Paging MarineCombatEngineer (and all Marine veterans here)

[SSJVegeta]

I am very interested in your opinion on Graham Platner (a controversial subject of discussion recently) who served in the 3/8ths from Camp Lejeune NC.

As a Marine Veteran, what is your opinion of his getting drunk in 2005 and getting a tattoo he knew nothing about (incidentally very nazi related). How common is this behavior for young dumb and drunk Marines at Camp Lejeune where Platner served?

Thank you in advance for your input!

[ZDU]

1. US Navy and US Naval Reserve Vet.

.... it's common ... it was very common back in the 80s and early 90s for drunken sailors and Marines to get tatts and other "adornments" to our "government property" bodies

[SSJVegeta]

2. Thank you for being the first to respond. And for your service!

[ZDU]

3. You are most welcome!

It was an honor to serve.

[haele]

4. 1978 - 2000, USN/USNR -

And several tours of shore patrol or security details. Not unheard of to come across a group of three or four falling down drunk 19 to 23 year olds with an array of brand new random tattoos on their arms or legs at one or two in the morning.
Even more exciting was when they gave you the fake military ID they had gotten to go drinking with instead of their actual ID.

[Emile]

7. USN 1969-73 it was pretty common.

I remember drinking Boone Farm Wine and doing some pretty crazy shit.

[rampartd]

5. i am a former marine

i drank the camp lejeune benzene at mcas new river. i wonder if anyone checked this guy for a cancer diagnosis?

there are tattoo parlors in jacksonville and on the carolina beaches

but the heavy drinking and tattoos occur on port calls in hong kong singapore or yakuska.

i never got one, but most are the standard eagle globe and anchor and hearts with the girl's name. maybe a dragon or a short quote from psalms.

i usually think of the nazi stuff as prison ink, but times have changed since i left the corps

[SSJVegeta]

6. Thank you!!

I guess he got his in Croatia while on leave.

[canetoad]

8. K&R

Excellent question.