I grew up next to Camp Pendleton, the largest Marine base in the US.The core becomes more like a family unit to them than maybe their real family. I give respect to them as a fighting unit, but watching them stumble around Oceanside, Carlsbad, San Diego and TJ, when their off duty and have leave, is almost embarrassing. A brotherhood in battle, by all means......off base, do and get involved in some pretty stupid things.
The older hash marked marines are actually pretty cool, it's getting over the "we can kick the worlds ass" younger marines attitude driven into them. Guess that comes with age. A small percentage of marines actually see combat in a war zone. The marines vets who do will usually have sealed lip about any serious action they were involve in. Nothing like combat to make one understand that they are human after all. Lot of older active, or retired, marines are into Tri events down here. Seems to reduce stress quite a bit for them.
Also acquainted with a few active and retired SEALS. Cool guy's, for the most part, but a totally different breed of men. Keep it close to the vest about most of their military experiences. Sorry to say, very hard to keep a marriage, or serous relationship, together for any length of time.
WWII men ...probably the most deserved and respected vet's of any American generation. They looked upon their war time service as an act of duty, something that was expected from them. Like, "nothing to talk about here, let's move on" attitude. God and country for these guys....most respect to them.
(history tells us that England has been invaded by Germanic tribes, as well by Gauls, many, many times. Often wondered why America though it's need to send troops into action over there. England was never any great friend of America since King George III and before)
