The first thing I always hear when someone finds out my fiancé or brother is a marine is something regarding a man in dress blues and how handsome they are. Yes, they are extremely good-looking in them but there is so much more to it than that.
Behind that uniform that you all see is someone's son, grandchild, brother or cousin. They still see him as the wild child that he was growing up, not the grown man you see. That is their baby, their pride and joy.
The Marines are "The Few The Proud" for a reason. They are trained, disciplined, and fearless beasts. Everything that they do is for you and I. They are some of the most humbled men and women I have ever met. But my marines are different. They are different because I've seen their whole journey and believe me it is not pretty.
I met Jonah when I was 14 years old and one month later when I turned 15, he was 17. The upcoming school year was his senior year, he had plans on attending The Citadel in the Fall of 2013. Life happened and he changed his mind and went straight into The Marines instead. I was heart broken. Also, at the same time, my brother was joining. They left two weeks apart and missed every holiday. They were gone November to February. I wrote them every day I could. I was told stories which I will not tell, because some are graphic. I watched them both graduate. After my brother graduated I remember walking into where they had lived for those three months. It looked like prison to say the least. They have certain amounts of time to eat, clean, shower and sleep. They were treated as if they were the worst scum on Earth. Just to earn their title. At the end of boot camp, they undergo the ultimate test: The Crucible. This is a 54-hour test with minimal food and rest. Not to mention it is 45+ miles of marching. But if they succeed then they earn their Eagle, Globe and Anchor.
Are you still just thinking of those dress blues?
They were stripped from all of their civilian rights and privileges and given rules and regulations on how to live their new life accordingly. The only thing that gets them through boot camp is family and friends who write and support them because the things they have to endure are gruesome. Even after boot camp they continually need support.
When your marine comes home they are a totally different person and they just expect you to pick up how they are now and go along with it. But it is hard, believe me. I've been treated poorly sometimes but I don't get angry. I just understand that they are going through something that I can not know about or understand at that point in time.
These past few years of my life have been the most informative and confusing but looking back I am proud of how far we have all come. This life sucks. It's not perfect. Sometimes it is very rewarding but most of the time it's awful. You have good days and bad days.
Marine Corps life isn't for everybody. You must be one of the strongest people to love and support your marine, and if you do that then I respect you.
Semper Fidelis.
