I served in the Marines for 10 years. What a ride.

I experienced a lot of things as a Marine. I visited other countries; learned about different cultures. I learned a lot about myself, too.

I hate to sound cheesy and say that the Corps “made a man out of me,” but to an extent, it’s true. I grew up in the Corps.

Most importantly, had it not been for the Corps, I would have never met Muna ... or subsequently had Taj.

Although I left the Corps to join the Air Force, I’m thankful for the ride. I do enjoy being an Airman, but there’s always a spot in my heart for the Corps.

Digital cameras hadn’t really caught on yet when I was in the Marines, so the photos below are scanned copies of hard prints I’ve collected over the years. (I apologize for the poor quality.) If any of the places look familiar to you, or you want to share your own Leatherneck story, please email me.

Semper Fidelis!

Darrick