No Marine is left behind

Jay Grodner,a divorce lawyer from Chicago plead guilty to keying the car of a Marine, Sgt. Michael McNulty, in December because he was angry when he saw the car had Marine plates and a Marine insignia on it.

(Hat tip to Lew)

The courtroom scene is described in the Chicago Tribune where Judge William O'Malley, a former police officer and Marine that served from 1961-1964, was hearing the case.

The Chicago courtroom was packed with Marines, all wearing pins on their coats or jackets and wearing the Marine insignia.

They came in support of Marine Sgt. Michael McNulty who could not be there for himself because he is preparing for his second tour in Iraq, and they didn't yell or scream or cause any scene, they simply, quietly supported him in his absense.

Grodner received a $600 fine, which will go to a Marine charity, 30 hours of community service and a year of court supervision. If he doesn't pay up in a month, the judge promised to put him in jail for a year.

The judge was not done though.

Judge William O'Malley looked at his courtroom filled with Marines that were there in support of a fellow Marine that was not there and said "You caused damage to this young Marine sergeant's car because you were offended by his Marine Corps license plates. You're probably also wondering why there was a whole crowd of people here, Mr. Grodner"

Grodner responded "I don' t want to wonder."

The judge continued "That's because there is a little principle that the Marine Corps has had since 1775. When they fought and lost their lives so that people like you could enjoy the freedom of this country. It is a little proverb that we follow:

"No Marine is left behind."

"So Sgt. McNulty couldn't be here. But other Marines showed up in his stead. Take him away."

To all the Marines that were in that courtroom, to Judge William O'Malley and to Marine Sgt. Michael McNulty.

Semper Fi.

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