See the AP story below about a Marine (”Once a Marine … Always a Marine”) who defends himself against four assailants (and would-be robbers).  In summary, he successfully defended himself against four assailants, one with a shotgun, one with a pistol, and one with a set of brass knuckles (reported by Shepard Smith of FNC on 5/30/06).  While it is unfortunate that someone had to die and another become seriously injured, the solution to such a thing is for the assailants to have decided against such actions and to have found a job.  The Marine was entirely within his right to have defended himself.  The outcome was not a surprise, and future assailants beware!  Your next “victim” might very well be a United States Marine.  Two books come recommended by the Captain’s Journal:

Making the Corps, by Thomas E. Ricks

Into the Crucible, by James B. Woulfe

“Making the Corps” is probably still the best book I have seen on Marine Boot Camp.  It is an easy, quick read, and while Ricks goes into a rambling and paranoid discussion towards the end of the book concerning the dissociation of the military from Civilian control and ideology, the book is still recommended.  “Into the Crucible” is a little bit propagand-ish, but it is well-written propaganda, very informative, and an even easier read than “Making the Corps.”  Both of these books should be part of your library.  There is still a side of boot camp that the books cannot tell … a side that can only be verbally communicated from a son to a father after graduation from boot camp (sorry, mothers are not invited due to the explicit nature of the discussion).

May 30, 2006, 10:23AM

Former Marine Fends Off Atlanta Robbers
(c) 2006 The Associated Press

ATLANTA — A former Marine used a pocket knife to fend off a group of
would-be robbers, killing one and wounding another, police said.

Thomas Autry, who authorities said will not be charged, had been
walking home from his job waiting tables Monday night when four people
got out of a car and chased him, Atlanta police detective Danny
Stephens said.

One of the attackers had a shotgun and another had a pistol, Stephens said.

The suspects caught up with Autry, who yelled for help and pulled a
knife out of his backpack. He kicked the shotgun out of one of the
attacker’s hands and stabbed both a 17-year-old girl who jumped on him
and a man who also attacked him.

The suspects fled in their car but police found them later at a
hospital where the girl was pronounced dead. The man stabbed in the
incident was in critical condition, Stephens said.

Autry’s attackers will face robbery and aggravated assault charges and
are suspected in other robberies over the past week, Stephen said.

Stephens credited Autry’s military training with helping him fend off the group.

“I would say he had to do what he had to do to stop the threat,”
Stephens said. “You can tell his training kicked in and he knew what
to do.”

Autry, 36, suffered a cut to his hand and a bruise on his chest, Stephens said.