Archive for the 'Listen Up Marines!' Category

"Friendly Fire" - Another Military Oxymoron

Just like "military intelligence," jokingly referred to by combat troops as a contradiction in terms where mass confusion and ineptness are more the rule than the exception. Or here is another example: "military justice" where verdicts can get passed down, based not, on guilt or innocence, but for reasons the brass calls; "for the good of the service." Yeah, whatever.

"Friendly fire" however, is much more than a figure of military speech combining one or more contradictory terms. But rather the military's way of evading and distorting an issue with words designed to reduce the impact of being killed by your own troops. They will try to spin it any way they can to use it to their advantage in a PR campaign like they did with Pat Tillman or they might trivialize it in order to protect careers. It's a precarious position one has on the promotion ladder and it doesn't take much to miss a step and get thrown off. And when it comes to careers, the military has taken CYA beyond science and made it an art form.

How can you call anything "friendly" when the condition it describes results in loss of life? A person who is killed or wounded by "friendly fire" has been the victim of a terrible mistake at the hands of their own. There is nothing friendly about it but yet it seems to have become accepted as this benign description of a broad spectrum of incidents where troops are killed by "friendly's" possibly hit by "short rounds" (bad map co-ordinates called in by some 1st looey that was napping back in OCS when they were teaching how to call in artillery). Troops are shot accidentally by their own side in a combat mission gone wrong or by "fragging," a term from the Vietnam War, used by U.S. military personnel, that means to "kill that SOB officer that wants to put me out in the boonies" or "waste that lifer so he can't testify in my murder trial" of those civilians. In Vietnam this happened every day, in one command alone where I served in I Corps, we lost our exec and a senior NCO to fragging in a single day! (more…)

A Voice For Marines And Their Fellow Americans

While United States Marines protect our country's interests abroad and quietly agonize over how the politicians run the wars in Iraq and Afghanistanon, Big Joe Ligotti ,The Guy From Boston, has the freedom and the balls to "tell it to the marines" and everyone else, right here in America. Admittedly, his style is unique. But make no mistake, the guy is a patriot. You may be offended by his delivery, language, intensity or just his opinions but you have to admit that what he says is worth listening to. The liberal minded and politically correct crowd have managed to let the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many and have succeeded in making this country a laughing stock. Marines and Americans need guys like Joe - guys who tell it like it is for US. Because if Marines do it they get in trouble and if I do it I am just an angry man. It takes talent and character to do what Joe does. 

Marines On Joe's Side

I first wrote about Joe Ligotti in this blog over a year ago (August 2007)in a post titled: The USO Show Marines Will Never See. He was ranting about how he wanted to come to Iraq and pass out cigars to the troops. He professed his love for our men and women in uniform then and nothing has changed. Speaking for myself, a former marine and lover of all things USMC, advocate of the Corps in all respects, supporter of all of our people in uniform I respect Joe Ligotti and his right to say what he feels. Most marines are from homespun backgrounds and would agree with his values in theory, if not his delivery. But sometimes Joe, me and my marine friends out there worry about you, when something or someone really gets you pissed, you look like you will explode any second. But I guess if you were more low key and changed your rants to runts it just wouldn't be The Guy From Boston anymore, would it?

Marines Will Accept No Substitutes

It would seem that Joe has had his problems lately. He has gone from TheGuyFromBoston.com to TheGuyFromBoston.net due to a disagreement with his former partner. This guy David Garafalo, was the guy that registered the original .com domain and when they couldn't resolve their differences he kept the website for himself and declared that "just like James Bond, anyone can play The Guy From Boston." And if that wasn't bad enough he then tried to actually convince us that his cheap substitute could replace Joe. Tell that to the Marines, Davy Boy, and see how far it flies. Forget about it! James Bond my aching ass. First of all there is no other Joe Ligotti, an American original and second, everyone knows that Sean Connery will always be James Bond!

Justice For The Marine Corps And Everyone Else

Thankfully a judge decided that this was blatent trademark infringement on the part of Garifalo and Joe is back as the one and only, USMC approved, The Guy From Boston. Spread the word my fellow Marines, Joe is back and better than ever.

Speeding Marines Elude Cops

Two CHP officers were recently conducting routine speed enforcement when they got the shock of their lives. Officer Smith had just started his shift with the radar gun and was looking forward to serving up some tasty speeding tickets while a relieved Officer Jones went off in hot pursuit of some doughnuts and a potty. Both are blissfully unaware that the United States Marines are about to come calling. Out of the clear blue sky on a calm and sunny, Southern California day, what happened next is the stuff of Marine Corps legend.

A 300 MPH Marine Is Hard To Catch

Officer Smith suddenly does a double take when his radar gun alarm registers an unbelievable speed of 300 MPH - coming from an approaching vehicle! Thinking it is an error he attempts to re-set the gun but before he can gripe to Officer Jones about the department's cheap equipment - a deafening roar overhead of 8.5 magnitude envelops their cruiser and commences to give them both a good shaking. The radar gun had in fact locked on to a USMC F/A-18 Hornet which was engaged in a low flying exercise near their location. Talk about a speeder with a head start!

Marines Blamed For Destruction of State Property

When the dust had finally settled and after Officers Smith and Jones have had a chance to change their skivvies, their Patrol Captain decides to file a complaint with the USMC Base Commander, reportedly to recover money for damage to a CHP patrol car and new uniform trousers, but I suspect he was just an ex-(fill in the blank) Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine basher. What he hoped to gain by filing a complaint against marine aviators is beyond this old jarhead but the reply to the CHP Captain is classic USMC speak: (more…)

It's Not True, Marines

I really hate to see images like this. It makes me feel like 40 years has gone by and nothing has changed. This little ditty was reported to have been seen scribbled on a Marine barracks door near Iraq but I think it's a fake. It's something a Marine might say privately but it would not be allowed to be displayed where the wrong person might see it, I can almost guarantee you. However, as a Viet Nam vet I can tell you that you might have seen a similar messaage, inscribed by using a bayonet on a bullet-scarred wall in Viet Nam some 40 years ago right out in the open. It is a not-so-subtle message that speaks to the heart of the frustration that troops on the line feel when they are away from home and under the stress of combat. (I know, I felt plenty of it myself) It's only natural for troops in that situation to want the world to stop and pay attention because "I could lose my life here, sports fans, and many of us already have." So how can the folks back in the "world" carry on like everything is normal? It may seem that way sometimes but the show must go on in America regardless of the horrors of war. (more…)

Marines in Iraq Would Love The Guy From Boston

My friend Joe, known to the world as The Guy From Boston, wants to go to Iraq and Afghanistan to tell Marines that terrorists and Osama - you know who, can kiss his ***. If you have ever seen one of Joe's Rants you know it would be a great show but the brass might not appreciate his brand of politically incorrect humor. After I saw his first video about going to see the troops I knew that I would become a huge fan. Anyone that passionate about things that are wrong with this country has got my vote. Joe is the guy that says what we are all thinking. So I emailed the big guy to ask his permission to use some of his Rants on this site. He was gracious enough to reply "it would be an honor to be associated with Marines." He has a personal stake in this conflict as his cousin is a Marine currently serving in Iraq.

A Brand Of Humor Marines Can Appreciate

I think it's a great idea for Joe and friends to go to Iraq and I think the troops would get a kick out of it. With his "no holds barred" and "tell it like it is" brand of humor, Marines would be rolling in the isles. GFB should put a show together like Bob Hope used to do and travel around to entertain the troops. You know, a few pretty girls, some jokes, etc. Instead of a golf club for a prop GFB would wave around that huge stogie of his. I don't know that the brass is ready for Joe, sh** still flows uphill in the Corps. If Joe suspects mischief he is going to tell you about it, whether it comes from the brass or the enemy. After all "he's the guy that has the balls to say what we are thinking." I love this guy!

PS. As you can see, part of Joe's shtick is that wheezing delivery of his. But (confidentially) Joe is on a diet and has already lost 30 lbs. He says you can't really tell because "it's like throwing a deck chair off the Titanic." A hilarious analogy, one that I can appreciate myself. But keeping in mind that this site focuses on the low-carb approach to health, nutrition and weight loss as well as Marines we wish him the best and will provide regular updates as to his progress. Like I told him just today, "The Skinny Guy From Boston" just wouldn't be the same.