Semper Fi -- Bravo Zulu

Cassy has posted an article regarding Marines receiving the Navy Cross. I do appreciate her support of the Marines; yes, I know, her guy is a Marine.

As I read her post, I was reminded of the eleven general orders every Marine ingests, and makes an integral part of their being. For those who are not aware, I have them below.

1. To take charge of this post and all government property in view.

2. To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert, and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.

3. To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.

4. To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse than my own.

5. To quit my post only when properly relieved.

6. To recieve, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Oficer, Officer Of the Day, and officers, and noncomissioned officers of the guard only.

7. To talk to no one except in the line of duty.

8. To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.

9. To call the corporal of the guard in any case not covered by instructions.

10. To salute all officers, and all colors and standards not cased.

11. To be especially watchful at night and, during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.

After being in the Corps for a while, and having walked guard duty, other than recruit fire watch, I, for one, came to embrace the unwritten second general order:

To walk my post from flank to flank and take no shit from any rank.

There really is no ranking over the Marine sentry, that is, until you have been allowed to demonstrate you have authority to be there.

As an aside, when on the carrier, I had the responsibility of the repair locker forward third deck. After setting dog zebra, the rule was no one could enter or exit through the water tight doors without permission from damage control central.

Well, third deck is crew living quarters, and inevitably there would be watch standers from CIC breaking dog zebra to go to their racks after their watch.

Hello!?!

Last time I checked, we were at general quarters, we got people laying in the rack? OK, yes, my Marine training is kicking in. Can you believe my fellow chief's took umbrage at my not allowing troops to break dog zebra, nor go to their racks?

Sheese!!

Bravo Zulu to Yale and Haerter, two Marines who demonstrated what it means to be a Marine, on guard duty, and chose not to endanger their fellow Marines.

They are now standing guard duty within the gates of heaven...you didn't know God was a fan of the Marine Corps?

Shame on you.

When I reach the gates of heaven, to St. Peter I will tell,
another Marine reporting, Sir, I've served my time in hell.

Semper Fi!