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Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
- I am one man made of two
entirely different cultures
- Name: Joseph Sultan
Rank: Corporal (E-4)
Service: United States Marine Corps
Status: Active
Location: Camp LeJeune, NC
BIOGRAPHY
The days of my youth were spent marveling about the Armed Forces. From
watching the “Sands of Iwo Jima” starring the Duke to studying military
manuals purchased at a local Army Navy shop, I always had it in my heart to
serve in the military. For some reason or another, the branch that most
appealed to my young mind was the Marine Corps. Something about the
recruiting posters charging that Marines were part of an elite league of
warriors, a band of men who are truly few and proud, made me want more than
anything to be a member of their ranks. During my early teen years I visited
a recruiter who told me to come back when I was eighteen and so it came to
pass, years later when I was finally of age to enlist I returned and filed
my paperwork. At the time, my motivations were simple, to serve Country and
Corps and to advance my life in a positive, meaningful direction. My
decision was to enter the reserves as an infantryman, a choice that I have
always looked back on with appreciation.
I am one man made of two entirely different cultures. My father, a man who
was raised in Lebanon, came to the United States in his twenties and met my
mother here, in the United States. My appreciation for this side of my
family is just beginning to burgeon as I am gaining more of an understanding
of Arabic culture and history. An advantage of having a parent from another
country is that I can see first hand how wonderful the United States treats
its new citizens. Here opportunity abounded for my Dad and Uncles who have
all done well for themselves while still maintaining a deep sense of loyalty
for the land to which they came and that made them what they are. It is my
feeling that this emotion is not as reflective in natives, perhaps it is
from taking the good for granted and perhaps this complacency is why, on
average, immigrants do better for themselves than natives.
My Mom’s family has been here for better that five generations and has
come up well since transplantation from Europe. Here, immigrants could
escape the woes of Europe in the nineteenth century and make a new life for
themselves just as immigrants do today. This side of my family works hard
and conducts themselves ethically and even though their goals may be more
modest than my Dad or Uncles, they are nonetheless as noble. From my perch
between the two I can clearly see the avenues that two different families
have strode to arrive where they are and it has worked to wizen me as to
what it is to be both a Come Over and a Native. It almost humors me to see
how two cultures, however markedly different, could in fact be so much the
same. The reason is uncertain to me and perhaps my hypothesis about it will
change as I grow older and gain more experience and knowledge, however, it
seems that the answer lies in this new culture that we all live in, the
culture that we now simply call “American.” All of us, whether first or
tenth generation live in our Nation and adhere both to the rules and
enjoyments of our society and through the mutual experiences of our lives we
have become closer to being one. Our differences do exist, but this is
perhaps the only land where we all consider ourselves to be one of the same
despite our ethnic histories.
Many may wonder what it is that makes me so desperately want to be in our
military. There are many things to love about the States, almost too many.
There are also many things to dislike but it is my firm conviction that as
we advance ourselves culturally these imperfections will iron themselves
out. Strong individuals who can see the good but also act to counter the bad
will help lead us into a truly great society. Many people say that men and
women who wear the uniform are owed a dept from society. In some cases this
is true, any Medal of Honor citation will make that point clear. For many of
us it is the opposite, we owe our country the dept for giving us a safe
friendly place to grow up, to have wonderful experiences, and to live in a
free society where one can have access to and publish whatever it is that
they would like. Even sweeter, once the decision to serve has been made the
government responds by giving those servicemen who would like to, the
opportunity to better themselves. The military takes us to far away places,
instills discipline in our bodies, makes us better leaders. Some days when
we get to ride on helicopters or blow up tank bodies I have to wonder about
the sanity of our government for paying us to have so much fun. At times I
even feel selfish, here at the age of twenty-six my motivations to wear the
uniform have become the betterment of myself and my life ahead of my debt
whereas at nineteen it was the complete opposite. To recant my experiences
since joining would be a book in and of itself, one far too long for this
essay, my adventures have spanned from the Drill Deck on Parris Island to
the Arctic Circle, to the Jungles of the South Pacific. It has been and will
continue to be my express pleasure to be one of The Few, The Proud, The
Marines.
Semper Fidelis,
Joseph K. Sultan
Corporal
US Marine Corps
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