And only while in uniform, on top of that. However, I was on leave one time but still on post and just walking around in civies near 9th Division HQ (Ft. Lewis) enjoying the spring weather, when the division commander's jeep drove by. I knew I was in civies and I didn't have to give him the time of day, let alone salute, but dammit that was my division commander and I had a lot of esprit de corps, so I saluted him. He didn't seem to mind and saluted me back.
Well in Windtalkers, maybe frags grenade was over exagerated but artillery uses High Explosive shells not normal shells. Also thats Hollywood exagerates things with specials effects. Windtalkers was a good movie and the Heartbreak Ridge was okay nothing speical about it. All I see is Clinteastwood training a bunch of recruits, trying to piece his marriage together and showing great concerns about his recruits being used as cannon folder.
It was a nice feel good movie. I actually did enjoy it. But, it's one full of moments that made me whince. I especially love how they tried to play of Camp Talega (in Camp Pendleton just south of San Onofre) as Lejeune, on the east coast.
If you saw the movie "Jarhead" you'll notice the rifle range they use there is the same exact range they use in "Heartbreak Ridge". I think that they tried to pass that off as Lejeune too. Can't remember though.
Just a couple bones to pick, that I can remember:
Batallion Recon is not subordinate to a company. (Can't remember if they were Batallion or Force, no matter as a division is even higher yet.)
You never run out in the middle of a linear danger area and "spray and pray".
You'll never see a group of batallion or Force Recon act like that. Those guys go through too much crap and work too damned hard to act like those monkeys when left unsupervised. They are the professional's profesional. Way cool and laid back too.
And nobody comes over from supply to command a company of Marines.