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Col. Harvey Barnum (Ret.)
I read this quote from Col Barnum in an article a while back, I know we are all proud of our branches but it made me proud to have been part of the Marine Corps in some small way-any jarhead can appreciate it.:D
It comes from an interview with a magazine call "Vietnam".
Vietnam: Why did you decide on the Marine Corps?
Barnum: Two reasons. My cousin was in the Marines during World War II, and my dad enlisted, but the age law was passed and my dad didn't go, which was a good thing because everyone from his recruit platoon on Parris Island went to Iwo Jima. However, another thing that really turned the tide for me was Military Day during my senior year in high school. Every branch of the service had a representative come to the high school to try and recruit young men. Well, the Air Force recruiter got up to make a pitch, and there were a lot of catcalls. Then the Army and Navy recruiters got the same treatment. A Marine gunnery sergeant was the last one to get up to speak in the auditorium. He said, "There isn't anybody in this room I would want in my Marine Corps." Then he tore into the faculty, accusing them of "jawjacking and scratching their butts while all this turmoil was going on" and saying, "This is embarrassing." He concluded by saying, "I'm wasting my time here," and he sat down.
Vietnam: Sounds like a typical Marine Corps "gunny" to me.
Barnum: Well, needless to say, there was a line at his table after the presentation. I joined the Platoon Leaders Course (PLC) in college and took my training at Quantico, Virginia, in 1959 and 1961. I was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation from college in 1962 and commenced my officer training at Quantico.
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