Some Marines made fun of the fact that I had done plays and studied poetry, but then I won the award for physical training.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
The Marines gave me a really strong sense of discipline and a work ethic that kicks in at my job.
I'd been in college studying English creative writing and history when I made the decision to join the Marines in the runup to the Iraq war.
I served two tours of duty in Vietnam. I won the Bronze Star. I won the Purple Heart.
Oh, and once, when I was in the Marines, I got a perfect score on my physical fitness test.
I knew many Marines had done brave deeds that no one saw and for which they got no medals at all. I was having a very hard time carrying those medals and didn't have the insight or maturity to know what to do with my combination of guilt and pride.
I went straight from the Marine Corps to the MFA. The way that you would express things among Marines is somewhat different than the way you're supposed to express things in a creative-writing workshop.
My father is a Marine. My brother is a Marine. I almost became a Marine. I'm no stranger to fight training. I used to do jujitsu and boxing as a kid. I was a running back in football for my high school and my college. I played ice hockey as well as did theater. So, there's always been a physical nature to me.
I learned a great many things in the Marines that helped me as a football coach. The Marines train men hard and to do things the right way, just as a football team must train.
My dad was a Marine. He was one of the Montford Point Marines. Those are the equivalent of the Tuskegee Airmen for Marines. He's a tough, tough guy. When I was 15 we had a fight, and I didn't speak to him for 10 years.
I've never won many awards, I didn't get certificates for swimming or anything.
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