Semper Fi - CEG Archives

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I got a moving eMail from my Dad today. Thought I'd share as even non Jarheads will find it powerful.

Mark

http://www.pcsuccess.us/yrg/farewell.html

Thanks for sharing, Mark. A good tribute.

Ooohrah.....may they RIP.

Damn. Reminds me all the more of what my small purpose is, and that it's all about those Marines who are fighting and dying every moment I'm enjoying my freedom. Oorah Teufelhunden.

To those who care, while at OCS, I found that there's what I like to call the "digicross" on the utilities. Just a little cross shape form on the new MARPATS. I had one right on the bottom brim of my cover, and I would just look at it when #$!% was gettin' deep at OCS and remember my bigger purpose. In the 18th pic, with a line of 3 Marines with their left hands on their fallen Marines kevlars, you can see one of those digicross' on his shoulder pocket. So, could be a lame bit of imagination on my part, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't think that there were moments when seeing that perfect little cross didn't kick my ars into gear and remember all the heroes that had come before me and were now with God. Well that's about as spiritual as you'll ever see me, Semper Fi.

Originally posted by PlatoSVT:
Damn. Reminds me all the more of what my small purpose is, and that it's all about those Marines who are fighting and dying every moment I'm enjoying my freedom. Oorah Teufelhunden.

To those who care, while at OCS, I found that there's what I like to call the "digicross" on the utilities. Just a little cross shape form on the new MARPATS. I had one right on the bottom brim of my cover, and I would just look at it when #$!% was gettin' deep at OCS and remember my bigger purpose. In the 18th pic, with a line of 3 Marines with their left hands on their fallen Marines kevlars, you can see one of those digicross' on his shoulder pocket. So, could be a lame bit of imagination on my part, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't think that there were moments when seeing that perfect little cross didn't kick my ars into gear and remember all the heroes that had come before me and were now with God. Well that's about as spiritual as you'll ever see me, Semper Fi.

explain this digicross to civilians...is it a pin....or does it fall in the pattern of BDU's

It's in the pattern of the new MARPAT utilities. BDU's..... Marines don't know the meaning of that term. Just take a look at the 18th pic of the series in the video, the one I mentioned earlier. You'll see it in brown on his shoulder pocket. Relatively small, only about an inch big, but you can see it.

I believe that PlatoSVT is referring to a pattern that appears as part of the new BDU's. The pattern is a dot-matrix style camouflage, and in places forms the cross. That and the mini Eagle, Globe, and Anchor really makes the new uniform. I have my old BDU's folded nicely in a box (they were the actual set I wore overseas), but I have a new set with the digital camo, fully starched and pressed, sealed in a plastic bag in my closet. Every now and then I'll take them out and look at either of them, and remember the friends I lost -- its difficult, but I refuse to forget them.

Farwell Marine, Semper Fi devil dog... Ooh rah!

E1

Quote:

BDU's..... Marines don't know the meaning of that term.

Ya'll don't call em BDU's any longer?

E1

I remember one candidate tried calling them that at OCS. He received a firm "What the f#@!* you think this is candidate...the Air Force!?!?" We stuck to utilities and cammies from that point on. So, I can't speak of what they were referred to as, but we were "discouraged" from calling them that name at OCS.

Oh and we had the chance to ask a Captain why the digital pattern for the new field uniforms. He said that they were designed with small and large shapes, rendered as blocky, edgy designs. This variety of size and sharp edges forces the eye to soften the actual appearance of the uniform because the eye has a tendency towards soft edges. So just looking at the sharpness and variety causes the eye to blur it moreso than just looking at a soft shape, as with the older uniforms. Plus, Marines always have the most kick a55, latest and greatest uniforms. Maybe not the rest of their gear, (we were using Alice Packs, literally from the Vietnam era during OCS) but Marines will always be looking sharp. But alas, the other services are slowly introducing their new MARPATS as well. The Army is forefront among them, but an airman in digital blue/white cammies just looks "off" to me.

Ah, found a pic, guess it's not digital, just fat-man Hawaiian T-shirt themed:

Sorry to thread jack, I'm easily distracted.

Cammies is the only term I accept as valid. Of course I'm biased; thank my DI's.

The digi camo is pretty amazing, really. I remember seeing a couple of soldiers walking toward the restaurant I was eating lunch in, and they had on the new digi, and it was like watching an optical illusion as their arms swung at their sides. The edges and contrasts just faded in and out.

Originally posted by PlatoSVT:
It's in the pattern of the new MARPAT utilities. BDU's..... Marines don't know the meaning of that term. Just take a look at the 18th pic of the series in the video, the one I mentioned earlier. You'll see it in brown on his shoulder pocket. Relatively small, only about an inch big, but you can see it.

Pretty cocky for a candidate...I personally will call them whatever I feel like calling them....they are Battle Dress Uniforms....they are daily wear....they are the differences between life and death if taken care of properly....but for someone who is a "candidate" to get all cocky on me....get bent "Marine"....another weekend warrior.....I "buried" more frineds than you will ever have in this life.....do you understand me?

Originally posted by Pre98:
Thanks for sharing, Mark. A good tribute.

Judge, as far as the BDU goes, I only said that because I assumed that what we were told was the standard for the Marine Corps. It is not until you and E1 referred to them as BDU's did I understand they were known by any other name within the Marine Corps. I'm a gross little candidate, and have earned no right to put someone like you, E1, or Trapps in their place. If that's how I came across, I'm sorry. Let me simply take care of the rest in a PM.