Marine Corps SS Flag-Army Forward Base Name Aryan

Dear Members of Military Religious Freedom,

Why don’t you people do something constructive instead of going on your little witch hunt within the military? You don’t think these brave men and women have enough on their minds without having to watch their political correctness due to scum like you looking over their shoulders? What’s next, you want to remove the pictures of the pin-up girls from the sides of the WWII bombers so they don’t look sexist? It’s assholes like you people that are ruining this country with your PC bullshit. I bet most of you have never served, so why don’t you just shut your cowardly mouths and say thank you to these fine veterans.
You’re pathetic,

(name withheld)

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Dear (name withheld),

Thanks for your letter. First, please let me extend my sincere thanks for your service to our country. Mr. Weinstein thought I could best answer you from a Marine’s perspective, as I am a retired Marine.

As to your comment on our lack of service, you are in error.

I would estimate that 90% or more of our MRFF members, staff, and volunteers are veterans. We include active duty, Reserve, or retired, from all branches, holding ranks from PVT through Flag officer, with MOSs in all fields, (including combat arms), and representing service eras from WW II, Korea, Viet Nam, and on through Gulf I, OEF, OIF, and the present GWOT. Many have been decorated for wounds received in action and / or for valor with medals ranging from the Purple Heart, Bronze Star w/ V, Silver Star, and the Army, Navy, and AF Crosses. One holds the Medal of Honor.

I myself am a veteran of the USMC, with service that included close personal ground combat in several of the major operations in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968, including Operation Scotland at Khe Sanh (before, during, and after the Tet 1968 assault and the Siege, as a member of Combined Action Company Oscar), and later in another CAP unit in the Hue-Phu Bai area, during the mopping-up actions after Tet.

I also served in infantry and artillery units, and in 1st and 3rd Recon (in capacities through platoon commander) and at MARDET CINCLNTFLT, with responsibilities for the security of the command which included (in addition to CINCLNT) FMFLNT, SACLNT, SUBLNT, NATO, and the Nuclear Warfare School. My MOSs included 0311 & 0321, and 0369.

I later lost a limb, which ended my active career, but I subsequently went on to teach in the USMC JROTC program for several years, using my GI Bill to attain a BA, and later a Master’s degree in Education, after which I taught K-12 and Adult education at a number of levels in public and private schools, including at-risk inner city, and in the Neglected and Abused home, and Juvenile Hall, and later, incarcerated adults in medium and high-security jails.

My family also has a long history of military service dating back to the Revolutionary War and Civil War (66th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but one of my lines includes Confederate veterans, so I had ancestors on both sides in that conflict.) My Marine great-uncles served in WW I. One was seriously WIA, in the Argonne Offensive, later dying of his wounds. My father was a Marine in the Pacific in WWII, serving in the major island campaigns in the Marianna, Marshall, and Solomon Islands (incl. Tulagi, Guam, Guadalcanal, etc.). He was later WIA and evacuated to the US just prior to Iwo Jima. One uncle was stationed in Shanghai with the 4th Marines, then transferred to the Philippines where he fought on Corregidor, becoming a Japanese POW after the surrender. He was later shipped to Japan on one of the “Hell Ships” where he worked as a slave laborer for the duration. (He weighed only 98 pounds on release.) He later served in the Occupation forces, and then was sent to Korea, where he fought at Inchon and later at the Chosin Reservoir on the famous fighting retreat under “Chesty” Puller, along with another of my uncles (also a Marine). Both survived. Chet eventually retired as a MGYSGT. (The Marine Corps League named a post in Florida for him after his death.)
My god-father was a Marine CWO with many years service.

Mr. Weinstein is also a veteran, albeit not of combat. He was an Honor Graduate of the AF Academy, and served for 10 years a JAG officer, including service in the Reagan White House as a Special Counsel. His family has over three generations of service, and a number of distinguished members of the US Armed Forces. His nephew is a GYSGT in the USMC, and recently returned from yet another tour in the Sand Box (Combat Arms). He is also a member of and supporter of the MRFF.

While it may seem an over-reaction to you, Mr. Weinstein’s personal experiences as a Jew and that of his family in the Holocaust necessarily induces a strong reaction in him about these matters.

While not Jewish myself, I grew up in the years following WW II, when there were still many who had seen the Holocaust (which included Gypsies, political opponents, homosexuals, and other non-Jews) first hand.

A close family friend had been a combat photographer in Europe. He was of German (non-Jewish) descent, and was one of those detailed by Eisenhower (another German-American) to make a photographic and film record of the death camps, so that nobody could ever deny what had happened. As Eisenhower later wrote to Mamie, “I never dreamed that such cruelty, bestiality, and savagery could really exist in this world.”

(For the full story, see: http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/stories/death-camps.htm )

I saw these pictures as a kid, and many others, and have spoken with soldiers who liberated the camps, as well as survivors, including non-Jews, one of them a Pole who saw it all first-hand from within. I have read the histories, and memoirs of survivors, both Jew and non-Jew. I am well acquainted with every sordid detail of the camps and the deeds done.

In addition, my wife (who is of Jewish heritage), lost over half of the European branch of her family in the Holocaust. Among them was a young cousin, Hanus Hachenburg, a bright young boy who wrote plays, stories, and poetry of great beauty while he was incarcerated in Terezin (aka Theresienstadt) while awaiting transport to the death camps. (This was the city billed by Nazi propagandists as “Hitler’s gift to the Jews.”) What he might have accomplished in later life will never be known, as his young life was snuffed out at 15 at Auschwitz by the murdering monsters whose logo these Marines so “proudly” wear and use. (If you would like to see some of his work, Google his name.)

Therefore I have absolutely NO doubt that the Holocaust happened, and of the SS role in that tragedy.

Sadly, most of that generation are now gone, and it seems that Ike didn’t factor the IQ (“Idiot Quotient”) into the equation. (Hiatus deflendi est, since the hyper-exponential increase in world population since the war has apparently vastly raised the number of ignorant fools who don’t believe it happened. )

I don’t know your age, but from your service eras, I assume that you grew up in the 70s, so perhaps you lack you the vivid first-hand memories of that period and the post-war years, and thus did not react as Mr. Weinstein and I did — with revulsion and disgust at the sight of that blatant symbol of the Third Reich’s most hideous death machine — the SS — in the hands of American Marines. As a Marine myself, I was both shocked and revolted at the sight.

As to the nature of the flag itself, and whether those Marines knew what they were getting — there can be no doubt that at least some of them knew this was a Nazi Schutzstaffel flag, since they obtainedit from a web-site called “Traders of the Lost Surplus” (which one waggish reporter has dubbed “Nazis ‘R’ Us”), a site that specializes in Nazi replicas and memorabilia. Have a look for yourself:

http://www.totls.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16:close-out-corner&catid=1:home&Itemid=30

For your convenience, I attach a picture of the identical flag from that site, and the accompanying description:

7180. ss double runic flag, a favorite and well know (sic) ss flag, 3′ x 5′ $7.50

Perhaps you (along with me and many others) wanted to believe that these Marines somehow chose this flag without at least one of them noticing that it was a Nazi SS flag, or its history or origins. That would entail believing that these carefully selected, highly trained individuals are somewhat dumber than the average box of rocks.

(And yes, I know that members of other services sometimes suggest that about us — usually when there are no Marines present — but I like to think that not all Marines, particularly those of us who served in elite units, are quite THAT stupid.)

Likewise, they try to claim some years of use for this symbol in Scout-snipers. While that may be true, it in no way makes it any more acceptable. Personally, I never encountered it during my time in (1966-77), and in several instances, I worked right alongside snipers. At Khe Sanh, in particular, we had one assigned to our corner of the lines, and no Nazi logos were to be seen anywhere on his person or equipment.

As Exhibit 2, I would like to attach the text of a letter we recently received from a man purporting to be a Marine scout-sniper. I have redacted his name and E to protect his privacy (not that he deserves it), but his name shows that he is obviously of Germanic origin.

From: K******@***.com
Date: February 10, 2012 1:48:36 AM MST
To: [email protected]
Subject: Waffen SS Flag

Mr. Michael Weinstein,
Yes, we knew what that flag meant. We are mainly composed of white people of European descent (blacks can’t swim and it is too tough for jews). We have always acknowledged true fighters and the Waffen SS are an elite brotherhood of warriors, much like we are. More than 99% never saw a concentration camp or participated in Einsaztgruppen actions, much like the vast majority of the USMC has never perpetrated any war crimes. Many of our members are of German descent and not a few have ancestors who were in the Waffen SS. We certainly do not have the combat distinction of your Israeli Commandos (if I were a 12 year old Palestinian boy throwing rocks I may be scared) or the Air Farce. You are correct; we knew what that flag meant.

(Name Redacted)

As you can see, this Marine at least not only admits to knowing the history and meaning of the flag, but excuses the behavior of the Waffen SS (a lie much circulated by modern neo-Nazis), and indeed glorifies those murderous bastards, while simultaneously making racially charged lies about blacks and Jews. He says he knows the meaning of that fag and symbol, and not only desn’t recant and apologize for its use, but actually glorifies and celebrates these bloody murderers of millions of unarmed men, women, and children. I personally cannot find any excuse for this, or any way to exonerate him, or any like him.

Likewise, the recent discovery of a “Camp Aryan” (another symbolic term Hitler appropriated and sullied, like the swastika and the sig runes) makes it clear that there are people in the Marines and other branches of the Armed Forces who are stealthily pursuing a racist and neo-Nazi agenda.

This is not about “PC” as you suggest. It is about what we as a nation are supposed to represent and do — and that doesn’t include using representations of some of the most horrific murderers in history as logos for US Armed Forces. If this went unchallenged and uncorrected, it would be disastrous for this nation. Words and symbols have meaning, sir. We need to be aware of what those words and symbols mean, and not bring disrepute upon our arms or our nation.

I respectfully suggest that in view of this and many other letters we have received, at least some of these Marines and others who chose to adopt this emblem knew full well what they are doing and what that flag meant. For at least some of these men, this is the totally unacceptable racial “supremacy” that has plagued our Corps and nation for many years, and is again raising its despicable head.

I have long been concerned with the direction of the Republic in many areas, and one of these areas has been the creeping advance of racist, fascist and totalitarian elements in our military. I remember being concerned when we adopted the PASGT (aka “Fritz”) helmets in the 80s — not for their protection capabilities (obviously advantageous), but for their strong resemblance to Nazi helmets. I asked myself whether men who had fought the Nazis would have liked to have worn that helmet. I cannot think of any I knew who would have,

That said, while I don’t call for the beheading of any of those men (figuratively or literally), I do unequivocally call for a complete ban on the use and display of ANY Nazi, racist (white, black, Hispanic or whatever), homophobic, sexist, or otherwise obnoxious paraphernalia whatsoever in our Corps, and on a ban on any tattoos, etc. that have those connotations, and (in the words of Article 134), “…all disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces, all conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces.” Those who do not wish to comply should be ejected summarily.

That, sir, is why we at the MRFF are not going to follow your suggestion to “shut your cowardly mouths.” We consider these actions and choices in this matter to be odious and despicable, and that they need to be corrected immediately and strongly.

I might add that the present Commandant, GEN Amos, has agreed with us, and has seen fit to issue an apology, and a command that no Marines will henceforth fly or display any of these odious symbols of totalitarian terrorism.

Of course, you are free to disagree. If you think their service (or for that matter yours) gives them the “right” to fly a flag representing one of the most beastly, cowardly, and murderous regimes in human history, and which my father’s generation fought to obliterate, while wearing the Marine uniform and flying the Stars and Stripes, then we must agree to disagree, as IMO, that would be disrespecting the Greatest Generation, who gave so unsparingly of themselves to defeat that regime and those symbols.

I remain,

Semper Fidelis,

F. J. Taylor
USMC (Ret.)

http://sites.google.com/site/usmccaposcar

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Mr. Taylor,

I stand corrected. I read what you wrote, put some thought into and do believe I owe you and Mr. Weinstein an apology, it was a knee-jerk reaction from a proud Marine trying to defend our Corps at all costs. I didn’t take time to think about it and for that I apologize. All as I saw was another instance of the “press messing with us”, i.e. the urination video. You are correct and I in no way meant any disrespect to the “Greatest Generation”, my grand fathers were part of that war, and my father was a Vietnam Vet Marine. Going forward, I will utilize my “brain housing group” before engaging. Again, my apologies to you and Mr. Weinstein, you didn’t deserve that letter.

Semper Fi,
(name withheld)

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Dear (name withheld),

thanks for your kind words. No apologies necessary, we are just doing what we felt we had to do to fulfill our mandate to protect the religious freedom of our armed forces, and to uphold our oaths to “uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” We meant it when we swore it and we still do — just as I am sure that you did.

Believe me, we took no pleasure in this. (Esp. me and the other Marines in the MRFF.) In fact, we take no pleasure in any of the work we do, other than in assisting our comrades when needed. But we truly wish the need was not there for us to do so. Unfortunately, as with war, and the poor, the need for our services will probably always be there, unless and until mankind learns (in the words of MLK) to “live together as brothers, or perish together as fools.” Sadly, the older I get, the more it looks as if we are doomed to the latter.

Only when we get letters like this do I permit myself to hope, albeit faintly. Many (most) have been so full of putrid vitriol and bile, even after I have tried to explain our position, that it is positively poisonous. This work can be really stressful at times. But we persevere.

Mr. Weinstein suffers more attacks than any of us, as the founder and director. He regularly gets vile, villainous, and horrendous death threats not only against him, but his entire family. He has also pledged his entire personal fortune and all he owns to this effort, going from being an extremely prosperous (as in multi-millionaire) top-ranking corporate lawyer (his last post was at the head of Perot’s legal team), and has spent it all and more on this work. Every month, he has to scramble for pennies to keep it running, despite the fact that we who volunteer are totally unpaid. (In fact, we pay for the privilege! I myself have contributed hundreds from my small fixed income to the cause.)

Well, I must close, but once again I thank you for your service, and for sharing your understandable concerns. It is obvious that you intended well, and you are to be commended for that. Loyalty is a rare commodity in this sad world. You demonstrated it, even though you misunderstood the situation. (An easy mistake.)

Please let me know if I can be of any further service.

Semper Fidelis,

F. J. Taylor
USMC (Ret.)

PS: Since your father was a Viet vet, you might be interested to have a look at the site for my unit: http://sites.google.com/site/usmccaposcar