Sgt Grit Marine Forums

I received this book as a Veteran's day present from my in-laws.  On the inside front cover the author describes Marines as "professional killers."  This raised a red flag, however the author is a Marine.  The book is a collection of many Marine's recollections of the various battles they participated in.  Nothing ground breaking as to the title.  Fighting for your buddy, peer pressure and the like.  Other than some inane comments about the current war and an absolute disregard for mine,all in all a pretty good read.  I would especially recommend to all Korea Marines as many of the storys derive from that era

Why would a red flag go up at that description?  Isn't the mission of the infantry (and therefor the rest of the Corps) to "find, fix and destroy the enemy'?  How do you define destroy if not KILL and didn't we get paid to do it? 

The red flag went up because it smacks of sensationalism.  You and I and I would venture to guess the rest of the Marines on this board take great pride in the mission of the Infantry and our ability to accomplish that mission.  If you or any other Marine called me that, I would take it as a complement, however if a civilian used such verbage with me, my reply would be less than complementary.  This book isn't meant for Marines,  I think we all know why we fought,  it's written for civilians. Anyway, read the book(send me an e-mail and I'll send you my copy) and if you don't that portions are almost negative towards our Corps, I would be surprised. 

 

Roger, I understand your meaning now. Brady can be a horse's ass many times. I read his story about his service in Korea and it was not too bad. I think most of his problem stems from too much self regard as the precious one (imagine a Marine thinking that).  I can remember that one of our Fla. MCL officers wrote to him asking him to use the phrase "former" rathe than "ex" in refering to Marine veterans.  Brady sent a pretty snotty reply.  This was a good 15 or 20 years ago. 

I saw this in a book store the other day and couldn't quite remember the title. Thought I had seen it here. I will keep it on my list and pick it up when I find it discounted.

Thanks and Semper Fi,

'Roy

I am about half way through this book.  It started out relatively good.  (He actually asked the question to people, "Why do Marines Fight").  Then it turned into him on a soap box about being against the war in Iraq, how the military doesn't really know what they are doing now days etc.  THe last 5 or 6 chapters after I read them I asked myself, "Okay what did that have to do with the question "Why do Marines Fight".    I hope it gets better.  And you are right, he does have a very high self regard!

One of the Marines that saved Chris told me to read this.