A Poolee's Blog

This blog is about my preparing for Marine boot camp, and to inspire others!

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Who does something like this? Look closely at the picture on the left. That’s Marine Gunnery Sgt. Brian Meyer.

A bomb in Afghanistan had just blown off his leg, his hand, and three fingers on his other hand. And yet there he is smiling. And he was doing it on purpose.

GySgt. Meyer ordered another Marine to take this picture. He forced a smile despite the pain, because he was worried about the impact his injuries would have on his squad. He hoped the picture would make it easier for them to deal with what happened.

Can you imagine? He was just seriously injured and yet he was thinking about his fellow Marines and how THEY were feeling.

I find that kind of spirit beyond remarkable. And it’s that spirit that is helping GySgt. Meyer through his recovery process. And helping him become independent despite his injuries.

The picture on the right is him now. He says: “I focus on what I have left, not what I lost.” What a great attitude.

GySgt. Meyer also works for the Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund, counseling fellow combat veterans. And he uses the picture of him injured to show them what’s possible.

He says: “It’s the exact opposite of what somebody expects you to do. So when I show it to people and they are inspired by it, instead of being shocked, I know they get it.”

I hate war. I hate seeing how many young men and woman have lost their lives. And I hate seeing how many young men and women have suffered life changing injuries.

But at the same time, I find stories about veterans like GySgt. Meyer incredibly powerful. They are a reminder that there is always hope, no matter how bad the situation is. They are a reminder that all of us are capable of so much more than we think we are. And they are a reminder to NEVER give up.

Thank you GySgt. Meyer. To you and all other veterans: Stay strong!

Story and pictures courtesy AP

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The Indestructible Jack Lucas,

In 1942 Jacklyn H. Lucas enlisted in the Marine Corps, not an unusual thing to do during World War II, but certainly unusual at the age of 14.  A boy who looked much older than his years, Lucas claimed he was 17, forged his mother’s signature, and was inducted into the Corps no questions asked.  Jack Lucas underwent Marine Corps training at Parris Island and qualified as a sharpshooter and heavy machine gunner.  However after training, Lucas was sent from one menial assignment to the next, first in the lower 48, then at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

By 1945 Lucas was becoming bored with peaceful service, and on January 10th he went AWOL and stowed away on a ship bound for Iwo Jima.  Despite going AWOL, Lucas was given a combat assignment and attached to the 5th Marine Division.

Upon hitting the beaches Lucas and his fellow Marines were sprayed with murderous Japanese gunfire.  Perhaps the only Marine to invade Iwo Jima unarmed, Lucas immediately picked up a rifle and returned fire. During the battle, it was his squad’s duty to clear out a machine gun nest near a deep ravine.  It was then that a grenade landed in the middle of his squad.  Without thinking, Lucas leaped upon the grenade, determined to use his body as shield to protect his comrades.  Then another grenade landed nearby.  Lucas grabbed that grenade as well, and stuffed it under his torso.  When the two grenades exploded his body was thrown into the air.  Amazingly, Lucas was still alive, though seriously wounded.  Covered from head to toe with shrapnel wounds, Lucas was evacuated to a hospital ship.  Over the next seven months of recovery, Lucas would undergo 21 surgeries to remove 250 pieces of shrapnel from his body.  He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions (the youngest Marine to receive the award), as well as the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

After the war, Jack Lucas returned home, resumed his education as a ninth grader, graduated high school, and graduated college with a business degree.  He married three times.  His marriage with his second wife didn’t go so well, as she hired a hitman to kill him.  Fortunately he was able to fend off the attack.

In 1961, he rejoined the military, this time joining the US Army and becoming a paratrooper so that he could “conquer his fear of heights”.  During a training jump, his two parachutes failed to open, and he fell 3,500 feet before slamming into the ground.  Miraculously, despite screaming to the earth at terminal velocity, Lucas walked away from the accident unscathed.  From 1961 to 1965, Lucas served as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne.  When he finally retired he had risen to the rank of captain.

Jack Lucas died of Leukemia in 2008 at the age of 80.  His Medal of Honor and citation is currently sealed within the hull of the USS Iwo Jima.

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This man is Legand

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Two recon Marines of the 1st Marine Division, Camp Reasoner, 1970.

The sign behind them reads, “In Memory of those who believed it was better to die on their feet than to live on their knees.”

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There’s no such thing as an ex-Marine.

Photo part of The Supraliminal Art Project by Devin Mitchell (via Marine combat veteran Brad Ivanchan on Facebook.)

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Thank you to all vets and active duty for your service. Thank you to all the vets and active duty who put up with the discrimination of being atheist in the military. Thank you for the sacrifices you’ve made in the name of family and country.

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A little bit about the Marine Corps flag I have in my room… I found this flag in a trash pile that someone left behind one day after working the flea market with my parents. This flag was being stepped on repeatedly and tossed around which i thought was disrespectful. For some reason I knew I had to take it home and take care of it, like the Men and Women who takes care of us. I hand washed the flag and let it dry. I knew I couldn’t let such a beautiful flag go into the trash so I adopted it. Even tho I’m not in the Marines I hold this flag dear to me, like the Men and Women who have fought and died for this flag. I would like to wish the Marine Corps a happy 239th birthday, may the Corps have 239 more birthday and sum… #marines #marinecorps #devildogs #leathernecks #jarhead

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Good shit, man. A lot of Marines, past and present, would feel honored to know you did that much, just for them.

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Join the many veterans who are continuing to change the world through their work at Google. Take it from us, Google is a great place to be a vet.

http://www.google.com/careers/veterans

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I want those crossed rifles!

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To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing

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11 General Orders:

This Poolee's First General Order is to take charge of this post and all government property in view.

This Poolee's Second General Order is to walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on alert and observe everything taking place within sight or hearing.

This Poolee's Third General Order is to report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.

This Poolee's Fourth General Order is to repeat all calls from post more distant form the guardhouse then my own.

This Poolee's Fifth General Order is to quit my post only when properly relieved.

This Poolee's Sixth General Order is to receive obey and pass on to the sentry that relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Office, Office of the Day, and officers and non-commissioned officers of the guard only.

This Poolee's Seventh General Order is to talk to no one except in the line of duty.

This Poolee's Eight General Order is to give alarm in case of fir or disorder/

This Poolee's Ninth General Order is to call the corporal of the guard in case not covered by instructions.

This Poolee's Tenth General Order is to salute all offices and all colors and standards not cased.

This Poolee's Eleventh General Order is to be especially watchful at night, and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.

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This is how I feel everytime I think about a fellow female poolee of my recruiting office. She passionately told me and in front of all of the guys in the office about how she was against women in combat, against the pullups and preferred the easy way because it’s a lot more fair. It’s more fair because she can’t do a pushup. (I am not exaggerating) I seriously didn’t think I’d meet a girl like this. If you can’t fucking get your shit together and learn how to not complain and learn some respect, then you don’t need to be in the Marine Corps. In any branch, period. Man what the FUCK?! Seriously. Stop. I tried telling her(not politely but still) and she just wouldn’t listen. And she wants to leave early? Please. -_-“ I hate it when I hear people give excuses for shitty ass reasons. DO YOUR PART! YOU HAVE TO FUCKING WANT IT!

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Poolee funtion October 18th, 2014

This poolee function we went on a hike. This was my first forced marching hike and it was an interesting experience. Im not gonna say it was bad, because it wasn't, I mean a good 2/3 of it was running but getting to slow down and catch my breath was nice. 

Gaps, gaps are the worst.

It was a total of 5 miles which was cool because for one it didn't seem like it was, and second because the first one in bootcamp is only 3 miles. 

However SGT informed us at the end that this was easy compared to boot camp because in boot camp you've got a fucking pack to haul around with you. 

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Passed my IST!

I finally offically passed all three parts of the IST at our Poolee function last saturday! 

52 sec flexed arm hang (New record)

99 crunches (just needed one more :/)

14:52 run time (I made it!)

It's nice to see progress, it really is, I mean i've been training my running for the past two months and it just felt so great to pass. 

I know I need to keep it up, train harder, and get my run time down A LOT more, but for now i'm happy

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Healthy eating

Chicken and white rice with grilled zucchini and peppers It was delicious especially after a great workout

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Went to the gym

Went to gym today and did my 1.5 mile run in 16:30. I know that time sucks so bad but it's an improvement for me :) I also did some lat pull downs because I haven't done those in a while. Then I did squats, 2x20 reps of 65lbs so nothing to serious