[lit-ideas] Re: Punitive Expeditions
- From: "Lawrence Helm" <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 8 May 2006 12:48:57 -0700
Did I understand John's note correctly? I took him to be saying he refused
duty and entered some sort of conscientious objector status. Perhaps I
misunderstood. If so I apologize.
In my own case I tried to enlist in the Marine Corps at age 16, perhaps in
June or July of 1951. But they found my birth certificate and told me to
come back when I was 17; which I did, enlisting on July 3, 1952. I went
through boot camp at MCRD, Combat and Advance Combat training at Camp
Pendleton. After that training they sent me to El Toro which wasn't why I
joined the Marine Corps. I volunteered to go to Korea and was substituted
for someone who didn't wish to go. I was there for the last two battle
seasons. I captured a Korean breaking into our base & was shot at a time or
two - friendly fire, sort of, but I never experienced actual combat.
After I got back from Korea I was a Rifle Instructor at Camp Pendleton. I
was on active duty for a total of three years, entering college at age 20
while on inactive status. I received my honorable discharge in 1960.
There is a sense in which one doesn't forget being a Marine. It is hard to
explain. There is a saying "once a Marine always a Marine." There's
another Marine living down at the end of my street. He was in the Corps
before I was and went through the Frozen Chosen experience. He is a quiet
fellow but he has steady eyes and watches what goes on up and down the
street while he's outside working on his yard. I know what he's thinking.
You don't forget that training. A Marine is supposed to be "always
prepared." We think about potential problems - not looking for trouble but
if it happens wanting to be ready for it. I can't recall his name. He
tends his yard much as Simon must tend his, but I suspect he has different
thoughts while doing it.
Lawrence
Former Sgt, USMC
-----Original Message-----
From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Eric Yost
Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 11:32 AM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Punitive Expeditions
Robert: others on the list have also served in the
military, and at least two, John Wager (who posted
about his reaction to hearing of the Kent State
killings, while in Vietnam, just days ago) and
Bill Ball, have actually been in combat.
You're absolutely right. My apologies to John and
Bill.
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