Tracks of the StoneBear ROF = Ring of Fire journey
October 2005
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Sent this letter to Nephew Dave when Echo 2/6 was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq with a long page of our Marine Corps League detachment menbers signing their names and Marine units to let these men know we are proud of them.
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To the Boys of Echo2/6. (Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment):
You're boys to me 'cause I’m over 50 now and everyone seems young to me. You are NOT boys. You are men. By right of passage from boot camp at Parris Island, by the fire in your gut that called you to be a Marine. Right now being a Marine is WHO you are.
Right now you're concentrated on the immediate tasks of Marine life. Your time will pass and you will be relieved when your time/hitch is done so you can get on with your life, raising a family, etc. Although those days seem distant, your time will come. Now is the time when you learn the patience and discipline of life. There are many lessons you are learning now that were not scheduled on the training roster. They come with experience, and in time you will see it as "wisdom" gained from this "Time".
Leadership is one of your main lessons now. Some of you say now, "I'm just a PFC, or Lance Corporal. I have Sergeants and Lieutenants to be leaders". Well, you begin by being a leader of yourself. Leading yourself to be the kind of man you want to be. You make your own choices; take the credit-humbly-when your right, and take the blame-immediately when you're wrong and don't blame anybody else for your mistakes. Own up to a mistake, learn from it, and move ahead. Lead yourself and your family to where YOU want them to be; healthy, balanced, and secure. It is up to you to provide this environment and attitude for your wife and children. Be the leader by example, not heavy. Be gentle with your family. They didn't have the training you’ve had. Their feelings are hurt easier than yours; that's why you call them your "Family", and not your "Squad".
In your future years, you men will become the future of our country. You will be the leaders of your families. You will be the owner of the tire store in town. You will be the plumber for new houses. You will be the city councilman in your town. You will run the trucking co. You will be teachers, police, bankers, paramedics, managers, technicians, etc. Aim your sights high. College, G I Bill, Tech Schools, etc. Professional careers. Doctors, CEOs, Attorneys, Judges.
You've proven that you can do anything, endure anything and survive anything, accomplish more than you give yourself credit for, because you have that fire in your gut that came from the Marines. The spark was there all the time; you just didn't know it. It took the Marines to fan it & bring the best out of you. This is what will get you through to the goals you set for yourself; & get you through the rough times, and there will be rough times ahead. You can handle pretty much whatever comes along; so make your choices count. When you come to a life obstacle, dust off the Marine thinking. Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome. IAO, It works in life also. Your family will love and respect you leading them on good paths to good places.
Real men are tough-Macho-Marines. Real men also hold the hands of their wife and children when they walk together to Sunday school and church. You are the leaders of the many who will observe you and quietly follow your example.
Your Marine leaders lead by example, competence, and courage. Emulate them and carry yourself how you want to be known. Your leaders want all of you to get back home safe. Trust them and they will trust you and you both look out for each other. Just be a good Marine every day. I promise you; in years to come, you will still be proud you were a Marine.
I'll close up with this: My service didn't end when the Viet Nam war ended. I still regularly go with 4 other Marines to the local VA hospital and visit EVERY Marine there. We ask them about their service, duty, and their experience. Then we start kidding them about getting them up for PT, getting them some C-rats for chow, tell them they've got the midnight to 4am firewatch.
Before we leave, they're smiling and laughing and have forgotten why they’re even there in the hospital. When we’re leaving, I always say, "If we run short and need another man to fill up a fire team, can we come back and get you?" EVERY one of those Marines ALWAYS grins and says "Yeah, I'll go with you! Come back and get me!" And you know...they really do mean it!
It just about makes me choke up. Seeing these Marines, some of them real short timers with tubes running in and out of them. Most haven’t been shown any respect for a long time. Most have walked 40 miles of hard road and are in really bad shape. And they STILL are willing to go on one more mission with the Marines for their country. It is my honor to go visit and pay respect to these guys. They still have it in their gut. The Marines just never gets out of their soul. It makes me proud of all Marines, and I'm especially proud of you men of Company "E" 2/6. Godspeed Echo 2/6. Semper Fi, 'Til I Die !!
Uncle Bill
You never drink twice from the same stream.
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