Actions of this Nation's Mayors

I sent this text to the editor of the Toledoblade, in Toledo, Ohio after the mayor ordered the Marines to leave.

To whom it may concern,

I'm not speaking officially for the Marine Corps; that can be left up to

public relations officers, but this nation's apparent disregard for what it

takes to train the military is, to say the least, disappointing and at most

treason.

I speak as a private citizen who happens to be on current active duty with 19 years in the Marine Corps and I call eastern NC home, even though I grew up in Southwestern Iowa. We here in Eastern North Carolina, home to 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force have welcomed Marines and their training requirements that directly relate to the Marines survivability in

actual urban combat operations.

It's not new here, we've been doing these local training events since the 1991 Gulf War, of which I am a Veteran. The city of Jacksonville, NC has routinely experience the urban training requirements of my Marine Corps.

I know the Mayor of Jacksonville has never asked the Marines to leave the city. I personally feal discouraged and discusted at the recent decisions made by some of our nations elected officials in regard to my Marine Corps.

I only hope that sanity will prevail and the necessary training is allowed to be conducted for my Brothers in our reserve units nationwide. Although, I am active duty, it is no less

necessary to keep our reserve units at the height of their game.

I plead with this nation of lawmakers and elected officials to acknowledge that urban

training requirements are necessary for this nations continued success. I will remind all that this nation did not just happen over night, it was built on the blood of our Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen for over 233 years. This nation could have very well dissolved over a dozen times if not for our military. Anyone that thinks differently, had better return to their TRUE history and do some serious soul searching.

If history isn't being taught in our public schools, well...Shame on you.