Once A Marine, Always A Marine.  Like most things in life though, there are exceptions to the rule.  Below is what I consider some of the “exceptions to the rule.”  Those that I would be ashamed to call “brother” based on what I know of them.

Gerald L. Shaffer  AKA  Jerry Shaffer founder of  Leatherneck {dot} com.  The site claims to be, “MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY for USMC veterans” and “Top online Marine Corps community.”  

My own experiences with said community were similar to the stories I have since heard from other Marines, Marine veterans, and Marine family members.  I can not speak for others but I can speak for myself.  While on the site I was privy to see posts on a regular basis that were racist, sexists, anti-Jewish and even a regular updated thread of soft porn.  Though with any site it’s under the best judgment of the owner what is allowed and what is not.  However, there was a section in particular that is closed from public view.  It is for Marines only.  It is there where it is said it is UNMODERATED and “Marines can speak their mind like Chesty.”  Wrong.

In my short time there I saw TWO Marines that were not only banned but Shaffer threatened to contact and did try to contact their chain of command.  For a fresh out of boot Marine the accusations were almost detrimental to their career.  That Marine is now in Iraq.  The 2^nd Marine is a Sgt and her command being more familiar with them, their work ethics and the antics of the owner of this site; they mostly had a good laugh about it. 

Me?  I had posts deleted.  Many times the posts were deleted without reason, warning or excuse.  They just disappeared.  Also come to realize some of the private correspondence sent via “PM” or “private message” were never received.  Seems the owner and moderator can also view and delete private messages between members. 

About a week prior to my banning I did receive a temporary banning.  Shaffer came in the chat room on the site and called Marines, “retards.”  It was not in the joking way that I see when one Marine may say another is “motard.”  {Motivated to the point of being retarded.}  He was challenging anyone to question his authority on his site.  Several were kicked and banned at that moment.  One wanted to speak with Shaffer privately.  I passed on the message and was banned until the next day.  Though when I asked why and for how long the only response I got was, “Wait and see.”

At one point Shaffer made a post on his own forum saying, “I wish all the Vietnam Vets would die and quit fucking with my site.”  So for the ones that were not already ran off or banned this ran off even more.  The post was deleted shortly thereafter.  Enough saw it that word quickly spread between many though.  Most of the Marines, Marine veterans and Marine family members that I know have since been banned.  The ones that aren’t banned refuse to visit the site any longer.  Those of us that are banned?  Our profiles are still there but hidden from view unless you know the url.  Despite repeated emails and attempts to have my profile removed it is still there.  As well as the profiles of the others I know that are banned.  Shaffer keeps them there to keep his membership counts high.  That site is not about Marines.  It’s about Shaffer making money from advertisers and affiliates.  He is indeed a coward, without honor, without respect, and unable to truly understand what it is to be a Marine.  Maybe that is why he was only able to serve 2 years of his enlistment.