Some of the most famous Marine Corps lines in history were muttered when they were asked, ordered or even forced to retreat. When 2nd Battalion 5th Marines finally got to the front line in World War I, a French officer told the Marines to retreat and one of the Company Commanders, Lloyd Williams, said “Retreat? Hell, we just got here!” The Marines went on to win some of the hardest battles of the war.
In Korea, Chesty Puller and his battalion of Marines were surrounded by over 8 times as many Chinese. When someone said they were retreating, he said “we’re just attacking in another direction.”
I suggest if you aren’t fighting a war that discretion maybe the better part of valor. Yesterday I was helping a friend move here in San Antonio. He lives in a nice part of town and it was hot. After working all day and helping move boxes, I was tired and thirsty. I was going to stop at a 7-11 near the highway for a Gatorade. I drove past the line of parked cars and saw someone standing outside that looked weird. He was standing there looking at the cars going by and the people in the parking lot like a sentry on duty. I couldn’t figure out why he was there or what he was doing. I almost parked, and then just backed out and left. I went down the highway to another store.
I don’t know what happened or if he was really up to no good, but I didn’t need to find out. I was carrying a gun (of course, I always do), but I didn’t need to get involved. I have a family that needs me. And going into a possible robbery only carrying a 5-shot revolver, no armor, no back up, tired, dehydrated, and with a lot of innocent people around is not on my list of things I ever want to do. Things could only go badly.
I’m suggesting that you think about using discretion when possible. If you come upon a situation that just looks wrong, just turn around and leave. Your duty is to your family first. Only then can you worry about helping others. Be prepared to fight in a different direction if you have to.
Stay Safe,
Ben