Just kidding. But coincidental to the conflagration...

Had to watch the film at AMO school. I always think of that Chief running out there in his khakis with a purple K extinguisher.

1967??? Did you pick that year on purpose? Take that crowded deck and launch a stray Zuni and you get the Forrestal. Note Sen Mccain’s A4 is one of the ones on fire on the port side. (And he had nothing to do with the mishap!)

I can't say that I necessarily agree with his isolationist views and WW2 would prove him wrong but if you read all of War Is A Racket you can't question his sincerity. Of course he might've sang a different tune if he had been selected Commandant. Still a Marine through and through.

Smedley Butler said it a long time ago.

Those are all good possibilities for those countries to invite us for greater presence but I don’t think anyone wants to have Anerican “property” type bases. They like us to come, do exercises and visit, then leave. Plus we just can’t afford to build those kinds of places anymore. Housing, schools, commissaries, PX,…

It was a long time ago for me but did a WestPac liberty call in Perth and yes it was awesome.

Yeah had a few protesters yell “go home” at me at the gate. But my wife’s Okinawan so they can't tell her that. ;)

It's also all about infrastructure. The milcon budget is always the lowest. It is an incredible pain to PCS people to Japan - dependapotami and rugrats. Daycare centers, hospitals, American style housing, etc. and Japan pays for it.

Too bad the Aussies just leased Darwin port to the Chinese for 99 years! The Aussies don’t really want Yank bases - just transient visitors.

I think you're referring to Dragon Dream the silver one built at former MCAS Tustin. The difference is they are not LTA but are supposed to use dynamic lift as well to mitigate the disadvantages of conventional blimps. Mainly being pursued for strategic lift. Lockheed skunk works has one as well.

Tell these guys.

I was going to say a proper concrete lined ditch would’ve probably stopped it cold. Then you’d need a rhomboid TOG.

That’s kind of ironic since Chile was one of the last operators of Shermans. 1989?

He doesn't even know RAF is British! LOL

SgtMaj Kasal. Shot to hell and still has straight trigger finger.

I had a rubber adapter for my G19 with finger grooves that helped - I thought the newer models already have that? I have small hands but qualify expert with the M9. Can sweep safety etc no problem. I like the 1911 too. As long as it goes bang and goes somewhere in the black I'm happy.

The old guard at Quantico thought this for the longest time. Must be the millenials being willing to go to 9mm although IIRC some after actions from OIF/OEF still complained about lack of stopping power of 9mm. As one MEU(SOC) CO pointed out during a furious 45 vs 9 debate - it’s just a secondary weapon anyway. I…

I kinda did. Would’ve liked the 17’s longer barrel but my 19 sure was fun to shoot. Then traded it for a Remington Rand M1911A1. Then sold that for nothing because of a woman! ;( never again!!!

It is even more relevant today. How many countries coastlines are fortified like Omaha Beach or Iwo Jima?Who can afford to defend every mile of their littoral?Saddam Hussein wasted a lot of time and effort fortifying the Kuwaiti coast just because of a MEB diversion that contributed to the success of the left hook.