Post by 0311 on Aug 23, 2019 15:59:35 GMT -8
I was a lowly Lance Corporal with Bravo 1/1 on the 15th MEU in Darwin, Australia when we were informed that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. Everyone turned on the tv’s in their berthing areas just in time to see the second plane hit. My friend turned to me and said, “We’re going to war.” He said that before either tower had fallen. Everything was about to change.
Fast forward 2 months. I’m sitting in a fighting hole on the perimeter of FOB Rhino 90 miles south of Kandahar, Afghanistan trying to stay awake. I see a lone Marine striding towards my hole from the hole to my right. He’s moving like he’s coming to crush souls. When he gets close enough I can see the shine on his collar. That was the FIRST time I met General Mattis. He was 20 feet tall. He talked like an NCO and stood like he had a cape billowing in the Afghan wind. He shot the shit like he’d been in the hole next to me for the last few weeks, shivering at night and scorching in the day. As he was about to leave he asked if we needed anything. I responded with the best thing I could think of. “More ammunition and someone to kill, General.” He laughed and said, “That’s the kind of shit that makes me proud to be a Marine.”
Since then I’ve seen General Mattis(he was a Brigadier then) all over the news and holding several important positions. All I can think about is the NCO with a star on his Lapel. You should try to get him on the podcast.
Fast forward 2 months. I’m sitting in a fighting hole on the perimeter of FOB Rhino 90 miles south of Kandahar, Afghanistan trying to stay awake. I see a lone Marine striding towards my hole from the hole to my right. He’s moving like he’s coming to crush souls. When he gets close enough I can see the shine on his collar. That was the FIRST time I met General Mattis. He was 20 feet tall. He talked like an NCO and stood like he had a cape billowing in the Afghan wind. He shot the shit like he’d been in the hole next to me for the last few weeks, shivering at night and scorching in the day. As he was about to leave he asked if we needed anything. I responded with the best thing I could think of. “More ammunition and someone to kill, General.” He laughed and said, “That’s the kind of shit that makes me proud to be a Marine.”
Since then I’ve seen General Mattis(he was a Brigadier then) all over the news and holding several important positions. All I can think about is the NCO with a star on his Lapel. You should try to get him on the podcast.
