Veteran Spotlight

Name: Jonathan R. Warmeling

Branch of service: The United States Marine Corps

Rank: at discharge, Corporal (E-4)

Length of time serving: 4 years, 4 months

What made you want to join our military: It wasn’t anything special. Vietnam was still bitter in everyone’s minds. Folks on both sides were still arguing over the politics of it, even my WWII and Korea relatives with my Vietnam cousin. There had been no 9-11, but while I was waiting to go in, Iran took the hostages.

In the beginning, I wanted to get focused, didn’t want to go to college, and thought the service would be good for me. I made my mind up as a junior in high school to join the Navy. I was locked into the Nuclear Propulsion Systems program once I turned 17 and convinced my parents to sign. But… all my friends were joining “The Corps.” and I found out the nuclear program was 2 years of intense school, then 2 years of OJT, then 2 years doing the job. I knew I was good, and I knew I was smart, but 90% failed out. They became boiler techs! I know the Navy needs BTs, but I didn’t want to be one!

All my buddies said I couldn’t hack it in the Corps. I trained with the Marine recruiters and the Marine Corps Poolees. So, I had to go to my congressman for some help, but eventually was released from my Navy contract (I was only 17 when I signed, so…) and joined the Corps. But my Dad wouldn’t sign so I had to wait until I turned 18 to sign, swear in and leave for the yellow footprints.

All our Dis told us when we got there, we going into Iran!

What is the best part of being in our military: Being part of something bigger than you. Sure, I proved I could be a Marine, but you learn your brothers on your left and right will get you through it, or die trying; and you learned, over time, you’d have their backs too. The “Brotherhood,” the camaraderie is something that stays with you forever.

Ever hear of folks taking the Aromy Birthday off? Ask a Soldier what the Army Birthday is, most won’t know… okay, almost all won’t know (June 14th).

Ask a Marine…'`Nuff said!

What did it mean to you to serve our country: Becoming a Marine was at the time the proudest day of my life, It still raks as one of the top three. That was probably the start of the effect on me of ‘serving our Country.’ And it grew greater and greater over time. Traveling around the world, visiting different countries, meeting different peoples - these travels made me first see how great our Nation is, how much better we ‘have it’ than most others, but second on how even if they hated us, they needed us; they relied out US; without the US, they’d be done. It made me realize our way was the best way, even if not at our best…if that makes sense.

At the time, me and my guys could conquer the World! We were young, tough and at our best = we were unbeatable. When the Barracks came down, I thought we’d destroy everyone who was involved…the clouds rolled into my side that day; things began to change, like a maturity…a reality set in. And later, when they threw Leon Klinghoffer off the hijacked Achille Laure, it made me get even madder at ‘them.’ If not us, if not Marines, who would save the world from these beasts?

What advice would you give our youth thinking about joining our military today: Do it. Join. We need all workers. We need some kids to go to college. We need kids to go to trade schools. We need some kids to just get jobs. Anything you can or want to do in ‘the world’ today, you can do in the military - and get paid to do it; maybe earn money for additional education in college or for more trade school; but it will help you be better; it will help you do better in life; it will make you stronger.

Anything you want to do in life, you can do in the Corps, I mean military. And after 2, 3 or 4 years, you’ll be FAR BETTER PREPARED than your counterparts who have less honor, integrity, and pride in their abilities, and you will do better in life that they will - you can actually research that, it’s true. You will see reality, learn reality, and live reality. You will be a better person for it.

Someone will say ‘yeah, but I could get killed.’ Of the 1.4 million US Service Personnel who serve now, and looking over the last 15 years or so, about 20,000 have died “in service.” Of those, 2,740 died in action. You’re more likely to die from getting hit by a bus crossing the street. And if you pick combat arms, yes, you’re at the higher end. But if you’re a UAV pilot sitting in Arizona, you’re not going to die in combat; if you’re a cryptologist or linguistics expert in California, same.. ain’t going to die in combat; and if you’re a culinary expert cooling for the Commandant of the Marine Corps at 8th and I, you ain’t gonna die in combat. Learn a trade, or even learn a trade you don’t want to pursue, but you’ll learn, and you’ll earn your own pride in yourself.

If you could share one special moment of your time in service, what would it be: Has somebody been drinking??? ONE? I lost a Marine.. he lost his mind after we kicked the crap out of Recon Marines, then had to un, literally. For days. We ran and hid and ran for three days. We got shot at in an old cemetery, ran to the ocean, and climbed rock walls to get away, and finally made it ‘safety.’ This is a very long story, but I got meritoriously promoted to Corporal in part because of it.

…Being told about the attack in Beirut. We lost Combat Engineers already, but obviously more in the bombing, and it was of course devastating.

And then Grenada..things were not good.

What does patriotism mean to you: I hate this question, no offense. I ask people, “Why aren’t YOU Patriotic> What don’t YOU love your Country?”

I won’t say much about this, but there is a small village in Ohio that can now say it has somebody in every action America has been involved in, and that makes me proud. I can trace my roots to old England, Ireland, and Wales, but so can Manu Americans. But most importantly, I can trace my roots to just before the American Revolution.. family wounded by the British before or during OUR Revolution, the American Revolution. And in the Battle of New Orleans, weeks after the peace treaty was signed after the War of 1812, my family was fighting.

They fought for freedom: Most Americans won’t, today. God Bless the 1 1/2 to 2% that will, but sometimes I wonder why.. what would the ‘other 99%’ do without those of us who did, or will?

God Bless America!