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Have you ever had a moment that really seemed to shock you?  I did recently when I heard that my little brother had signed up to join America’s Finest – The United States Marines.  That is him in the photo with my family and friends.  (The smallest kid in the photo)  My dad recently called me and told me that he wanted to go into Avionics and that he had to do some of the tests this month and when he graduates he is good to go! 

I went to the CETPA conference back in 2009 in San Diego and I thought I had written about this but I couldn’t find it.  My boss and I one night drove over to Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego.  We got to the gate and I let the guard know that I hadn’t stepped foot on this base since graduating from it back in 1996.  He said he felt sorry for me but still couldn’t let me drive on.  I asked him if I could then stop as I made the U-Turn to drive off the base and just capture the moment.  He said yes. 

I recall what my Series Sergeant Major said to us when we were transferring from 2nd Phase to 3rd Phase. (Camp Pendleton, CA back to San Diego, CA)  He told us as we were driving up to the base of MCRD to look around while we are on the bus because we will probably never set foot on this base again in our lifetime.  I am hoping for another family member to go to MCRD San Diego to graduate so that I can go back and re live the moment of the smell of the Parade Deck and the Barracks.  Many of you probably cant stand the smell of it now but long after you have been out of the Corps you miss the fellowship and brotherhood of your fellow Devil Dogs!  You will even miss the place where you were born and transformed into the MARINE.

Thanks for reading!

Semper Fidelis,

Manuel Perez

Happy Veterans Day!

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This week the United States Marine Corps will be celebrating its 236th Birthday. 

I want to challenge you all to go out of your way this week and find a Marine or a Veteran and give them a big hug for what they do and or did.  For it is because of Veterans like them that we can celebrate simple freedoms like protesting for stupid causes that have no meaning.  For without them out there protecting our country we believe we have the right to throw bottles at police officers in full riot gear and believe that they don’t have the right to defend themselves by throwing tear gas and rubber bullets at dumb protesters. 

In case you didn’t read between my sarcasm, be grateful for what a Veteran does/did or else they fight/fought for no reason. 

Semper Fidelis,

Manuel Perez

…why the Marines don’t have a football team like the Army, Navy or Air Force?

We’re here to protect a country not a quarterback.

Semper Fidelis,

Manuel Perez

I came across this post while catching up on some RSS Feeds and saw this amazing post by One Marine’s View about how they passed the law to allow protesters at funerals of our fallen soldiers.  I thought it was crazy that someone would even think to protest at a funeral of a soldier knowing that there is going to be other soldiers there to help honor the fallen. 

Anyways.. the video in his post down below is from a Dash Camera on a State Trooper’s Police car.  It is amazing to see how thousands of people waited on the side of the highway to salute and honor the fallen Marine.

Truly a blessing to honor those that paid the price for our freedom.

I came across a teacher at work this week that seemed like a liberal because he stated that he had no respect for veterans and all kind of other crap.  I thought to myself, “Here I am setting this guy up with a laptop to finish out the school year with and he has the nerve to give me crap about the military.”  I left him alone to figure it out on his own.  What a jerk. 

Thanks for reading!

Semper Fidelis,

Manuel Perez

I just wanted to share with you a photo of myself for the day of my Birthday.  Yes, it is my Birthday today and I am grateful to be here with you again.

Thanks for reading!

Semper Fidelis,

Manuel Perez

True Story…..

Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were..  A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall.

When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must Have stung quite a bit.

The complaint:

‘Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base:

Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune!  Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special?
Any response would be appreciated..

The response:

Regarding ‘A wake-up call from Luke’s jets’ On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m . , a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques. Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.

At 9 a. m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer’s recount of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I’m sure you didn’t hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son’s flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured..

A four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.

The letter writer asks, ‘Whom do we thank for the morning air show? The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.

Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you….Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom..

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr.
USAF


If  you agree…….Keep it going

Here is an old photo I found from my time with 1st Tank Battalion, Charlie Company – Headquarters Platoon.  I worked as a Radio Operator and on the left is my boss Corporal Eric Royal and on the right is Corporal Dean Werkheiser.  I haven’t run into any of them since I left 1st Tank Battalion back in 1999 but I did come across Eric Royal, who is still serving the Corps, while surfing around on the web. 

I know this photo is old and I didn’t get to update or post anything for Friday, Saturday or Sunday but I had this stomach bug that had me in bed most of the weekend.  I hope you all understand.

Thanks for reading!

Semper Fidelis,

Manuel Perez

In case you haven’t heard about the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Japan last week, then this is your alert.  I have heard that the one Nuclear Power plant already has melted down and a second is on the verge of a meltdown.  They say that about 10,000 people could be dead and some experts say the island shifted east by 13 feet. 

So, what is the US doing to help?  According to this website link the III Marine Expeditionary Force are supporting government of Japan-led humanitarian aid/disaster relief operations.  This brings me back to when I was in Okinawa and we had a typhoon hit the island.  It was very bad and very wet.  I have never got to experience anything like it as we don’t usually have hurricanes or typhoons or tornadoes in California.  I was selected to assist with a typhoon safety team which went around the island and made sandbags and assisted with anything that people needed on the island like emergency material.  The building we were stationed in had three floors and a basement.  We were living in the basement but we had a lot of water leaking in from the floors above.  We went up to see why and noticed that the windows to the building had been blown out and water was coming in quickly.  We had to board up the windows. 

After the typhoon hit the island and left we went out the next day to view the damage.  It was incredible how much force was in this thing because it threw garbage trucks and semis over on to their side.  One big giant tree had gotten lifted up out of the ground with its roots and all.  It was a crazy experience for me and I am sure that the Marines are doing all they can to help out with anything going on on the island of Okinawa and in Japan’s main land as well.

Thanks for reading!

Semper Fidelis,

Manuel Perez

I don’t know about you but if you put me anywhere in California I am pretty sure to find my way around and get to where I need to be, but if you put me smack dab in the middle of Okinawa, Japan then I am pretty sure to get lost.

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