Monthly Archives: November 2023

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Radio Interview

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A few days ago, Major Michael McNamara, USMC (Ret) from the “All Marine Radio” held a rather lengthy interview with me via telephone. He had been after me for nearly a year to do this and for some reason, primarily me, we just couldn’t find the time to do it. In retrospect, I wasn’t up to it. I know those of you who know me, will chuckle loudly when I say I’m really a humble guy when it comes to talking about myself. I always enjoyed, and preferred talking about Marines. Anyway, Michael wore me down and I finally agreed after far too many emails to count. He had me talking about things I have not thought about since the days of writing the book. The interview wore my cell phone’s battery out. Towards the end I kept getting the usual beeps when your phone is telling you to shut up and hang up or I’ll do it for you – it lasted over three hours. He had me talking about so many things in my life in the Corps, and especially my heroes; primarily all the fantastic SNCO mentors I was fortunate enough to have over the years. If I was an okay leader, it was due to them, especially GySgt’s! Far too many of them to recount them all, but I did talk about many.

So, if you have nothing to do for about an hour each, below are the three segments of the interview, totally unedited, which was a surprise to me when I finally listened to them. For my mentors, don’t be surprised to hear your name mentioned several times, especially you JD!

The career of Jim Bathurst, from Private to Colonel USMC (Part 1)

The career of Jim Bathurst, from Private to Colonel USMC (Part 2)

The career of Jim Bathurst, from Private to Colonel USMC (Part 3)

Originally posted 2018-03-01 15:41:33.

Recent Posts

Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity?

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It’s not often I post something of my own, I usually post things from others blogs, or from emails I receive, but I do often make some introductory comments. But I am pissed (sorry if you have virgin ears, but I mean I am so damn mad, much madder than I have been in a long, long time)! This shooting in Parkland, FL, isn’t near me, as I am on the gulf coast (snow bird), but where it happened isn’t relevant.

Seventeen people died a brutal death, many young children, who may still be alive and enjoying this weekend had someone, some person done their job.  And what really frosts me is this is not the first time intelligence failed to be followed through on because it wasn’t given to the field offices that needed to know it.

I grew of age in an organization where the “boss” was responsible for everything the unit did or did not do — the good, the bad and the ugly — albeit I always tried to push the “good” down the chain to Marines who were really responsible for the successes. Some heads need to roll, and my first bowling ball would be the Director’s. And then I would keep going down the chain busting everyone’s along the way until I got to that civil service worker (agent I guess) who’s job title included forwarding intelligence to the proper field office who have a need to know it FAST. Every body from that person up to the boss needs to be held responsible for the death of those seventeen people. I’m not a lawyer, but if there is some way to charge them as accessories before the fact, they’d see their day in court.

I don’t know any FBI agents personally, but I’m certain there are some highly dedicated, honest, hard-working Americans in that organization, and even though they are always portrayed in the TV Cop shows as the bad guys – the “feds” – I’m sure they have thwarted many bad things we will never know about. Those brave men and women have been beat up so bad in the last year by the media, by the politicians, liberals and conservatives alike, for their screw ups and failings, but that’s all been on the leadership, not the field agents. God bless them. The FBI is, I believe, the largest swamp in the federal government and it needs to completely drained of its leadership and start anew — NOW!

Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity it reads on their insignia. What a shame to have had that tarnished time and again by its leadership over the last year or so.

One question, does that person who was responsible for passing on that information still have a desk at the FBI? As an American, I demand to know the answer to that question, and so should you!

Originally posted 2018-02-17 09:56:04.

Current Events, Recent Posts

This Just In – WOW!

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BORDER WALL TO BE LONGER THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCES SALE OF CALIFORNIA TO MEXICO 
WASHINGTON (AP) – January 2018

President Trump disclosed that he has reached an agreement with Enrique Pena Nieto, President of Mexico, which provides for the sale of substantially all of the State of California to the country of Mexico

President Trump noted that this deal, which he claims “is his largest real estate deal ever” is a win-win for everyone involved. One of the benefits he says he will highlight during a prime time address from the oval office later this evening, will include using the proceeds received by the US from Mexico to

1) pay for the Wall (fulfilling yet another campaign promise), a wall which will now include the length of the eastern border of California

2) fund all the infrastructure spending in the remaining 49 states and

3) pay to relocate the 67 Republicans that currently reside in California .

He also noted that Federal money saved from the reduction of California residents on US social programs will allow those social programs to be cash positive in less than 3 years.

Mexican President Nieto announced that he has already introduced a bill to the Mexican Congress asking to change his country’s name to MexiCal.

Other benefits President Trump intends to discuss during this evening’s prime time address include:

California will now be able to act as a sanctuary state within MexiCal noting that there is much more room for the refugees who will find the climate in the State of California more desirable than the climate in US cities such as NYC, Detroit or Chicago .

The elimination of the existing border between Mexico and California will allow drugs to flow more freely between Mexico and the users in Hollywood . Drug tunnel diggers at the Tijuana border will now be able to use their skills to dig tunnels under Los Angeles to help ease congestion in that city and allow rioters to move about the city’s universities more freely.

The U.S. taxpayer will no longer be on the hook for any future disaster relief required once the next megaquake hits California . The space in the Capitol and other DC buildings vacated by representatives of California will be fumigated and turned into “time-out rooms” for the press as well as Liberty Centers where US citizens can meet with their congressmen to discuss the pursuit of economic freedom

Nancy Pelosi released a statement stating that she looks forward to making the Mexican President’s life miserable and prefers the year round weather in Mexico City to that of DC. Her office has already announced a schedule of fund raising activities for what is believed to be an upcoming campaign to run for President of MexiCal. Papers released along with Trump’s statement reveal that a newly incorporated real estate company, pmurT, Inc., which was intimately involved in the deal discussions, will receive a broker fee of $25 billion on the California sale.

An anonymous pmurT, Inc. representative has revealed that the profits on the deal are HUGE and will be used to purchase, develop and convert all abandoned US Federal facilities in California into special high end retreats and resorts which will assist California residents with managing their euphoria and transition into the nanny state they have so long desired to be. The exact northern border of the new MexiCal is still under negotiation.

Apparently the White House is concerned that certain members of congress may be unwilling to give up California ’s wine country and are suggesting that the northern border align with the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge . California residents will be issued special blue cards to cross the border into the US so that the total number of California liberals entering the US can be tracked and at any point in time not exceed predetermined levels. Residents that remain in California after the effective date of the sale will not be allowed to seek refugee status in the US in the future.

Mexican President Nieto stated he is thrilled with the deal and is looking forward to declaring Spanish the national language for his newly acquired territory and opening SSL (Spanish as a second language) schools throughout California . He also noted that funding for the transaction would come from the Mexican drug cartels, which have agreed to provide low interest loans to Mexico so long as they are allowed to move their cash out of Switzerland and the Cayman Islands back into Mexico tax free.

White House representatives refused to confirm rumors that a similar deal was in the works for the sale of Northeastern states from NY through Maine , to Canada .

President Trump wrapped up his statement stating, “this deal is HUGE and will help Make America, albeit a little smaller, Great Again”

 

Originally posted 2018-02-16 15:08:34.

Recent Posts

Marine Colonel has the final word!

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The below email was forwarded to me by a best friend, fellow Marine, and brother with whom I served several times, but first aboard the “Mighty Chi,” the USS Chicago  CG-11. I was the MarDet XO and he, then Capt. Charlie Tyrian, the CO. One of my worst tours of duty, I was to spend the first year as XO, then when he departed I was to fleet up to be the CO. However, I pulled some strings for the first and only time in my career and to get the hell off after the first year. I tired of watching Naval Officers shit on enlisted men (it’s all in the book). 

Anyway, I do not know the Colonel who actually wrote the below piece, but he definitely has command of the English language and makes his point loud, clear, and concise that any idiot “should” be able to understand, but they won’t. And as for the scum who started this whole thing (my Senator, and I use that term loosely, Durbin, he surely falls into the category described below.

And the Marine Colonel has the final word!!!

Don’t know about you, but I have been somewhat amazed & amused by the outpouring of distress regarding the use of the vulgar word “shithole.”

Now, as an Officer of Marines, I worked very hard at avoiding obscene verbiage, although admittedly some times without success.  The avoidance of profane language was, in truth, a much greater challenge.  With regard to vulgar terminology…  well let’s say I learned at the feet of the most talented and original users and creators of vulgar terminology: Marine Staff Non-Commissioned Officers! 

The essential element in the deciphering of any language, be it orthodox or non-orthodox, is identifying to what does the word infer or refer. In the case of the word in question, “shithole” refers to a PLACE and not a person or a people.  For one to refer in a vulgar manner to a person or a people, the appropriate term would be “shithead” or“dickhead” or better yet, the more popular “asshole.”

Typically, the word “shithole” would be used in two consecutive and highly dependent sentences:  “Jeez, what a shithole!” followed immediately by “Clean this shithole up!!!”  In neither sentence does the word “shithole” refer to its inhabitants, although there may be an asshole or two in the group.

No doubt Marines and our brethren Soldiers clearly comprehend this distinction.  Air Force officers surely would not use such language, and besides, they have contract laborers to clean things up.  Similarly, the use of the word would be beneath the dignity of a Navy officer; that’s why they have Chiefs and “Swabbies.”

Like many of you to whom this email is addressed, I have been to a “shithole” or two in my time.  I believe I know of which I speak.  Certainly, we have seen our share in Southeast Asia, but until you have stood in some wadi shithole in the Sudan or Somalia or Oman… well, you haven’t lived!

So, in the interest of enlightening the over-educated, yet blithely ignorant masses, you have my permission to disseminate the important distinction in the use of vulgar terminology that I have attempted to illuminate.

Peace be with you. Semper Fidelis!

Tony Latorre Col USMC (Ret)

Originally posted 2018-01-29 10:18:18.