Hillbilly Elegy

weeks later, as the Iraq crisis turned into
the Iraq war, I signed my name on a
dotted line and promised the Marine
Corps the first four years of my adult
life.
At first my family scoffed. The
Marines weren’t for me, and people let
me know it. Eventually, knowing I
wouldn’t change my mind, everyone
came around, and a few even seemed
excited. Everyone, that is, save Mamaw.
She tried every manner of persuasion:
“You’re a fucking idiot; they’ll chew you
up and spit you out.” “Who’s going to
take care of me?” “You’re too stupid for
the Marines.” “You’re too smart for the
Marines.” “With everything that’s going