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Susan Troy's avatar

I love this. As two of the most selfish and characterless men in the world go about trying to take over our government for their wealthy friends, it is imperative that young men have alternative models of masculinity like your coach. Somehow, we need to broadcast genuine heroes, not the cyber kind. Keep these coming!

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rick's avatar

I was a reluctant member of the USMC active duty 1969-71. However, I am proud to have served my country although I opposed our country's involvement in the Vietnam conflict before, during and after my term of service. I used my GI Benefits to attend and graduate from Medical School. I am dismayed regarding the Con Man Trump's proposals regarding limiting VA funding and employment.

We need to resist and arise to limit the damage our country's current political dysfunctional leadership is and will cause! I am nearly the Con Man's age, but could not used sore feet to keep me from serving [that was a 'wealthy elite class' evasion tactic].

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Pat Robinson's avatar

Thank you for your service!!!! In addition to limiting VA funding and employment, anyone entering the military now has to accept the fact that there is no rule of law and they have to do whatever trump says, if that is arresting and detaining fellow citizens, turning in anyone suspected of something to do with DEI, allowing whatever criminal acts trump and mush want to commit to go unchallenged. Even back in the 60s folks in the military did not have to face those conditions.

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B.Ruth. Cornwell's avatar

No, you do not have to follow illegal orders. Deploying the Army against US civilians is forbidden in the Constitution and don't let some mealy mouthed Christian nationalist persuade you otherwise.

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Pat Robinson's avatar

But I think it will make for some very difficult situations with trump threatening retaliation for those who do not obey. I hope there will be sufficient support within the military to withstand this. Of course you never can tell about trump but I think he has made threats to retaliate against generals (for sure General Mark Milley..he's already stripped him of his security detail and security clearance.

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nothappynow's avatar

Military has their own codes of conduct and ethics which states they will not attach citizens of the USA.

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Bonnie Devine's avatar

A beautiful story of commitment, kindness & courage. There are indeed angels among us, & your story shared with your readers is something sorely needed, in this dark time.

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June Carbone's avatar

A beautiful portrait of masculinity at its best. I want to know what has happened to the concept of honor: the idea that lying is wrong, that being held liable for sexual assault is a badge of villainy, that bending the knee to someone you know is dishonest is cowardice.

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Greg W.'s avatar

Thank You, Lucas, for an incredible story - both in terms of your own determination and Coach Marshall's caring generosity.

Too, I appreciated your anectodote concerning the presentation at Yale and opportunities in certain types of service work. But your story at Yale made me sad in that the very type of opportunities you discussed are those careers that the doge bros, seek to eliminate.

doge bros. don't relate to the Lucas Kunce's and Coach Marshall's of the world. They believe in a system where behavior is motivated only by greed (accomplished by hook or by crook). This leads to a society of inequality - either you're one of them or you're an undeserving untouchable. And, by the way, racism, sexism and other types of hate plays a big role in serving the doge bros.'s "classism". I've said it before but when ronald reagan uttered the most unfair generalization of modern time "the nine most terrifying words in the english language are I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help." that kicked off whole new level of assault from the far right crony capitalists on people who were and are motivated by things that are larger than the size of their pay checks.

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longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

You look great in that uniform. I hope you will be able to publish these stories in a book. Maybe Yale will publish it. "Making America Great" can be the title. Just a suggestion....

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Keith E. Cooper's avatar

What an inspiring and heart-felt story! You rock, sir!

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Ellie Hampton's avatar

Coach Marshal exemplifies one of the thousands of dedicated teachers and coaches in schools across our nation. Their purpose in life is to help their students succeed to the best of their ability. How do I know? I watched my husband teach high school science for 32 years. His scholastic teams went to Nationals several years...and still keep in contact with him. However, I think he is proudest of the students (and there are many) who pursued education after graduation. The letters he has received from them, in particular, thanking him for inspiring them occupy a cherished place in his collection of memoirs.

Thank you for extolling the virtues of Coach Marshal...and pointing out that one person can make a big difference in someone's life.

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David G Hinkes's avatar

YES!

One of THE most sickening and disgusting quotes I've ever heard in my entire 70 years on this globe are "Those who can do, those who can't teach."

Abject and absolute greedy, psychotic, elitist, capitalist BULLSHIT!!!

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Kevin D Schultz's avatar

It breaks my heart every time I think of you losing to the likes of that boot-licking self-aggrandizing weasel what's-his-name. He sure didn't break stride on Jan.6 fleeing for his safety. That video is priceless. Anyway, please stay in the future running fight. May your feet carry you to first place in the next meet. You are truly first team.

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carolyn semiglasow's avatar

I totally agree with you. I don't understand how the good, down to earth and welcoming people of Missouri, could not see the honor and ethics Lucas would bring to the government of this state.

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Clarke Shaw's avatar

No Masculinity Crisis here. I heat with wood. I use the limbs from the oak the lumber industry cuts down. They are delivered as logs by a guy who delivers the Trunks to the lumber mills during the day. Evenings and weekends he delivers the limbs to people like me. I cut and then split with an old fashioned splitting maul. I will be 73 in about a month

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Jim's avatar

I'm 74 and I'm still cutting and splitting wood.

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Christine L Miniman's avatar

Wow! Good for you!

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Clarke Shaw's avatar

It keeps me healthy. And it keeps me warm. And it makes me sad to see those huge brush piles get burned with nothing used. There was a place about 30 miles south on the road to Branson where they did exactly that. They cut a lot of trees, taking just the tree trunks. All the limbs were burned in huge piles

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Ellie Hampton's avatar

They burn "slash" on Idaho's public lands, however, the BLM and Forest Service also have a permit system that allows people to harvest the wood. My understanding for the burning (here at least) is that the lodgepole pine seeds need extreme heat before they can germinate. Like you, I hate to see anything wasted...maybe from my "advanced" age. (I have a couple of years on you.)

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Clarke Shaw's avatar

This is cheaper than those permits. I pay $550 for a logging truck load delivered to a area I use as a wood lot right besde my driveway. He learns too. Used to stack it 8 feet high. Thats dangerous if they roll. Now about 5 feet tall. A logging truck load lasts all winter plus leftover. About every 4th year I can skip a year.

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Kay Meyer's avatar

Unaware of the practices of these hardwood lumber thieves, several years ago we contracted to sell the wood from century-old black walnuts from our MO farm, I was astounded at the waste! Am still attempting to use the limbs they left on the ground. (We replanted saplings last year.)

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John's avatar

I was born and grew up in a Marine town--29 Palms, CA. I ask every Marine I meet if they were ever stationed there :) We used to say, "it wasn't the end of the world, but you could see it from there." I never served in any military capacity, but I still have an emotional connection to the US Marines because my dad worked on the base as a meat cutter. He was also president of the govt employee’s union for some years. The base was important to the town to say the least. This was in the late 60s and early 70s so "peak" Vietnam. My dad worked with many Marines in food service at the base. Many were men of color and often were in 29 Palms prior to heading to Pendleton ultimately on their way to 'Nam. Sometimes he would invite a Marine he worked with to come to our house for a home cooked meal before leaving on their trek to 'Nam. These young men were from all over the country, and most were aged 18 or 19. As a young boy this affected me deeply. Now as an old dude, I still think of that simple act of kindness as an example following Judeo Christian values. I am not religious in any way, but those expressed values are meaningful to me. I have been trying to convince our elected representative (who happens to be a Republican) here in California that those values are what should be the foundation of behaviors of elected officials and that they swore an oath to the US Constitution which beholds them to follow it. I've not made much progress yet, but I'm hopeful.

In any case, I look forward to your writings and I spread them around. Keep at it. If you run for national office, you have my vote from out here in the high country of the Sierra Nevada.

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longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

Just let me know who opposes him in the next election. I donate to people who oppose Republicans in California. Last time I donated to three people who won.

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David G Hinkes's avatar

GREAT STORY!

YES, we need many many more people like your coach in this country, and whole world!

BTW; I was also the captain of my senior year cross-country team, and also developed severe shin splints (most likely from the mixed surfaces we trained on, cinder track and pavement), and they are NO JOKE, as I could barely walk!

We did not have modern shoe technology which everyone takes for granted nowadays way back in 1972/1973 when I ran, so the solutions were a bit harder to come by back then.

Given that I already had an endurance sport background (competitive cycling from 1970 on), the break into distance running was not as much of a struggle for me, and I stayed right with the top 3 seniors (one of whom was a 1:56 half miler no less) as a junior for my first varsity 'time trial', until about the last 200 yards.

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butchCorva Murphy's avatar

Thanks for the notes helping us deal with the unnecessary and destructive chaos.

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Christine L Miniman's avatar

That is a wonderful story! On another note, my second great grandfather's son, Captain George Thompson White, was, like you, a Judge Advocate. He served in New Orleans during the Civil War. I have about 10 letters he wrote to his father during the war. Judge must run in my blood because I became one too, although not for the military. I hope you will run for office again.

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Richard Carriker's avatar

Stay in it

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Goodenough, Ursula's avatar

Beautiful

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