November 10th, 1775 is the birthdate of the United States Marine Corps. I know this because I joined the Marines on June 5, 1986, just 2 days after my high school graduation. I was crazy, young, naive, dumb, etc, etc. When my four years was up, I was happy to be a free man! Having said that, I am proud to have served in the Marines. I went in with the desire to serve my country and do good in the world.

I enlisted with the guaranteed infantry option. I wanted to be a rifleman. The Corps made me a 60mm Mortar Man instead. My first assignment was with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. The company is known as “Suicide Charley” because they fought to almost the last man in the Battle of Guadacanal in the Second World War. But I was not happy as a Mortar Man so I volunteered for Recon, the elite of the Marines. Being too proud to fail, I endured a grueling Recon School of which only 13 men out of 37 made it.

Being a Recon Marine was rewarding. It allowed me to feel as if I was fulfilling my desire to serve and be a part of something bigger than myself. Unfortunately, on a personal level, I got lost in the hyper-masculinity of the environment that actualized the motto of “live hard, play hard.” Thankfully God used this time to humble me and when I could no longer see any hope in the drunken and immoral lifestyle that I had become enslaved to, I reached out to Him. He rescued me from that hole.

The part of the Marine story that is most significant, is the desire to serve and connect with something greater than ourselves. I believe that this is a God created desire in all of us. He has created us to serve Him. He offers us the opportunity to be a part of the Kingdom of His Son: King Jesus.

This video still resonates with me and what originally drew me to the Marine Corps. It is why I still use the Marine Motto of “Semper Fi,” or “Always Faithful.” So as my wife has learned to say, “once a Marine, always a Marine.” Here’s to all Marines on our birthday.

Semper Fi and Happy Birthday,
Shane+