Compass Points – Marine Wife & Mom

An open letter to the Commandant

Compass Points – Marine Wife & Mom

An open letter to the Commandant

August 4, 2024

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Happy Sunday!

Sundays are a good day for reflection. Compass Points receives correspondence from across the broad Marine Corps community. One recent letter is from a worried Marine wife and mother. With permission, her letter is included below. Compass Points thanks Marine wife and mom for her service and sacrifice.

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Dear Commandant Eric Smith,

I am a Marine wife and mom. And I am worried. Over the last few years, I have been hearing so much about your Force Design plan, I decided to investigate it myself. I was not exactly sure what to expect. I do not pretend to know about Marine Corp strategy, but I do know common sense.

I was not always a fan of the Marine Corps. I have become a fan of the Marine Corps over the years thanks to my husband and son. But I wasn’t always like that. Years ago, I was a divorced single mom with a teenage son who was full of energy and looking for a challenge.

I wanted him to go to college and not think about the military. I remembered the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and thought how I would feel if I were a parent of one of the flag draped coffins coming back from war. God bless those mothers and dads. I do not know how I could begin to pick myself up and go on with life.

When my son decided to go to college, I was relieved knowing he would be safe. I hoped he would finish and become a big executive one day. All that changed, however, when my son comes home one weekend and tells me that he is going to talk to the military recruiters. I was surprised. I told him whatever he does, do not join the Marines because they are the first ones in and it is too dangerous.

He went and after talking to all the recruiters from different branches and after all the promises were made, he finally made his decision. He decided to join the US Marines. They did not even offer an incentive to join. I asked him why the Marines, and he said it was because they are a band of brothers with many traditions passed down. He said they made him feel like he was part of something bigger than just himself. He said that if he were hurt in combat, he would never be left behind. He said he liked the land, sea, and air aspect of the Marines. In the Corps he could be whatever he wanted to be. The leadership looks out not only for the officers, but they look out for enlisted Marines, the ones who go and stand on the yellow footprints at Paris Island. After this conversation, all I could do was say a prayer. I knew he had made the right decision.

Several weeks later, I took him to his recruiter and gave him a hug. Told him how proud I was and that I cannot wait to see him when he graduates from bootcamp. After we said our goodbyes, I thought about all the parents who have taken their kids and dropped them off as they are taken to Paris Island or Camp Pendleton. How many tears have been shed to see their children leave as young adults, only to be transformed into strong, fighting Marines who one day could face a war. And if that day comes, they will be ready to fight.

The thought of your kids being a part of a military branch offers so many possibilities for these young adults. They can go and serve and see the world. They can even stay 20 years and retire. Parents can feel proud and know that their kids are in good hands and that you will see them soon. That is what gets you through from the beginning of boot camp to the end of the crucible and then onto combat training at Camp Lejeune.

I wanted to give you the background of what I have experienced as a Marine mom. For the last few years, though, all I hear about the Marine Corps is worried talk about something called Force Design. What is it? I have tried to read about it. I am not sure I understand it. But it does not sound good. From my understanding, you are shipping young Marines off to different islands with no way to come back home. You may say that there will be a ship to come by every so often, but I am not sure of where these ships will come from because over half are sitting in Norfolk waiting to be fixed.

I cannot help but think about how Japan hid on the islands during WWII and how the Marines went in and dug them out of their holes. If I know my history, it was the Japanese who were cut off and did not have any ships, planes, or any stockpiles of ammunition. How did hiding on islands end for the Japanese? And yet, the top brass of the Marine Corps, the same ones who said that they would protect our young Marine fighters, just like my son, have said we are putting you on this island and you will defend for yourself. I do not understand why this seems to be a good idea.

I wonder how it would be if you, Mr. commandant, were a young Marine who had just gone through bootcamp and combat training only to be told that you are going to deploy to an island that you and your friends will have to defend. However, you do not have tanks, aircraft, or ships. I wonder just how your mom or wife would have handled it? Would they want you to go knowing that if you are in combat you have no way to defend yourself? I would say that they would not want you to go, and I would also say that even you would have second thoughts on that idea. Force Design says that the Army will help us by supplying what the Marines will need for the next war?

Are you crazy? The other branches are not going to step up and help the Marines that are stuck on an island without the necessities. In a time of war, the Army will supply their own people first, as they should. The Marines will be left with nothing. Where is the common sense of this plan? We should never get rid of our tanks, ships, or aircraft just because of some new idea. Not even Saddam was that dumb. It is like telling the Marines to take a knife to a gunfight.

The years have rolled by for my family. My precious husband and my precious son are no longer in danger. They have new jobs. My son got his degrees and is a junior executive at a defense company. But they still talk about the Marine Corps. Once a Marine, always a Marine. They are proud of their service and want only the best for the young Marines who come after them. They are both worried about what is going on in the Marine Corps. I am worried too.

What about all the other husbands and sons on active duty now? I know being a Marine includes danger, but it should not include unnecessary danger. All I have is common sense, but please reconsider what you are doing to the Marine Corps. To me it seems unnecessary and dumb. Marines should be all together like they are in boot camp, not lost on islands alone with no way home. I know there are good people in the Army, but don’t depend on them, they do not care about Marines. Marines care about Marines. I will say a prayer for you and for all the moms who have husbands and sons, and daughters too, who are still in danger.

Regards,

Marine wife and mom

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