December 5, 2004

Past is prologue

By Dave St. John
I remember watching a news clip of a Marine Infantry unit preparing to deploy from Camp Lejuene during the First Gulf War.  I watched a young, squared away sergeant move competently among his men checking their gear and speaking quietly to them despite the rude, intrusive glare from the TV camera lights.  Damn... I was proud of him and there was a muted urge to be there and be part of it again welling up deep from inside me. A few years later, I stopped at Quantico when I had a chance to go back there for a visit in conjunction with a northern Virginia business trip.  I walked out on the 'grinder' at the old T&T Regiment near Main Side and shielded my eyes against the afternoon sun.  It looked different from when I was there in 1962 and '63 and the changes they made were long overdue.  Off in the distance, I saw a figure walking rapidly across the asphalt surface and as he noticed me, he changed his route and approached me.  He got closer, and said,...(Read Full Article)