Reagan Praises Marine Families

CAMP PENDLETON — Former President Ronald Reagan, in a vintage speech that extolled heroes and military might, told 800 Marines and their families here Friday that they had helped save world democracy.

With the fresh victory over Iraq, he told family members, “as a result of the sacrifices made by your fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters, we won this fight, and your family members are heroes.”

It was a friendly audience that regarded the 80-year-old ex-commander in chief as the true advocate of the modern military, which experienced a massive buildup during his two terms in office.

Brig. Gen. Michael Neil, the base commander, introduced Reagan by saying, “Without his leadership when he was President . . . we would not be able to do what we did in Kuwait.”

Reagan said nothing during his five-minute address about Iraqi President Saddam Hussein or how the region’s peace should be secured, instead lavishing praise on Marine families for their strength and contribution to the war effort.

“You were not on the battlefield, you played a different position on the U.S. team,” he said.

While the troops were away, “you kept things operating, sent the letters, walked the dog and cut the grass,” he said to periodic shouts and applause.

Invoking the Marine Corps’ motto, he said, “It’s because of you we can be sure America will be semper fidelis, always faithful to its highest ideals.”

The former chief executive rhapsodized about the troops’ pending homecoming, saying, “soon a normal life will resume, there will be birthday parties with ice cream.”

After his remarks, children gave presents to Reagan, including a T-shirt and a basket, which Reagan took and told the audience, “Would it surprise you to know that basket was full of Jelly Bellies?”

People who came to draw inspiration weren’t disappointed.

“I thought it was very motivating,” said Tessie Pharris, who is married to a Marine aviator. “He’s a hero to me; he’s the first President I ever voted for.”

Meanwhile, Laura Makolandra, a Navy senior chief petty officer, got to show her 8-month-old son, Nathan, to the ex-President, and came away beaming.

Earlier, she said she had come to hear the speech because “I think I need a little pep talk, and I really think Reagan is one of the best speakers I’ve ever heard.”

She said she feels a strong bond with Reagan because he commanded the military when her first husband was killed during the 1983 bombing of a Marine barracks in Beirut.

“I think Reagan has been through the whole thing with us,” she said.

Cindy Cooper, the wife of a Navy corpsman deployed with a Marine unit in the Persian Gulf, said Reagan is “really for the (military) families,” and “he contributed to how the outcome has gone” against Iraq.