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ONCE, ALWAYS A MARINE

In response to Maj. Roger Mahars’ letter [“Highlight the good,” Dec. 14]: To caveat what the major was saying [about too many news articles highlighting negative actions of “former Marines”], I don’t disagree with him.

But I will add this: There is no such thing as a former Marine. What happened to “once a Marine, always a Marine?” As an organization that prides itself in honor, courage and commitment, we were taught to do the right things for the right reasons. It is engraved in our hearts that we do the honorable thing at all times.

Gunnery Sgt. Robert B. Jones

Okinawa, Japan

EXPERIENCE PAYS

I just read the article [“One foot in both camps,” Nov. 30] about high-ranking retirees being paid big bucks by defense contractors and at the same time being paid by the military to be “mentors.” The tenor of the article seems pugnacious, as if it is criminal for these retired admirals and generals to be pulling in so much money.

Excuse me, but it seems private industry and the military are simply using their resources to attract the best talent available. As mentors they are selling their services at the best salary they can garner. That’s what we call capitalism.

Admirals and generals are fairly safe targets. The American public has, for decades, been trained to find fault with our military. But I wonder if Marine Corps Times would consider writing an article of equal length about politicians on Capitol Hill who do the same thing.

Navy Cmdr. Richard Maffeo (ret.)

Gig Harbor, Wash.

NOT LOOKING FOR HANDOUTS

Responding to Sgt. Michael A. Burton’s letter in the Nov. 30 issue [“No more homeless vets”]:

I served 30 years, two months and three days in the Corps. I am a Vietnam veteran, and I served 23 years and two months as a civil servant. I receive a nice pension from my Marine Corps retirement plan that is much more than I received when I was an active-duty master gunnery sergeant because of the cost-of-living adjustment raises.

At age 65, I started to receive the maximum social security check, having paid in more than 40 years to that retirement plan (receiving COLA raises every year from that plan as well). Starting on Dec. 29, I retire from civil service and will start receiving a nice pension from that retirement plan. Also as a civil servant, I paid into the Thrift Savings Plan with matching monies from the government. I have Medicare B and TriCare and Blue Cross and Blue Shield to protect my medical matters.

I don’t worry where my next meal comes from. I don’t want to hear about being lucky or anything else like that. We were all 18 years old and starting to make choices. Were my choices better than the ones others made? I don’t know.

Just how much does one think the government owes? Maybe because I never thought they owed me anything is the reason that I got so much from my service in these past 53 years to my country.

Master Gunnery Sgt. Paul L. Everest (ret.)

Laurel, Md.

ENEMY RIGHTS GO TOO FAR

Regarding the situation with the three SEALs who are charged with the alleged abuse of Ahmed Hashim Abed [“Standing up for SEALS,” Dec. 14 and “Seals allegedly punch detainee, face charges,” Dec. 7]: I’d like to say that I understand that abuse of prisoners cannot be allowed. Even small indiscretions have to be nipped, because eventually someone will go overboard. On that note, however, it seems that the military justice system, with plenty of help from the liberal media, has gone overboard.

It’s a common question in the armed forces: “Why do detainees who have tortured and killed U.S. military, as well as innocent civilians, seem to have more rights than we do?” I think it’s about time the questions were accompanied with answers.

The best example of this ridiculous position is taken out of the true accounts from “Lone Suvivor,” [a nonfiction book and first-person account by former Surface Warfare Officer 1st Class Marcus Luttrell] in which Afghan goat herders stumbled across a SEAL Team. Normally the team would have killed them on the spot, but instead opted to let them go because they feared legal action against them by their own country. Needless to say, the herders ran to the Taliban, told them where they were, and all but one SEAL was killed as a result.

How can our troops do their jobs if they’re afraid to even put their hands on a suspected terrorist?

Master-of-Arms 1st Class (SW) Nathan J. Stalker

Rota, Spain

THANKS TO HONOR GUARD

On behalf of my five brothers and sisters, we wish to thank the Marine Corps and the Navy for the honor guard they provided at the funeral of our father, H.A. “Buck” Joseph, 90, in November. Our father joined the Corps in 1940, serving as a paratrooper in the South Pacific during World War II with the rank of private first class.

On a glorious November morning at a hilltop cemetery in San Andreas, Calif., two Marines folded and presented us with an American flag that had covered my father’s coffin, while a young Navy corpsman played “Taps.” They had traveled some distance to be there.

In the week between my father’s death and funeral, the Marine Corps marked its 234th birthday, and we celebrated Veterans Day. Our dad would have been pleased.

[The honor guard] is a wonderful program honoring the nation’s oldest veterans. Our family is most grateful.

Matt Joseph

San Mateo, Calif.