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Dueling Knife-Hands

21 Jan

I rocked this past Christmas! Yup, got the perfect gifts for my Marines, Terminal Lance Compilation  1-100 a comic for Marines, written by a United States Marine.  It just so happened my Lance Corporal son opened his Knifehand comic before his brother, the Corporal. What ensued was quite the scene.

Marine with Terminal Lance Knifehands

“You can’t see this”

As David opened his present a smirk came across his face. He immediately covered the “Terminal Lance”   and proceeded to and tease and taunt his older Marine brother. “You won’t guess what I got, and you can’t have it! It’s awesome!” (said with great possessiveness and gloating)

United States Marine opens Christmas gift

“This is Awesome”

“You don’t get one. You’re no longer a Lance, so you’re no longer part of the underground” The taunting continues, remember these are men (did I just say that of my sons??) and they are quibbling like six year olds.

US Marine brothers at ChristmasAfter about 30 minutes the Marine Corporal got to his copy of Knife-Hands under the tree.  You can pretty much get the gist of the conversation just by the expression on his face. “I do so rank! I have my own copy of Terminal Lance, so there! HA!”

Marines square off with Knife-Hands

Marines square off with Knife-Hands

Terminal Lance is a mature comic written by Lance Corporal Maximilian Uriarte, USMC to poke fun at the various absurdities in the Marine Corps. Both my sons love this comic and my youngest had me send his the weekly editions during boot camp.

Each comic is accompanied by an essay that explains the back story. If you’re a Marine Mom I caution, before you head to the Terminal Lance site, you may not want to read the essays. They may render you blind. But it’s Marine, adult male humor, and not meant for Mom’s. I made this mistake last summer as I read one particular essay and immediately had a visual image of my youngest son I did NOT want in my brain.

I do read the website, and the Facebook page, because, in a way it’s how I understand my boys. I learn a little of the lingo and a little of the culture and a part of their lives.

Terminal Lance is a cult figure in the United States Marine Corps and everyone (okay, maybe not the commanders) love the strip.  Since his PDS is Pendleton, and Uriarte lives in San Francisco, there is a chance their paths will cross and my son can get his copy signed.

Why Knife-hands? From what I’ve seen and read Knife-hands is used as a visual cussing out or the ultimate intimidation factor. I’ve seen a few, when I visited MCRD San Diego at graduation and I’ve watched many YouTube videos with several drill instructors getting in a boot’s face with several knife-hands.

Here are a few of the Terminal Lance strips which will provide a little bit of insight on Knife Hands.

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Girls Journey From Civilian to Marine: Letter #4

15 Aug

Here is the last letter from Devil Doggery and her journey from civilian to a United States Marine. I really had to laugh at this letter as she sounded just like my youngest son in his last phase at boot camp. EVERYTHING was about food! I’m even going to compare the two letters. Here is an excerpt from her letter. (full one can be read here)

nutter butter

nutter butter (Photo credit: roboppy)

“And, again, I’m going to spend time talking about how I want to stuff my face so badly. You know what sucks though? I was trying to play exactly what I was going to eat as soon as I got home and then I realized… I’m probably flying into San Jose at like, midnight or later. And I could still go get something, but … I want Asian food and that  ain’t open that late. Or some In-N-Out… Mmm… But regardless, I’m sure if it’s that late, all I’ll want to do is pass out. And fortunately, I’ll still be able to get tasty snacks and such before then, because we have Liberty Sunday the day after we get back from the Crucible, meaning we get to wander the base and buy actual food, and a bunch of the other recruits said that their families would be willing to adopt me on Family Day (the day before graduation).

Either that or I figured I could mooch some treats off of them and then run off with some of the other orphans and have a bit of free time. Even though I’m a geek, so I find myself wodnering if there’s a bookstore somewhere on this base… LOL. I NEED TO READ THE SECOND BOOK IN THE CHAOS WALKING TRILOGY. Also, I would like to read Divergent. I think I just miss reading. And TV. Oh man, if I could, I would so just buy a pint of ice cream and a pack of cookies, (Chips Ahoy or Nutter Butters), and find a TV and just veg. That’s how I would spend my Liberty Sunday. Because I’m boring, LOL.

I want me some sushi and like, KBBQ and chocolate milkshakes and a burger and a donut from this awesome donut place in downtown Campbell, and banh mi from Lee’s, and Yogurtland, and EVERYTHING. I’m hungry. This needs to stop.“

Below is an excerpt from my son’s letter from last fall before he graduated from US Marine boot camp.

Liberty formation during a Marine Family Day

Marching in very formally with great ceremony

“Find a cheesecake place and pizza. Girl scout Caramel Delights are also on my snack list. Oh, and I’ll want to be stopping a lot to eat. One of the snack items is Eli’s Mama muffins, also cake, like back home, chocolate with vanilla frosting. Don’t forget Tammy’s Orero balls Swedish fish, beef jerky, snickers, and Twix.  Anything snacky. Bring my MP3 player with my songs on it, I seriously want to sing to the Carnegie Hall music”

It seems the topic of food is the number one discussion item in the barracks as boot camp gets closer to an end. If you don’t remember my son’s journey here is what he did actually eat on Family Day. It would impress the most serious competitive eater. We all stood in awe.

So in the end it doesn’t matter, male or female, they all crave the comforts of home, which starts with food.

This young women has most likely gone through the Crucible and is now a Marine. Graduation probably right around the corner. I’ll be interested in hearing her feelings now that boot camp is over.

Liberty Formation on Family Day

Liberty Formation on Family Day

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U.S. Marine Upstages Huey Lewis

25 Jul

Being a Mother of two U.S. Marines I’ve gotten to where I can spot a United States Marine in a crowd. Maybe it’s their presence, the way they stand as if at parade rest, but I really think it’s because of the distinctive haircut.

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of seeing Huey Lewis and the News in concert. However, for a time this Marine had all my attention. Reminded me of my Marines.

A Marine upstages Huey Lewis and the News

A Marine upstages Huey Lewis and the News

It’s not uncommon for Marines to act as security at public events, my son David has signed up in California for a few gigs. Although I don’t think he’s gotten any gigs like Huey Lewis yet.

I tried to get this security guards attention from a far, but he wouldn’t be distracted from his task and wouldn’t make eye contact. He just kept scanning the crowd. When he walked to the side I took off for the side rail.

After stopping him I asked “Excuse me, are you a Marine?”

“Why yes Mam I am” and he looked at me quizzically.

“I knew it, my two sons are Marines and I could just tell.”

Turns out he was last active in 1997 (? doesn’t look old enough) and after a little bit of chit chat he gave me a firm handshake and told me to tell my boys “Semper Fi”. I walked away with a smile on my face.

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US Marine Corp Graduation

18 Jul

A year ago this month my youngest son left for  Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego and started 13 weeks of the most challenging accomplishments anyone can face. Becoming and earning the right to be come a U.S. Marine.  At the

Across the parade deck hundreds of new Marines march in their platoons as the last maneuver they will complete before leaving MCRD full fledged Marines. The Marine Band plays to open the ceremony, the chaplain leads every one in prayer and then the parade of dress blues begin. This is my second Marine graduation, my oldest is also a Marine,  but  the tears of pride still flow just as fast and my hands shake as I hold the camera.

Marine Corps Graduation, San Diego CA

Marine Corps Graduation, San Diego CA

Marine Corp Champlain leading off the graduation

Marine Corp Chaplain leading off the graduation

MCRD, India Company, Platoon 3213, October 7, 2011

MCRD, India Company, Platoon 3213, October 7, 2011 (son 6th from right)

My New US Marine

My New US Marine, November 2011

Since graduation my new Marine has attended MCT (Marine Combat Training) in Pendleton CA, Corrections training in San Antonio TX, and is now back at Pendleton as his permanent duty station. Congratulations to my newest U.S. Marine, he makes me proud.

I found this draft sitting in my WordPress folder.In evaluating my stats in WordPress my US Marine Corps postings represent 20% of views. Very popular topic, but considering every parent of a new Marine searches the internet for every scrap of information they can find to learn more about the journey ahead, I can understand.

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A Girls Journey from Civilian to Marine: Letter #2

11 Jul

After reading this second letter make sure to visit Devil Doggery’s blog and give her some encouragement and kudo’s to read when she gets home.

Her second letter ends the way my son’s letter starts. Food, I’m craving food, yogurt, ice cream, this still sucks, but not as bad.

English: PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. (June 25, 2007) -...

English: PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. (June 25, 2007) – Marine Corps recruits work together to complete the Combat Water Survival Course at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shawn P. Eklund (RELEASED) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

zero-two

It’s almost been a month now… Actually, it’s the 4th of June, so it’s almost exactly 2 months until graduation. Kind of crazy to think about. This week is actually the last week of phase 1 (out of 3) and phase 1 is supposed to be the worst. Even though my platoon is having a rough time and our DI’s are not happy with us, so… But, I just go one qualification out of the way, which feels quite satisfying. We have swim qual in the morning, which meant we splashed around and jumped off of things in full cammies and boots. It was fun, but a little tougher than I thought. Water all ups in my nose, yo.

But I sort of realized that I was so frustrated k=last time, I didn’t really relay what my typical day here on wonderful, sunny (ha) Parris Island. (Well, I guess it is sunny, but definitely not California sunny. We have random lightning storms. Super weird.) So, the typical day starts at 4 AM. We get woken up by a lot of yelling, then we have to get dressed, which takes a while, because the DI’s will tell us what garment to put on, count us down, inevitably someone will screw up, so we’ll have to take it off and that will happen a few times before we move on to the next piece of clothing and at some point, we will be dressed, at which time, it’s off to morning chow (breakfast). Then we go PT or do training or MCMAP or all of the above, get back, shower, (or just get wet and then change, pretty much), practice drill, go to aftermath chow, drill drill drill, and then go to evening chow. Then it’s just a little more drill, shower, free time, and bed time!

Obviously, there are variations of what we do, but that’s the gist of it. Even though next week (it’s like… the 10th of something now. God, these letters take forever), we’re going to phase 2, which means rifle range, so I’m sure it’ll be different. I’m super stoked to go to the range, even though we have to move, meaning an 8 mile hike with all of our gear. Hurray… Hopefully the pace won’t be too fast. Short legs, y’know.

English: Caption: "Every Marine's a rifle...

English: Caption: “Every Marine’s a rifleman,” Timothy Soignet remarked November 2 amid the pop and crack of scores of s rifles firing at Chosin Range at , . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Oh man though. So I had to get my hair cut before the rifle range because I was told it was going to get too long while we were over there and my hair cut is crooked now! /sobs. They call the hair stylist the butcher, haha. But she’s super nice and just getting that shampoo job was worth the $13 I paid… Haven’t been able to spend that much time on my hair in a month. Definitely one of the things I miss. Like doors on bathroom stalls. Yeah, we don’t have doors. It’s great. Also, I’m randomly craving those Dole cups from Disneyland. Really badly. And Yogurtland, LOL. Just shit to look forward to when I get back, I guess.

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4th of July Fireworks

4 Jul

Fireworks at the Celebrate America Celebration in Omaha

Fireworks at the Celebrate America Celebration in Omaha, Nebraska

Happy 4th of July everyone, have fun, be safe and remember the service men and women who have served our country to protect the freedoms we have here in the United States.

Photo Details: Canon EOS Rebel f/5, 0.8 sec ISO-1600, 18mm

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A Girls Journey From Civilian to Marine: Letter #1

29 Jun

Some things never change

Some things never change (Photo credit: AN HONORABLE GERMAN)

I found Devil Doggery when she posted about the Katy Perry video “All About Me“. She is a 22 year old college graduate embarking on a journey of becoming a U.S. Marine. Her MOS is combat correspondent, so it only seems fitting she start a blog about her journey.

Since I have two sons who are Marines I thought it would be interesting to follow a woman’s journey at Parris Island. On my prompting she is sending letters to her room mate who is posting to her blog. Here is the first blog post from Marine Boot Camp. (Photos are not hers, but from the WordPress Media Gallery. You know I HAVE to have photos in my blog.

zero-one

It’s Sunday, which is our “relax” day, because people go to church and shit, which is fine. I don’t go because I’m not a fan of church and I kind of like being in the squad bay with only a few people (anti-social to the end, LOL). Today was an easy day, but some asshole decided it would be a good idea to fall asleep during core values, (which is this time when our senior driller instructor just sits and talks touchy-feely stuff with us). So we got our asses kicked. Rush-ups in the sand? So not fun.

But I mean, I don’t blame our SDI for what she did. We’re kind of the fuck-up platoon in all honesty… My platoon stresses me out more than the DI’s do sometimes, LOL. Actually, the DI’s don’t stress me out too much… I can handle the yelling and name-calling (like, OMG, the DI from our sister platoon was totally like, “FIX YOUR FACE, UGLY!” Rude). But these girls… Some of them, I honestly, don’t know why they’re here. I’m really kind of concerned that they’ll actually graduate, because if they don’t shape up, they’re legit going to get people killed. Others are just clueless.

And of course there are good recruits, too. I’m trying to fall into the latter category, but it’s hard since I’m not the most physically fit and I’m at the end of every formation because of my last name and my height, so I literally don’t have any of the goddamn directions. Also, I’m right near the door, meaning, I get in trouble a lot for not having super peripheral vision and seeing people walk in and out at the squad bay, because we have to announce people and open doors and shit. Me and the other girls at this end of the squad bay fail epically at it. So we get to go play in the sand together.

The food is so-so. Oh, but you’d totally love the biscuits and gravy they have for breakfast here. It would make me smile if we were allowed to smile… which is depressing to say, but we have to keep our “bearing.” But I laugh at the shit on the inside, like when one person said that New Orleans was in Illinois… Really, dude? C’mon. Some people…

But, I mean, it’s only been a week or so. There’s still time for people to get their shit together. So here’s hoping. Seriously. It would make my life easier if this platoon came together… But all’s I can do right now is my  best and work on myself. And be better at opening doors. 

English: Staff Sergeant Kevin L. Zetina, Plato...

English: Staff Sergeant Kevin L. Zetina, Platoon 2085′s senior drill instructor, bellows cadence while practicing for Company G’s final drill competition. Deutsch: Ausbilder (Drill Instructor) beim United States Marine Corps. Español: Un instructor abordando a los marines estadounidenses. A drill instructor addressing United States Marines / Not Drill Sergeant (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This young woman is in the thick of it, sounds a lot like what my boys went through. Screw up and you pay for it, on your chest, push up, more PT, more in your face.  Until we hear from her next time. Go over to her site and leave a comment.

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You Fly to Work, in The US Airborne

27 Jun

In continuing story of my Dad’s Korea War 82nd Airborne experience here is an ad I found in a large envelope where he kept clippings from his time in the 508th. After doing  a little searching I found this was published in Modern Mechanix magazine.

1950s Army Airborne Ad

1950s Army Airborne Ad

The original is yellowed, badly wrinkled, and the bottom corner torn. Since my dad graduated from Ft. Benning in June 151 I can only think he saw this ad and was proud of being part of the finest fighting outfit in the world.

“The Mark of A Man!”

The paratrooper’s wings of the U.S. Army Airborne are the mark of a man! Those who wear this distinctive insignia belong to the finest fighting outfit in the world.”

August 1951

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Marine Dress Cover

23 May

I’ve loved this photo ever since I took it last fall after my youngest son graduated from Marine Boot Camp. A Marine in his dress blues is the epitome of pride, honor and commitment. They also look very handsome.

Every part of their uniform is thought out to the smallest detail. The US Marine Dress cover issued to boots have a cloth crown (shown above) , some Marines later opt to purchase a white vinyl crown which is more durable.

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U.S. Marine in Service Charlies

18 Apr

I have two sons in the U.S. Marine Corp, one stateside and one in Afghanistan and have come across a Twitter theme #WarriorWednesday. So I thought why not start a new theme and feature on my blog. I don’t know how long this will last, but at least until I run out of photos and images. So it might take a while.

U.S. Marine in Service Charlie Uniform

This image was taken on Family Day at MCRD San Diego after the MotoRun. The new Marines change into their Service Charlies uniform, and garrison hat, or cover (Marines often refer to it as their “piss cutter”.) and then have their first five hour liberty to spend with their families on base.

If a recruit wears glasses or contacts they are issued  standard-issue spectacles, S9s or commonly called  or BCG’s “Birth Control Glasses” because they are so ugly that no girl will come near you. They have been a staple in the military and are tough, sturdy and just plain ugly.

Marines joke about them, raze each other, but they are just as  much as they are hated they hold a certain affection amoung the ranks. I just read on the Marine Corp blog they are being retired for those interested “Goodbye Birth Control Glasses” is a very good read.

This photo started off as “PhotoShopFriday posting until I thought of the #WarriorWednesday. I adjusted the levels, color selected the blue sky, and darkened the blues, used shadows and highlights to open up the shadows on his face and then cropped for a better balanced photo.

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