Part of the new culture in the military, including the Marine Corps is a low tolerance for any “bad behavior.” If you have a couple of beers at dinner, walk out of the restaurant, trip over the curb and break you ankle it is “an alcohol related incident” and not good for your career. Gone are the days of the judge saying “go to jail or join the Marine Corps.” As a side note, one of my roommates in college was such a Marine. He got caught stealing from his employer and spent 4 years in the Corps. Changed his life. But, I digress.
So I speculate: He may have in fact told the punk that he would kick his ass, but really didn’t want to get into a fight. The punk probably summed up the situation and realized that he was outmatched, so he did what punks do.
Sad on several levels. We lose a Marine, and now have to support a punk in prison.
I had an a-hole relative who was given that choice. He retired from the military the same piece of scum as when he entered, just more arrogant with a uniform. “America’s Most Wanted” had filmed a piece on him but it never aired. Can’t say I shed a tear over his or his equally a-hole Lt. Col. dad’s demise.