If you read this without chills or a tear. Your not a proud citizen

[Capebuffalo]

What follows is a transcript of an excerpt of an extraordinary speech given by Lieutenant General John F. Kelly USMC on November 13, 2010. What renders it so is that General Kelly’s son, First Lieutenant Robert Michael Kelly, was killed in action in Sangin, Afghanistan only four days before Lt. Gen. Kelly gave this speech. Lt. Gen. Kelly’s eldest child is also A U.S. Marine.
I will leave you with a story about the kind of people they are…about the quality of the steel in their backs…about the kind of dedication they bring to our country while they serve in uniform and forever after as veterans. Two years ago when I was the Commander of all U.S. and Iraqi forces, in fact, the 22nd of April 2008, two Marine infantry battalions, 1/9 “The Walking Dead,” and 2/8 were switching out in Ramadi. One battalion in the closing days of their deployment going home very soon, the other just starting its seven-month combat tour. Two Marines, Corporal Jonathan Yale and Lance Corporal Jordan Haerter, 22 and 20 years old respectively, one from each battalion, were assuming the watch together at the entrance gate of an outpost that contained a makeshift barracks housing 50 Marines. The same broken down ramshackle building was also home to 100 Iraqi police, also my men and our allies in the fight against the terrorists in Ramadi, a city until recently the most dangerous city on earth and owned by Al Qaeda. Yale was a dirt poor mixed-race kid from Virginia with a wife and daughter, and a mother and sister who lived with him and he supported as well. He did this on a yearly salary of less than $23,000. Haerter, on the other hand, was a middle class white kid from Long Island. They were from two completely different worlds. Had they not joined the Marines they would never have met each other, or understood that multiple America’s exist simultaneously depending on one’s race, education level, economic status, and where you might have been born. But they were Marines, combat Marines, forged in the same crucible of Marine training, and because of this bond they were brothers as close, or closer, than if they were born of the same woman.
The mission orders they received from the sergeant squad leader I am sure went something like: “Okay you two clowns, stand this post and let no unauthorized personnel or vehicles pass.” “You clear?” I am also sure Yale and Haerter then rolled their eyes and said in unison something like: “Yes Sergeant,” with just enough attitude that made the point without saying the words, “No kidding sweetheart, we know what we’re doing.” They then relieved two other Marines on watch and took up their post at the entry control point of Joint Security Station Nasser, in the Sophia section of Ramadi, al Anbar, Iraq.
A few minutes later a large blue truck turned down the alley way-perhaps 60-70 yards in length-and sped its way through the serpentine of concrete jersey walls. The truck stopped just short of where the two were posted and detonated, killing them both catastrophically. Twenty-four brick masonry houses were damaged or destroyed. A mosque 100 yards away collapsed. The truck’s engine came to rest two hundred yards away knocking most of a house down before it stopped. Our explosive experts reckoned the blast was made of 2,000 pounds of explosives. Two died, and because these two young infantrymen didn’t have it in their DNA to run from danger, they saved 150 of their Iraqi and American brothers-in-arms.
When I read the situation report about the incident a few hours after it happened I called the regimental commander for details as something about this struck me as different. Marines dying or being seriously wounded is commonplace in combat. We expect Marines regardless of rank or MOS to stand their ground and do their duty, and even die in the process, if that is what the mission takes. But this just seemed different. The regimental commander had just returned from the site and he agreed, but reported that there were no American witnesses to the event-just Iraqi police. I figured if there was any chance of finding out what actually happened and then to decorate the two Marines to acknowledge their bravery, I’d have to do it as a combat award that requires two eye-witnesses and we figured the bureaucrats back in Washington would never buy Iraqi statements. If it had any chance at all, it had to come under the signature of a general officer.
I traveled to Ramadi the next day and spoke individually to a half-dozen Iraqi police all of whom told the same story. The blue truck turned down into the alley and immediately sped up as it made its way through the serpentine. They all said, “We knew immediately what was going on as soon as the two Marines began firing.” The Iraqi police then related that some of them also fired, and then to a man, ran for safety just prior to the explosion. All survived. Many were injured…some seriously. One of the Iraqis elaborated and with tears welling up said, “They’d run like any normal man would to save his life.” “What he didn’t know until then,” he said, “and what he learned that very instant, was that Marines are not normal.” Choking past the emotion he said, “Sir, in the name of God no sane man would have stood there and done what they did.” “No sane man.” “They saved us all.”

What we didn’t know at the time, and only learned a couple of days later after I wrote a summary and submitted both Yale and Haerter for posthumous Navy Crosses, was that one of our security cameras, damaged initially in the blast, recorded some of the suicide attack. It happened exactly as the Iraqis had described it. It took exactly six seconds from when the truck entered the alley until it detonated.

You can watch the last six seconds of their young lives. Putting myself in their heads I supposed it took about a second for the two Marines to separately come to the same conclusion about what was going on once the truck came into their view at the far end of the alley. Exactly no time to talk it over, or call the sergeant to ask what they should do. Only enough time to take half an instant and think about what the sergeant told them to do only a few minutes before: “…let no unauthorized personnel or vehicles pass.” The two Marines had about five seconds left to live.
It took maybe another two seconds for them to present their weapons, take aim, and open up. By this time the truck was half-way through the barriers and gaining speed the whole time. Here, the recording shows a number of Iraqi police, some of whom had fired their AKs, now scattering like the normal and rational men they were-some running right past the Marines. They had three seconds left to live.
For about two seconds more, the recording shows the Marines’ weapons firing non-stop…the truck’s windshield exploding into shards of glass as their rounds take it apart and tore in to the body of the son-of-a-bitch who is trying to get past them to kill their brothers-American and Iraqi-bedded down in the barracks totally unaware of the fact that their lives at that moment depended entirely on two Marines standing their ground. If they had been aware, they would have know they were safe…because two Marines stood between them and a crazed suicide bomber. The recording shows the truck careening to a stop immediately in front of the two Marines. In all of the instantaneous violence Yale and Haerter never hesitated. By all reports and by the recording, they never stepped back. They never even started to step aside. They never even shifted their weight. With their feet spread should width apart, they leaned into the danger, firing as fast as they could work their weapons. They had only one second left to live.
The truck explodes. The camera goes blank. Two young men go to their God. Six seconds. Not enough time to think about their families, their country, their flag, or about their lives or their deaths, but more than enough time for two very brave young men to do their duty…into eternity. That is the kind of people who are on watch all over the world tonight-for you.
We Marines believe that God gave America the greatest gift he could bestow to man while he lived on this earth-freedom. We also believe he gave us another gift nearly as precious-our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and Marines-to safeguard that gift and guarantee no force on this earth can every steal it away. It has been my distinct honor to have been with you here today. Rest assured our America, this experiment in democracy started over two centuries ago, will forever remain the “land of the free and home of the brave” so long as we never run out of tough young Americans who are willing to look beyond their own self-interest and comfortable lives, and go into the darkest and most dangerous places on earth to hunt down, and kill, those who would do us harm. God Bless America, and…SEMPER FIDELIS!

[jasc]

Damn.. Those were some brave men and at such a young age too.. I got chills multiple times just reading that. True heros. RIP

[Misery13]

I can't finish reading this brother. I just don't have it in me anymore. Sorry.

Thank you for your support my friend. Your a true American.

[songdog]

I mean wat can you say? As a xMarine I hate to read things like this.

[gearbox]

I agree. Very powerful and emotional. Sad what these times have become.
I have always thought a prerequisite to running for president should befrom you have to have served in the armed forces somewhere. The reason I say this is because our military is so large and vast we need someone with empathy to understand what the soldiers go through pre and post war. I understand that a very good businessman maybe a good president to some degree but he will have little no emotional attachment to our soldiers

[Capebuffalo]

This is a testament on the men and women fighting and giving their lives everyday for US. Like the eyewitness said they were not normal people. That's right their not. Non of or service people are. They should never be over looked or unappreciated.They should be thanked daily for their service because they have the guts to do what few would. Never forget what they have done do and will do for you and I.

[Capebuffalo]

How many of you ladies and gentlemen on the board have served our country? I thank you and your families.

[Razor]

Semper Fi Cape and Dogg

[Razor]

What follows is a transcript of an excerpt of an extraordinary speech given by Lieutenant General John F. Kelly USMC on November 13, 2010. What renders it so is that General Kelly’s son, First Lieutenant Robert Michael Kelly, was killed in action in Sangin, Afghanistan only four days before Lt. Gen. Kelly gave this speech. Lt. Gen. Kelly’s eldest child is also A U.S. Marine.

I will leave you with a story about the kind of people they are…about the quality of the steel in their backs…about the kind of dedication they bring to our country while they serve in uniform and forever after as veterans. Two years ago when I was the Commander of all U.S. and Iraqi forces, in fact, the 22nd of April 2008, two Marine infantry battalions, 1/9 “The Walking Dead,” and 2/8 were switching out in Ramadi. One battalion in the closing days of their deployment going home very soon, the other just starting its seven-month combat tour. Two Marines, Corporal Jonathan Yale and Lance Corporal Jordan Haerter, 22 and 20 years old respectively, one from each battalion, were assuming the watch together at the entrance gate of an outpost that contained a makeshift barracks housing 50 Marines. The same broken down ramshackle building was also home to 100 Iraqi police, also my men and our allies in the fight against the terrorists in Ramadi, a city until recently the most dangerous city on earth and owned by Al Qaeda. Yale was a dirt poor mixed-race kid from Virginia with a wife and daughter, and a mother and sister who lived with him and he supported as well. He did this on a yearly salary of less than $23,000. Haerter, on the other hand, was a middle class white kid from Long Island.

They were from two completely different worlds. Had they not joined the Marines they would never have met each other, or understood that multiple America’s exist simultaneously depending on one’s race, education level, economic status, and where you might have been born. But they were Marines, combat Marines, forged in the same crucible of Marine training, and because of this bond they were brothers as close, or closer, than if they were born of the same woman.
The mission orders they received from the sergeant squad leader I am sure went something like: “Okay you two clowns, stand this post and let no unauthorized personnel or vehicles pass.” “You clear?” I am also sure Yale and Haerter then rolled their eyes and said in unison something like: “Yes Sergeant,” with just enough attitude that made the point without saying the words, “No kidding sweetheart, we know what we’re doing.” They then relieved two other Marines on watch and took up their post at the entry control point of Joint Security Station Nasser, in the Sophia section of Ramadi, al Anbar, Iraq.

A few minutes later a large blue truck turned down the alley way-perhaps 60-70 yards in length-and sped its way through the serpentine of concrete jersey walls. The truck stopped just short of where the two were posted and detonated, killing them both catastrophically. Twenty-four brick masonry houses were damaged or destroyed. A mosque 100 yards away collapsed. The truck’s engine came to rest two hundred yards away knocking most of a house down before it stopped. Our explosive experts reckoned the blast was made of 2,000 pounds of explosives. Two died, and because these two young infantrymen didn’t have it in their DNA to run from danger, they saved 150 of their Iraqi and American brothers-in-arms.

When I read the situation report about the incident a few hours after it happened I called the regimental commander for details as something about this struck me as different. Marines dying or being seriously wounded is commonplace in combat. We expect Marines regardless of rank or MOS to stand their ground and do their duty, and even die in the process, if that is what the mission takes. But this just seemed different. The regimental commander had just returned from the site and he agreed, but reported that there were no American witnesses to the event-just Iraqi police.

I figured if there was any chance of finding out what actually happened and then to decorate the two Marines to acknowledge their bravery, I’d have to do it as a combat award that requires two eye-witnesses and we figured the bureaucrats back in Washington would never buy Iraqi statements. If it had any chance at all, it had to come under the signature of a general officer.

I traveled to Ramadi the next day and spoke individually to a half-dozen Iraqi police all of whom told the same story. The blue truck turned down into the alley and immediately sped up as it made its way through the serpentine. They all said, “We knew immediately what was going on as soon as the two Marines began firing.” The Iraqi police then related that some of them also fired, and then to a man, ran for safety just prior to the explosion. All survived. Many were injured…some seriously. One of the Iraqis elaborated and with tears welling up said, “They’d run like any normal man would to save his life.” “What he didn’t know until then,” he said, “and what he learned that very instant, was that Marines are not normal.” Choking past the emotion he said, “Sir, in the name of God no sane man would have stood there and done what they did.” “No sane man.” “They saved us all.”

What we didn’t know at the time, and only learned a couple of days later after I wrote a summary and submitted both Yale and Haerter for posthumous Navy Crosses, was that one of our security cameras, damaged initially in the blast, recorded some of the suicide attack. It happened exactly as the Iraqis had described it. It took exactly six seconds from when the truck entered the alley until it detonated.

You can watch the last six seconds of their young lives. Putting myself in their heads I supposed it took about a second for the two Marines to separately come to the same conclusion about what was going on once the truck came into their view at the far end of the alley. Exactly no time to talk it over, or call the sergeant to ask what they should do. Only enough time to take half an instant and think about what the sergeant told them to do only a few minutes before: “…let no unauthorized personnel or vehicles pass.” The two Marines had about five seconds left to live.

It took maybe another two seconds for them to present their weapons, take aim, and open up. By this time the truck was half-way through the barriers and gaining speed the whole time. Here, the recording shows a number of Iraqi police, some of whom had fired their AKs, now scattering like the normal and rational men they were-some running right past the Marines. They had three seconds left to live.
For about two seconds more, the recording shows the Marines’ weapons firing non-stop…the truck’s windshield exploding into shards of glass as their rounds take it apart and tore in to the body of the son-of-a-bitch who is trying to get past them to kill their brothers-American and Iraqi-bedded down in the barracks totally unaware of the fact that their lives at that moment depended entirely on two Marines standing their ground. If they had been aware, they would have know they were safe…because two Marines stood between them and a crazed suicide bomber.

The recording shows the truck careening to a stop immediately in front of the two Marines. In all of the instantaneous violence Yale and Haerter never hesitated. By all reports and by the recording, they never stepped back. They never even started to step aside. They never even shifted their weight. With their feet spread should width apart, they leaned into the danger, firing as fast as they could work their weapons. They had only one second left to live.

The truck explodes. The camera goes blank. Two young men go to their God. Six seconds. Not enough time to think about their families, their country, their flag, or about their lives or their deaths, but more than enough time for two very brave young men to do their duty…into eternity. That is the kind of people who are on watch all over the world tonight-for you.

We Marines believe that God gave America the greatest gift he could bestow to man while he lived on this earth-freedom. We also believe he gave us another gift nearly as precious-our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and Marines-to safeguard that gift and guarantee no force on this earth can every steal it away. It has been my distinct honor to have been with you here today.

Rest assured our America, this experiment in democracy started over two centuries ago, will forever remain the “land of the free and home of the brave” so long as we never run out of tough young Americans who are willing to look beyond their own self-interest and comfortable lives, and go into the darkest and most dangerous places on earth to hunt down, and kill, those who would do us harm. God Bless America, and…SEMPER

Great story, I had to break it up into paragraphs to read it better. Semper Fi

[Capebuffalo]

Semper Fi Cape and Dogg

I thought you would appreciate it. Thank you Razor.

[Razor]

I thought you would appreciate it. Thank you Razor.

[Capebuffalo]

bump for all to read

[Shol'va]

It makes ones blood boil and want to just drop a A-Bomb over there and turn all that sand into a glass skating arena. But yeah I know we can't do that. But sometimes we feel like though.

[Capebuffalo]

It makes ones blood boil and want to just drop a A-Bomb over there and turn all that sand into a glass skating arena. But yeah I know we can't do that. But sometimes we feel like though.

I agree but that's not the point. That shit happens in countries all over the world everyday. Do you think two French soldiers would do this or Italian? (no offence).These two men a small sample of our military stood there. Leaning into death to save the lives of others. Never stopped firing never waivered. Never thought about retreat. Their training their beliefs their lives. Right wrong or other when we walk in to the valley of death we fear no man because we are the badest mother fu*kers in the valley.

[gonejeepin]

I'm not a citizen but that's an incredile example of courage. Doing their duty full knowing the inevitable consequence and the thought of retreat never crossing their mind. A special breed.

[Capebuffalo]

I'm not a citizen but that's an incredile example of courage. Doing their duty full knowing the inevitable consequence and the thought of retreat never crossing their mind. A special breed.

I can only pray I will have that courage if my time comes in a situation such as that. That sir is true grit.

[Capebuffalo]

Semiper Fi Marines.

[Obs]

Good share Cape

[Capebuffalo]

Good share Cape

I think we all need to be reminded sometimes what our men and women in the Armed Forces give for our Freedom.

[Obs]

I think we all need to be reminded sometimes what our men and women in the Armed Forces give for our Freedom.

Yes.
Military is the only government institution I respect anymore. Everyone owes them respect

[Capebuffalo]

[guitarzan]

I've got three buddies that I watch football with, all 3 were marines, served in Iraq. One of them is my best friend, he was a machine gunner, hes a hoss. He and another one were in the same unit and cleared houses in Fallujah. They are some bad mother fuckers!

[Capebuffalo]

I've got three buddies that I watch football with, all 3 were marines, served in Iraq. One of them is my best friend, he was a machine gunner, hes a hoss. He and another one were in the same unit and cleared houses in Fallujah. They are some bad mother fuckers!

Let em know I appreciate everything they did for me.

[guitarzan]

Let em know I appreciate everything they did for me.

Absolutely

[Beetlegeuse]

Yale and Haerter are still under consideration for Medals of Honor.

[Capebuffalo]

Yale and Haerter are still under consideration for Medals of Honor.

If my vote counted then have it. They saved 100’s of lives that day.

[Proximal]

Yes.
Military is the only government institution I respect anymore. Everyone owes them respect

Obs, I'll just disagree with you about police.

Greatest individuals protecting the greatest country.

[Obs]

Obs, I'll just disagree with you about police.

Greatest individuals protecting the greatest country.

I don't hate cops.
Its simply an individual basis like all things.
Once you have them twisting your arm behind your back saying "stop resisting" it changes the flavor.
Yes every group has good and bad, I fully understand that.

I would in no way call them the greatest group though.

Military is and will always be #1 imo.
My opinions are not influenced by social media or the f the police movement the inner city animals perpetuate by getting liberal idiots on their side, which have no clue what the real world is like.

I was a little to vauge there because I have extreme respect for firefighters and emt's.

The police need higher pay and a much more rigorous selection process.

[Proximal]

I don't hate cops.
Its simply an individual basis like all things.
Once you have them twisting your arm behind your back saying "stop resisting" it changes the flavor.
Yes every group has good and bad, I fully understand that.

I would in no way call them the greatest group though. You

Military is and will always be #1 imo.
My opinions are not influenced by social media or the f the police movement the inner city animals perpetuate by getting liberal idiots on their side, which have no clue what the real world is like.

I was a little to vauge there because I have extreme respect for firefighters and emt's.

The police need higher pay and a much more rigorous selection process.

First off, sorry for the detour CB. A great tribute to great men.

And let me clarify. By the greatest, I was referring directly to the individuals of this post (military).

Agree about firefighters & emt's. Also agree with the final statement about selection & salaries. I also didn't mean to imply that you hated cops. I'm just a bit more forgiving. I have been treated rudely by police, but put myself in their place & I didn't have an issue.

Again, apologies CB.

[Chrisp83TRT]

I can't finish reading this brother. I just don't have it in me anymore. Sorry.

Thank you for your support my friend. Your a true American.

God bless your icon lol

Sent from my JSN-AL00 using Tapatalk

[Chrisp83TRT]

As obs said , there is good and bad in every aspect of life ...

On that note, their are plenty of assfucks that serve this country that i wouldn't trust with my turd I dropped in the toilet.

Just because people serve or "protect" and serve, just remember alot of people choose that path for other reasons such as income or because they dont have a direction in life.

I may be off topic but yeah good and bad in every aspect lol

Sent from my JSN-AL00 using Tapatalk

[Capebuffalo]

God bless your icon lol

Sent from my JSN-AL00 using Tapatalk

Misery was a Green Beret. Went through some serious shit back in the day.

[Proximal]

As obs said , there is good and bad in every aspect of life ...

On that note, their are plenty of assfucks that serve this country that i wouldn't trust with my turd I dropped in the toilet.

Just because people serve or "protect" and serve, just remember alot of people choose that path for other reasons such as income or because they dont have a direction in life.

I may be off topic but yeah good and bad in every aspect lol

Sent from my JSN-AL00 using Tapatalk

Completely agreed. But anyone who puts on a uniform knowing that part of the job description is death or injury while serving others? Well they can be the biggest assfuck in the world, but still, I’ll give them my respect and a pass practically every time.

[charger69]

Completely agreed. But anyone who puts on a uniform knowing that part of the job description is death or injury while serving others? Well they can be the biggest assfuck in the world, but still, I’ll give them my respect and a pass practically every time.

Agreed!!!


C130 rolling down the strip
Airborne Ranger on a one way trip
Mission top secret destination unknown
He don’t know if he’s ever coming home.

Here’s one for Obs

I know a girl with a 40 inch bust
She motivates me when she bends and thrusts.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Obs]

Completely agreed. But anyone who puts on a uniform knowing that part of the job description is death or injury while serving others? Well they can be the biggest assfuck in the world, but still, I’ll give them my respect and a pass practically every time.

Police and firefighters deaths per 100k=6.2

Loggers deaths per 100k=132.7

Arborism is worse but they lump it with lawn care which is booooooooooooollllshit.

I dont go for the "life on the line" rhetoric of police and firefighters.
My appreciation is what they do. I have met some very badass cops and firefighters who were basically fearless and the salt of the earth.

Military is different...
A war breaks out and the most dangerous jobs become irrelevant.

Odds of fatalitiy such as in WW2 were 1 in 56
overall though statistics vary.
The US army infantry absorbed most of the casuaties at 50-70% though they were only 7-14% of the armed forces.

The unfathomable difference makes the military the highest honor that there is.

Leaving your family to travel across the world, (thank God for police and firefighters) to basically pick a number between 1 and 10 to see if you ever get to see them again, is the most noble thing a man will find to do.


The two marines in this thread deserve the medal of honor.

Whether military, emergency personnel, or police,
The honor is in the task they perform selflessly.

Military is #1

Just clarifying so people dont think I am some sort of anarchist.

[Proximal]

You, an anarchist? Buddy, you are rock-solid in my opinion.

I just know that I’m sitting comfortably right now & with peace of mind, because men & women are watching over me. Thank you!

[Capebuffalo]

Skip to the :45 sec mark. True words are spoken.

[Proximal]

Skip to the :45 sec mark. True words are spoken.

CB, one of my favorite scenes of all time. Some of the greatest dialogue written & spoken of all time.

I’m clear with this, crystal clear.