--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any Marine veteran can reach back thirty…" description: "\"“Any Marine veteran can reach back thirty or forty years and summon the names of his drill instructors. Flying in a Marine jet over Parris Island, Brig..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/334/thomas-e-ricks-2-39857_army_any-marine-veteran-can-reach-back-thirty_384338.jpg" --- # Any Marine veteran can reach back thirty or forty years… ![“Any Marine veteran can reach back thirty or forty years and summon the names of his drill instructors. Flying in a Marine jet over Parris Island, Brig. Gen. Randy West looks down on the swampy land and simply says , “I was born there.” quote by Thomas E. Ricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/334/thomas-e-ricks-2-39857_army_any-marine-veteran-can-reach-back-thirty_384338.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/334/thomas-e-ricks-2-39857_army_any-marine-veteran-can-reach-back-thirty_384338.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/334/thomas-e-ricks-2-39857_army_any-marine-veteran-can-reach-back-thirty_384338.jpg) > ““Any Marine veteran can reach back thirty or forty years and summon the names of his drill instructors. Flying in a Marine jet over Parris Island, Brig. Gen. Randy West looks down on the swampy land and simply says , “I was born there.”” [Thomas E. Ricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-ricks-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Veterans can instantly recall their training mentors, highlighting deep bonds formed in service. **In simple terms:** Military training creates lasting, vivid memories. Key Takeaway Value and honor those formative relationships. Themes military memory identity legacy Mood proud nostalgic Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - military ceremonies - reunion events - personal storytelling - leadership training Key Concepts mentor‑student bonds vivid recollection Questions to Reflect On - How do these memories shape current decisions? - What lessons from mentors remain relevant today? A Different Perspective Such recollections may idealize the past, overlooking hardships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Veteran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veteran/) ## Related quotes > [I'm the mother of a Marine veteran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-frankel/i-m-the-mother-of-a-marine-veteran/) [Lois Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-frankel/) > [The bad news motivated the drill instructors that much more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-lee-ermey/the-bad-news-motivated-the-drill-instructors-that-much-more/) [R. Lee Ermey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-lee-ermey/) > [Drill instructors worked seven days a week, fifteen to seventeen hours a day in many cases, with no time off in between platoons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-lee-ermey/drill-instructors-worked-seven-days-a-week-fifteen-to-seventeen-hours/) [R. Lee Ermey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-lee-ermey/) > [“They Served ...reliving memories that will not die giving their all for you and I - friends taken lives shaken...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muse/they-served-reliving-memories-that-will-not-die-giving-their-all-for/) [Muse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muse/) > [It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zell-miller/it-is-the-soldier-not-the-poet-who-has-given-us-freedom-of-speech/) [Zell Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zell-miller/) > [“Ask an American soldier to identify himself, and he probably will say he is “in the Army.” By contrast, a Marine— especially if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-ricks-2/ask-an-american-soldier-to-identify-himself-and-he-probably-will-say/) [Thomas E. Ricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-ricks-2/) > [I have a band that I started with a buddy of mine, a Vietnam veteran pal named Kimo Williams from Chicago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-have-a-band-that-i-started-with-a-buddy-of-mine-a-vietnam-veteran/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [“If choosing to love first can change enemies into friends on the battlefield of Iraq, I know that it can right here, in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-oestreich/if-choosing-to-love-first-can-change-enemies-into-friends-on-the/) [Diana Oestreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-oestreich/) > [But despite their heroic acts, the Vietnam Veterans of America continued to struggle to establish a combat badge in honor of these brave pilots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-holden/but-despite-their-heroic-acts-the-vietnam-veterans-of-america/) [Tim Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-holden/) > [As a soldier and combat veteran, I believe American military forces should only be used in the defense and furtherance of our nation's vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-ernst/as-a-soldier-and-combat-veteran-i-believe-american-military-forces/) [Joni Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-ernst/) > [Anyone who's been the Olympic trials before is a veteran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/anyone-who-s-been-the-olympic-trials-before-is-a-veteran/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [ The president \[Barack Obama\] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-commitment-of-i-think-100-000/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [There will be no veterans of World War III.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-f-mondale/there-will-be-no-veterans-of-world-war-iii/) [Walter F. Mondale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-f-mondale/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I'm a veteran of Ozzfest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinnie-paul/i-m-a-veteran-of-ozzfest/) [Vinnie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinnie-paul/) ## More by Thomas E. Ricks > [“Ask an American soldier to identify himself, and he probably will say he is “in the Army.” By contrast, a Marine— especially if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-ricks-2/ask-an-american-soldier-to-identify-himself-and-he-probably-will-say/) [Thomas E. Ricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-ricks-2/) > [“The natural state of man is war. I think that peace is an interval for preparation.” The novel is significant because”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-ricks-2/the-natural-state-of-man-is-war-i-think-that-peace-is-an-interval-for/) [Thomas E. Ricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-ricks-2/) > [“the platoon moves out to the rifle range barracks for basic rifle training . The gospel according to Parris Island is that shooting accurately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-ricks-2/the-platoon-moves-out-to-the-rifle-range-barracks-for-basic-rifle/) [Thomas E. Ricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-ricks-2/) > [“Lt. Gen. Zinni has distilled his experiences in a talk on “twenty lessons learned”that feels like a modern appendix to the Small Wars Manual.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-ricks-2/lt-gen-zinni-has-distilled-his-experiences-in-a-talk-on-twenty/) [Thomas E. Ricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-ricks-2/) > [“What bothers him most about today’s military, he goes on to say, is careerism. It has eroded the other services, he warns, and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-ricks-2/what-bothers-him-most-about-today-s-military-he-goes-on-to-say-is/) [Thomas E. Ricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-ricks-2/) > [“Overall, Zinni’s rules read like an updating of how to apply the Marine Corps culture to today’s conflicts: Stay loose. Stay focused. Keep it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-ricks-2/overall-zinni-s-rules-read-like-an-updating-of-how-to-apply-the/) [Thomas E. Ricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-ricks-2/) > [“Overall, Zinni’s rules read like an updating of how to apply the Marine Corps culture to today’s conflicts: Stay loose. Stay focused. Keep it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-ricks-2/overall-zinni-s-rules-read-like-an-updating-of-how-to-apply-the-2/) [Thomas E. Ricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-ricks-2/) > [“War. In 1901, he graduated from the Virginia Military Institute, where he marched before Stonewall Jackson’s widow. He soon joined the Army, which then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-ricks-2/war-in-1901-he-graduated-from-the-virginia-military-institute-where/) [Thomas E. Ricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-ricks-2/) > [“As the sociologist Ann Swidler has observed, “common sense”is really just deeply embedded culture: “the set of assumptions so unselfconscious as to seem a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-ricks-2/as-the-sociologist-ann-swidler-has-observed-common-sense-is-really/) [Thomas E. Ricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-ricks-2/) > [“break his hold on power, as…we had come to expect,” the first president Bush and his national security adviser, Brent Scowcroft, wrote in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-ricks-2/break-his-hold-on-power-as-we-had-come-to-expect-the-first-president/) [Thomas E. Ricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-ricks-2/) [Explore all 11 Thomas E. Ricks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-ricks-2/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Any Marine veteran can reach back thirty or forty years and summon the names of his drill instructors. Flying in a Marine jet over Parris Island, Brig. Gen. Randy West looks down on the swampy land and simply says , “I was born there.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas E. 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