I want to believe

"I come from an Island,
a motivated Island,
Parris Island, the land that God forgot"
-Old USMC running cadence

Within my chest is the soul of a man, just like other men. I am an American, a patriot, a troubled poet and a short wick'd candle. No longer marching under blind allegiance, nonetheless a Marine that would lay down suppressing fire for you. Since the false flag operations of 9/11 and the resultant loss of life, my faith in the government has been shaken yet my belief that this country needs a Marine Corps has not and will not waiver. Our flag is unfurled to every breeze, from dawn, 'till setting sun. We need the 'Corps because we need men and women to come out on the other side. We need the transformation the USMC is known for to turn young vessels into armor clad war dogs. We must, because when those kids grow up, and the veil of illusion is removed, they become great helpers of men, and mankind.

When I walked into the office of the Marine Corps recruiters on 1 April 1997, they told me I had infantry written all over me. They said that if I thought about any other profession it would be an insult to myself, my family, my country, and the 'Corps. I signed that dotted line, I shaved my head, and started working out to lose weight and get prepped. I shipped to boot camp on 26 April 1998, and graduated USMC recruit training 10 years ago today. 10 years. My goodness. I am sure there are thousands of Marines out there that remember the day just as clearly as I do.
This day, 24 July, is more important to me than any birthday, or any holiday. This day trumps any near-perfect drunken concert experience [Tool, 2006], and can only be rivaled by days where pure exercise induced 'nirvana' and mental quietude have led to further personal revelation. For this day, 10 years gone, was the last time my mother and her sister ever stood aside one another [both alive, but estranged]. For on this day, 10 years ago, the 42 Marines of platoon 3056, 3rd Battalion Company L were dismissed by our Senior Drill Instructor, Staff Sergeant Acevedo-Colon as a team. 3056 started with 81 bodies, and only 42 graduated. a 50% attrition rate. When they called for the dismissal of our platoon, and we all shouted "Aye SIR!", and about faced to let loose one, huge, collective "OOH RAH!", we, the 42 remaining, along with the 200 other Marines in Company L, knew that our lives would never be the same. We arrived on the Island on differing dates, coming from places as polarizing as Philly and Bangor, Maine, but we all left together. Some went home, some had no home. Some called the Island home. Some will forever call the 'Corps home, and for them, I live this life.

My father, Eric Sr., my mother Debbie, and my younger brother by 5 years Joseph Raymond Williams all made the 12 hour drive from Philly to South Carolina to watch 3056 graduate. When the morning was done, we left the Island and made the requisite stop at Burger King. Double whopper cheese, B&W milkshake, and some onion rings were dispatched to my gut module. I felt sick the whole ride home! When we got back to PA, it was close to midnight. I made a trip to the Wawa, and got home fast asleep. Already 'homesick' for the Island. ON 25 July, the very next day, I went to the AMC Marple-Ten theater and watched THE X-FILES: FIGHT THE FUTURE. That was 25 July 1998, and I was a fan of only 2 years. AT midnight, when my mighty mighty day becomes the 25Th, I will be sitting in a movie theater watching THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE. You read correctly. 10 years after the first X-Files movie, and 10 years after I left my island, I am there again in spirit, intent, and celebrating with the same media. Unreal, right? No, this is as real as it gets. This what happens when the kid who was told he could do it all finally smashed through the first of many walls and got back on the level with you all. This is the life, and the time, of a man no longer ashamed of his weaknesses,no longer veiling his troubles, and once again aware that with my understanding of this world comes the need to BE the change I set out to help you all with. 10 years removed from the most glorious day on memory, it is more clear than ever, that you are the world. I am the world. This is our life and the mind of no mind will always lay in wait for us. The clockwork-like clarity that I wield now will bring me closer to my truth, and bring you closer to yours. Men and women, Jarheads and long-haired warriors, I salute you.

W2 out.

" Chesty Puller was a good Marine and a good Marine was He
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his privates 3
Beer Beer Beer said the privates... merry ole men are we
The Army is fair but it can't compare to the Marine Corps Infantry

Chesty Puller was a good Marine and a good Marine was he
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his Corporals 3
Left Right Left said the Corporals
Beer Beer Beer said the privates
Merry ole men are we
The Army is fair but it can't compare to the Marine Corps infantry

Chesty Puller was a good Marine and a good Marine was he
He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he called for his Sergeants 3
We do all the work said the Sergeants
Left Right Left said the Corporals
Beer Beer Beer said the privates
Merry ole men are we
The Army is fair but it can't compare to the Marine Corps Infantry"