nah...basically he wasn't a Marine. He was training to earn the right to be a Marine. Most of my brothers use that as the benchmark of what they are. They are Marines first and everything else just kinda pales in comparison.
No matter what you do after you're discharged, you're a Marine.
Pilots that are dc'd are former Marine who happens to be a pilot. CEOs of a company is a former Marine who happens to be a CEO of a company. ..... an actor in Hollywood is a former Marine who happens to be an actor.
That's how it works.... unless you're Dan Rather and friends... Then you're an a##hole that wishes he had become a Marine but was afraid of dying, discipline or just didn't like the food.
Either way this seeker of the truth needs to have the big bright light put on him and let's all gather as the cockroach runs and hides under his frickin rock. POS.... Pvt. French..... ya just gotta know he got some sh#t when he was training.
I was afraid of dying, lived with the discipline, and surprisingly I actually liked the food pretty well. I had a lot of Navy chow too.
Dick,
You are correct...he was technically in the USMCR (same as any kid who enlists but is waiting to on active duty for basic training) but he never earned the title “Marine”...nor the privilege of wearing the Eagle, Globe & Anchor or any rank insignia.