WEBVTT X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:270000 00:00:00.001 --> 00:00:07.146 (Peaceful music) 00:00:07.313 --> 00:00:12.784 I am absolutely proud to be a Marine.   00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:22.320 I'm proud of my service. I'm proud of the fact  that I was in a position to do something to   00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:32.160 preserve my freedom and to hold onto those  values that can only be had by free people. 00:00:34.160 --> 00:00:40.080 >> Trust is not given, nor is it easily  earned. Today the trust of the nation   00:00:40.080 --> 00:00:45.360 is our inheritance – a trust earned through  the selfless valor and determined actions   00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:51.120 of generations of Marines on the distant shores  and misty battlefields of our storied past. 00:00:52.240 --> 00:01:00.400 >> We were really snowed as to why we would need so  many Marines to take this little piece of rock.   00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:13.440 But after the first day when they lost so many  wounded and killed, they announced that night   00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:21.120 we're going ashore and the island  was so different in its appearance   00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:29.040 from Guam and all the other islands that we'd been  on, there was nothing even though we had been in   00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:34.320 combat before, you could see right off that  it wasn't going to be anything that we'd   00:01:34.320 --> 00:01:36.372 experienced before. 00:01:36.372 --> 00:01:41.833 (Peaceful music) 00:01:42.160 --> 00:01:48.160 >> Long before we wear the uniform, long before the  eagle, globe, and anchor is etched in our soul,   00:01:48.160 --> 00:01:50.960 we sense the special appeal  that sets Marines apart.   00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:55.680 Our ethos, values and character  speak to our nation's heart. 00:01:56.720 --> 00:02:01.920 >> All we needed was an opportunity, more than  anything else, just show me a way and I'd   00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:06.960 get it done and that was my motivation. I got  an opportunity to serve in the Marine Corps   00:02:06.960 --> 00:02:13.680 and I chose special forces. You know, I chose  Force Recon. I did three tours in Force Recon.   00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:23.040 Did fairly well. Got a chance to be a combat  swimmer. Made three combat dives. Two swims   00:02:23.040 --> 00:02:31.040 of 1,500 meters in enemy territory and we  fought our way from the DMZ back to Hue City. 00:02:36.640 --> 00:02:40.160 >> Our nation expects us to be the  world's finest military professionals,   00:02:40.720 --> 00:02:45.360 to be capable and ready, and to represent  all that is good about the United States.   00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:49.840 A nation of diverse heritages  united by common values. 00:02:50.720 --> 00:02:57.440 >> There's no tighter unit in the world  than the Marine Corps. I mean you   00:02:58.880 --> 00:03:05.877 join the Air Force, you join  the Navy. You become a Marine. And that thought sticks with you for the rest of your life. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:11.040 >> The spirit of this ethos is born in the hearts  of men and women by a common calling – a   00:03:11.040 --> 00:03:17.840 desire to serve, and a sense of duty born in  ideals like patriotism, valor and fidelity. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:25.440 >> When the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor, the atmosphere of the country was entirely different   00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:34.400 than it is now. Everyone was talking and trying  to figure out what they could do. I decided that   00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:42.000 I would go into the Marine Corps. No matter who  you are. Do some kind of service for your country.   00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:45.840 I've always been proud to say  that I was in the Marine Corps. 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:49.920 >> Our ethos is who we are and what we believe. 00:03:49.920 --> 00:04:01.600 >> I was 18 years old and you find out what you got  when you need it. I just thought that I wasn't   00:04:01.600 --> 00:04:08.800 going to die. The NVA had came into our perimeter.  All that I had was a K-bar. I crawled over and   00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:16.000 found my assistant gunner. We could hear Eli  the gunner was shot up. They come in and took Eli   00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:24.800 and drug him back into the hamlet. So, I told Bob  that I'm going after Eli and I just went screaming   00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:33.680 and I dove in. I picked up Eli. I picked the  gun up and I got us the hell out of there. 00:04:35.200 --> 00:04:40.800 >> To be courageous is to do what is right; to  adhere to a higher standard of personal conduct;   00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:44.320 to lead by example, and to make  tough decisions under stress   00:04:44.320 --> 00:04:49.920 and pressure. Marines train, Marines  fight, and Marines win. Aways! 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:59.680 >> We set up security and they took off into the  patrol into the village. 0530 that's when the   00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:06.880 fireworks started. We're trying to find a way  over there. The second time we found more. Some   00:05:06.880 --> 00:05:13.840 of them were dead and some of them were alive  trying to take cover. I sped up and got between   00:05:14.880 --> 00:05:24.720 the village and the guys, our guys we're getting  shot at. Boom. Boom. Boom. I'm alive because   00:05:25.440 --> 00:05:31.040 I'll be dead honest with you. I have never seen   00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:38.720 a young man have that much courage. 00:05:40.880 --> 00:05:43.520 >> Our nation finds in its Marine Corps men and women   00:05:43.520 --> 00:05:49.624 committed to preserving trust that's  been built over the last 245 years. 00:05:49.721 --> 00:05:54.291 (Upbeat music) 00:05:54.383 --> 00:05:59.360 Marines, once transformed, are forever  changed – instilled with beliefs,   00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:05.840 ideals and virtues that have  meaning deeper than words.   00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:14.160 These ideals – honor, courage,   00:06:14.880 --> 00:06:19.840 commitment – form the bedrock of our  institutional and individual character. 00:06:21.840 --> 00:06:25.520 On this birthday, our nation  finds in its Marine Corps,   00:06:26.080 --> 00:06:35.280 men and women who know the meaning of patriotism,  valor, duty, strength, discipline and innovation. 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:46.560 We must be faithful to our country, to our Corps,  and to each other. This faithfulness must never   00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:54.186 be compromised. We must respect each other,  believe in each other, trust each other. 00:06:54.186 --> 00:07:06.320 (Energetic music) 00:07:06.320 --> 00:07:09.520 >> Our nation finds in its Marine  Corps, a ready and capable force   00:07:09.520 --> 00:07:12.400 never content with the  status quo or being average.   00:07:13.280 --> 00:07:20.000 Marines meet and exceed the standard. That is what  Marines do and that is what the nation expects. 00:07:20.114 --> 00:07:47.440 (Energetic music) 00:07:47.440 --> 00:07:50.992 >> Semper Fidelis and happy birthday Marines. 00:07:51.074 --> 00:08:01.355 (Energetic music)