Famous Marines Quote

GyG's Marines Sites-Forums ^ | Unknown | President Reagan

[gunnyg]

This is an inquiry regarding:

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem." -Author Unknown

Searching for info as to the date and place of the above quote made by President Ronald Reagan.

The Ronald Reagan Library has advised me that cannot confirm the date and place that this was spoken by Reagan; although they know, as I do, that he did so.

I am seeking to determine the original author of the subject quote. If the date and place of this speech can be determined, they may be able to assist in determination of the author.

Thank you
Dick Gaines

[gunnyg]

Please respond here and/or to: GunnyG@hotmail.com

[Old Professer]

Sounds like something that Ollie North might have said; who knows?

[PokeyJoe]

I like Col. "Chesty" Puller.

A reporter accused him of retreating when he was surrounded by Chinese PLA in Korea.
"Retreating? Hell, we're just advancing in the other direction."

[stlrocket]

Thought you might enjoy a Taliban vs. Marines Joke I found recently.

TALIBAN PLATOON vs. ONE MARINE

ENJOY

[Stars N Stripes]

Hiya Gunny, during my vacation in South East Asia back in '68-'70 our "Quote" was posted on our Look-out tower as follows:

"We have done so much with so little for so long, we could do anything with nothing forever!"

Whiskey Battery 1/13

[gunnyg]

Hell, even the Ronald Reagan Library doen't know when Reagan said it!!!

If I could pinpoint when Reagan said it, the RR Library says they can examine the speechwriter's notes to see if he/she included the original author.

DickG

[Old Professer]

My nephew just retired from the Marines after 20, he wouldn't have considered another branch. Me, I was in the USAF.

Love Reagan, though.

[gunnyg]

Update!

OK, I'm still searching for the author of the quotation.

I have now contacted the RR Library, and also Peggy Noonan, who was a RR speechwriter from 1984-86, we think the period in question that RR made the remarks.

Both parties (RR Library and Peggy Noonan) say that they cannot locate any source verifying that RR ever made the remarks!

The lady I corresponded with at the RR Library states that she is sure that RR made the remarks, however; me too, I was watching him on TV as he did so! On the other hand, Peggy Noonan doesn't remember the incident at all.

So, not only am I no closer to learning the true author of the quotation, now it cannot even be verified that RR actually said it--regardless of who said it first!

Anyway, I still have the website up on this, and sooner or later somebody will turn up with some answers--maybe.

In the event I can determine the date and place RR made the remarks is important in that the RR Library states that they can check that date in the speechwriters' notes to see if there was a reference provided as to the original author, but then RR may have used this quotation on more than one ocassion too. So.... Semper Fidelis
Dick Gaines

[LibKill]

"Come on, do you want to live forever?"

Marine Sergeant addressing his troops at Beleau Woods, WWI.

[LibKill]

Chesty Puller after being informed that he and his battalion were surrounded.

"Excellent! Now we can shoot in any direction and kill Chinese."

[LibKill]

Another one from Chesty Puller, he being informed that his battalion was surrounded by ChiComs.

"Now they have us right where we want them."

[Republic of Texas]

Keep those Marine quotes coming, those are great! I also like the Army Corps of Engineers quote, "The difficult we'll do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer".

[LibKill]

Here's one from the SeaBees;

CAN DO!

[strela]

According to this website, the line was an excerpt from a speech by RADM J. Stark in Newport, RI on 10 November 1995.

This website provides the quote and claims it was in 1985 (but no citation).

This website narrows it down to January 1995.

This one puts the quote in 1985.

And this guy claims Reagan stole the quote.

Yep. I'm officially confused.

[Black Birch]

The Marines aren't the brightest warriors on the planet. Somehow they got suckered into doing an Army job. Their beach front property is probably a 100 million years old without any ocean in sight. Just joking from an ex Navy guy. Bill

[Redhd2]

As I remember the story: Chesty Puller, the commander at the Chosen Reservoir when the Chinese Communists start their offensive has the First Marines and two South Korean divisions.
When the attack starts he call's one South Korean division commander and demands to know, how many enemy he's facing? Oh many, many comes the reply. He slams down the
phone and calls the other S. Korean commander. How many Chinese communists are you facing? Oh many, many comes the reply. Slams down the phone again.
He calls the American Commander. Same question, How many Chinese Communists are attacking your position. The American fires back "WE got a sh_tpot full.
Puller responds, Well thank God you have somebody there that can count.

[gunnyg]

(Ahem)...a couple of those sites are mine

I didn't say RR stole it; in fact, I went out of my way to provide that that was (probably) not his intention, but people assume it was he who originally said it.

Adm Stark?
Yeah, but in 1995 he was just quoting RR quoting someone else but not pointing that out to anyone.

Know what ya mean! Confused as sterile rabbits!

-Dick Gaines