So there I was a 0311 Corporal at MarBks, Concord, CA when all this happened in Beirut then Grenada. A few days later SSgt David Waters held a formation and said, This is what happened and some of you Marines will be heading out. Any volunteers? Nearly all of us stepped forward. I dont recall all who were picked. I know I wasnt. I was pissed because with all that training we couldve gone to Grenada. Beirut was already over - the worst of it. My prayers are with those Marines and other Americans along with their families. I was ready to go to Grenada (in 1973 same, same for Vietnam) - many of us were. But we went where were ordered by our Commandant and our President. Less than a year later they were bootin my short, ugly *ss out on a medical. Pissed again. Many, many years later my Air Force daughter is upset because they are kicking her husband out of the Air Froce on a medical thing, too. I told her how pissed I had been so many years prior. I had blamed it all on God. But she sure understood it when I said that God had had a plan all along. The plan included me being medically discharged and the plan included her being put in my life. (Got perspective?) I learned to accept that I wasnt in control of any of what had happened in Beirut, Grenada, or her going to Afghanistan or her husband being so injured that he could no longer perform his duties in the Air Force. I feel very fortunate that God put her in my life (we fostered her then she adopted us). Today my prayers are for my fellow Americans who served and died in Beirut and Grenada and all the others who were there along with their families. All gave some. Some gave all. Semper Fidelis and God Bless, Sgt John Minton 0311 (1973 - 1984 / USA, USAR - USMC)
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 01:37:06 +0000