To the editor:

He was only a boy in high school when he heard the Marine recruiter say —

“Come join our fine Corps, young lads. We’ll guide you on your way.”

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He was just barely 17 when he took the final oath.

His parents saddened when he left, he aimed to please them both.

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Off to boot camp was his first step. He knew what he had to do.

He had to become one of them, the elite and chosen few.

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He found it wasn’t very easy, and each day was very rough.

But when he left the island he knew he must be tough.

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Far off to Korea he was shipped to fight the mighty war.

He soon found himself fighting on this far and distant shore.

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He often thought of his loved ones waiting here at home,

While he rested on the rough terrain with a pillow made of stone.

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Soon the fighting was over, the battle had been won.

He thought of all the lives that had been taken as he put away his gun.

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He returned back home to America “The Land of the Free.”

He was greeted by his loved ones, who were as happy as can be.

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He had become a young man now — so very tall and lean.

He proudly wore the uniform of the United States Marines.

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Now that he’s a civilian, he hardly talks about the war.

But mentions quite often how much he loved the Corps.

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I know that if he could go back about 20 years what he would do.

He would join the United States Marines and be one of the chosen few …

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Marjorie Gowett

Onchiota