The Privilege of Being a Marine

Being part of the U.S. Marine Corps is a true privilege. Marines embody sacrifice and loyalty like no other, and we honor their service with the utmost respect.

An Unexpected Encounter

One man recently shared a moving story about meeting a retired Marine for the first time. Feeling compelled to approach and thank the veteran, he was left deeply moved by what followed. Here’s his story.

A Simple Greeting, A Powerful Response

The man greeted the veteran with, “Semper Fi, we respect your generation,” as a sign of respect. The veteran’s response took him by surprise. Read the Facebook post below.

“I spotted a man at Starbucks this morning, wearing a Marine Raider pin, a Purple Heart, and other pins on his hat. I walked up to him and said, ‘Semper Fi, we respect your generation.’ He replied, ‘Semper Fi, 1st Raider Battalion, Alpha Company, Okinawa.’ Anyone familiar with history knows these men are the salt of the Earth.”

Stories of Sacrifice

The veteran then shared his wartime experiences. He recounted how he loaded magazines with tracers to set Japanese buildings ablaze during battle. “All I got was a chunk out of my hip,” he said. A Corpsman rushed to his aid, but the situation was intense. “I don’t remember what happened for the next week. I woke up in a hospital with a doctor draining fluid from my chest—I had lost a lung,” he chuckled. “How does a man live to be 90 with just one lung? Hahaha.”

A Miraculous Survival

He also recounted his recovery at a hospital in Guam. While there, 200 Japanese paratroopers attacked the area. He had two choices: stay and fight or run and hide. He chose to rip out the needles, tape his wounds, and hide for 24 days. After being rescued and flown back to the U.S., a doctor caught him trying to light a cigarette. “What the hell is wrong with you? You only have one lung,” the doctor scolded before sedating him. He woke up in an American hospital.

A Life Well-Lived

The veteran eventually recovered and attempted to re-enlist, but he was medically retired. The man helped him to his vehicle—a golf cart—and shook his hand one last time. “You’re the saltiest Marine I’ve ever met,” he said. The veteran responded, “All my friends are saltier than I am. I’ve lived an amazing life with no regrets. I wouldn’t change a thing; it was the time of my life.” As they parted ways, the veteran added, “I hope I see you again, young man, so we can chat.”

A Piece of Living History

This encounter made the man’s year. He spent an hour and a half listening to raw, unfiltered stories from a living piece of history. The veteran made sure to honor the bravest man he’d ever known and praised the Raider community for their continued excellence. His final words were, “Semper Fi, Raiders never fade away.”