A Great Response - Marine Corps Style

Posted By Blackfive

Arthur Chrenkoff posts about and links to a letter to the editor from a Marine in Iraq.

The Marine, Mark Fencil, is a student at Ohio University where students staged a "die-in" to protest the War on Terror.  It's probably one of the best responses I've ever read...

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» The real "die-in" isn't on a peaceful Ohio campus from Marine Corps Moms
Following a symbolic "die-in" by 20 clueless war protesters last Wednesday on the campus of Ohio University, Marc Fencil, a OU senior and Marine who is currently deployed in Iraq, sent this invitation: It's a shame that I'm here in... [Read More]

Comments

[armynursebaoy]

What do those snot nosed kids know about death and dying....?

[warriorjason]

Well they saw death on TV and on their PlayStation 2.

[badbob]

This one bothers me..I can't believe the pendulum between free speech/debate and outright traitorous behavior/actions has swung to where those "fools/dupes" (traitors?) can compel a young warrior to write something this cynically appropriate.

Can you imagine the same letter being written in WWII?
B2

[Annette]

Mark Fencil said what I always wanted to be said here in Washington State regarding the anti-soldier demonstrations held at a couple of our colleges (They may claim that the intent is not to disrespect the soldier but the outcome is the same). These snotty little college and high students who are apparently encouraged by some teachers and professors through very slanted view of the situation, should all be exposed to a dose of reality. Marc's approach may be cynical but I am dumbfounded when I try to think of any other way for them to understand reality. You can disagree with the war but don't spit on those who have been called to serve (Especially when they serve with such honor and at a sacrifice to self).

[TNT]

That was awesome!

[badbobusnret]

Annette,

Those anti-soldier demonstrators ain't just snotty or misguided; they're traitorous in my jaded eyes. I fully support all our servicemen and women every day as the most important part of my job.

As far as I'm concerned, a good dose of "reality" would come with a swift kick in the arse (no-not a "jackboot"). I'm sure that isn't the civilized way to "educate" fools but it sure would feel good. A lot about the old days when we settled disputes with fistfights wasn't good, but it sure led to less bullying and a more respectful populace.

I am a staunch defender of the All-Volunteer Force. But having seen both draft era and AVF military in my career, I can say that maybe a draft for all 18-22 year olds to "attend" boot camp would be just the thing to remedy this atrocious/traitorous "behavior".....the professor's are a different problem. I wish I had an idea for them.

B2

[Annette]

I agree with your concept completely. The only problem that I have had with the concept of the draft is the idea that these snots might be the ones watching the backs of my nephews and the other fine soldiers who volunteer to serve. Like I said in a previous post, it felt good that my nephew has been with the "best damm unit" in the military.

[Full Auto]

I'm surprised he was that restrained. A true professional. Great post.

[David]

Thank you for pointing out this post. I followed it through to the actual letter, and the letter is very good.

Sometimes, with these students and professors, I think it would take a bit more than a good stout kick to wake them up. It might take a 2x4 between the ears to get their attention.

The media (and others) sure have brained washed a certain, small but very vocal part of the population. It is a shame that these individuals will probably never wake up to the real world, but will continue to pollute it with fantasy mixed with a good percentage of drugs.

[hindmost]

Well, I attempted to send the young man an email of thanks, both for his letter and his service, and received an "invalid email address" bounce from the address at the bottom of the full letter he sent.

Oh well... I hope he will someday know what his letter meant to so many... I would imagine he already knows what his service means.

[badbob]

Let me add one more thing- when I recommended a draft I didn't mean a return to the 40's, 50's and 60's era draft. What I meant was I would like to see is a draft of all 18-22 year olds to just go to bootcamp....sort of a pre-qual and citizenship building exercise. Only qualified volunteers would be afforded the "privilige" to serve.

The AVF is the ONLY way to go. Anyways every trigger puller from SF to para to aviator is a double and in some cases triple volunteer.

I volunteered during an unpopular period and I can tell you going through AOCS pre-Richard Gere and then flight school was no cake-walk. When I look back on it I can't believe I stayed 22 years and spent 9 of those years on carriers near the hotspots (I admit- Cubi and Palma, too) of the world, but I would have done it on 1/2 pay.

The whole theme of my first post was that it's a GD shame young Fencil even had to write such a letter. The kids serving today are my heroes and I wince every time I see that kind of anti-soldier demonstration, too. It's a good thing I don't see it in person.........

B2

[Ivan]

If I judge your age right, those Waterloo twins should be totally eligible right about now!! Status?!? Get on it B5!

[Theresa]

I agree totally with hindmost, and have been saying it for years,,,a sort of pre-qual to official citinzenship, and a privilage to serve.
Check out the Websters version of the meaning of citizen....
1 : an inhabitant of a city or town; especially : one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman
2 a : a member of a state b : a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it
3 : a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state

[Art Hanson]

Sorry to be OT, but this is an important story that the MSM totally missed. I got this email today and wanted to share it.

The Forgotten Hero. His name appears on no victims list, and no-one knows who he is. But his story has been told by modest Veteran 'realwest' at the wonderful web-site Little Green Footballs. Now, it needs to be known to the World. The story of a Hero of Iwo Jima who died a Hero again over fifty years later. Here, his son describes what happened on 9/11... Please send this to all your friends...

#87 realwest 3/11/2005 09:48AM PST
My Dad, who was 79 at the time, just happened to be there when the rescue workers were running into the ruins, so he started to go in to help what everyone believed were still living people. A Port Authority P.O. tried to keep him out saying he was too old and would only get in the way.
Then the Port Authority cop turned back to business and my Dad rushed in. They never found him. Or his body. One of my Dad's friends was with him and told us the story. It's why I can't look at the 9/11 photos anymore.

[Big Sarge]

Dear Hindmost,
I too tried to email Marc Fencil (if I knew his USMC rank, I would certainly use it out of respect) and got the bounce-back w/invalid address, so I sent a short msg to their paper's editor asking for a valid address, and he answered quickly with this:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fencil's e-mail should be marc.g.fencil.1@ohiou.edu. For reasons I won't bore you with, some of the e-mails we've been printing used to work in the past, but now for some reason don't. It's a problem we hope to rectify shortly.

Thanks,
-Kyle Kondik
Associate Editor
The Post
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've resent my message to the address from the editor. No bounce-back this time.

Regards

[hindmost]

BigSarge, Thank You! I've re-sent my note as well.

Theresa, I think you might have gotten my note mixed up with badbob's... Understandable, I just didn't want to even peripherally get credit for a great idea.

[Otis Wildflower]

"...the professor's are a different problem. I wish I had an idea for them."

Blindfolds and cigarettes seem most appropriate for traitors..

Or maybe just a good old-fashioned ass beating.

[Disappointed Bobcat]

As a student at Ohio University, I can't say that I'm surprised students at my school would arrange and participate in such an event. I am, though, disappointed in their actions.

The liberal attitudes surrounding that campus make me glad that I'm 800 miles away. If I were there, I probably would have snapped at their snubbing of our troops.

That said, a sincere thank you to anybody who is serving, or has served, our fine nation. I can never thank you enough.