Courier Democrat., 1917-12-06
First to Fight"
u. S. Marines
Happy Horgan Tells How
Its the Finest Branch of
American Service

sona]ly thank many of the people of |
Langdon for the large number of good
lifts that have received from them.
But this will be impossible for some
time. Every man who enlists in the
United States Marines is. entitled to
a furlough. But on account of our
company having been put into an old
regiment. part Of which is already
now in France, we will not be grant
ed any leave of absence, that would
enable US to be with the home folks
at this Christmas time. This bat.
TALON is called the Provisional
Battalion, L." and is now awaiting or.
Tders to board transports for France
On account of not being able to
thank you in the way that / would
like and very much want to do l am
going to tell you something about the
marine branch of Uncle Sans fight.
ing forces and what l feel the train.
ing SO far experienced has done for
me in the few months that have clap
sed since my enlistment.
We are not part of the army, or
neither are we part of the navy,
but are under naval regulations. The
Marines pride themselves upon being
different to any other branch of the
service. Without exaggeration or
fear Of contradiction I might even go
so far as to say that they have re-
cord that dates back further than the
old Langdon fire hall. This record, to
lay all joking aside, has became to a
marine just as dear and sacred as the
family tree is to the blue booded
aristocrats of the old countries be
yond the sea.
I One thing that they find great pride
in ia the fact that the Marine colors
have never touched the ground. They
have never lost a battle and never
failed in any encounter. Their motto,
is, ga Finish Fight-No Draws,
land so far no decisions have been
given against them. They also pride
themselves on the fact that every
marine was volunteer and that no
one but volunteer cap be marine.
After our training period, which is
now through, l can assure you that
we are expected to have steady nerves,
cool judgment. We can leave our
beds and be ready for action at any
time, in a space of but few seconds,
as Incredible as this may seem; have
struck tent, picked up all gear and
rolled pack and been in line in less
than three minutes. Still I am con.
sidered to be only "a rookie as a
real marine would meet me on his
way back. The marines erve on
auto air craft guns and man the tor
pedo defense batteries on the battle.
ships of the fleet. In fact, as naval
gunners their record shows that their
business is to make BULLS eye hits.
Submarine mine planting is also a
part Of the marines duty while a
float. On shore the marines are the
first to land, They are infantry, artil-
lery, machine gun companies. We
claim the best equipped and best
trained machine gun company in the
world today. A foot hold is all the
marines ask, they will do the rest
supplying their own military engi
neers, signalmen. RADIO operators,
ayiators and everything that is needed
1 to maintain and protect naval ad.
vance base, let the opportunity be
what it may. All government plants,
buildings, prisons and naval bases
that maintain a permanent guard the
marine corp is The guard 1t is not
buncomb when | tel you that the
| guard re ord of the marines is some
thing that it is impo ssible to surpass.
Our camps are better equipped than
those of any other branch of the SER
vice. We have all the necessary
equipment and could give clothes
away. Our mess table is as substan-
1 tial as the best and has many trim
mings and fourishes Chicken we
know, fruit we have sugar. the su T.
preme food Of the civilians life we
have in abundance. milk ia common,
but sometimes the boys are late with
the cows. Our table is as good as
one could expect The Mare Island
marines claim to have ice cream.
every Sunday mushmelon was their
breakfast starter. To give me these
with what we have would make me
forget that we are at war
Much il done for our entertain
ment. The Y. M @ A.. IA entitled
to great praise for the work il is do.
/ ing All Of the religious services
are held In their building. The pea.
ple Of Washington and baltimore.