Charlie Company
Last night I watched news footage of Charlie Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, USMC get on buses to begin their journey to the gulf. Their wives and children had to hug them around their M-16A2 service rifles. It was tough for me to watch. Tough because I know they will most likely see combat. Tough because some may not be coming back. And tough because I am not going with them.
I spent eight years in Charlie Company in Weapons Platoon. When I got out of the Marines a few weeks before September 11, 2001 I was a Platoon Sergeant, in charge of the Mortar Section. I trained most of the Marines in the Mortar Section. I tried to teach them everything I knew about the art and science of the 81 mm Light Armor Vehicle-mounted Mortar. I tried to teach them discipline, and we trained hard to develop proficiency in our weapon system. We consistently out-performed active duty Mortar Platoons, and we had a great time playing spades and hearts, and freezing in the west desert of Utah and the countryside of Norway.
Here I now sit, warm in my office. A big part of me wishes I was with my platoon, doing my duty. That's what I trained for. But I am now a former Marine, and they are gone. Plus, I think my wife would pose more of a danger than the Republican Guard if I left. She will be giving birth to our first child in six weeks.
8:22:41 AM 
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