It was in the fifties; I had just hitch-hiked to Inglewood California from Rochester N.Y. Some 3000 miles, and 7 days later; walking and driving with others on two lane highways, I arrived. My trip began with 26 dollars, and a small carrying case.
I found myself in California without money, family, or friends. Jobs were scarce in the area, so I made a decision to join the Marines. After I put my signature on the dotted line at the recruiting office, they told me I would have to wait three days before I could be sent to boot-camp at Camp Pendalton.
Without money, and no place to go, the recruiting officer arranged an empty cell for me at the local jail; the door was never locked; and for the next three days, I lived on the counties benevolence.
On the bus going to Camp Pendalton, there were some 30 or 40 other young men like myself. We were all puffed up, and already calling ourselves Marines. How little did we realize. As we drove into the base, you could see companies of men marching up and down the parade fields. Others having three stripes on their shoulders appeared to be yelling something continually at the various companies of marching men.
Soon the bus stopped, and let us out. As we stood along side the bus, we heard, loud and clear, "Hup two, three four; hup two three four." Its the cadence count for marching soldiers. Some companies were carrying rifles, others did not.
Then there was us: still in our civilian clothes, beards, mustaches, long hair, and mis-matched clothing, and whatever. Without any fanfare, three sergeants walked up to us, told us to get in ranks; and then began to call us every name in the book. I was sure this one sergeant was going to shoot some of us with the 45 he had holstered at his side. I was sure he was going to do at least one or two of us in; for no other reason but to show the rest of us he meant business.
They took us to a special staging area, and as we approached, many Marines, most having one stripe were laughing, and shouting at us, "You'll be sorry."
I remember thinking, "Sorry for what?" Well, that question was answered shortly. Two hours later, I was saying to myself, "What the heck am I doing here?" As the days passed, my worse fears began to surface; "Can I cut it." I began to doubt myself, asking myself, "Do I have enough in me to stay the course?" The Marines will make you dig deep into your physical, and mental self. They have a way of making you let go of who you were; then begin a process of rebuilding each individual into what they want you to be.
Well three months later, only half of the original arrivals graduated boot camp; the others had dropped out, and given something less than honorable discharges. Those who graduated would not have been recognized if compared to the person who stepped off the bus on the first day. Proud men, loyal, and courageous, looking forward to tomorrow. I had no doubt that everyone of them would have given themselves for the others.
The one thing drummed into every Marine is loyalty, obedience, and united. Loyalty to your fellow Marines; to the Corp; and to the United States of America. Obedience to those given the authority over you; and a total oneness of body, and spirit. When discharged, I was proud to have been given the honor to serve with other Marines; with those men I still call my friends; and for the honor to serve my country.
So here I am some 50 + years later, now marching to the cadence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, being a Christian has a certain marching cadence. If not, we would be out of step with others of the faith. The head of this army sent us His best instructor. He has no proper name, so we call him the Holy Spirit. He will meet every new recruit at the bus; not with threats, and profane words; but with love, and understanding.
The love He teaches is that of our Lord Jesus, and the Father in heaven. His patience reminds us that He understands who we are; people of the flesh; new recruits; those without knowledge, and lacking any spiritual perception. And as every new recruits must be brought to a staging area; issued certain instructions; given certain material, (the Bible,) then introduced to their fellow bothers and sisters, the hard lessons of loyalty, obedience, unity, and learning begin. We must let go of who we were.
Sorry to say, many will drop out, and that's sad. But for those who remain; these will be proud to call themselves Christian; having pledged themselves to serve; and unashamed of the gospel. Those who finish, can be trusted in any battles that may ensue, because they have vowed to give all they have; each following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ who Himself with all honor, and faithful, gave Himself wholly for all men. And because of this, I have grown to trust His every word.
There are no diplomas, or uniforms, or external marks to show that we are Christians. But there will be a way about us; an air of pride; a show of kindness; a glow that comes from within, the final proof being heard in our speech, and seen in our work. Our rewards lie before us. All that is requires of us is faith moved by love. When this life is finished, I will have been proud to say, "I am a Christian," and humbled to have been given the opportunity to have served our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Written by, and taken from, www.seekfirstwisdom.com
Phil LaSpino
I found myself in California without money, family, or friends. Jobs were scarce in the area, so I made a decision to join the Marines. After I put my signature on the dotted line at the recruiting office, they told me I would have to wait three days before I could be sent to boot-camp at Camp Pendalton.
Without money, and no place to go, the recruiting officer arranged an empty cell for me at the local jail; the door was never locked; and for the next three days, I lived on the counties benevolence.
On the bus going to Camp Pendalton, there were some 30 or 40 other young men like myself. We were all puffed up, and already calling ourselves Marines. How little did we realize. As we drove into the base, you could see companies of men marching up and down the parade fields. Others having three stripes on their shoulders appeared to be yelling something continually at the various companies of marching men.
Soon the bus stopped, and let us out. As we stood along side the bus, we heard, loud and clear, "Hup two, three four; hup two three four." Its the cadence count for marching soldiers. Some companies were carrying rifles, others did not.
Then there was us: still in our civilian clothes, beards, mustaches, long hair, and mis-matched clothing, and whatever. Without any fanfare, three sergeants walked up to us, told us to get in ranks; and then began to call us every name in the book. I was sure this one sergeant was going to shoot some of us with the 45 he had holstered at his side. I was sure he was going to do at least one or two of us in; for no other reason but to show the rest of us he meant business.
They took us to a special staging area, and as we approached, many Marines, most having one stripe were laughing, and shouting at us, "You'll be sorry."
I remember thinking, "Sorry for what?" Well, that question was answered shortly. Two hours later, I was saying to myself, "What the heck am I doing here?" As the days passed, my worse fears began to surface; "Can I cut it." I began to doubt myself, asking myself, "Do I have enough in me to stay the course?" The Marines will make you dig deep into your physical, and mental self. They have a way of making you let go of who you were; then begin a process of rebuilding each individual into what they want you to be.
Well three months later, only half of the original arrivals graduated boot camp; the others had dropped out, and given something less than honorable discharges. Those who graduated would not have been recognized if compared to the person who stepped off the bus on the first day. Proud men, loyal, and courageous, looking forward to tomorrow. I had no doubt that everyone of them would have given themselves for the others.
The one thing drummed into every Marine is loyalty, obedience, and united. Loyalty to your fellow Marines; to the Corp; and to the United States of America. Obedience to those given the authority over you; and a total oneness of body, and spirit. When discharged, I was proud to have been given the honor to serve with other Marines; with those men I still call my friends; and for the honor to serve my country.
So here I am some 50 + years later, now marching to the cadence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, being a Christian has a certain marching cadence. If not, we would be out of step with others of the faith. The head of this army sent us His best instructor. He has no proper name, so we call him the Holy Spirit. He will meet every new recruit at the bus; not with threats, and profane words; but with love, and understanding.
The love He teaches is that of our Lord Jesus, and the Father in heaven. His patience reminds us that He understands who we are; people of the flesh; new recruits; those without knowledge, and lacking any spiritual perception. And as every new recruits must be brought to a staging area; issued certain instructions; given certain material, (the Bible,) then introduced to their fellow bothers and sisters, the hard lessons of loyalty, obedience, unity, and learning begin. We must let go of who we were.
Sorry to say, many will drop out, and that's sad. But for those who remain; these will be proud to call themselves Christian; having pledged themselves to serve; and unashamed of the gospel. Those who finish, can be trusted in any battles that may ensue, because they have vowed to give all they have; each following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ who Himself with all honor, and faithful, gave Himself wholly for all men. And because of this, I have grown to trust His every word.
There are no diplomas, or uniforms, or external marks to show that we are Christians. But there will be a way about us; an air of pride; a show of kindness; a glow that comes from within, the final proof being heard in our speech, and seen in our work. Our rewards lie before us. All that is requires of us is faith moved by love. When this life is finished, I will have been proud to say, "I am a Christian," and humbled to have been given the opportunity to have served our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Written by, and taken from, www.seekfirstwisdom.com
Phil LaSpino
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