Chris Stokes:  

Life As most of you know I joined the Marines while still in High school. I signed my papers on Dec. 4, 1984 and went to bootcamp on Aug. 22, 1985. I stayed in until Aug. 22, 1991 when my contract ended and I got out. I thought of staying in but due to budget cuts I was not able to re-enlist into the field that I was already in. The small boat unit that I was a part of had not become it own MOS yet and I could not re-enlist in the Infantry. I had become a member of the 1st Battalion 8th Marine Regiment or 1/8, they were they ones that had been bombed in Beriut. I went on three deployments with them and also went to the Gulf War with them. I wanted out because I thought I was tired of it and wanted to be part of the"real" world. I was wrong I missed it. I had become a part of something that will never leave me, I am apart of a brotherhood that no matter where you are when you find a fellow Marine you speak to him and he treats you like a long lost friend even though you have never met. I got married in Feb of 1988 to the mother of my daughter. Alicia Lynn Stokes was born on October 23, 1988. We finally got divorced in 1996. Remarried in March of 1997 but fortunately no children from that one. The other day I noticed a cycle here but it is about to be broken because I have two days left to get married and no prospects. Not that I am against marriage just not involved with anyone enough to keep up the cycle. Who knows maybe one day I will finally find someone that...Expand for more