Knee Deep in the Hooah!

I wrote most of the following while drinking Devil Dog Brew Yankee Doodle.

First title to this entry that came to my mind was, “She Was Worth The Brig But I Made A Promise To My Country.” When I came by Roy Beck’s video on immigration, I was glad to see someone put together a cogent message with some empirical data to at least consider. This message coupled with my background gives me pause. You see, my wife is a naturalized American citizen. While I was an active duty Marine (a Corporal at the time) I had to wait for 11 months to receive permission to marry her while background checks from the United States Naval Investigate Service (NIS) took place.

I worked in a sensitive job at the time and accordingly had to wait a somewhat extended period or risk suspension of my security clearance and possibly punitive charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). I waited and continued to serve my country and Corps… something about Honor, Courage, and Commitment.

On the day after we received Command Authorization and Approval my wife and I were married. To date we have been married 20 plus years. She was well worth the wait.

The majority of my relatives in Panama are not eligible to come visit us in the United States due to the restrictive nature of obtaining visas and the economic and other criteria they must meet independently. (I believe this is due in no small part that illegal immigration is out of control in this country). That being said my wife and I regularly travel to Panama to visit family each year. It just so happens this week we’re entertaining some of our beloved family that came here legally, and in their particular case it took them twenty years but there’s something special about obeying the law.

I love America as does my wife and we have raised three patriotic sons who love the United States and also love Panama as do I.

I am now retired from the Marine Corps after 21 years. I speak both Spanish and English. I also believe in the United States, English must be the uniting language of our citizenry.

If you haven’t had a chance to see this video I think it’s worth a look.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7WJeqxuOfQ

With Utmost Respect ~ Semper Fi,
Hank