Band Of Brothers

[thedrifter]

1. ALL MARINES ARE ENTITLED TO DIGNITY AND RESPECT AS INDIVIDUALS, BUT MUST ABIDE BY COMMON STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY PROPER AUTHORITY.

2. A MARINE SHOULD NEVER LIE, CHEAT, OR STEAL FROM A FELLOW MARINE OR FAIL TO COME TO HIS AID IN TIME OF NEED.

3. ALL MARINES SHOULD CONTRIBUTE 100% OF THEIR ABILITES TO THE UNITS MISSION. ANY LESS EFFORT BUY AN INDIVIDUAL PASSES THE BUCK TO SOMEONE ELSE.

4. A UNIT, REGARDLESS OF SIZE, IS A DISCIPLINED FAMILY STRUCTURE, WITH SIMILAR RELATIONSHIPS BASED ON MUTUAL RESPECT AMONG MEMBERS.

5.IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ISSUES AND PROBLEMS WHICH TEND TO LESSEN A UNITS EFFECTIVENESS BE ADDRESSED AND RESOLVED.

6. A BLENDING OF SEPARATE CULTURES, VARYING EDUCATIONAL LEVELS, AND DIFFERENT SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS IS POSSIBLE IN AN UNSELFISH ATMOSPHERE OF COMMON GOALS, ASPIRATIONS, AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING.

7. BEING THE BEST REQUIRES COMMON EFFORT, HARD WORK, AND TEAMWORK. NOTHING WORTHWHILE COMES EASY.

8. EVRY MARINE DESERVES JOB SATISFACTION, EQUAL CONSIDERATION AND RECOGNITION OF HIS ACCOMPLISMENTS.

9. KNOWING YOUR FELLOW MARINE WELL ENABLES YOU TO LEARN TO LOOK AT THINGS THROUGH HIS EYES, AS WELL AS YOUR OWN.

10. ISSUES DETRACTING FROM THE EFFICENCY AND SENCE OF WELLBEING OF AN INDIVIDUAL SHOULD BE SURFACED AND WEIGHED AGAINST THE IMPACT ON THE UNIT AS A WHOLE.

11. IT MUST BE RECOGNIZED THAT A BROTHERHOOD CONCEPT DEPENDS ON ALL MEMEBERS BELONGING- - BEING FULLY ACCEPTED BY OTHERS WITHIN.

SEMPER FIDELIS MARINES

[thedrifter]

by David A. Bounds

When your country called you to prevent
The dominoes from falling
You answered the summons and willingly marched
Off to that far away land
Through the paddies and highlands of
A place called Vietnam
You fought enemies, vague and obscured
Placing your fellow man above yourself

The suffering you endured in defense of our flag
Took its toll in blood, sweat, and tears
While the people of your own great land
Seemed to support your hidden foes
Yet you continued to serve?to fight?and to die?
Determined to see each other through the horrors
And trials of the hell we know as war

Today I felt on the valor you displayed
And question how you ever survived
Not the shock and despair of seeing comrades die
Nor comforting those wounded and drained
But, how did you triumph over the agony of seeing
The nation you served turn its back
Spitting in the face of its brave young men whose
Only crime was to answer their nation?s call

Perhaps it?s not too late to make amends,
To atone for the wrongs of the past
May we, as a nation, extend a heart-felt thanks
To all who deserved it then
And may we learn from those errors of history
Never betraying those who answer our call
To fight and defend our Liberty?
Our American brothers-in-arms


Sempers,

Roger