Marine Corps Stories: But Anyway

“That’s when they let you know. Well, they don’t necessarily let you know but it’s not for you to know,” Gunnery Sergeant Henner Gant explained. The school circle of mainly PFCs and lance corporals looked on as Gant issued word from on high.

Lance Corporal James Hyman raised his hand.

“Hyman.”

The lance corporal raised to his feet and stood at parade rest.

“Why don’t they just let us know. I mean we’re out here in an armpit and we’re doing all of these drills for what?”

“Have you ever heard of the group Gnarls Barkley?”

“I guess.”

“It’s a yes or no Hyman,” Henner said.

“Yes, Gunny.”

“The poet Thomas DeCarlo Callaway otherwise known as Cee-lo Green said ‘Don’t ask why. Just live and die.’”

The lance corporals and privates looked at each other.

“You see, I’ve got a second lieutenant breathing down my neck. He talks all polite like but he’s issuing orders with shade. Like really shady. But I’ve got to take it. His rank is there and I want to ask why can’t I just chew him out. But then I remember Cee-lo. I know now that we’re supposed to have bearing, but just once I want to let the old Senior DI in me to come out. But I know, I know. It wouldn’t be prudent.”

The Marines sat on one knee in stunned silence.

“I know you all probably don’t know, but I’ve been in the Corps for twelve years. I guess you can say I’m salty. Okay you can definitely say I’m salty. Anyway, on your feet!”

The young Marines rocketed to the position of attention. “Dismissed!”

Trayvon Biggs and Yardley Stonebridge walked back to their quarters.

“Gunny’s weird.”

“He’s been in country for almost two years. He’s been blown up three times. He’s not seen his family for even more years. I mean he’s just…I don’t know…on edge.”

“He’s talking about old songs, though. Don’t ask why?”

“Yeah well, you have a twenty-four-year old telling a thirty-seven year old what to do, see if you don’t get a change of viewpoints.”

They cleaned their rifles. The CLP dripped onto the brushes and made a clean whooshing sound.

“I think if I had a butter bar riding my back, I would tell him off,” Stonebridge said.

“Tuh. Yeah, you try doing that and you’ll be busted down to corporal. You raise your voice to an LT and you’re in for a vortex of paperwork coming down on your head on top of your reduction in grade and pay. It’ll follow you your whole career and you’ll be wishing you hadn't opened your mouth.”

“I just think—”

“You think what? You think you’re going to lose your discipline on an officer of Marines?” Biggs asked. “I can’t believe I’m hearing this. Gunny is in a bind and he’s still going through. He knows what he’s doing even with the brass bearing down on him.”

“It’s tough.”

“You’re goddamn right it’s tough. We only get our news the same way everybody else does. Posts on social media and a few chans. The mainstream press is too busy asking the top what’s going on and it’s stuff we already have done. It’s people like Gunny Henner who are the glue to this Corps. And I don’t even like the Corps. Marines I can deal with. It’s bullshit like what Gunny’s going through that makes me want to just do my four years and work at a convenience store in my hometown.”

“Damn.”

“Yeah, man. I’m serious. I don’t want to be a lifer and have to either become a mustang and still get shit from top brass.”

“It’s not like that….” Stonebridge replied.

“The Hell it ain’t! We’re struggling up the rank ladder. I’ll pick up corporal, you’re definitely going to get busted down for having liquor in your room again. I told you not to mess with the locals. That’s what is going to do you in. But anyway,