Marine Corps’ 237th Birthday Message and Video
The man, husband, and father I am today would not be the same without the experiences I gained in the Marine Corps. The duty stations, duties while assigned aboard each station, deployments, time spent on ship (a lot of time at sea), and the privilege of leading young and seasoned Marines home and overseas are the fondest memories of my life aside from my family milestones with my wife and daughter who both enjoyed my service time. My wife and I were married in Camp Lejeune and my daughter was born on board Beaufort Naval Hospital. The honor of serving as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, the Staff NCOIC of Academic Instruction Unit, and back to pushing platoons at Parris Island, S.C. was the highlight of my career. The awesome responsibility of molding the youth and some young men into warriors was the pinnacle of my existence as a Marine. Over 1000 recruits were trained by me in one way or anther with the support of many teams of other drill instructors of course. That influence touched so many and that gratification that comes years later from the “invisible” recruit who is now 30 and raising a family (either in or out of the Corps) is a touching feeling few know or understand. Receiving letters to this date makes me swell with pride knowing that relentless job was worth every minute. So with all this said; “Happy Birthday Marines” may we continue the future of our Corps with the values that continue to be the foundation of each of our moral compasses and sound principles.
God Bless and Semper Fi
Chris Grollnek
