I never thought I would ever write such a letter to my Commandant of the Marine Corps. As I was writing my book, my editor reminded me several times to what President Reagan said: “Republicans (read Marines) should never speak ill of a fellow republican (read Marine). However, I could not help myself because during my nearly 36 years wearing the Marine uniform I learned that while we like to believe that all Marines are honorable, just, and forthright in their decision making processes, I found they were not! Therefore, I had to call a spade a spade; the principles I learned from my mentors would not allow me to lie. Some were nothing more than career-minded cocker spaniel Marines who looked out for no one but themselves. In fact, the Corps seems to attract those of that ilk and we also tend to breed them.
I remember when selected for colonel, a friend for whom I had worked and respected a great deal warned me that I was about to enter into the political side of the Marine Corps. He was right. The cocker spaniels who are discovered early normally do not rise above field grade, but every now and then one kisses enough ass, has the right tickets punched, collects a godfather or two along the way gets a star. Once anointed with that star, it then becomes critical that he sense the political wind and set his sails accordingly. And that Mr. Berger is a description of you.
I served under ten commandants. Most were okay, some I idolized, and one I detested for what he did to us enlisted Marines by taking away our collar emblems. Of the eight who served after my retirement, there are only two for whom I have any respect. I have often wondered why that is, why have we not had a Chapman, Wilson, or Barrow? I suspect that having achieved that “political rank” I became more aware of the real reason for some of their decisions and actions. Then you appeared on the scene.
When first nominated and I read your Bio, I was impressed thinking we now had one who may steer the right course regardless of the political wind. Was I ever mistaken. You have done nothing but set those sails to follow the liberal agenda regardless of where it takes our Corps. All of your actions since appointment seem destined to change the Corps from an organization respected throughout the world for its nearly 250 years of honorable service to our country to “Berger’s Corps,” whatever the hell that happens to be. We retirees are still trying to figure that out. Your new force structure, organization, and employment concepts have every former commandant and most of the retired generals scratching their heads. But enough has been said about those asinine decisions; therefore, I shall let the generals have their say.
My concern is, as it always was when I wore the uniform, with the Marines themselves and what you are doing to them—the Pvts, PFCs, LCpls, and NCOs. In other words the doers in the Corps, the ones who bleed and die in the politicians’ wars. Have you any idea what goes through the minds of the privates? There is a chapter in my book entitled “The Private’s World,’ you should read it, you might learn something. Did you are any of your minions at HQ think of the average Pvt when you came out with that sick pride month statement or were you simply setting those sails to ride the political wind. I think the latter. What about the average young boy who enlisted in the Corps, the one who was raised by our once normal moral standards. What does he think of you pride month celebration? Or don’t you care?
I have friends, retired peers, albeit younger then me who have children and grandchildren in the Corps. Have you any idea what they are saying? Or do you just not give a damn, this is “Berger’s Corps”?
Of late you MR general came out and tried to attack the retirees’ pride reminding us of the meaning of Semper Fidelis and telling us “our Corps” needed our help in the recruiting arena. HA! Sorry, but it isn’t “our Corps” anymore; it’s Berger’s Corps. And I don’t want anything to do with that Corps as it is unrecognizable to me and many of my peers. I have already talked two young boys out of joining Berger’s Corps. My friends and peers say their hearing from their children and grandchildren that they are now counting the days not for reenlistment as was planned, but discharge. I don’t know how big the recruiting service is today, but you best look at increasing it drastically. But then Rand says that 70% of the 18-25 year old’s are unqualified mentally or physically from joining the military. Maybe the LGBQTs will answer the call and fill Bergers Corps .Won’t that help unit cohesion?
Speaking of Semper Fidelis. Who is actually being unfaithful? Is it us retirees or you and your minions? What about all those traditions that brought the Corps to where it was before you started destroying it all? Yes, there probably were LGBQTs in the Corps throughout its history. I’ll buy that, so what? Does that mean we need to flaunt their existence. Do you know what else is celebrated this month? How about PTSD Awareness Month, or doesn’t that matter to you since they aren’t serving today? You have done nothing but added more gender confusion to the Corps’s many concerns.
You, Mr. Berger, will go down in the annals of Marine Corps history as the worse commandant ever, even worse that that fool that took my collar emblems away when I was a LCpl.
Your post has nothing to do with Marine readiness and everything to do with undermining unit cohesion — the esprit de corps that is the USMC’s foundational fabric. If mass eye-rolls among the Marine rank and file had a sound, the thunder from outside the Beltway — those not kissing Biden’s ass — would be deafening.
Fact is that this crap impacts readiness because the insult to morale impacts reenlistment decisions. Marines are ashamed to be associated with this degradation. One Marine Sgt spoke for many others: “This shit is one more reason why I am not reenlisting — nobody wants this shit and the result is that our best Marines, enlisted and young officers, are leaving. Lots of them are leaving.”
With all that said, I will leave you to your sick, demented, history destroying ways and pray that someone will come along and shut you up. I’d sign this with the normal closing of Semper Fidelis, but you have no idea what that means and you certainly do not deserve it
Jim Bathurst
Col, USMC (Ret)
Originally posted 2022-06-04 14:21:17.
Col: Jim, I’ve never known you to sugar coat
things you were not happy about before. Old Warrior Friend ! Especially when you are spot on.
As I figured out immediately when I heard the CMC was asked what about SNCOS, and Officers with 15+ yrs service when, he gets rid of tank, direct fire Arty & some gunships.What happens to those MOS?
He allegedly responded with, they can go to other services.
He obviously doesn’t realize for we who made the choice to stay the course 20-30 + yrs. Our beloved Corps was a way of life NOT JUST A 2 BIT CAREER.
If we wanted to be Sailors , Soldiers or Airmen that’s what we would have joined
in the first place.
We became combat leaders NOT CHICKEN
SELF SERVING CORPORATE EXECUTIVES!
Many of the Marines who he suggests transfers distinguished themselves on the field of battle! Just to be stabbed in the back by the guy who every Marine Enlisted, SNCO, and Officers expected to set the example ! Our Marines welfare come 2nd ONLY to our MISSION.
WHAT ABOUT SNCO, and Officers who have been selected for promotion??
All of us who have been there know that from S–T details to winning battles happens
at the company level By the Rifle Squads.
My youngest grand son finished his fifth year was in Force Recon. Tried to extend while waiting to transition to MARSOC. He was handed his Honorable Discharge..
At first I was a little disappointed!! Now after seeing pride crap I know he did Right !
Semper Fi
Machete Eddie
0369 8654 0302
1952-1972
When the Marine Corps still built MEN!
Semper Fi is now Whimper Goodbye.
As only you could, Col, well stated and tragically necessary.
I chair a “Birthday” Luncheon each year here in Sarasota. For the past 20 years I would read the Commandant’s Message. Don’t know about 2022 though.
As an old FMF Corpsman, I’m usually called upon to secure the CMC’s Birthday Message to be read at our Nov., 10 celebration. I can’t wait to see how he spins this.
He’ll bull shit his way through as he has done since being in office, what a POS! To be honest, regardless of how he spins it, I would leave it out of the celebration as we did last year in AZ where I was the guest speaker.
28 year, 363 days with the Corps…and I am now embarrassed by the political crap that is going on at 8th & I. Well said in your letter!
Maybe CMC’s response would be “Just following orders”
Bull shit. If you believe in Semper Fidelis and are true to your colors, you’d retire rather than stain the uniform. The Germans followed their orders, does that excuse them for killing six million Jews? Some folks have principles, others do not. I do, read the book!
You can bet on that; that’s always their response.
My father was a proud IWO JIMA/NAGASAKI Purple Heart, 5th Marine Division Engineer. I am very thankful that he and his Marine comrades are not on this earth to see what is happening with his beloved MC. There is no doubt there have been LGBT in the corps and every facet of life all along, but to have it shoved in everyone’s face day after day just shows how much lack of integrity and boundaries there is now. I learned years ago working with Aetheists hospice patients that the harder that one has to keep shoving an idea in someone’s face over and over…the question becomes..” do they really believe in what they are saying and doing OR are they trying to prove to themselves they really believe in the ideaology “. As in this case with the corps– its politics – for many Aetheists the truth came out at the moment of death– they needed a Higher Power to know where they were going after death.
Well said, thank you!
I agree 100% Col. Well said. It’s a total embarassment to us all what this liberal is doing to the Corps! He and Biden are in ‘Lock Step”
Those that gave their life for this nation gets one day of remembrance. Those that are mentally screwed up about their sex or like screwing the same sex get a month of honor. There is no month of honor for Arlington graves.
WOW! That is powerful Hazel, thank you so much for that!
Colonel, thank you for saying what we all know. God bless you. Chuck sends
Thank you sir!
Jim…⚡️👍⚔️⚔️🦅🇺🇸
Semper Fidelis, Nick
You were a straight shooter and remain a straight shooter. I am very Angry.
Doug, You were always a straight shooter-even as a Captain!
Spot on again Jim!!!!
Well said Jim, I heard the Marines have a pride pun or patch on the uniform as well. Not sure if that’s true. Made me cringe. This crap is sooo unsat. Semper Fi God help us
Well said Colonel.
Semper Fi’
Well said and in the bullseye. As for the cocker spaniel officers , I know exactly what you mean they have a certain smell. When I was a junior officer we had another description of them . They were the Horrah for me and F#%k you crowd.
This is a sad reminder of what we have become! I don’t want to add to the comment here other than to say that it is a shameful thing that has happened to our country and how are military across the board has been
denigrated and our whole culture has turned into such a corrupt thing! I hope that God will help us and not let us continue to erode into this place we have gone to! Please , God..forgive us and please make us see where we have gone wrong! Amen!
I completely agree with your letter. Mr berger has done so much to destroy the Corps I cannot fathom why anyone would reenlist or stay beyond their original service obligation. If allowed to continue down his horrendous path, I predict many Marines will perish and the Marine Corps will cease to be. What a crying shame.
Just Damn, Jim!!!! Amen!!! For those that may push back on your comments…well screw them! I too have talked to Marines both enlisted and officer and they cannot believe what this CMC is doing to our Corps. His total “wokenes”s and inability to understand what he is doing to the moral of the enlisted ranks and a good portion of the officer Corps is incomprehensible!!!! Semper Fi Tom