In Marine Corps boot camp, we were taught a lot of things, most surprisingly a good deal of history. Marine Corps history. The Marines are proud of their history, justifiably, and they drummed it into us. Half a century later, I recall in detail much of what I was taught.

When I pass Basilone Road on the 5 freeway midway between L.A. and San Diego, it's not just a road sign, but a memorial to Medal of Honor and Navy Cross awardee John Basilone, who died on Iwo Jima.

I know where the halls of Montezuma and the shores of Tripoli were and why Marines were there. I know the story of how the Marines got the nickname "Devil Dogs" from the Germans at a place called Belleau Wood in France.

I've been to Belleau Wood, because no self-respecting Marine with the opportunity would pass up the chance to pay tribute to the Marines who fell in one of World War I's most bloody and decisive battles.

These men marched across open fields in full view of German machine gunners hidden in the woods. They spent days in hand-to-hand fighting within that tangled forest. The American cemetery there holds 2,289 graves,

and one would have to have a heart of granite, or no heart at all, not to be moved in their presence. So I was disturbed at initial (and well-sourced) reports that, on a state visit to the area,

the current occupant of the White House refused to attend a scheduled memorial service at Belleau Wood because he worried that bad weather would muss his hair. Disturbed I was, but not surprised in this era where shocking behavior has become commonplace.

But today, new reports suggest that the current occupant of the White House not only could not bear to get his hair wet, but could not bear to be a respectful, decent human being.

Defense Department officials have confirmed that the man who ostensibly commands all Marines, soldiers, sailors, and air personnel referred to the American cemetery at Belleau Wood as being filled with "suckers" and "losers."

I posted yesterday about this man's remarks about prisoners of war being losers and failures. I have not posted anything about his refusal to address confirmed Russian bounties paid for the killing of American troops.

I have not posted anything about his comparing his (presumably successful) avoidance of venereal disease to service in Vietnam. I have not posted anything about his denigration of a soldier's death in the middle east because that soldier happened to be Muslim.

I have not posted about his decision to exclude wounded veterans from military parades. I have not posted about his ongoing efforts to privatize for profit the Veterans Administration. I will not comment on them, but merely list them.

All I can say is that I still hold my oath to defend the Constitution against "all enemies foreign and domestic." There are no "former Marines," no "ex-Marines." I am a Marine. I stand for my comrades, my Corps, my country, and my country's constitution.

I consider the current occupant of the White House a domestic enemy, and I call upon all American veterans of every branch to repudiate him. Death before dishonor. Semper Fidelis.