this post was submitted on 05 Mar 2026
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[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 34 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

https://ballotpedia.org/Brian_McGinnis_(North_Carolina)

https://brianmcginnis4ussenatenc.org/

Graduated from Quincy Senior High on a Saturday in early June 2000, and went to Marine boot camp the following Monday. Mama was not ready.

Did my one enlistment as a Light Armored Vehicle Crewman, an infantry MOS in the Corps, until June 2004.

Highlights:

-Six months on a Med Float on the USS Wasp in 2002, established a training ground in Djibouti, Africa. -Deployed for the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003 and traveled extensively across the country. -Made the All-Marine boxing team later in 2003 until the end of enlistment, tried out the year prior, but broke my hand in the tryouts.

Upon my honorable discharge from the USMC, I attended John Wood Community College in Quincy, IL and earned an associate's degree in education from 2004 to 2006.

...

Well.

I guess he's somewhat used to his bones being broken.


https://www.military-ranks.org/decorations/branches/marines

I can't find high enough resolution images to confidently make the ribbons, but my best guess for the medal is the Navy Cross.

He doesn't mention being a pilot, so its unlikely it would be the Distiguinshed Flying Cross.

Also, the Marines and the Navy just use the same medal for Distinguished Service, as best I can tell, likely owing to the history of the Marines long being part of the Navy untill they were formally set aside as a distinct branch.


With emphasis that these are guesses and I almost certainly made mistakes, I have no actual military background or experience, there may be some formal rules of displaying ribbons and medals that my guesses may violate...

Best guesses for ribbons (from our POV):


Row 1 = Joint Service Achievement Medal


Row 2, Left = Navy and Marine Corp Medal

Row 2, Center = Navy and Marine Corp Presidential Unit Citation

Row 2, Right = Bronze Star


Row 3, Left = General Service Medal

Row 3, Center = Iraq Campaign Medal

Row 3, Right = Uncertain


Row 4, Left = Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Row 4, Center = Humanitarian Service Medal

Row 4, Right = Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

[–] tux7350@lemmy.world 24 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Theres a couple of mistakes there. For example, a Bronze star would be above the Navy Marine Corps Achivement ribbon since its a much more prestigious medal. I cant tell what the devices are but this is the stack.

Row 1

  1. Navy Marine Corps Achievement Ribbon

Row 2

  1. Navy Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon
  2. Navy Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
  3. Marine Corps Good Conduct Ribbon

Row 3

  1. National Defense Service Ribbon
  2. Iraq Campaign Ribbon
  3. Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Ribbon

Row 4

  1. Global War on Terrorism Service Ribbon
  2. Humanitarian Service Ribbon
  3. Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

Source: Eaten a couple crayons.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Thank you for your service!

I always appreciate a correction from an actual subject matter expert.

... and can you recommend any crayon flavors?

[–] tux7350@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I appreciate the sentiment, people being nice to eachother should always be encouraged. But thanking people always seemed odd to me. I drank a lot. :(

But Granny Smith Apple.

Thankfully, I'm doing better now :)

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 1 day ago

If it makes you feel better, I'm thanking you for this specific service, here.

That being said, as others have said in other threads about this...

... hard not to respect someone who has been through the shit, and came out with a conscience still intact.

While likely not for the same reasons (or, maybe, for some of the same reasons), I've also struggled with addiction, managed to pare it down to just nicotine... different kind of battle, still quite a fight.

Glad you're doing better now.

And I will keep your recommendation in mind for my next fondue, lol.

[–] MyDogLovesMe@lemmy.world 2 points 23 hours ago

Thanks for the solid response!

I appreciate it

[–] cabillaud@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I shall value this silly image 1000x more than any reddit gold.

In response, I share lemmy beans:

... and also some old ingots of questionable quality.

[–] Yankee_Self_Loader@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

... and also some old ingots of questionable quality.

Get out of here Ea-nāṣir!

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 day ago

scurries away, Sumerilly