Marine Testimonial from a Vietnam Veteran
I joined the Marines when I was seventeen. I really didn’t know much about the Constitution that I swore that oath to and when I lined up on the yellow footprints the first thing that I saw were some choice excerpts from the UCMJ about non-judicial punishment and following orders.
One of the things that I remember learning in Marine Corps history was that Marines guarded trains (the mail) in the 1920s. I was not taught about the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878.
The significance was lost on me at the time; no training about the U.S. Constitution that I was sworn to defend, and that there was president for Marines to serve inside the U.S. at the pleasure of the Federal Government.
When I returned from Vietnam, not long before I was released from active duty so it had to be early 1971, I was sent to “Riot Control School.” One of the things that my instructor said that stuck in my mind for all these years was, “They are your fellow Americans. Use the minimum force necessary, but all that is necessary.” In retrospect we would have probably done it.
The point of the story is that the threat of our own military being turned on the American people that the founding fathers feared is a well founded fear. What is going on now is not new. Forty years ago I was indoctrinated to do just that. I’ll bet it was happening before my time too.
To his credit, after we had graduated from boot camp, one of my drill instructors upon being asked about unlawful orders replied. “If you think that it is unlawful, and important enough to refuse to obey, you can do that, but you will have to defend that choice at your court marshal.” That was not the party line, it was a Marine talking to his recruits as fellow Marines for the first time.
Regards,
Dave Murray
Oath Keeper
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February 1st, 2011 at 8:33 am
just like the nuremberg trial. what did they say? i was just following orders. we know the outcome. salute welcome aboard!
February 1st, 2011 at 11:54 pm
Welcome aboard, Marine! And welcome home.
That was a great statement you’ve written here. You may enjoy this quote by a dead Vietnam veteran named Steve Mason:
“Old soldiers with bad gums find out too late whom they really served.”
Like you, I’m able now to look back after forty years and recall that the Marine Corps gave us absolutely no study into the Constitution, though requiring that we swear our support for it.
But you and I are awake now, and we’re still Marines in our souls. And, Brother, we ain’t even alone!
Welcome. I salute your service and your undying patriotism.
Salute!
Elias (”C” Battery, 2nd LAAM Btn, FMFPAC, I-Corps, on the ground in-country 1966 & 1967)
February 14th, 2011 at 7:21 pm
I was sworn in as a police officer May of 1970, Bay Area-Calif. It was a time a great social unrest
aggitated by communist and socialist groups like the WeatherUnderground, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Black Panthers, Symbonies Liberation Army, and othes. They caused a great deal of civil unrest at UC Berkeley and surrounding municipalities. The only thing that quelled the rioting, and demonstrations was local law enforcement, accompanied by the National Guard. Yeh, they were fellow Americans by birthright only. The use of force against “American citizens” must be be viewed as to whether or not it is morally justified. The City of Berkeley is a socialst toilet and for all I care it could burn to the ground, but there are some good people living their.
To Protect, and To Serve John