PORT EVERGLADES, Fla. - U.S. Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and U.S. Navy Sailors with the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) welcomed members of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 133 during a tour aboard the Wasp as part of Fleet Week 2015 in Port Everglades., Florida, May 5.
Ten veterans – nine Marines and one U.S. Army Soldier – examined the static displays of the various vehicles and weapon systems Marines use in modern operations. All of the veterans present were involved in the Vietnam War, while one individual also served in the Korean War.
“The equipment here is unbelievable,” said John Birmingham, a former U.S. Marine Corps corporal. “Seeing all the advances in the vehicles and firepower is remarkable.”
“My favorite part of the tour was the M1A1 Abrams tank,” said Robert Martin, another Marine veteran. “It’s more so the fact that I was infantry when I enlisted in the Marine Corps.”
Along with their tour, veterans interacted with the Marines asking questions pertaining to basic training, their jobs in the military and what they knew about the wars the veterans served in.
Despite the advances made in weaponry, vehicles and war fighting technology, the distinguished guests made it clear that time would not deteriorate the lineage of the Marine Corps.
“I formally believe that you guys are better trained, smarter and obviously have better weapons than we did in our time,” Martin said. “I hear people use the terms ‘old Corps’ and ‘new Corps.’ There is no such thing as an old Corps or new Corps. It’s the Marine Corps.”