MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. — -- "Some say we are living in a time where there are no heroes. They just don’t know where to look. The sloping hills of Arlington National Cemetery, row upon row of simple white markers, bearing crosses or stars of David, make up only a fraction of the cost for our freedom.
Their lives ended in places called Belleau Wood, Argonne, Omaha Beach and Salerno, Pork Chop Hill, half way around the world in Guadalcanal, Chosin Reservoir and the rice patties and jungles of Vietnam."
Under one such marker, lies a man, Martin Treptow, who left his home and its small-town barber shop in 1917 to go serve with the famous ‘Rainbow Division’ (42nd Army Infantry Division). There on the western front he was killed trying to carry messages between battalions on the ground under heavy artillery fire. We’re told that found on his body was a diary and inside the cover under the heading ‘my pledge,’ he had written these words.
‘America must win this war. Therefore I will serve. I will save. I will sacrifice. I will endure. I will fight cheerfully and give my utmost as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me alone.’"
The opening words from Todd Parisi, a retired sergeant major and motivational speaker, echoed in the Base Theatre at Marine Corps Air Station New River Jan. 29.
Parisi expounded on how the Marines in the room could use Treptow’s words as motivation to achieve greatness in their lives.
"Success," he declared. "Is not measured by achievements, but by not giving up."
Parisi served 28 years in the Marine Corps and deployed multiple times during Operation Iraqi Freedom, taught high school for a year, and is now pursuing leadership-based motivational speaking full time.
Parisi, who speaks quickly and powerfully, inspired the Marines with stories of past Marines and stories of hard work and dedication paying dividends.
"I could have used this a few weeks ago," said Pfc. Taylor Clark, a student with Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Marine Unit. "I was using every little thing as an excuse to not better myself. This has gotten me back on track."
"What did I learn? More like what didn’t I learn? I learned everything," Clark continued.
Parisi entered the building wearing a Spartan helmet and was met by the war cries of more than 100 Marines. When he exited, a series of those same war cries followed him — observably deeper and louder.