Comments

I had used Haloscan for years for my commenting on this blog.  As the times have changed, Haloscan is no more.  And with that, I have lost all of those years worth of comments.  I never downloaded them to keep them and my attempts to get them back from the company (Echo) seems futile.

So I am starting a leaf by using the blogger's version and I hope that this will still be an enjoyable website with comments.

Things I am Going to Miss

This is some of the cadences that I will miss saying and hearing in return 20 fold.
(The authors are unknown, these have been passed by word of mouth for many generations.)

1775

BACK IN 1775,

MY MARINE CORPS CAME ALIVE.

1^ST THERE CAME THE COLOR GOLD,

SHOWED THE WORLD THAT WE ARE BOLD.

NEXT THERE CAME THE COLOR BLUE,

SHOWED THE WORLD THAT WE ARE TRUE.

THEN THERE CAME THE COLOR GREEN,

SHOWED THE WORLD THAT WE ARE MEAN.

THEN THERE CAME THE COLOR RED,

SHOWED THE WORLD THE BLOOD WE’VE SHED.

(CAN BE SUNG AS A ROUND OR BY THE LEADER WITH THE PLATOON SINGING “MARINE CORPS” IN BETWEEN LINES.)

HORSE MARINE

MY GRAND DADDY WAS A HORSE MARINE

EVERYTHING HE WORE WAS MARINE CORPS GREEN

HE ATE STEAKS 8 INCHES THICK

HE PICKED HIS TEETH WITH A GUIDON STICK

HE LIVED EVERYDAY OF HIS LIFE IN THE CORPS

TILL THEY SENT HIM OFF TO WAR

THEY SENT HIM TO A PLACE CALLED VIETNAM

TO FIGHT PEOPLE CALLED THE VIETCONG

TILL ONE DAY IN A FIRE FIGHT

HE COME HOME ON A MEDIVAC FLIGHT

NOW HE SITS ON THE PORCH AND STARES

MARKING TIME IN HIS ROCKING CHAIR

EVERYWHERE WE GO

EVERYWHERE WE GO

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW

WHO WE ARE

SO WE TELL THEM

WE’RE THE BOY’S FROM * (INSERT YOUR PLATOON #) YOU’VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT

THE MOTHERS TAKE THEIR DAUGHTERS IN WHEN EVER WE GO OUT!

PEOPLE SAY WE’RE CRAZY FOR THE CRAZY THINGS WE DO

WE’RE THE BOYS FROM *, WHO THE HECK ARE YOU!

MOMMA MOMMA

MOMMA MOMMA CAN’T YOU SEE

WHAT THE MARINE CORPS HAS DONE TO ME?

PUT ME IN A BARBER’S CHAIR,

I TURNED AROUND AND HAD NO HAIR

THEY PUT ME IN SOME CAMMIE GREEN

 THEY TRAINED ME HARD THEY MADE ME MEAN

THEN THEY SHIPPED ME OFF TO WAR

PUT ME ON A FOREIGN SHORE

THEY PUT A RIFLE IN MY HAND

 TOLD ME TO DEFEND OUR LAND

BUT IF I DIE IN A COMBAT ZONE

BOX ME UP AND SHIP ME HOME

PUT ME IN A SET OF DRESS BLUES

COMB MY HAIR AND SHINE MY SHOES

PIN THE MEDALS UPON MY CHEST

AND TELL MOMMA I DID MY BEST

BUT MOMMA MOMMA DON’T YOU CRY

MARINE CORPS MOTTO IS TO DO OR DIE

SAYING, “LEFT RIGHT A LOW RIGHT LEFT”

“LEFT RIGHT A LEFTY RIGHT LEFT”

IF I DIE, BURY ME DEEP

2 M16’S, BENEATH MY FEET

AND BY MY SIDE, PLACE MY 9MM THERE

BUT DON’T FORGET TO PACK MY PT GEAR,

BECAUSE EARLY ONE MORNING, AROUND ZERO-FIVE

THE EARTH’S GONNA SHAKE, THERE WILL BE LIGHTNING IN THE SKY

BUT DON’T YOU WORRY, DON’T COME UNDONE

IT’S JUST ME AND CHESTY PULLER ON A PT RUN.

Physical Evaluation Board

Time has come that my Fun with Navy Medicine will come to a close. I have been on a PEB since January and according to the Magic timeline that was given to me by December I could be on the way out of the Marine Corps. I wrote briefly about the Worst Case Scenarios once before but now that it seems to be reality I have been pinching myself on a regular basis.

The following is what I have learned so far:

During the VA appointment process each member will be assigned a code that is part of the VASRD and the reference for that is 38 CFR part 4. The codes will later translate into the VA's disability rating and has nothing to do with the military's rating. The military rating comes from the unfit condition that is preventing the member from doing his/her job. There can be multiple issues but after the initial is submitted, an addendum for each other unfit condition must be submitted otherwise it doesn't count. Of course the magic number for permanently disability retirement listing (PDRL) is 30 percent or higher. Anything less than that and the member is under 20 years will get a severance package. The math for that is 2 x base pay x # years, if combat related the number of years is 6. Obviously that doesn't help the more senior Marines.
(The unfit condition is anything that stops the Marine from performing ITSS/MOS/PFT/CFT.)

Before a package is sent to MEB the Marine is going to sign it and receive a copy. It was reiterated that the Marine must pay attention for any discrepancies since this will delay the process or give an undesired result from the board.

Right now, I am about halfway through the VA appointment process and have not seen my doctor for my unfitting condition as of yet.

I am going to have to find another theme to right about. Maybe I will write about the squirrels that make my clothes for me and the birds that make my bed.