop a bond that few others experience throughout their lives. I see men (and women), well into their years, some with disabilities brought home from far off lands when they were just young men. They come out to share their experience whenever the oppurtunity arises. They wear their pride in their service as a medal of honor. Well they should, for many of them were not asked to serve, they were told they had to go. They did what had to be done.

I salute the men and women of today’s armed forces. They choose to enlist and make the sacrifices required of them. Many of them joined during times of peace, when the military was a way to get hands-on training and an education. Many, who could have ended their service when their hitch was up, reenlisted and have been back to conflict areas two or three times. Many have gone to fight and made the ultimate sacrifice.

If you are a family member of a serviceman or woman, I salute you as well. You know the risks your husband, wife, brother, sister, son or daughter face. I would guess many a night are spent awake after hearing some story on the news about an incident involving U.S. troops. You endure many long days and nights waiting for them to return home.

To all who serve, those who’s loved ones serve currently or who’s loved ones gave their final breath in service, whether in war or peace…

Thank you for all that you do/have done.