Free From Baghdad To America by Lt. Col. USMC (ret.) Jay Kopelman Page A

and wounded, as well as the events of which you just seconds earlier were a part—that’s when the realization sets in that but for the grace of God, that poor sonofabitch in the body bag could be you. The fear is that you’ve got to do it all over again, and each time out could be your last. How many times can you be only inches from death? What are the odds that you’ll come away unscathed next time? I think the percentages must diminish exponentially with each firefight, each patrol. The level of fear doesn’t change, but how you respond to it emotionally—after the adrenaline has drained away—does.
    Lava continues to achieve the same level of ferociousness every time someone rings the doorbell, but after surviving time and again he must feel a sense of pride—a sense of accomplishment—as the person backs away from the door. He keeps on going. I like that he’s so consistent, like a cuddly mascot version of a US Marine. He keeps moving. Honor, obligation, and duty keep him, keep all of us, moving.

CHAPTER SIX
WHAT YOU ARE IN THE DARK
    â€œSome people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. The Marines don’t have that problem.”
    â€”RONALD REAGAN
    Once you make it through the soul-crushing, backbreaking days of training to be a Marine, you are handed your mind back should you wish to use it. You are taught to do everything a certain way, to think in terms of your team at all times, to become the honor, courage, and commitment you’ve learned, but with a sense of individuality, that sometimes means you admit fear or break rules. Ironically, most people think that Marines don’t think for themselves; the Marine Corps actually reminds all of us of that in the code we know by heart. In reality, the Corps doesn’t want automata, robots without higher intelligence who would just play Follow-the-Leader like lambs to the slaughter or lemmings to the sea. If that’s your idea of leadership, join the army. No, Mother Corps believes not only that every Marine is a rifleman, but that every Marine is capable of being an effective leader. And to lead effectively, especially when the shit has truly hit the fan, you must be able to improvise, adapt, and overcome. Let’s see R2-D2 do that shit.
    There is room for fear in bravery. But if you rely on your training, then you have the tools to accept and overcome that fear in the face of the worst and most improbable odds. Consider this government description of Marines:
    Why are U.S. Marines considered the world’s premier warriors? Why? What puts the Marine Corps above the rest? Other military services have rigorous training and weapons of equal or greater lethality. So, why do U.S. Marines stand head and shoulders above the crowd?
    The truth lies in the individual Marine. He (or she) did not join the Marines. Roughly 40,000 try each year. Those who survive the crucible of Marine basic training have been sculpted in mind and body. They have become Marines.
    Once he has earned the title and entered the Brotherhood of Marines, a new warrior must draw upon the legacy of his Corps. Therein lies his strength. In return, the strength of the Corps lies in the individual Marine. The character (often defined as “what you are in the dark”) of these warriors is defined by the three constant Corps Values: honor, courage, and commitment.
    Honor: Honor requires each Marine to exemplify the ultimate standard in ethical and moral conduct. Honor is many things; honor requires many things. A U.S. Marine must never lie, never cheat, never steal, but that is not enough. Much more is required. Each Marine must cling to an uncompromising code of personal integrity, accountable for his actions and holding others accountable for theirs. And, above all, honor mandates that a Marine never sully the reputation of his Corps.
    Courage: Simply stated, courage is honor in action—and more.