Butt out

Dear Mr. Weinstein,

I just read about your group trying to make something out of nothing with the Marine photo. As a Proud former Marine and Veteran of OEF and OIF leave it alone and shut up.

(name withheld)

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Dear (name withheld),

First, please let me extend my sincere thanks for your service to our country.

Mr. Weinstein thought I could best give you an answer from a Marine’s perspective.

As you may know, many MRFF members, staff, and volunteers ar veterans, holding ranks from private through flag officer, with MOSs in all fields, including combat arms, and represent 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 for valor with medals ranging from the PHM, BSM w/ V, SSM, and the Army, Navy, and AF Crosses. One of our number holds the MOH.

I am also 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 various line infantry and artillery units, and in 1st and 3rd Recon (in capacities through acting platoon commander) and later as an NCO 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 subsequently went on to teach in the USMC Jr. ROTC program for several years, before 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, and one of my lines included Confederates, so I had ancestors on both sides in that conflict.) In more recent years, we have been Marines. My 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 and on the famous fighting retreat under “Chesty” Puller, along with another of my uncles who was 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 sister’s god-father was a Marine CWO with many years service.

As you can see, I am no stranger to the Marine Corps and its ways.

While Mr. Weinstein’s reaction may seem an over-reaction to you, you can imagine why, given his people’s and indeed his own family’s experience in the Holocaust, he would react so strongly.

I am not Jewish myself, but 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-descended 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, 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.

The combat photographer I mentioned had a Nazi helmet hanging upside down in a tree in his yard. He had picked it up during the war. It had an obviously fatal bullet hole in the side, near the emblem. I once asked him what it was there for. He said he had hung it there as a bird’s nest, which he thought was appropriate, because he had gotten it “from a bird-brain.” (The dead Nazi.) Despite his own Germanic heritage and descent, he despised the Nazis to the day he died.

In addition, my wife (who is of Jewish descent, though not observant), lost over half of the European branch of her family in the Holocaust. Among them was a young cousin, Hanus Hachenburg, a brilliant 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 or 80s, 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 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 many others) want 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.

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 “leave it alone and shut up.” We consider their actions and choices in this matter to be odious and despicable.

I might add that the Commandant, GEN Amos, agrees 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.

I remain,

Semper Fidelis,

F. J. Taylor
USMC (Ret.)

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I put you in the same catagory as robert garwood,john murtha ,lee harvey oswald and all the rest of the 2% ers ,your not a Marine you’re a dirt bag.

(name withheld)

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Sadly, I have often dealt with others of your ilk, both in and out of the service. If you think you are insulting me or bruising my cotton feelings, or inciting me with your puerile and ignorant verbiage, please disabuse yourself of that notion. As a Marine SNCO who led Marines in peace and war, I am not at all impressed with the likes of you or your rather lame and tame insults. I had far worse back in the day, and get far worse regularly in the course of working as a volunteer for the MRFF.

The fact of the matter is that you know nothing about me, or about my service (although I provided some details which you obviously ignored or gaffed off), just as I know nothing about you or your service — if you ever had any, which I am now beginning to doubt.

The difference is that I approached your original (and equally ignorant) letter with an open hand and a polite response, in which I recognized your (alleged) service and thanked you for it, and detailed the facts in this case in an effort to help educate you to understand what was actually going on. You chose to ignore this, and respond instead with a childish retort, trying (though failing) to insult a man who is far your senior both in life and in the Marines. That tells me a lot about who and what you are, and it isn’t very impressive. Obviously, you are not one to let facts confuse your ignorant opinions.

However, I now know all I really need to know about you — you are a belligerent, truculent, spoiled, petulant boot brat, with an attitude a mile wide. You certainly don’t come across to me as being a real combat Marine — I have been one, and I have known plenty of them, who served in eras from WW I up to yours, including many who were highly decorated. Most of the people I run across with your attitudinal issues are more often wannabees, chicken-hawks or REMFs. (BTW, what was your MOS…?)

As to your putting me in a “category” – Sonny-boy, you don’t carry the brass to put me in any categories. To put it into language even the likes of you can understand, I don’t give a rat’s ass what an ill-tempered, ignorant and belligerent punk thinks of me. I have the respect of the men of all ranks who actually served with me in battle, so I could care less what the likes of you think. (I might add that my service appears in several histories of my war. Does yours?)

I often notice how people of your ilk are quick to shoot off about the service of others who may disagree with them. Isn’t it interesting how that works? YOUR service and medals (IF any!) “count” because your political or religious POV is the only “right” one. Anybody who disagrees or has a different POV, no matter if it is supported by the facts, is somehow a “dirtbag” and “2%.” Their service and decorations somehow don’t count anymore. Well, let me tell you, junior — I am damned sick and tired of you and your ilk telling me whose service “counts” and whose doesn’t, so I have hereby decided that YOUR service (if any) doesn’t ‘count” and I’m sure my comrades in arms, and the 26,898 veterans who we serve will agree. But even if they don’t, your service still doesn’t “count” anymore, because I have decided it doesn’t.

As I said, you are free to disagree with what we are doing. You are also free to shoot off your wide mouth from safely behind your computer. Plenty do. Either way, I don’t give a damn.

If and when you learn how to address your elders and seniors in the Corps and in life, and learn to express yourself politiely and engage in intelligent discourse, feel free to write about this or other issues that may boggle your tiny brain. Until then I am done with you. Your messages will go in the digital version of the shitcan, where trash like yours belongs, unopened. I certainly don’t intend to get into a pissing contest with such a poor opponent. After all, in a battle of wits, you are clearly only half-armed. Unfair, really. In any case, as Sam Clemens once said,

“Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig.”

I am done with trying to teach this pig to sing. I hope I make myself perfectly clear.

I won’t sign off with Semper Fidelis again, since you have made it perfectly clear that term means nothing to you. I will only say that if you were ever really in the Marine Corps, you are obviously not of it, and if I didn’t know a number of other of today’s Marines, and thought the Corps was all like you, I would certainly despair of the future of the service. Fortunately, I know you are the actual 2% you accuse me of being.

VERY sincerely,

F. J. Taylor
USMC (Ret.)