Being part of the U.S. Marine Corps is a privilege. Marines understand sacrifice and loyalty like few others, and we owe them our deepest respect for their service.
A Meaningful Encounter
One man shared a touching story about meeting a retired Marine for the first time. Feeling compelled to say hello and express gratitude, he was overwhelmed by the veteran’s response.
“Semper Fi, we respect your generation,” he said, acknowledging the veteran.
A Veteran’s Story
The veteran’s reply took him by surprise. Here’s the account he shared on Facebook:
Justin Governale wrote about seeing a man with a Marine Raider pin, a Purple Heart, and other medals on his hat at Starbucks. He approached the veteran and said, “Semper Fi, we respect your generation.”
The veteran responded, “Semper Fi, 1st Raider Battalion, Alpha Company, Okinawa.” Those familiar with history know that these men are truly remarkable.
Tales of Valor
The veteran began recounting his experiences. He described how he loaded specific magazines with tracers to ignite Japanese buildings during combat. He managed to set three buildings on fire, saying, “Those sons of bitches didn’t like that.”
In retaliation, the enemy fired a rocket, which killed his squad leader and the assistant loading the belt. The veteran sustained a wound to his hip, while the corpsman rushed over to help him.
Then, the enemy shelled their position so heavily that it resulted in significant casualties. He couldn’t recall the following week of his life until he woke up in a hospital, where a doctor was draining fluid from his chest. He learned he had lost a lung.
Resilience and Recovery
With a laugh, he asked, “How does a man live to be 90 with just one lung? Hahaha.” He then shared his recovery at a hospital in Guam, where he faced another challenge. Two hundred Japanese paratroopers had landed and were attacking friendlies in the area.
Faced with two choices—stay and take his chances or run and hide—he chose to remove all the needles from his body, tape over his wounds, and hide for 24 days. After being rescued and on a flight back to the U.S., another Marine offered him a Lucky Strike cigarette.
As he lit it, the doctor exclaimed, “What the hell is wrong with you? You only have one lung!” They then injected him with medication, causing him to pass out and wake up in an American hospital.
A Lasting Impression
Though he eventually recovered and tried to re-enlist, he was medically retired. The man who shared the story helped the veteran stand and walked him to his vehicle, which was a golf cart.
As they shook hands one last time, he told the veteran he was the saltiest Marine he had ever met. The veteran replied, “All my friends are saltier than I am. I’ve lived an amazing life, and I don’t have any regrets. I wouldn’t change a thing; it was the time of my life.”
He then added, “I hope I see you around again, young man, so we can bullsh*t.”
A Living Piece of History
This encounter made the man’s year. He recognized the veteran as a living piece of history, sharing raw stories that captivated him for an hour and a half, despite his busy day.
The veteran emphasized the bravery of a fellow Marine who deserved to be remembered and spoke fondly of the Raider community. He concluded with, “Semper Fi, Raiders never die.”
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