Happy Birthday, Marines!

Today being the 230th birthday of the Marine Corps, I thought I'd share some of my favorite quotes by and about Marines:

"Being ready is not what matters. What matters is winning after you get there." (Lieutenant General Victor H. Krulak, USMC, April 1965.)

"You don't hurt 'em if you don't hit 'em." (Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller, USMC, 1962.)

"Retreat Hell! We're just attacking in another direction." (Attributed to Major General Oliver P. Smith, USMC, Korea, December 1950.)

"Goddam it, you'll never get the Purple Heart hiding in a foxhole! Follow me!" (Captain Henry P. "Jim" Crowe, USMC, Guadalcanal, 13 January 1943.)

"Come on, you sons of bitches-do you want to live forever?" (Attributed to Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly, USMC, Belleau Wood, June 1918.)

"So they've got us surrounded, good! Now we can fire in any direction, those b*****ds won't get away this time!"CHESTY PULLER, USMC

I used to get frustrated with the Marine Corps staff officers I worked with at CENTCOM -- they seemed to be the biggest believers in the "Stay in your lane" philosophy of staff work (I always noted that on a submarine, we call that mindset "dereliction of duty"). Still, if I had to pick a group to reach an objective the needed to be reached, I'd choose the Marines.

Semper Fi!