gridlore: Doug looking off camera with a grin (Army - Infantry)
Douglas Berry ([personal profile] gridlore) wrote2007-07-04 07:53 am

4 July

In the past, I've posted various historical documents and speeches related to our nation's founding for Independence Day. This year, I'd like to share something personal. This is the oath of enlsitment that I took at the Oakland MEPS in November, 1983.

I was in the third row, three in from the right edge. The oath was administered by a USMC Major. I can remember every detail of that room. It was a big day, biggest of my life up to that point, although there would be others that would soon surpass it. But I'll always remember the day I took the oath as the day I first committed myself to something larger than my own existence, the day I stepped forward.

"I, Douglas Berry, do solemnly affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice."


One sentence, and it changed my life.

Happy 4th, everyone.

[identity profile] bunyip.livejournal.com 2007-07-04 03:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Happy Birthday

[identity profile] valkyrwench.livejournal.com 2007-07-04 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Happy Birthday.
claidheamhmor: (Default)

[personal profile] claidheamhmor 2007-07-04 04:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Happy birthday, hope it was a good one!

[identity profile] docwebster.livejournal.com 2007-07-04 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Hope yer birthday goes well, mate.

[identity profile] cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com 2007-07-04 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Happy birthday!

[identity profile] dalen-talas.livejournal.com 2007-07-04 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Cheers!

been there, said that....

[identity profile] redc1c4.livejournal.com 2007-07-04 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
of course, since i was NG, it said something about the governor & the state too, but wtf.

happy b-day, i'll drink a few brews for ya!

redc1c4,
Harmony Church Class of 83

[identity profile] hellloooonurse.livejournal.com 2007-07-04 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Happy Birthday! :)

[identity profile] karmabreeze.livejournal.com 2007-07-05 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
And happy birthday to you!

[identity profile] autographedcat.livejournal.com 2007-07-05 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
Happy birthday. And also: thank you for your service.