Before joining the Marine Corps, I had the opportunity to go to college and get a degree. In High school I played football and excelled in baseball. Grades were the challenge. Until my eleventh grade in high school I was great in class as I was on the field. I buckled down, to graduate June of 05’ securing the diploma. I received a scholarship and was a competitive pitcher for saint mary’s university but wasn’t mature enough to deal with college yet. Of course the best memories Ive ever had were on the Diamond. Just as fast as they came the good lord “taketh away”. My freshmen year in college I was put on base as a pinch runner. When I reached 3rd, I took it upon myself to steal home. As I slid home face first, the catcher received the throw from the third baseman forcing him to leap into the sky and coming down on my right pitching shoulder. It dislocated instantly. I had surgery and recovered but the pitching arm never felt the same again. So I dropped out and immediatly spoke to a marine recruiter. I mentioned to my family what I had done. My family pleaded with me not to join, offering “bribes,” including a long vacation followed by a job in the family’s construction business if I would change my mind. Kind of the easy way out but that’s not me. I knew It was time to grow up. As you know Im in Iraq now and as Ive been trying to explain, “Finally I’ve found where the Marine Corp, takes care of their Marines”. All Iraq has are advantages for us. There’s nothing here to waste your money on, we get a goodnights sleep, the chow hall is delicious, there’s free internet, and we have phones; sometimes! Most importantly, statisics show, there’s no longer a threat of bad things happening. But as a true “killer”, lol, Im always aware of my surrounds and on my toes. Im really excited about my goal and objective out here. I feel when I get home and I tell someone about my mission they will look at me with more dignity and respect. The purpose of my training and my...