FW: Retirement

[Cleaves GySgt David A]

Hi Family (Wounded Warriors, SACC, Focus, CREDO, MCFTB, JEC, Military Clothing Store, Marine Corps League & Mentors, base Chaplains, Church of Christ Pearl Harbor, Rotarians, Etc),
It is with great honor that I make this announcement: November 30, 2012, in the
Chapel on Kaneohe Bay, from 1200 to 1330, I will be making my last remarks as an
active duty United States Marine-I will be retiring.
I will be turning the page to another chapter in life. I have to say, thirty (30) years have come and gone, and I don't know where the time went. At about 16 years in, I realized that I was going to stay as long as the Corps could find a place for me.

Along with that realization, I said, "Everyone was going to know I was gone when the time came because I already know it's never going to be long enough. When that time comes, I am going to hit the deck, grab hold to the carpet, and make them drag me out with it.
Well, it's my time now. I am proud to have served as long as I have, and I am
proud of the Marines that are coming behind me. They know how to kick the top
part of the legs just like us old dogs, and they are smarter at it.

I have to tell you, I couldn't really see it coming. Why? They say the body gets old,
but the mind keeps thinking it can do the same old things it used to do. Well,
that was supposed to be my gauge. I said I would let them drag me out when I started running second class PFT'S, CFT's and couldn't teach MCMAP anymore.
This last year, I ran a very high first-class PFT and a prefect CFT and taught three full-belt level MCMAP belt courses on my off-time, after working five full days during the week. To top it off, I still managed average working about 60+hours a week.
Well, I have to tell you, that gauge I was trying to use doesn't work. I failed to mention I still have Private, not Private First Class Love, but the greenest of green, walking across the parade deck, Boot Camp Love. If you know me, you know that's true. I didn't stay that way because I came through the ranks smelling like roses. No, I made some, I stepped in some, and had some thrown on me. I did what Marines do in the Corps, I lived it! The best part is nothing or no one ever once changed my love for the Corps.
There goes another one of those gauges that didn't work for me. They say when you don't love it the same anymore, or the bad outweighs the good, it's time to pack your All purpose, Light weight, Individual, Caring, Equipment (that's a Marine thing) and go home.

Don't let me leave out some of the bad. I had more than may share of it. As you get older the skin gets tougher, right above the legs where those Col.'s like to bite,
not to mention I had it chewed off some many times it stopped growing back and some of the nerve endings went dead. (Young bucks, don't you try this is home.) Now, when those young Lt. Col.'s started chewing on me, I just stand there and take it. They'd get tired before it started hurting real bad; then, I could think may way through what they
were really trying to get me to do. Young bucks you take and run like hell and ask
someone who has been around a while what they were trying to say. It takes years of chewing to get to the point where you can just stand there and take it.

Wow, I didn't think I could get these words out. Let me stop before I mess this (what was intended as a) short happy note completely up. I tell people all the time, I don't like to write. One of my smarter mentors had the nerve to say "I know" when I made this same statement the last time. He's right.
Hey, I really only do this when I have to, or when I am just trying to show I care by sharing some love. I just did both or at least I tried real hard. I hope to see all of you on November 30th at the Chapel, God willing.

Please RSVP by November 22, 2012. I want to make sure I get enough food for everyone to get something to eat.



FiMarine, 24-7,


GySgt Cleaves, DA
Wounded Warrior Det-Hawaii
Unit Transition Coordinator
Ph: (479) 903-1906
Work: (808) 257-1090