My son is now in the U.S. Coast Guard. Very proud of him.
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Neesy
#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
How old is your son? I hope he does not get sea sick!
Good for him - I hope he learns a lot and enjoys his time - it will teach him discipline.
Marcus is eighteen. He graduates from High School May 23. His older sister is a junior at Linfield College (private liberal arts college in McMinnville, Oregon. Same place where the air museum is that has Howard Hughes Spruce Goose). She is a driven overachiever who loves the academic life. Earning a B in a class can drive her into despondency. Marcus is intelligent and very capable, but he does not have her love for academics. He does well in those things that interest him. In that respect he has a lot of me in him. I was a similar type of student. So for him I believe this is a good choice. He doesn't feel ready for college and he wants to earn his own keep and see some of the world.How old is your son? I hope he does not get sea sick!
Good for him - I hope he learns a lot and enjoys his time - it will teach him discipline.
As far as sea sickness. Well he's going to find out the hard way if he is prone to it. However I do know that he has a real love for roller coasters and all the other stomach dropping amusement park rides. No idea if that will make a difference.
One by land...to protect.
One by sea....to protect.
What a family you are! Congrats to your boy.
Thank you. that's very nice of you to say that. I guess it's a quiet tradition in our family. My maternal grandpa flew both B-17's and B-29 bombers during WWII. Many great uncles and uncles served in the Navy and Army. My father served with the Air Force in Vietnam and then returned to the states and became a cop. He put in twenty-four years as a police officer (1970-1994). I'm fifth generation law enforcement and also a veteran. The funny thing is we aren't loud about it. It isn't expected in our family for one to serve. We never expected either of our kids to join the service. It's just part of the family history. It was Marcus who came to the decision to join. Maybe that's the best way.
Congratulations! I always told my sister who has a son, if a draft happens, have him enlist in the Coast Guard. At least they stay in American waters. Right? They stay in American waters and the Navy does all the rest, right? May he be safe and love his job!
Congratulations to you and your family.
The Coast Guard is responsible for the physical security of all U.S. controlled ports across the world. Therefore you will find U.S. Coast Guard personnel anywhere that a port is controlled by the United States. The USCG was in Iraq for example. But the bulk of the Coast Guard is located in the fifty states, Puerto Rico and Guam. I believe there are also Coast Guard personnel on Saipan and Tinian. Those islands have been U.S. territories since we took them from the Japanese in 1944 (at great loss of life to both sides), but if there are I bet those coast guard members fall under the Guam command. During wartime the Coast Guard goes to the Navy which has happened twice. During WWI and WWII.
Very cool,often thought that if I didn't choose the career I did,that the Coasties would have been a great second choice..to actively go out and protect the lives of those on sea and shore at risk of their own lives,can't be a much higher calling..
I was in the Marines, the baddest and proudest of it (and rightfully so) of the Armed Forces.
I listened to my colleagues' arrogant riffs on other branches, to which I say....
Bovine feces.
You sign up to serve, and you serve. Some duty is easier, some is harder. Some is more hazardous, some is less so. One duty assignment in the Marines may well be a whole lot safer than a given assignment in the Coast Guard.
I thank your son for his service. As shoudl we all.
...exactly....every Branch has it's specialties-but one is not better than the other...still, they like their bragging rights don't they?....
Neesy
#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
Oh yeah - you mean like the Air Force, right?
hehehe - almost true, in some regards, actually!
We were told in boot camp that the purpose of the Marines was to fight the enemy. The purpose of the Navy was to ship us there. The purpose of the Air Force was to fly us there. The purpose of the Army was to make the Marines look good.
Don't hate me. I'm just the messenger.
....I can't repeat what my Army Vet son says about the Jarheads.....
I read a book on the invasion of Fallujah,by an army sergeant..and he was a pretty good writer,and one thing he mentioned was his unit being in trouble,and getting bailed out by the marines,he said the marines fire superiority,that is rounds on target and overwhelming,was awesome..
....I can't repeat what my Army Vet son says about the Jarheads.....
I assure you, I have probably heard it.
I was talking to a former Army guy from Vietnam. He derided the Marines of course - and then he said that if he's in a village, pinned down, NVA advancing, he doesn't want to see soldiers, Rangers, or Special Forces - he wants the Marines to show up. True story. The conversation, I mean.
