Cpl Wood, S.H. Page 1
Quarterly Book Report
20141217
Once Marine The book Once a Marine by Nick Popaditch with Mike Steere is a story of courage in the battlefield, commitment to ones brothers in arms, and overcoming in seemingly overwhelming circumstances. It outlines how quickly one can go from strength to weakness, but through mental toughness ingrained in to every Marine’s inner fiber, one can have victory and prove the world wrong. The leadership shown in this book should be imitated by those who wish to give their all in service to Corps and country. Gunnery Sergeant Mike Popaditch is what one might call a typical Jarhead. Loud, stubborn, and arrogant. He served as a Tank Commander in the Iraq War. His face has been shown in a viral image from 2003, smoking a cigar with a grin on his face from the top of a tank. His career some may call normal, others consider it an addiction. After serving one enlistment, Popaditch was honorably discharged as an
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The left eye is also sunken in and bleeding, but still working and is able to be saved. He is flown to Germany for further treatment, before returning home, leaving his men behind. It takes months to recover, but this man is no quitter. He purposely states he felt no fear, no regret or guilt, and not once consider asking someone to tell his wife goodbye and that he loved her. No matter what, he would push through. He is a Marine, and Marines do not give up when it gets difficult; they push harder. And when his brothers returned from Iraq, he had a barbecue and cold beers waiting for them. On April 22, 2005, Gunnery Sergeant Popaditch formally retired from the United States Marine Corps. Not by choice, but per the needs of the Marine Corps, and his inability to continue meeting them. It was not what he wanted or how he wanted it, but he accepts it, knowing his personal battle is not over, and he will always be a
Owen states that he has altered some names, and that since he is human some events may have played out differently. Lt. Owen also informs that he used help from his coworkers to make sure he retells the tale with utmost honesty. “All the men portrayed here are real, and the substance of their stories is faithful to the actual events depicted.” (Preface, xvi) It is with this precaution we are introduced to the first Chapter. Lt. Owen gives the readers information not only about his background, but also the background of his coworkers. He speaks of the pride a marine should have, and the bravery of Baker-One-Seven. “We were under way. There were tears, but Marines and Marine wives aren’t ashamed of tears when their hymn plays.” (Chap. 3, pg. 46) This memoir serves as a tribute to the Marines of Baker-One-Seven. The events and facts depicted in Owen’s memoir contains historical
Instead, he put himself in harms way in order to not only accomplish the mission, but to ensure that the few Marines he still had fighting would not be over run. Non Commissioned Officers are called on daily to put the needs of the Marines under their charge above their own. As we move on to more recent examples of exemplary NCOs, one would be remiss to not remember Cpl Jason Dunham. Cpl Dunham was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Iraq in 2004. Again, no better justice can be done than to read his citation. "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Rifle Squad Leader, 4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced), Regimental Combat Team 7, First Marine Division (Reinforced), on 14 April 2004. Corporal Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in the town of Karabilah, Iraq, when they heard rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire erupt approximately two kilometers to the west. Corporal Dunham led his Combined Anti-Armor Team towards the engagement to provide
Soldier’s Heart by Gary Paulson is a magnificent book that shows the true horrors of war. The heart felt story about a young boy named Charley at the beginning he was excited about the war, he went as far as to lie about his age to get in.
The book is intended to show readers how the direction and purpose of the Marine Corps has been influenced by many over the years. It shows the pride, determination and love of the Corps and our country that Krulak felt.
The subject of this book has affect my life by serving as a reality check of what my Marine predecessors went through in order for me to be able to obtain the deep-rooted fighting tactics today. I will never have to deal with and survive the adversities that the Marines of Fox Company did. It also affected me by teaching me that as a Marine, no matter what struggles may present themselves, I will always thrive and keep fighting.
November 10, 1775, Tun Tavern Philadelphia, PA. This was the original birthplace of the strongest branch of military on earth, the Marines. The Marines have been the backbone of the military and of America since for hundreds of years. I believe the Marines have been around in other forms under different names since roman times. The Marines
Every Marine knows that we fight for each other and nothing will ever come between the brotherhood of Marines. The book Leading Marines talks about three major keys Ethos, Foundation, and Challenges of the United States Marine Corps.
The Marlboro Marine, James Blake Miller, fought in the Iraq War, and is notoriously known for the photograph he appeared, smoking a cigarette, with a look of confusion and suffering on his face. Although he has been out of the war for a few years, Miller has recurring nightmares from combat. Some of himself behind the gun, ready to fire, and getting the feeling that he is there with the person he is firing at, and envisions their life flashing before them. Through the tremendous agony Miller has undergone, he says he has began to wonder why he is still living, and why other people died that were much stronger than him. Admitting that he still constantly thinks about being in Iraq, Miller expresses that he wants to be by himself, which is the reason that he and his wife divorced, even though they were living happily before he went on deployment. With Miller’s unforgettable memories, returning to the life he had before the war is
The United States Marine Corps is a frequently misunderstood, occasionally maligned but more frequently mythologized division of the U.S. Armed Forces. Sometimes its role is perceived as overlapping the roles and responsibilities of its military counterparts such as the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force. However, as the exhaustive text by Victor Krulak shows, it is far more often seen as enhancing, focusing and insuring the roles and responsibilities. As the original pressing of Krulak's text was completed in 1984, a great many of the sentiments that permeate First in Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps carry pointedly Cold War-related messages and imperatives. However, an open-minded consideration of the text demonstrates a particular relevance for the servicemen and women of today's U.S. Marine Corps.
Task: Provide an essay summarizing MCWP 6-11 Leading Marines, also answer the question of, ‘Why did the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps want every Marine to read MCWP 6-11’, with 1000-1500 words.
America never truly recovered from the shock that followed the collapse of the Twin Towers in lower Manhattan, the strike on the Pentagon, the final crashed airline in Shanksville, PA.
“Nearly every Marine I’ve met is hoping this war with Iraq will be his chance to get some.”
During boot camp, we were taught about the Battle of Fallujah, but after reading this book, I was able to understand so much better. I was able to picture their tactics, strategies, their emotions, and why the Marines were called the “Greatest Generation.”
Parts five and six bring together the personal and professional relationship between Marines themselves and the American public. These relationships, forged by the millions of men and women who have donned the Marine Corps uniform, are a result of training methods and careful selection. General Krulak gives the reader a taste of why Marines do what they have come to be known as America’s force in readiness. First to Fight has many good traits. The book, while easy to read and addictively interesting, never sugarcoats the intense conflicts between high level officials. General Krulak enhances the “official” record with personal accounts of events and people now legendary. His no-holds-barred approach to his writing makes General Krulak’s book both honest and educational. His explanations of the struggle to keep the Marine Corps alive and the early development of amphibious doctrine make First to Fight a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the modern Marine Corps. In parts of the book, General Krulak provides a mountain of detail. While these facts would be of great historical value for a reader who knows military structure and nomenclature, they tend to bog down the reader at points. The political volleys also tend to get tedious when the General describes the how the Marine Corps had to fight tooth and nail for institutional survival. These
10. I believe that every marine should definitely read this book. This book tells about true commitment and courage is about there is a lot to learn from this book. I agree with all the points that the author gave in his writing and think that this book should remain in the commandant’s reading list.