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HE’S A MARINE
Paco’s boy graduates. From everyone here: congratulations.
Your son has joined an amazing brotherhood, paco. Congratulations to him and your family.
Semper Fi!
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 01 06 at 03:49 PM • permalinkYay for Paco, Mrs Paco and especially Paco jnr. Or is that Paco jarhead now?
Well done, young Paco. God be with you and your brothers-in-arms.
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 01 06 at 03:50 PM • permalinkThank you Tim, and everybody, for your very kind words. Paco, Jr. told me some hilarious Drill Instructor stories, which, unfortunately, I may have to postpone relating until the relevant statute of limitations runs out, or until his hitch is up. He is, as we speak (and much to Mrs. Paco’s consternation), getting a tatoo of the eagle, globe and anchor on his arm. While naturally appalled (*cough*), I have to say, I think I’d give ten years of my life to have earned the right to do that, myself. Semper Fi.
Congratulations and best wishes for your son.
Posted by Bruce Rheinstein on 2007 01 06 at 04:30 PM • permalinkCongrats to Paco the younger. It was 20 years ago this month I did the same, and it changed my life forever. The fraternity of active and inactive Marines is a large and unique one, and I’m sure he will always find room (and food and drink) at our tables.
Posted by Magic Hammer on 2007 01 06 at 04:58 PM • permalinkCongratulations! I am fortunate to work with a lot of very successful people—top-level business leaders—and an astonishing number of them have been in a the Marines at some point in their lives. Marines are amazing people, your son included.
Posted by Matt in Denver on 2007 01 06 at 05:07 PM • permalinkCongrats too the Paco clan, to produce a young chap who can handle that is an achivement in itself.
Reminds me of a Roy “Chubby” Brown joke.
A woman came along and looked in the pram and looked at the missus and me and said, “my lord thats a pretty baby, how did 2 people as ugly as you have such a bonny child?”
I told her “We didnt make it with our faces love”.Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2007 01 06 at 05:15 PM • permalinkHeartiest congratulations to The Paco Family.
Knew and served with many on the Mighty Chi in the early ‘70s. A detachment of 50 guarded the highly secret TALOS missle-handling systems (curtains went up all over the ship every time we fired one—a Marine every ten feet; steely eyed and stiff as as a ramrod).
As an old seadog with a less than immaculate service record, most of my experiences with the Marines have been from the wrong side of a red line…(well? never said I was a model sailor!)
On’Ya, Paco Jr—and kudos to Mr. & Mrs. Paco.
Posted by MentalFloss on 2007 01 06 at 05:23 PM • permalinkCongratulations, Paco snr. I bet Paco jnr is already impatient for his first Gina Elise calendar.
Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2007 01 06 at 05:31 PM • permalinkSo Paco Jr has joined Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children. Been through the training and actually survived it.
Paco, I know how proud a Dad you must be. I, for my sins, have had the privilege of working alongside some of the products of Quantico and Parris Island. It takes a lot to impress Aussies. They impressed me, and should my son ever find himself in combat, may those on his flanks be members of the USMC.
You probably know this site, but just in case… and please convey my congratulations to your son. What he has already accomplished is quite special.
Now go tell him to enjoy his 10 days leave, and Go Fox Co!
The Bottom Line.
The world will be safer place with Paco, son of Paco, ready to defend it.
Posted by Jack Lacton on 2007 01 06 at 06:12 PM • permalinkExcellent news! In admin OT news—I have removed the entry “Chanel Socialist” because I couldn’t figure out why it was broken. I emailed the contents (text and link) to Tim in case he hadn’t saved it and wanted to try posting it again.
Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 01 06 at 06:41 PM • permalinkCongrats to Paco and especially Paco Jr.!
=^D
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 01 06 at 07:22 PM • permalinkkudos pacos
in keeping with the times shouldn’t we be referring to paco jr as an ‘amphibious harm worker’?
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 01 06 at 07:59 PM • permalinkCongratulations to the Pacos. God bless and best wishes.
Posted by curious george on 2007 01 06 at 08:08 PM • permalink#32 Craig Mc
OT, but has anyone else noticed that PowerLine has been hacked?
So it has. What’s the deal with “Mitt Romney” and “Jerry Ford’s last laugh”?
Some l33t h@Xx0r joke I’m not getting?
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 01 06 at 08:22 PM • permalinkHmmmm.
Semper Fi paco jr!
BTW paco. Don’t be surprised if he gains about 10lbs of muscle during his leave time. Basically the USMC trains recruits hard enough that the body doesn’t have enough time to rebuild the muscles. This is why they issue, and tailor, uniforms a little bit too big for new Marines.
When I left Parris Island in 1982 I weighed maybe 154lbs down from 211lbs when I first entered the gates. During leave at home I kept up the training and PT but I ballooned from 154 up to 188, which was my regular non-football weight.
Yeah the graduation ceremony is something else. That first coke-a-cola after boot camp is something else too. Nearly made me puke. Nothing more surprising than that I assure you.
Posted by memomachine on 2007 01 06 at 08:39 PM • permalink#41 El Cid
Well, the first line of the “secret message” is,
“Chevy Chase deserves some kind of award for self-deprecating humor.”
A Google search of that phrase leads to this site:
... and the “read more” link for that entry (dated today) goes back to Power Line, which suggests that it originally came from a PL post.
How odd.
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 01 06 at 08:52 PM • permalinkI don’t know how to say this without is sounding wrong. I went to that same ceremony 3 years ago. It IS very nice. Right now, my son is recovering from a sniper bullet to the thigh at NMCSD.
I have 2 questions. Do I have semi absolute authority to voice my opinion about the war? And am I still a chickenhawk?
Thanks, again, to one and all. Still waiting for Paco Jr. to get back from the tatoo parlor. Says he got one of a DI with a machine gun in each hand, and the eagle, globe and anchor. Not sure how he managed to get that all on one arm.
Mouseman5: Best wishes to your son, and I hope he recovers quickly.
mouseman5
Right now, my son is recovering from a sniper bullet to the thigh at NMCSD.
Bless your son’s sense of duty, his bravery and his honor. Yours as well. May he and your family, recover will the same vim and vigor, prior to.
Do I have semi absolute authority to voice my opinion about the war? And am I still a chickenhawk?
Not my Blog, but I would say you have every right to your “opinion”...and the “chickenhawk” part, I don’t understand.
Back in the day, I was attached for a couple of weeks to a company of US Marines on a field training exercise in Western Australia.
After that experience, I am exceptionally glad that the USMC is on our side.
Congratulations to Paco Jr.
Posted by Pedro the Ignorant on 2007 01 06 at 09:29 PM • permalink#46 paco
Says he got one of a DI with a machine gun in each hand, and the eagle, globe and anchor. Not sure how he managed to get that all on one arm.
If that doesn’t scream “United States Marine Corps”, I don’t know what would.
;^)
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 01 06 at 09:35 PM • permalinkEl Cid, I have nothing to do with Powerline’s blog, and I deleted a broken post on this blog here. The post had no comment thread, because the comment field was broken as well. I’m not running any tests.
Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 01 06 at 09:57 PM • permalinkSpiny Norman/El Cid
Earlier today, PowerLine had a post up on President Ford and Chase. It was linked to an Op-Ed by Chase on his acquaintance with the former president. The piece ended with an anecdote showing that Mr Ford had a very good sense of humour.After a search, the OpEd was in the Sat NYT. A summary is here.
Cheers
Posted by J.M. Heinrichs on 2007 01 06 at 10:09 PM • permalinkAndrea
El Cid, I have nothing to do with Powerline’s blog, and I deleted a broken post on this blog here.
Nope, didn’t think you did. All I was trying to say (and badly, evidently) if someone out there is hacking, it seemed strange the thread that you had to delete went weird, about the same time Powerline went weird, and I wondered if these happenings were somehow connected.
Paco, warmest congratulations from one Marine dad to another. Feels good, eh, brother?
Posted by Urbs in Horto on 2007 01 06 at 10:20 PM • permalinkWhat are you two doing? Studying the video messages of the Sheikh’s exalted deputy al-Zawahiri on al-Internet for a better understanding of our struggle? Good, good ...
... Farouk ... Achmed ... this is not http://www.aljazeera.com! You are again looking at this Christian dog website of Shaitan!
...oh look, Paco’s son has graduated from the Island of Parris. He is a Marine! Such wonderful ne ... I mean, what are you two donkeys doing! Get away from this site or you will feel the sting of my sandal!
#53 J.M. Heinrichs
I’ve figured out that what I thought were “hidden messages” are actually the texts of the original Power Line blog entries.
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 01 06 at 10:32 PM • permalinkEl Cid: I don’t know. I think actually it was a formatting error. The whole internet is acting weird this weekend anyway. So I say.
And now I have to kill some neighbors who are talking outside my window and disturbing my peace. Did I say kill? I meant, sit here seething and try to ignore. Yeah.
I have a little bit of a headache, folks.
Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 01 06 at 10:44 PM • permalinkTo Paco jr. - Congratulations, and we owe you already.
On to the really difficult issues raised in the link. Military personnel are taught to refer to toilets as “heads” and walls as “bulkheads”. Hence Mrs Paco’s question. I can only contribute, for what it’s worth, that a whole bunch of urinals could be called a “stand” of urinals.#67: blogstrop:
I dont know if it’s been PCed or whatever but the technical term for urinal used to be pisser. A bunch of pissers were called the pissers. Usage: “wow, Pvt Schmukatelli is so wabbly drunk he missed the pisser completely.” “Well hell, you better tell Sarge, I dont wanna be the one tagged to clean the pissers once he sees that mess.”
Congratulations paco! You have every reason to be solidly proud of your son. All of us here thank you and your wife sincerely for raising such an exemplary young man.
I agree with Amos. Your son is better than me. What was the quote by Samuel Johnson, that all men wished they had served in the military. I’m no exception, especially a sniper. Wow.
Posted by wronwright on 2007 01 06 at 11:35 PM • permalinkCongratulations Paco and family! Thank you, Paco, Jr. for your service and thank you Paco, Sr. and Mrs. Paco for raising such a fine young man.
Posted by Polish Frizzle on 2007 01 06 at 11:51 PM • permalinkCongratulations to your son for his success and congratulations to you for raising him the way you did.
Posted by MikeTheLibrarian on 2007 01 07 at 12:02 AM • permalink#43, mouseman5:
Respect and thanks to your son for the service he’s given to our country. I hope he is healing well.
That whole chickenhawk thing was something started by leftards in an attempt to shame folk out of supporting strong action against our enemy. Screw that and screw them too.
There’s a very small handful of current active or recently BTDT warfighters that comment here, the rest of us are just your average keyboard commandos.
#71 Wronwright ... I’ll have none of it. Because I was there that weekend when I got stuck in your damned Tardis, and I saw how, when even the great Nebuchadnazzer hesitated, you singlehandedly stormed the mud walls of Jericho. The rumored jars of mead on the other side may have had something to do with it, I grant you, but it was something to behold. Speak not to me of greatness, for I have seen Wronwright with a thirst on!
Posted by crittenden on 2007 01 07 at 02:01 AM • permalinkPaco, mouseman5 - I mentioned Gina Elise’s fabulous 40s style calendar in an earlier post; I’d be honoured to send each of your lads a copy. You can contact me via the email address in the membership list.
Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2007 01 07 at 05:07 AM • permalinkMouseman5, well done for your son and yoru family. I’ll second RebeccaH and add you to my prayers.
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 01 07 at 05:54 AM • permalinkCongratulations to the Paco family!
It goes without saying that to graduate into the Marine Corps demonstrates extraordinary courage, determination and strength of character. But yikes, if the young Paco possesses any measure of the wit, ingenuity and, well, raw cunning of his dear ol’ dad then Uncle Sam’s Marines just got a whole chunk more fearsome than it ever was.
Paco,
Yes, son #2 is in the USMC. He’s a aero-ordinance specialist - i.e., a guy who loads bullets and bombs on aircraft - stationed at China Lake, California. Son #1 (aka Sgt. Ivan) did a tour in the Marines before he joined the Army. Sonetka’s Mom and I have seen graduation at MCRD San Diego twice; I don’t have to tell you how moving a ceremony it is.
You should be receiving a DVD of the ceremony soon - the USMC sends them to the parents of newly minted Marines. If you don’t get one, you may wish to check with the USMC; you and Mrs Paco probably will find yourselves watching it more than once.
Best of luck and our prayers go with young Pvt. Paco.
Posted by Urbs in Horto on 2007 01 07 at 08:46 AM • permalinkGod bless, Paco, and thanks! You must be, and should be, so proud.
Posted by Mr. Bingley on 2007 01 07 at 09:12 AM • permalink#80 crittenden,
It wasn’t so much bravery as it was the fact that I was racing paco to the mead storeroom. We had heard from MentalFloss that Akkadian mead was delicious, and yes, the golden drops of Sumer were possibly the finest of all ages. But the mead of 6000 BC Jericho had a kick that has never been duplicated.
* MentalFloss got into one of those scholarly lectures, where he was comparing meads from all ages. You know, the kind where I’m trying to impress the lasses in the pub, so I say loudly “oh yes, I know mead, I’ve drunk from the oaken kegs of Sargon the Great”. And the know-it-all discourses on how that pales in comparison to others and he cites sources. And then people just look at me like I really don’t know shit.
Posted by wronwright on 2007 01 07 at 09:53 AM • permalinkCongratualtions paco snr on the graduation of your fine young son - he sounds like he’s doing very well!
Posted by aussiemagpie on 2007 01 07 at 10:14 AM • permalink#88 Wron-wrong: clearly you’ve got a bad case of Tardis-lag. Nebuchadnazzer/Jericho 6000BC, does not computer. You better hope Floss doesn’t see that. He’ll make us all look like time-addled morons. Again. Uh, where’s the mead?
Shout out to the Pacmen, while I’m at it.
Posted by crittenden on 2007 01 07 at 11:50 AM • permalinkMouseman5, all our best thoughts and wishes for his speedy recovery!
Posted by Mr. Bingley on 2007 01 07 at 12:41 PM • permalinkPaco - Urbs in Horto mentioned the DVD that we received of Number Two Son’s graduation ceremony (MCRD San Diego, November 2003). Just for the record the DVD was sent out not by the Corps but by a outfit called David James Productions (http://www.devildogs.info). They seem to be San Diego locals so I don’t know if anyone is running a comparable service for the Parris Island folks. Maybe they’ve got an East Coast branch.
Mouseman5, our best wishes for your Marine’s speedy recovery.
Posted by Sonetka's Mom on 2007 01 07 at 01:37 PM • permalinkCongratulations to you and your family, Paco! I have a special place in my heart for jarheads. My daddy was one during Vietnam and as the saying goes, “Once a marine, always a marine.” I feel safer knowing there are men out there like your son, Paco. I know how proud you must be and deservedly so. May God keep him and his brothers safe.
We are so proud of him, Paco. And you and Mrs. Paco sounds like PERFECT Leatherneck parents. Congratulations to you on your wonderful son and please pass a heartfelt “OO-RAH and Semper Fi!!” to our fellow Marine from major dad and me.
Posted by tree hugging sister on 2007 01 07 at 03:44 PM • permalinkcrittenden—nekkid and waving a bottle in either hand does not count as ‘storming.’ It counts as the DT’s.
Best in all things for you son, Paco, and don’t forget to remind him early and often that it all counts for twenty.
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2007 01 07 at 06:00 PM • permalink#90 crittenden,
All right, all right. 600 BC then.
Posted by wronwright on 2007 01 08 at 06:27 AM • permalinkMouseman5 ~ I hope that damn thing didn’t mess up his dancin’ moves, then he’ll be REALLY pissed off!
They’re a good, good bunch at San Diego, so he’s in the best hands possible. Give him an OO-RAH and big hugs from us would ja? And one for yourself, Dad.
Posted by tree hugging sister on 2007 01 08 at 10:13 AM • permalinkGood luck to Paco the Younger, and congratulations.
Posted by Dave Surls on 2007 01 08 at 12:34 PM • permalinkPaco - congratulations on your son’s graduation. You must all be very proud.
Now if he’s inherited your writing skills, he will be indeed formidable…
Posted by carpefraise on 2007 01 09 at 09:40 AM • permalink
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Great news! Congratulatuions to your son, Paco. And let’s not forget—congratulations to his parents for raising the young man right!