The 1791 Thinkshop

I’ve retired from the Corps effective finally (July 1) and with the transition to Tennessee and back to the civilian life will also transition my hobby and writing (most of which could not see the light of day because of my service) to the second chapter of my life. I will of course try to model, but also have the story of restoring this 114 year old home, surviving TBI/PTSD, and living with Crohn’s Disease. I will work as an advocate to the causes, the needs of vets, those in my community, the cause and threat to Liberty (which in large part drove me to my retirement early as I could no longer serve in good heart under such tyranny). I will work consulting in my professional area of expertise with research and analysis of sales, quality control, and lean processes. I will do training and have already done some for companies/organizations in operations, sales, sales management, interpersonal management skills, quality control, and continuous process improvement or what many call Lean Process. I’m going to take the name 1791 Thinkshop and drop the use of my name as the website now that I can since leaving military service. Thanks and look for it all to sprout in a blur these coming weeks once we finally may receive our shipments from NY sometime in the coming week. Semper Fidelis, Shannon

A Marine Sergeant wrote this in response to an army guy who posted a comment on the Marine Corps site that he was sick and tired of “Marine arrogance”.

The Sergeant responds,

“I think that’s what makes Marines special, if only in our own minds, is that elusive Quality of Esprit D’Corps. It’s the fact that we, as individual Marines, don’t feel that we are individual Marines. When we wear our uniform, when we hear our Hymn, when we go into battle, we are going with every other Marine who ever wore the uniform.

Standing behind us are the Marines who fought during the birth of our nation. We’re standing with the Marines who fought in WWI and gave birth to the legend of the “Tueful Hunden”, or “Devil Dogs”. We are standing with the Marines who took Iwo and Tarawa and countless other blood soaked islands throughout the Pacific.

We are standing with the “Frozen Chosin” and our beloved Chesty Puller. We are standing with the Marines who battled at Hue City and Khe Sanh and the muddy rice paddies of South East Asia. We are standing with the Marines who fought in Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom and now, are fighting in Afghanistan.

Like real brothers, their blood courses through our veins, and when we go into battle, we would rather lay down our lives than be a disappointment to them. We carry on our backs, their legacy, their deaths and their honor. We carry that for the rest of our lives.

The Marines Corps uniform doesn’t come off when our active duty is over. We wear it daily in our attitude, and our love of Corps and country. We wear it on our tattoos and our bumper stickers. We wear it in our hearts.

It’s why, no matter where we are in the world, on November 10th, every Marine celebrates the Marine Corps birthday. It’s why we’ll never be an army of 1. It’s why we never stop being Marines. It’s why, for most of us, being a Marine isn’t something we were. It’s something we are.

It’s the most important part of who and what we are. Some say we’re arrogant. We say we’re proud. We have a right to be proud. We are the United States Marines The most feared and ferocious group of warriors to walk the face of this earth.

When Americas’ enemies formulate their battle plans, they plan on going around Marine units, because they know Damn well that they can’t go through them. We are what other branches wish they were.

We are the modern day Spartans. This isn’t bragging. It’s written in the battle history of our country. When there’s a parade and the Marines march by, everyone pays a little more attention. Some say “arrogance”. We call it “pride”. It’s why, in a crowd of service men, you can always spot the Marine. Why are Marines special? I don’t know. We just are.

me@cwobeaman.com