Thomas P. Daly Author of RAGE COMPANY

On this morning, half a world away, a young American will awake inside his government issued sleeping bag. Rising for his day’s work he’ll change his socks, lace his combat boots and maybe brush his teeth. Depending on how long he’s been in the field, he may even think about the comfort of a warm shower, but the thought won’t last long. When he grabs his rifle the seriousness of his profession eliminates the notion of comfort. The weapon reminds him that every day he may not want to sacrifice his life for his nation, but that every day he willingly accepts that risk. He is a United States Marine and today, 10 November, is his birthday.

Now, it’s not his literal birthday, the one that recognizes his passage through his mother’s womb. This day represents a Marines birth into the ranks of the world’s finest infantry, America’s Corps of Marines. It is a birth that pays tribute to a long history of battlefield distinction and soldierly virtue. On this day Marines will honor their brethren who routed the British at Trenton, earned the “blood-stripe” at Chapultepec, held the wall at Peking, became the Teufelhunden in a wheat-field surrounding the Bois de Belleau, hoisted the colors on Mount Suribachi, and fought block by block at Hue. What they will forget to do is recognize their own place within this lineage.

Since 9/11 our Marines have been at war. Two months after the Twin Towers fell Marines seized Kandahar Airfield from the Taliban. In 2003 they fought through “ambush alley” in Nasiriyah and crushed the Republican Guard in Al Kut. Then, they produced the iconic image of the Iraq invasion, helping Iraqi citizens tear down a statue of Saddam in Firdos Square, Baghdad. As America’s dream of a quick victory in Iraq turned into roadside bombs and constant deployments, the current generation of Marines rose to the challenge. In 2004, thousands of al Qaeda fighters stood and faced our Marines in Fallujah. House by house, the Marine Corps routed them from the city. Al Qaeda has not challenged us to a conventional fight since.

In 2006, Marines in the town of Habbaniyah began cooperating with bands of Sunni militiamen in their area of operations. The battlefield success their relationship bred became a tribal phenomenon; turning secular, nationalist Sunnis against the extremist, sectarian violence preached by al Qaeda. By the summer of 2007 fighting in Anbar Province, a place where one-fifth of America’s troops were stationed yet two-fifths of her casualties were produced, had nearly ceased. In Ramadi, which al Qaeda declared the capital of the Islamic State of Iraq, Marines danced in the streets with ordinary Iraqis. The perception of America from the view of the average Iraqi began to change. The winds of war blew in our favor.

Accompanying this current generation’s battlefield distinction is the stress of the combat experience. Despite organizations like Team Red, White and Blue, Semper Fi Fund, or Wounded Warrior Project, the leading killer of Marines besides combat is suicide. In 2008 more Marines were dying in motorcycle crashes than Iraq. Substance abuse and divorce are significantly higher than pre-war levels. And the pace of operations won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

So, one could imagine, not too many Americans would be willing to join the few, the proud, and march off to fight in wars many Americans deem injust or not worthy of the sacrifice. Fortunately, such logic does not apply to America’s youngest patriots. Behind our Marines serving in Afghanistan is a generation of Marines awaiting their turn for the test of combat. They are the “boots” running Range 400 in the Mojave desert or those standing on the depot and island’s yellow footprints about to begin their eternal transformation. These men and women recognize that our enemies haven’t declared war on America, they’ve declared war on everything America represents: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They refuse to stand by and do nothing.

For 235 years the fighting spirit and prestigious reputation of our Corps has continued to grow in stature. In every clime and place we’ve earned the respect of enemies and non-combatants alike. Today’s generation continues to do the same.

Marines! Happy Birthday.

Hopefully this story about Awaekning fighters in Iraq rejoining al Qaeda, reported by the New York Times, is the exception and not the norm. If not, pack your bags…

So, this morning I was on FoxNews discussing what I wanted hear the President say in his speech tonight. Like I said this morning, I really wanted to hear him discuss the surge, the success it achieved in Iraq and what it means for Afghanistan. I have to admit, he gave me more than I thought he would, but, here’s what I liked and didn’t like:

Positive, he said something good about President Bush:

no one could doubt President Bush’s support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security.

Hey, it’s not much, but judging by what he’s said before, I think this is a step in the right direction.

Negative, I thought this was about Iraq, not the economy:

We have spent over a trillion dollars at war, often financed by borrowing from overseas. This, in turn, has short-changed investments in our own people, and contributed to record deficits.

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So, I’ve just about had it with this whole WikiLeaks thing. Now, they’re threatening to release some CIA document….I mean seriously, where is Jason Bourne when you need him?

Although maybe we don’t need him. The Commandant of the Marine Corps just said that keeping 202,000 Marines constructively occupied is not an easy task. Well, I’d like to see a few of them take care of Mr. Julian Assange.

“Kastner has been missing for 2 months, they just found his body in yellowstone, self-inflicted gunshot…

Last night I received the above as a text message from James Thomas, “Rage 2 Actual.” Sergeant Peter Kastner was one of his squad leaders.

At the moment, I’m still speechless. However, there are a few things I have to say to Peter:

It feels like yesterday that you were sitting in my state-room aboard the USS Dubuque, discussing your squad’s affairs with Lieutenant Thomas. You were a strong, disciplined leader, with a John Wayne presence. When other’s would have lost their cool, you were calm, relaying your intent in a soft and resolute voice. You always went beyond the expectation.

Even when things started to go wrong.

After taking two IED blasts your memory began to erode. Doubt set in.

Days later, you watched Clint die. And you collected his remains.

I still remember how it affected you. The confidence and strength were visibly removed. And I didn’t know what to say.

Things didn’t get any better after the deployment. You left the Corps, became a civilian, and began a new war with PTSD. I’m sorry I let you fight it alone.

I let you fall off my radar. I let you down. I failed you. Because, alone, you went into Yellowstone to face your enemy. You won’t be coming back. You’re beyond this life.

I’m not sure if you ever read the book, as you went missing not long after it was published. It was my attempt to capture what you, one of the best damn Marines I’ve had the pleasure to serve with, accomplished in life. I only wish I could have told you that in person.

You may be beyond my reach, but you are not forgotten.

Semper Fi Sergeant.