All American

reminiscing on the days

2010-12-19T02:01:00.000-05:00

it has been forever since i have even thought about this blog but i will do my best to update yall tomorrow and get back into it

twisted mass of metal with bodies inside

2010-02-07T10:04:00.000-05:00

“severe traffic accident” came over the radio, Officer Hollomon and I sped to the scene. We were the first to respond to the call. A small car, occupied 5X was T-boned by a SUV, occupied 2X. jaws of life. broken glass. contorted vehicles. 1 confirmed death, 6 others severely injured, 1 possible paralyzed, 2 unconscious, and one open bottle of liquor. All could have ended with less peril if 2 things were done. Don’t drive drunk and wear your seatbelt. This man killed his wife and injured 6 others. Now he's in jail because he got behind the wheel drunk. Manslaughter and its all on his chest. Please, think twice and never forget to wear a seatbelt. be safe, please. The site of those people trapped in that mass of smashed metal and the firemen pulling those unconscious women from the twisted vehicle will never leave me. I never want to see any of my friends be the ones being pulled out of a wreck so please, be safe.

only in tx

2010-01-21T08:13:00.001-05:00

cows out between 67 and mansfield. a few of em got hit, a few crashed cars, its causing a traffic jam. just heard it on the radio. hahaha welcome to tx

Ill never forget

2010-01-19T17:01:00.001-05:00

Ill never forget dropping out of highschool to be a Marine.
Ill never forget busting my ass with the Army National Guard to get my GED to be a Marine.
Ill never forget the day I raised my right hand, promising to give America 4 years and a lifetime of everything I got.
Ill never forget that nerve racking bus ride to South Carolina with a bus full of America’s finest.
Ill never forget those first few days of sleep deprivation, thinking, “what the fuck did I volunteer for”.
Ill never forget those weeks and weeks of intense mind fuck and body strain.
Ill never forget that I never cried because of the pain of my injury, but found a tear when I was told Id be leaving my platoon.
Ill never forget when I refused surgery and accepted makeshift repair so that I would be eligible for reenlistment.
Ill never forget the day I was transferred from MRP to RSP.
Ill never forget sweeping the same sidewalk and mopping the same kill strip every single day wondering what I was gonna do when uncle Sam finally sent me back to the real world.
Ill never forget the tear that came down my face as that bus drove us back across the causeway, sending us on our way… Uncle Sam’s rejects.
Ill never forget struggling for a year trying to make a future back in the civilian life.
I will never forget my brothers of Golf Co. Plt. 2018
I will never forget because, though I may have never made it, it changed me.
I will never be the same and I will never forget.
For that I am thankful to the Corps.
I would just do anything to go back to the day I got on Parris Island and start all over again.

NEW TRUCK

2009-09-26T17:11:00.004-04:00

bought a 89 ford ranger with a brand new alternator, transmission, ac, and metallic blue paint. when i turn this thing on it returns the favor

cigarettes will not ignite gas. heres the science behind why

2009-09-12T17:26:00.002-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekt3qj2VvBw
in order for gasoline to be ignited there must be an open flame or spark with an extremely high temperature. the smoldering tobacco in a cigarette is not sufficent to ignite gasoline as shown in the video above.
the temperature of the burning section of a lit cigarette is as follows
Side of the lit portion: 752 deg F
Middle of the lit portion:1112 deg F)
These temperatures are theoretically high enough to ignite concentrated petrol vapors however in the case of an open lawnmower outside, there is an insufficient vapor to air ratio.
You also have to consider the fact that outdoors there is a breeze and the lawnmower is in motion so the potential flammable vapors have no chance to gather and build up to any concentration even remotely close to the air to fuel mixture necessary for ignition.
Gas is designed for use in an engine which is driven by a spark. The fuel should be premixed with air within its flammable limits and heated above its flash point, then ignited by the spark plug. The fuel should not pre-ignite in the hot engine. Therefore, gasoline is required to have a low flash point and a high auto-ignition temperature.
For gasoline fuel, the stoichiometric air/fuel mixture is approximately 14.7 times the mass of air to fuel. 7% gas, 93% air. This may seem like an easily attainable amount of vapors but in fact it is unrealistic and requires an enclosed environment to achieve this kind of ratio.
In theory a stoichiometric mixture has just enough air to completely burn the available fuel.
In the case of operating a lawn mower outdoors the air ratio greatly outweighs the possibility of residual gasoline vapors.
Thus a cigarette will not light gasoline.
If you throw a lit match in a can of gasoline, the gasoline will put the match out.
If you throw a lit cigarette in a can of gasoline, the gasoline will put the cigarette out.
SO, IN CONCLUSION, SMOKING A CIGARETTE WHILE MOWING THE LAWN HAS MINIMAL RISK OF IGNITION. IN FACT THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE REACHING A TEMPERATURE HIGH ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE POSSIBLE RESIDUAL VAPORS IS MORE LIKELY THAN THE VAPORS BEING IGNITED BY THE OPERATOR'S CIGARETTE.
So you may wonder, if a cigarette cant ignite gasoline then why is it illegal to smoke at the pumps?
The answer to this is quite simple.
The environment at a gas station is specifically designed to vent gas vapors so that they don’t build up to the required fuel to air ratio. Therefore merely smoking a cigarette at a gas station is NOT dangerous.
Then why is it illegal. The answer is because though the burning cigarette may not ignite the vapors, if someone were to light the cigarette at the pump there would be an open flame from the lighter and this is enough to ignite vapors. Not only the flame but the initial spark from the lighter is actually molten metal, in most cases, flint. This spark has a higher temperature than a burning cigarette so that adds to the probability of igniting fumes. While we’re at it, lets look at a circumstance. The gasoline coming out of a pump is under pressure. Pressure creates more fumes when the pressure is released as it exits the spout of the pump. Let’s say it’s a windy day, you bend over behind your car to light your cigarette out of the wind. Now, youre applying the heat right where there is a higher concentration of fumes. The government cannot account for every circumstance so to play it safe they just made it illegal. Don’t smoke at the pump is the easy solution, regardless of the act itself really is dangerous.
So theoretically, if you want to smoke an already lit cigarette at the pump, go for it, but do not light the cigarette while you are at the pump.

and to the smartass who commented about my brief notation from wikipedia. this was written in anger as a response to the ignorance of another person. This is not used for any purpose other than me venting, so yes if i copy and paste one section that describes the technical portion in a way that I dont feel like taking the time to try and word, then yes, its my poetic license to do so.

Mein Kampf

2009-06-20T04:31:00.002-04:00

Mein Kampf, many people see this as racist affiliation with Adolf Hitler. However for me it is the meaning of life. Mein Kampf literally translates to "My Struggle". My life has often been a struggle and right now our nation is facing an utmost struggle. Unemployment is at 9%, not far from the 25% unemployment of the "Great Depression". Everyone in this town is doing something on the side, something under the table, something illegal just to get by. The youth of primarily the minorities of the country are turning to drug usage and dealing, gang affiliation, and criminal activity. Crime is on the rise and our once great country is falling. The citizens of our country elected a president who preached of change. Change? What an interesting concept. What changes have we seen? Our country has fallen to the level of the government owning over half of the stock of large companies thus the government is taking control of companies. Our country is crumbling into socialism in all its entirety. Unemployment, employing fascism, and a rise in crime. Yes, the country is "changing" but this is not the change we were looking for. Immediately after the horrific events of 9/11 the country pulled together and flew our glorious flag. Now, there is nothing but talk of how the government is fucking us over. There is no respect for the authorities and our country is crumbling. We need to stop this before we lose everything that our country stands for. Furthermore I believe that this Messiah of a president may truly be the long awaited Antichrist. I have attached the biblical characteristics of the Antichrist below. Its just food for thought but I urge you to read them with an open mind and think of how many similarities there are.

1. He comes from among ten kings in the restored Roman Empire; his authority will have similarities to the ancient Babylonians, Persians, and Greeks [Daniel 7:24; Rev 13:2 / Daniel 7:7]

Study these cultures and decide for yourself

2. He will subdue three kings [Daniel 7:8, 24]

Won the elections

3. He is different from the other kings [Daniel 7:24]

Racially different from the other presidential candidates

4. He will rise from obscurity… a “little horn” [Daniel 7:8]

He is said to be a beacon for minorities, rising to be a president despite his race

5. He will speak boastfully [Daniel 7:8; Rev 13:5]

He has done this already

6. He will blaspheme God, [Daniel 7:25; 11:36; Rev 13:5] slandering His Name, dwelling place, and departed Christians and Old Testament saints [Rev 13:6]

Yet to come

7. He will oppress the saints and be successful for 3 ½ years [Daniel 7:25; Rev 13:7]

Yet to come

8. He will try to change the calendar, perhaps to define a new era, related to himself [Daniel 7:25]

Yet to come

9. He will try to change the laws, perhaps to gain an advantage for his new kingdom and era [Dan 7:25]

This has been shown countless times under his rein

10. He will not be succeeded by another earthly ruler, but by Christ [Daniel 7:26-27]

Yet to come

11. He will confirm a covenant with “many”, i.e. the Jewish people [Daniel 9:27] This covenant will likely involve the establishment of a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem [see Dan 9:27; Matt 24:15]

Think deep about this one

12. He will put an end to Jewish sacrifice and offerings after 3 ½ years and will set up an abomination to God in the Temple [Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15]

We'll see in 2 and a half years

13. He will not answer to a higher earthly authority; “He will do as he pleases”[Daniel 11:36]

Has happened countless times

14. He will show no regard for the religion of his ancestors [Daniel 11:37]

He does not show any ties to his ancestor's Muslim faith

15. He will not believe in any god at all [except for himself] [Daniel 11:37]

Decide for yourself

16. He will have “no regard for the desire of women”: He will either be asexual or homosexual [Dan 11:37]

Hahaha

17. He will claim to be greater than any god [Daniel 11:37; 2 Thess 2:4]

Come on now, the man is full of himself

18. He will claim to be God [2 Thessalonians 2:4]

Again, he claims to be the source of so much impossible change

19. He will only honor a “god” of the military. His whole focus and attention will be on his military. He will conquer lands and distribute them [Daniel 11:39-44]

His military policies suck but we'll see how it all plays out

20. His arrival on the world scene will be accompanied by miracles, signs and wonders [2 Thess 2:9]

Depending on how you interpret the recent events, think about this one

21. Either he, or his companion [The False Prophet], will claim to be Christ [Matt 24:21-28]

Yet to come

22. He will claim that Jesus did not come in the flesh, or that Jesus did not rise bodily from the grave [2 John 7]. He will deny that Jesus is the Messiah [I John 2:22]

Yet to come

23. He will be worshipped by many people [Rev. 13:8]

COME ON NOW, THIS IS HIM TO A TEE

24. He will hate a nation that initially will have some control over his kingdom, but he will destroy this nation [Rev 17:16-18]

This one requires thought

25. He will appear to survive a fatal injury [Rev. 13:3; 17:8]

I have no doubt that there will be assassination attempts

26. His name will be related to the number six hundred and sixty six—but not necessarily in an obvious fashion [Rev 13:17-18].

Im working on figuring out the affiliation with this one, stand by for what I come up with

27. He will be empowered by the devil himself [Rev. 13:2]

I belive this is true

So in conclusion, I believe Mein Kampf is a very fitting title for this blog entry because our country is in a horrific struggle. I just pray that some day we can bring back patriotism, pride, and make America good again.

I SAW MY LIFE FLASH BEFORE MY EYES

2009-06-08T03:01:00.001-04:00

two nights ago i moved out. i turned 18 on June 3 and decided to move in with a good friend that lives in Rochester, new york. my father is getting out of the MARINE CORPS and moving to Texas, so i decided it was time to move out on my own.

she drove down to Virginia to pick me up and she had me drive back. on the way back an 18 wheeler merged into my lane and hit his brakes. i hit mine so i wouldn't go under him and, because the roads were wet, the car slid. the brakes locked and i lost control of the vehicle. according to my copy of the police report, it occurred 2 miles north of EXIT35 on SR11/15(i assume that us state route 11/15 (i don't remember because i was shaken after the crash)) In that split second i noticed the emergency turnaround and i considered poppin the ebrake so i could lock the rear tires to slow the vehicle or drift into the fast approaching emergency vehicle turnaround. I realized that if i drifted the turn too wide, the approaching guard rail would have crushed the woman in the passenger seat. in stead i attempted to turn the car so that it would impact on my driver side door. i figured a side impact would cause less damage to the vehicle and i wanted to shield her as best i could. but it all went so fast and the guard rail was coming closer. next thing i remember, the impact crushed the car, the guard rail folded over top of the hood, and the vehicle came to a rest an inch from the guard rail coming through the windshield and crushing my face. i backed the car out as best i could and rolled out of traffic into the turnaround in the median.

I engaged the ebrake to keep the car from rolling, checked the passenger for injuries, then tried to make sure i hadn't sustained any serious injuries.

I got out of the car and immediately called AAA then proceeded to attempt to inspect the vehicle to make sure there was no imminent risk of it igniting and hurting the passenger. There didn't seem to be any further immediate danger so i laid on the side of the car, holding my neck, scared because i knew i would be responsible for fixing the vehicle.

my first night on my own, and i wrecked a vehicle and almost took the life of a good friend, and almost lost my own.

the 18wheeler kept going and cars flew by one after another, not even bothering to show up.

I didn't contact EMS or 911 because i was able to diagnose that myself and the passenger were OK but before AAA showed up, squad cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and state police swarmed the scene of the crash.

EMS paperwork was completed to deny medical attention because i couldn't have received it even if i wanted to. I no longer have military medical and i am no longer a military dependant so i had no insurance. I couldn't afford medical and no one could have helped me so i refused attention.

the state troopers noticed my MARPAT digital cammo pack in the back seat and my dog tags hanging from the rear view mirror. they proceeded to engage me in conversation about my past in the military. they were all prior service and understood how i was scared to tell my father, a colonel in the MARINES. because i was 18 they said we wouldn't have to contact him.

the hood was jammed shut but i looked through the side and I checked the engine. the radiator seemed OK, and the engine was able to start so we started it up and attempted to drive the rest of the 200 miles with no headlights, in the dark, with the crushed windshield covering my line of sight. by some miracle, we got home the next day.

this morning i met one of my new neighbors and he offered to let me borrow his tools to diagnose and fix the vehicle. i took a grinder to the hood, cut out a hole around the hatch. popped the sonofabitch open with a grinder and a crowbar and realized just how lucky i was. the bracket/bar that goes across the front of the vehicle behind the grate was completely pushed in. the radiator was mounted on this bracket and the whole radiator was pushed into the engine. its amazing that none of the fluid leaked and that the radiator fan still worked despite being crushed. the whole front of under the hood is totaled.

i am now facing the fact that it is my responsibility to fix or replace the vehicle. i take full responsibility. but it is a bad situation because i am deep in debt and neither of our parents know she drove down to VA to get me. my father doesn't know i crashed, her parents don't know she came to get me and obviously don't know we crashed. i am in deep shit

i considered getting a loan, replacing the vehicle, and chopping the totaled vehicle and selling it as parts. but, i was just informed that up north, they don't pay good for parts.

tomorrow i am gonna chain the bar to a tree, block the tires, and see if i cant crank that bracket back forward so i can get to the engine and see what else is wrong. I'm worried because i believe the transmission is fucked from the impact because it barely works and really acts up when you try to drive in reverse.

I'm just scared and i don't know what to do. i admit it, I'm scared.

she is asleep in the room and i am sitting here cause i cant sleep.

if you believe in god, please put in a good word next time y'all talk, and while you re at it, thank the big guy that I'm still alive.

God Bless and Semper Fi

crazy night out but i still cant get my platoon off my mind

2009-04-18T02:05:00.003-04:00

last night, i hung out with this amazing girl. we had a good time, and what a better way to end the night than have her father walk in on us. haha
needless to say, i crashed at my buddies house.
i met back up with that girl tonight and after a bottle of cuervo, we decided to go out clubbin.
we hit up just about every bar here in the area and enjoyed my paycheck from the Marine Corps.
as the night progressed me, my date, and my bro became progressively more... um... loose.
as much as i tried to enjoy myself, i also had to be conscious of the situation at hand.
i partied it up but half way through the night, i resorted to water and red bull, my old trick, to sober up fast.
i double checked to make sure my knife was secure inside of my pants, hidden behind my belt buckle where i always keep it, without anyone needing to know
i did what i could to control the situation to ensure that everyone had a good night.
short of details, it was overall an amazing night
as everyone got drunker, i grew more aware, and took control.
women came up to me asking about my time in boot camp
word spread fast in the bar. its funny how my date told one female about my involvement in the Corps and suddenly everyone was interested
but i tried to hide my dog tags under my shirt
and every woman that came up to me asking about whether i had prior service or not
i just responded with "ma'am I'm just a college boy tryin to get my life on track, enjoy life, and take care of my friends tonight here at this bar"
i am not ashamed of the fact that i joined.
but i miss it and feel like i don't even deserve to mention that i went
i shattered my hand down there and got med discharged
i did not earn the title.
i covered the tab, due to financial situations of the people in our group.
and i did my best to make sure everyone was safe and happy
got a taxi for my boy and i so now were chillin back at the bachelor pad.
but the female counterpart refused to go home.
i offered to pay a taxi, offered to get her a ride, but she insisted on staying with her old friends from college that we found at the bar.
i don't mean to sound like a stiff ass, because don't get me wrong, i partied it up.
but as my buddy lays passed out on the bed next to me, and most of my friends are in taxis right now headed home, i am sitting here debriefing the night.
goal was: be safe and have fun
id say it was a success
but i really had a wake up call to the reality of what friendship and life was like back in the civilian world
the brotherhood i had with my friends in the corps will never compare
we have each others back
like i did for my friends tonight
covering the tabs
paying for and calling taxis
providing the clubs of the area
but i cant help but wonder if they would ever do the same for me
my friends are good people but i miss my brothers.
i admit, i used to be an alcoholic, but after all that Ive done, i was able to put down the shot glasses and pick up the water glass so that i could ensure the safety and well being of those around me.
so... in conclusion, i had a great night but again, i miss my brothers.
i belong back with my platoon

ps. i apologize for any typos. it was a long crazy night

HAPPY EASTER

2009-04-11T21:58:00.001-04:00

In approximately 2 hours it will be Easter and it is already Easter over in the middle-east so to our brothers and sisters fighting for our freedom, at home and abroad,

HAPPY EASTER

Home From Bootcamp

2009-04-11T21:24:00.002-04:00

Hows it goin yall,
I just arrived home from Parris Island, SC. I got back to DC on 2009 04 08 at 05:00 after a bus ride that started the previous day from Beaufort, SC. Unfortunately, i regret to inform you that i have been discharged from the United States Marine Corps. I received an ELS which is equivalent to an honorable discharge and my DD214 states that i have a RE3P Re-Enlistment Code, so i will be eligible to go back to service in 6 months if i can get a waiver. the catch is that id have to do boot camp all over again starting from FD-0. I have a lot to think about and a lot to consider but i may go back and do it all over again. I know many Marines that, if asked if they'd do bootcamp over again, would reply with a big "FUCK NO", but i don't know, it might be worth it.
The full story on why i was discharged will take a while to explain but heres the basic story...
5th metacarpal snapped below the knuckle, knuckle rotated in, spiral fracture further down, all the way through the bone. in a nutshell, my hand is FUBAR
status, RE3P, civilian, with no military benefits other than military dependency
was qualed for PEB but turned down surgery and opped for manual resetting of the bone to the best ability of the doc. (tried to numb it, then manually pressed the bone into place, PAINFUL AS FUCK!)
went to MHU and the psych is trying to say he believes i am possibly bipolar/manic depressant with the slight possibility of minimal skitzophrenia. and the strong possibility of alcohol/substance abuse.

I will make another post explaining all the codes and acronyms later but i gotta run. im working on finding a job because im moving out soon and life isnt easy as a young bachelor in the civilian sector.
wish me luck, and to all the people that are still following this blog, thank you.
stay tuned, as i will be updating this very soon with a lot of storys from Marine Recruit Training.

-out

T MINUS LESS THAN 100 HOURS TILL SHIP DATE

2008-12-31T00:49:00.002-05:00

In less than 100 hours I will be going up to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). I will complete the final paperwork and medical exams. I will spend the night at a hotel full of recruits that is contracted out by the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. The next morning, I will take my final oath and be put on a bus down to the infamous MARINE CORPS RECRUITING DEPOT PARRIS ISLAND. Upon arrival at MCRD PARRIS ISLAND, the 13 week long process of becoming a UNITED STATES MARINE will begin.

I admit, I am nervous. I am also relieved that it all worked out for the better and I got the GED slot. I have waited for this for my entire life but now that it is here, it is a surreal feeling. When I walked out of MEPS for the first time, after taking my initial oath, on 2008 09 19, the feeling was that of pride. It seemed so unreal that I had just signed away the next 8 years of my life but I knew it is what I had always wanted. This feeling laid somewhat dormant until a few weeks ago when I started counting down the days till my ship date. As the ship date grew nearer, I began counting hours. I started living life with a whole new outlook. There was an air of urgency in everything I did because I knew that life as I knew it was about to face a dramatic change.

Now, with less than 100 hours left, I have stopped counting. I realize that life isnt about to end. It is about to dramatically become better. I know it will have to get worse before it gets better but I will make it through it. One of my drill instructors from the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, who happened to be a Marine, once said, "in order for change to take place, the pain of remaining the same must overpower the pain of change". I believe that this is the situation. The pain comes from the reality that I am a highschool dropout, GED holder, with no trade, and that I will remain stagnant, continuing to look in my laundry for nickels and dimes to buy food and cigarettes. I dont want to live like I have been living for the past few months. I want to have a future. I want to be a MARINE and I am willing to fight for it.

I plan to take it chow hall to chow hall and mail call to mail call until that proud day where I will march across that drill field on Parris Island.

Please wish me luck and if you believe in a God and you pray, please put in a good word for me.

God Bless

Semper Fi

-Recruit Siegel

LAST MESSAGE TO YOU BEFORE I SHIP OUT

2008-12-24T23:40:00.003-05:00

Its been a while since I posted in here. I appologize but I have been extremely busy.

This is my last update. In approximately 240 hours I will be on a bus to Marine Corps Recruiting Depot Parris Island for Marine Corps Boot Camp. I will be there for 13 weeks. Upon graduating I will be a United States Marine. I will get about 10 days leave and then I will be off to my Marine Combat Training and Military Occupational School. Upon completion I will be a fully trained, fully deployable, deadly Marine.

Please write to me while I am gone. Details are below

Approximately 10-14 days after I leave, my mom and dad will receive a form letter from me with my address at boot camp. If you had me add you to my mailing list before I left for boot camp, then you will receive a letter within the following week, with my mailing address. If you have not requested to be on my mailing list please send me a message on myspace.com/akaskar and i will have a friend forward it to me. If you do so please include a mailing address where i can write back to you.

PLEASE NO CARE PACKAGES (Please, resist sending anything but letters)

Address your letters to Recruit Siegel, Michael. DO NOT put any other rank other than Recruit. I am NOT a Marine yet—I am no rank other than Recruit. Doing otherwise will cause unnecessary attention at mail call I certainly don’t want that.

Please, no bulky envelopes, smelly shit, jokes, funny shit, pretty shit, or anything that will give the DI something to smoke me for. Keep it simple, preferably a white envelope with black ink. Dear god, please don’t try to write with a hot pink gel pen or anything else. Write as if every thing visible will be seen by my DI and anything other than a plain envelope and letter will cause me a shit-load of pain.

You may receive a lot of mail but you might not. Please keep the letters coming. I will write every chance I get.

Mail arrives at the Depot (MCRD) Monday through Saturday. Depending on the training schedule, there may be a few days delay getting the mail into my hands and possibly a further delay having an opportunity to open mail to read the letters from home. Training comes first so it may be up to a week before I will get your letters. But remember, I will respond ASAP.

Write Motivational Letters. Send a small photo or two. DO NOT decorate the outside of the envelope with drawings, stickers, or write any text other than the address and your return address (and no sprits of perfume either). This will cause unnecessary attention from the DI and I don’t want to draw the attention of the DI during mail call.

Upon receiving my address, I ask that you forward my address to anyone else I may know or anyone that would be willing to write to me. Myspace bulletins and email are a great way to get my address out there and I would appreciate as much mail as possible. In the Utah wilderness program and National Guard GED boot camp program, letters from home made it easier to get through. They are motivational as hell and they remind us that there are people outside the walls that still care.

WISH ME LUCK AND THE NEXT TIME YOU TALK TO ME I WILL BE A UNITED STATES MARINE.

Rifleman's creed, adapted for my girl

2008-11-28T22:25:00.002-05:00

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c10/Seagull603/riflemanscreedaboutmybabygirl.jpg

Check out the link. I made it a few minutes ago. Its hilarious.

2008-11-27T20:38:00.002-05:00

I recently joined a group on myspace called The DEVIL DAWGS and as I explored the group, I found the following quote about UNITED STATES MARINES from a foreigner's perspective. I figured yall would get a kick out of this.

"Marines are about the most peculiar breed of human beings, I have ever witnessed. They treat their service as if it were some kind of cult, plastering their emblem on almost everything they own, making themselves up to look like insane fanatics with haircuts to ungentlemanly lengths, worshipping their Commandant almost as if he were a god, and making weird animal noises like a band of savages. They'll fight like rabid dogs at the drop of a hat just for the sake of a little action, and are the cockiest sons of bitches I have ever known. Most have the foulest mouths and drink well beyond man's normal limits, but their high spirits and sense of brotherhood set them apart and, generally speaking, the United States Marines I've come in contact with are the most professional soldiers and the finest men I have ever had the pleasure to meet."

-ANONYMOUS CANADIAN CITIZEN

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2008-11-27T19:22:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all our Troops at home and abroad!

May the brotherhood that all soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines share make this holiday a warm one.

Semper Fidelis

Thank you for the feedback

2008-11-18T10:35:00.002-05:00

Hey yall, Siegel here. Been a while since I posted in here. I was motivated by recently discovering some comments on my posts. Writing my story on the internet is all well and good but knowing that someone is actually reading my crap is pretty damn moto. Life has been tough. Got into some trouble. Got fired. To make a long story short, when it rains, it pours and now I’m on probation. I made sure the documentation stated that probation would end the second I leave for boot camp so it will not affect my enlistment. Just wanted to keep yall updated as the ship date grows nearer. There’s only about 6 weeks to go. Let’s hope all goes well between now and then.
Oohrah and thanks for the commentary.

Farewell Marine Poem

2008-10-31T15:58:00.005-04:00

Farewell Marine

The combat boots are empty and finally they're still,

They're set carefully at attention,

they've marched up their last hill.

The rifle, too, is silent now and unwaveringly erected,

Holding up the well-worn helmet of the Marine it once protected.

One by one his comradessomberly draw near,

Each raising one last saluteunashamed to shed a tear;

A time-honored tribute,dating back to days of old,

As a reverent memoriala stirring image to behold.

It bears witness to the bondof a brotherhood of men,

The kind who only come alongevery now and then.

These men who pass will carry on,

they've a mission to complete,

For our Country they will fiercely fight,our enemies they'll defeat.
But in his heart after this,

no Marine will be the same,

A hero is now known to him,

and bears his buddy's name.

Wherever duty takes him,whatever battles he may fight,

Never will he forget the friendwho gave his life for what is right.

Finally, the bugle sounds

Taps is softly played,

Time to say farewell, and say

a prayer for the sacrifices made.

This day the names of those who diedwill be added to the List,

They will forever be remembered,and will undeniably be missed.

Next time you see a proud Marinein that uniform he wears,

Know his heart is strong and trueplease keep him in your prayers.

He lives by a vow to protect and defendno matter what the cost,

But to every Marine, it carries a name...his buddy who was lost.

WARNING - Copyrighted material! Please include proper credit if you choose to pass along this poem. Farewell Marine ©Sandra Lee (James) Gilcher

Out on the Streets

2008-10-28T17:17:00.005-04:00

Due to family issues, I was about to have to spend last night on the streets. When the $h!t really hits the fan and you're out in the cold you really find out who you're friends are. I made a few calls just to let my friends know what the situation was and I immediately had all my friends with cars offering me a ride to wherever and all my friends with houses offering a floor or a couch to sleep on.

Thank you to all my true friends.

Semper Fi

Tracy Laurence wrote a song that really makes sence at times like these. Hope you like it.

Run your car off the side of the road

Get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere

Or get yourself in a bind lose the shirt off your back

Need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare

This is where the rubber meets the road

This is where the cream is gonna rise

This is what you really didn't know

This is where the truth don't lie

{Chorus}You find out who your friends are

Somebody's gonna drop everything

Run out and crank up their car

Hit the gas, get there fast

Never stop to think 'what's in it for me?' or 'it's way too far'

They just show on up with their big old heart

You find out who your friends are

Everybody wants to slap your backwants to shake your handwhen you're up on top of that mountain

But let one of those rocks give way then you slide back down look up and see who's around then

This ain't where the road comes to an end

This ain't where the bandwagon stops

This is just one of those times when

A lot of folks jump off

{Chorus}When the water's high

When the weather's not so fair

When the well runs dry

Who's gonna be there?

{Chorus}You find out who your friends are(yeah, yeah)

You find out who your friends are

Run your car off the side of the road

Get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere

(Well man, I've been there)

Or get yourself in a bind lose the shirt off your back

Need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare

(Man, I've been there)

Man, I've been there

Oooh yeah.

Road Blocks on the Path to the Corps

2008-10-28T17:06:00.003-04:00

With about 8 weeks left before I ship out, the $h!t has really been hitting the fan. At this point I am in jeopardy of not making it to boot camp. One of the requirements to enlist in the Marine Corps is a high school diploma. In order to get in with a GED, you must get 15 college credits. I failed my Spanish course so i signed up for three or four other classes. Now i have a 15 credit semester but with the way things have been going, I do not have a perfect attendance. My pops has already said that if I don't ship out in January, than i am going to withdraw from the Marine Corps DEP and go enlist immediately in the United States Army. I know i could get through the Army without any problems but they do not have all the things I love about the Marine Corps. They don't have the reputation, camaraderie, or brotherhood that the Marine Corps has. I know that if I end up shipping out to the Army, I will be living in regret however it is clear that i cant afford to be a civilian. I am currently working two jobs, going to college, and trying to make time for my woman. Unfortunately, I have had to put my woman on the back burner while I try to catch up with all these other aspects. Its all pretty FUBAR (F&$%ed Up Beyond All Recognition) but I guess, as my Drill Instructors from the National Guard used to say, "Good damn training"! I guess this is a taste of the sacrifices I should prepare for.

Wish me luck

Semper Fi

Political Ignorance

2008-10-19T20:26:00.006-04:00

The disrespect shown to our political leaders is completely ridiculous. I was reading an AOL post and came across this:

Laurelphot 08:08 PMOct 20 2008 The way John McClone's eyebrows go up and down, the way his keep blinking, the way his head nods, It may be suitable for a hood ornament, but NOT for a president

I find it unbelievable that there are people out there that would mock the injuries of a man who acquired them being a Prisoner Of War suffering in the name of our country. I am sorry for venting this but i just found this ridiculous.This is just one more example of why America should require every citizen to serve at least 1 year in the military when they turn 18. At the very least, it would teach our country to respect political authority.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

VOTE REPUBLICAN!

MCCAIN/PALIN!

Comaraderie, Brotherhood, and Practical Jokes

2008-10-19T19:44:00.006-04:00

I just got back from down south, seeing my mother and my li'l sis'. I was volunteering with their school's marching band and color guard. Sure enough, one of the band parents was a Retired Marine. We tried to have a good time so he taught me an old trick he learned from back in his days in the Corps. We slid under one of the band member's trucks and fastened a "zip tie" to the drive shaft. Consequentially as he drove away, the spinning zip tie repeatedly smacked the undercarriage of his truck making it sound like the engine was literally falling out the bottom of the truck. It was all in good fun and I was able to stop him, slide under his car and slice off the zip tie with my switchblade but I just got a kick out of the fact that this was a perfect example of the ingenuity of a bunch of bored Marines.

In addition, on the drive home, I stopped at a local Mc Donald's. I had my Marine sweatshirt on and I guess the high-n-tight gave it away but a man came up to me and said, "son, you in the Corps". I explained that I couldn't claim the title yet because I am just a "poolee"(Marine Recruit who has already enlisted but has not yet been to boot camp) but he immediately responded saying something about me being a Marine already because I've taken a step that most people will never take. I thanked him for the recognition and needless to say, he told me that he served his time as a Marine back in the day. This kind of thing happens all the time but the reason I am posting about it is that I believe it is a perfect example of the fact that the Marine Corps really is a brotherhood. I personally don't know of too many other professions where your coworkers and people who worked for the same company many years ago, could readily recognize you and approach you like you were family. People always ask me why I enlisted. This is one of the main reasons. The camaraderie and brotherhood.

The Marines, World's Strongest Brotherhood

2008-10-04T21:35:00.004-04:00

Today i was at the mall with my beautiful girlfriend. She wanted a Halloween costume so we went to The Spirit of Halloween store. At checkout i figured id ask about military discounts because, though i cant claim the title yet, Ive lived in a Marine family all my life and i finally enlisted. The man at the cashier referred me to his manager. i said that wasn't necessary but he insisted. the man saw my Marines key chain and immediately said "ill give you 20 percent off, Semper Fi". I was blown away at this amazing offer because that is a pretty big discount, considering all Ive done so far was take the first step of enlisting and signing up.

Later that day i was walking with my girlfriend and her friends outside the mall. I saw a group of about 5 men with the standard regulation haircut. This isn't uncommon for this area hut something really stood out about these guys. So, as i approached them i asked if they were stationed on Ft. Belvoir, referring to the nearest Army base since there aren't many navy, air force, or Marines in this area. The immediately responded, "no sir, were Marines, stationed in DC". We talked for at least 20-30 minutes and exchanged stories about the Corps. They informed me that they were in training to be on the drill team at 8th and I. This is a prestigious group of Marines because they guard the barracks that was one of the few buildings left standing when the Brits burned Washington. The Brits left it alone because they said that they respected the Marines because they were the only branch that really put up a hell of a fight.

The bond shared by Marines is something that is immediately recognizable. It is amazing how they can be picked out of a crowd. Even the retired Marines who have long since grown out the regulation haircut to civilian styles. There is a persona, an attitude, a presence that Marines have that is unlike any other profession. This brotherhood of the Marine Corps is like the worlds most bad ass and tight-nit fraternity in the world.

Semper Fi

Kind Strangers

2008-10-01T17:57:00.005-04:00

I just got back from what very well be my last fishing trip with the family before I ship out. I don't have much time on the Internet because I have work to do however the one thing that stood out in relation to the topic of this blog is the welcoming attitudes of the locals to military. The manager bought my dessert and some complete strangers paid for my family's dinner because they overheard our conversation about me enlisting and saw my Marine sweatshirt. These are the kinds of things that make me feel obligated to fulfill what I said I was going to do. they are all thanking me and before long i will be proud to say that i did something worthwhile of praise.

OPSEC

2008-09-27T22:08:00.004-04:00

This post is to describe the nature of this blog.

This is a personal story of my experiences in the Corps.

Due to a rule called OPSEC(Operation Security), i will limit what i choose to post.

This is the world wide web and it is accessible by anyone. Due to this fact, I am required to sensor what i post. I will not post any locations, dates, times, or operation specific information that would jeopardize the security of any operations i am affiliated with.

This is merely a documentary of one Marines experiences and should not be used as factual reference.

Everything i post will indeed be factual. However, i reserve the right to change names, dates, etc. in order to protect the mission and my fellow Marines.

Thank you for understanding this and, again, please feel free to post any questions, comments, or concerns.

Semper Fi

Marine Corps Museum

2008-09-27T21:40:00.004-04:00

I will be shipping out to MCRD(Marine Corps Recruiting Depot) Parris Island in less than four months so today I decided to make the trip down to Quantico, VA to see the Marine Corps Museum. It really gave the concept of what the Marine Corps stands for while simultaneously giving a history of the Corps in a fun interactive way. To conclude the day we went to the Globe & Laurel, a Marine restaurant, which has been mentioned in many documentaries and Marine literature. The food was exceptional and the service was amazing. Marine memorabilia adorned the walls. The birthplace of the Marine Corps was ironically in a bar in Philadelphia, PA, at a pub called Tun Tavern. Since that day, on November 10, 1775, Marines have kept up the tradition of camaraderie in bars all around the world. This restaurant really gave a sense of Marine tradition.
This is Recruit Pvt. Siegel, signing out for tonight.
Semper Fidelis

Intro

2008-09-26T17:57:00.003-04:00

Hello,
This is Poolee Siegel. I am currently in the Marine Corps DEP(Delayed Entry Program). I intend to log all my experiences and stories from MEPS(Military Enterance Processing Station) to EAS(End of Active Service) and depending on how this blog goes, I will extend it through the remaining 4 years I have signed up for in the Marine Corps Reserve.
I am new to the whole blog concept so I have to see how it all works, but assuming it is open post, feel free to post any questions comments or concerns. If anything I post is unclear please feel free to ask me to clarify. I will attempt to put the meanings of military terminology and abbreviations following the word but if there is any other confusion feel free to ask me about it.
-Semper Fidelis (motto of the Marine Corps, meaning: always faithful)