I thought long and hard about this post, but after doing my due diligence to get the full drift of your senseless, destructive, undeserving slander of our president, I cannot hold back. Just so you know, this is from a retired Marine colonel who spent nearly as much time in uniform as you. And considering my love of the Corps and my brothers and sisters, it does not bother me one bit to state without any equivocation you are a disgrace to our Marine uniform.
Who do you think you are to speak out in such a disgraceful manner against a sitting president? Do you believe your rank entitles you to talk such trash? By your recent actions and words, you’ve aligned yourself with the Hollywood trash who think anyone with half a brain would take anything they say with a grain of salt. You Mr. Mattis (I will not call you by your rank — you do not deserve it) are a disgrace to my Corps. I believe the only people who genuinely care about what you said are your fellow Marines who are disgusted with your pompous ass.
According to your own words you have over 7,000 books in your library. It’s now obvious to me you have not read any of them. You said, “We must not be distracted by a small number of lawbreakers.” WHAT? Are you kidding me? Where have you been lately, under a rock? Countless people killed and injured including many police officers, millions and millions of dollars’ worth of buildings destroyed and burned to the ground, many privately-owned stores and commercial establishments who had just opened after being closed because of the virus, all gone. Major stores looted; nothing left on the shelves. Yet you call that a small number of lawbreakers?
Then the biggest lie of all is when you state no president in your lifetime has been as divisive as President Trump. Where were you during the eight years of Obama? Oh, that’s right he fired your ass too. It seems the only arena in which you have been able to keep a job is in the military. Hmm, what does that tell me? Remember Mr. Mattis, I was there, well before you.
I always had my doubts about you especially after you fired a great Marine friend of mine whom I had a small hand in shaping his career. He told me things about you that caused me to believe you were nothing more than an egotistical liberal. I was, however, surprised when you took the job offered by President Trump to be our Sec Def. But then he too fired your ass. I have not researched it in detail, but I do believe you are the first general to ever be fired by two sitting presidents, the first a liberal racist and the other a conservative doer. How does that feel? How’s that for a legacy?
You Mr. Mattis are a despicable, egotistical, self-centered person of no value to my country.
Signed; Jim Bathurst, Col, USMC (Ret)
Originally posted 2020-06-05 10:50:12.
I am the widow of a 20 year disabled Veterian. Our son retired after 22 years of service with 9 depolyments to the Middle East in 18 years. My deceased father in law served in WWII and Korea…not withstanding earning every damn medal the Army gave including 2 purple hearts. As a military family for 60 plus years I am appalled and disgusted with Mad Dog and Kelly both. In OUR MILITARY ..the President was and still is the Commander-in-Chief. .Had they spoken like this about Obama they would at the least be admonished openly or worse. An admirable man like General Flynn has been destroyed by the very people Maddis and Kelly are championing for. I am sick to my stomach.
Bless you Jane! You are one of our dedicated American who has experienced the loss of many loved ones. You have my highest respect my dear lady!
Hoorah Colonel👍🏻
Jim, never been more proud of my father in law.
Thank You for being a great American. I only wish more people could have the benefit of knowing you.
Mike
Wow, what can I say to something like that Mike, thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Sadly, I agree with you, Colonel
I know this is not the right question…. but I am confused, I thought Mattis did a good thing by not putting military grade weapons on me…. an American, 5.1 White, Pretty, Caucasian, woman
The President did not say he what he was going to do if the governors did not take action to take back their streets. Mr. Mattis assumed something, and you should know what “assume” actually means. It makes an ass of u and me. Have faith in your president Gala.
What the heck are you attempting to say Gaia? They weren’t being called in to put “military grade weapons on you.” Instead they are being called in to squash the riots. And how self centered of you. “5 1 White, Pretty, Caucasian woman” wow.
Yes Gala, you do seem confused. Let me help you out.
If you are not throwing Molotov cocktails at the police or NG, you’ve got nothing to worry about.
If you’re not picking up bricks from pre-staged pallets, you’re good.
If you’re not smashing store front windows, if you’re not setting police and private citizen’s cars on fire, if you’re not trying to stab a cop, or shoot a cop, or throwing Molitov cocktails through a police car’s open window WITH A COP INSIDE, if you’re not setting buildings ablaze, if you’re not looting, if you’re not participating in ANY of those unlawful acts of violence and destruction, you’re safe.
If you see that type of riotous behavior happening around you and you don’t immediately remove yourself from the area, you’re not using your brains.
You see? You have the freedom to use your God-given grey matter
Signed, an American 4.11″ white, pretty woman with an Italian temper and complete intolerance for wanton stupidity.
Gaia, are you a rioter/looter/arsonist? If, not, then I don’t think you would have military grade weapons pointed at you. If you are one of the previously mentioned terrorists, then you should have military grade weapons pointed at you.
In 2007, 8 Marines and Corpsman were prosecuted for murder. Their original statements to their families were that they were ordered to do so. The Pendleton 8 is what they were called. Mattis had the opportunity to drop charges, he did not.
No sir, he did not. Mattis has always been somewhat liberal when it came to military issues. One would have guessed based on his warrior mentality and reputation — warranted or not, that’s up for discussions — he never spoke out about any of the problems the military was experiencing e.g., gays, transgenders, women in direct combat roles, etc. That always bothered me about him. Did not know if he did not want to take a side for future endeavors or what. Disappointed me about him.
“ I am convinced the best service a retired General can perform is to turn in his tongue along with his suit , and mothball his opinions .” Omar N Bradley , General of the Army
Semper fi, Col🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Jim,
I can feel your passion and love for our Corps. Good on you.
It is becoming more and more apparent to me that now is the time for the Senators to take an active leadership role in taking our Corps to the future. It’s truly Veteran Marine time. We are 92% of our Corps and it time for us to answer the call from the American people and restore order on our home front.
It’s time for us to stake our claim and claim our share of our Corps. Then we can steer it in the direction that we can be proud of when we pass the torch to gens x, y Marines on 10 Nov 2025. Legacy sustained and we can move on in peace knowing that our Corps and the Individual Marine succeeded. That’s what leading Marines is all about. We are teh seasoned one that know what is best for our Corps. Time for the seasoned ones to step up and take charge.
That’s the vision that I have for our Corps.
You are welcome to join the cadre of Senators that are now forming to make it so.
We are for real.
SF,
Clayton J
Jim, great post!
Phillip R Budd, Major, USAF (Ret)
“Ditto” from me, Colonel. Chuck Johnson sends
SEMLPER FI MARINE.
Well said Jim, you had my brother as a DI there in 62, Plt 231 Paris Island, TG Hamilton, 12 yrs later I followed a different path to OCS/Quantico, 24 yrs later proudly retired as a Lt Col in our Corps.
Your letter is spot on S.J.
Semper fi,
LtCol J A Hamilton sends🇺🇸
Re: Open letter to Mr. Mattis. Even when we were recruits in your platoon, we knew enough to keep our mouths shut.
Aye aye, sir.
Thank you for opening my eyes. I had wondered about Mr. Mattis, you have conformed my thoughts. Unfortunately, the general public will not see your account.
Jim, I’ve been trying to make sense of this whole thing and was concerned my distaste for what Mattis said and did might be misplaced. Thanks for your open letter. It leaves me more comfortable about my take on this. I should have known I could count on my old shipmate to provide extravagant clarity. You the Man, Jim !!
Doug
I think the Colonel’s comments are indeed harsh. As a Marine I still respect the General’s rank even though I have lost respect for him personally due to his recent ill-timed statement.
As a student of history the General knows the record, with a few exceptions like President Eisenhower, that a long military career and politics does not mix well. General Smedly Darlington Butler and Marshall Petain come to mind. On the battlefield Butler and Petain were stellar leaders but that did not necessarily translate to other fields particularly politics.
Below are my comments regarding the General’s ill advised statement regarding the current circumstances.
General Mattis made a statement today in the leftist magazine The Atlantic and said the President is a threat to the constitution. Not the leftist thugs trying to overthrow the government not the people who spied on American citizens not the former President who droned an American citizen not the people who lied to the FISA court. No only President Trump warrants a statement like this and at this time? Unless there is something I don’t know I have lost respect for the General. He was known to be a scholar and warrior but now he has sullied his reputation.
Yes he has indeed Edward. For me who spent thirty-six years wearing that uniform and shed blood for this country, Mattis is indeed a liberal scum. Respecting the rank is one thing, but not the man, which why I did not refer to him a “general.”
Colonel:
My antenna went up when the General retired and went to Dartmouth a place where they fly the American Flag upside down and call the military that defends our freedom “baby killers”. I should have known right then and there that something was amiss but because I had a high regard for the General’s combat record I thought there must be a good reason for him to be in the “enemy camp”.
Golly gee gosh Lieutenant, looks like I taught you well. 🙂 🙂 🙂 Good job Sir. ~~ Master Gunny
LOL, yes you obviously did Master Guns!!
I too am more than upset by Mr. Mattis. It seems that today everyone wants their 15 minutes of fame and the consequences be damned. During this time National strife, when violent anti American thugs are trying to overthrow our nation, to have the former Sec. of Defense attack our president verges on his tacit agreement with the rioters. He couldn’t successfully defend our Country and now he is trying to destroy it.
Jim, yes and foremost what was instilled in us as Marines we respect the office not nescessarily the person who holds the office. Respect is earned not given. General Mattis should adhere to this rule, the President’s job is hard enough…constructive criticism is one thing but to come out and ridicule is flat out wrong with all due respect. This Nation is in turmoil…having services for George Floyd with nothing being said to the countless lives lost as especially in our law enforcement community; where is this outrage?? I do hope Jim this all gets turned around soon before its too late.
You can add Mr. Allen former Marine General Poser to that list of useful idiots for the progressive globalist scumbags as well. I served under Mattis while forward deployed in Ramadi, Iraq. He may be a master at military strategy and tactics at the operational level…. However, I do believe he is completely ignorant to writings such as the Federalist Papers and other great works of our founding philosophers such as George Mason, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay…which makes me wonder about his motivations to serve in the first place… My source of motivation in serving has always been to serve the to defend the greatest nation ever created and the blueprint for it, the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies both foreign and domestic…not to denigrate it… Anyone who has spent anytime anywhere else in the world can see that we are by no means perfect but is the best place for a dream of a man or woman to flourish no matter their beginnings in life, UNLESS you have been indoctrinated to question and despise your country… Example of how DJT Dysphoria / Derangement Syndrome affects someone.. Yes it is a mental illness.
Well put Master Guns, thank you sir!
I agree with Colonel Bathurst 100%
Dick Palmquist, Sgt USMC (Ret)
Thank you Col. I was upset and stunned by these comments by Gen. Mattis. It goes against all I’ve ever been taught as a Marine.
Thank you DMarie, and Semper Fi!