Thanks all..

Funny.. Two things from my Marine Corps times I will never forget:

1. At 29 Palms California, I got to see the Silent Drill Team. If you've not seen this team in person, I recommend you see them if at all possible. Anyway.. they were on the Generals lawn which is easily 4-5 football fields. One of the Marines lost his cover (hat) and one of the other Marines slowly marched to get it. I swear it took 10 minutes for him to march out, pick up the cover (dusted if off all ceremonial too), march back, place it back on the Marines head and carry on. The team continued on, just very cool.

2. I went to a computer repair class in Ft. Huachuca AZ. Multi service schools.. Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy. Anyway, I was in a night class, so I got to watch the services come in and out for their classes during the day. All the other branches would kind of walk in formation and move from place to place.
The Marines.. keep in mind these are all E-3's and below.. less than 2 years in EASILY.. would precision drill in and out of the barracks. Everyone.. and I mean EVERYONE would stop to watch these guys march in. Talk about swelling up with pride!!

JROTC is funny.. I remember being in San Diego and a JROT was starting to give me crap for not saluting him.. I've never seen a Sgt. Major move that fast!! "You leave the real Marines alone.. what the H#@# is wrong with you!!"

Lastly.. I've actually been to Iwo Jima.. coolest, toughest, proudest thing I've ever done in my life. I've got a large baggie of sand too.