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Description
This is the true, un-cut story. This is the prologue...The prologue about how I, Frank Anthony Barbuto, transformed from a teenager into a man. This conversation took place the night before my country was attacked from within, and experienced it's worst tragedy. This is what I can recall. This is what I can never forget... :

September 10th, 2001. 10:30 PM, Holiday Inn Hotel, Syracuse, NY, 7th floor hotel room shared by myself, a future U.S. Army Soldier, and an Army Staff Sergeant (SSgt) returning from an emergency extended leave of absence:

Future Soldier: "So yeah, it's because of that Pauly Shore movie: "In The Army Now" that I want to go into Water Purification!

Army SSgt: "You know the Army is really going to send you somewhere in Africa like Chad? Egypt? It's the desert, man! Just to
teach you how to turn mud into drinking water!"

Future Soldier: "I know that! I still want to do it that badly!"

Army SSgt: "You're outta your mind! Joining & choosing Water Purification for a job because of a Pauly Shore movie!"

Future Soldier: (laughing) "Hey, better than joining because I'm looking for an adventure! Jumping out of helicopters and planes and
                       parachuting like G.I. Joe! Forget that, man, I just want to live it up with Water Purification.."

Army SSgt:     "Hey man, what about you? What branch are you joining?"

Me:                 "The Marines."

Army SSgt:     "The MARINES?! Holy shit, man! You know how crazy them dudes are?! Wow! I was stationed close to a Marine Corps
                        detachment once, you talk about crazy, dude, these guys are some strong, squared away mo' fo's, man!

Future Soldier: "The Marines , huh? The Staff Sergeant's right. They're crazy but they say the change is forever once you make it through
Parris Island."

Me:                    "Yeah, I know. All of the males in my family that joined the military went Army, Navy, or Air Force. I want to be a Marine. I
                        haven't figured out what I want to do professionally, so I figure that if I become the best...If I can become one of the elite, I
                        can at least do my time in the Marine Corps and I will know what to do when my contract is up and I am discharged."

Army SSgt:         "Okay, Okay, well, you have got yourself a very good plan."

Future Soldier:     "Yeah. Your heart and your head are definitely in the right place."

Army SSgt:         "That's still hardcore, man. The Marines . The Few. The Proud. Good luck..."

Me:                     "Thanks. Yeah, that's what drew me to them. To be the best. And in all fairness, come on fellas, do they not have the best television commercials or what? That dude is climbing a cliff, gets to the top, slays a dragon?! I mean COME ON!"

  We all shared a laugh that night & the conversation was over, and we went to sleep. I laid in bed staring at the ceiling as the "Man With the Plan." I told myself again "This is the perfect time to join, Frankie...No wars, nothing going on, just do your time and get out, go to college, and live your life." I slept sweet dreams, worry-free.

September 11th, 2001. 5:30 AM

  By shuttle bus, we arrived at our downtown Federal building where our M.E.P.S. (Military Entry Processing Station) was located. We were to be given full body physical and psychological examination, sign our contracts into the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines. My examinations had concluded at approximately 7:00 AM.

I made small talk with the Gunnery Sergeant in charge of the Marine Corps enlisted personnel at the station, and I began to read over and sign my contract, full signatures, initials, dates, etc. In the lobby, sometime after I finished signing my contract, I see my recruiter pacing the floor, nervously. I look on the big-screen television in the waiting room, and I see a burning city tower. At first glance, I think it's a new movie commercial for a movie playing in theatres...

The Gunnery Sergeant calls me into her office. I approach the office and I see she's on the phone, so I stand in the doorway. She waves me in...I don't remember what she said on the phone to who she was talking to, but she was nervous and tears were forming in her eyes. So I interjected..."What's wrong, Gunnery Sergeant?"

She looks at me, lowering the office phone with raised eyebrows: "The nation is under attack. I am driving you home personally in the next 10 minutes. They are evacuating the building, you will have to be sworn-in tomorrow."

I officially enlisted into the United States Marine Corps on September 11th, 2001. I was sworn into the Marines on September 12th, 2001 , and at the ceremony, the commanding officer of the station told us all: "Look, the country is not at a peacetime state right now because of yesterday's events. If each and every one of you were to back out now and leave and not be sworn in, and your contracts voided, feel free to do so. There is no shame in it."

Nobody flinched. Myself Included.

I was the only Marine in the city of Syracuse that was sworn in that morning. I left that building with so much patriotic pride, all I could do from that day forth whenever I saw my flag wave was stare and smile at it.

I was 18 years old. I'm 31 now and looking back, I wouldn't change a damn thing. Honorable Discharge received on September 11th, 2009. I completed my eight year contract honorably. Currently in school for Pharmacy.

Description
This is the true, un-cut story. This is the prologue...The prologue about how I, Frank Anthony Barbuto, transformed from a teenager into a man. This conversation took place the night before my country was attacked from within, and experienced it's worst tragedy. This is what I can recall. This is what I can never forget... :

September 10th, 2001. 10:30 PM, Holiday Inn Hotel, Syracuse, NY, 7th floor hotel room shared by myself, a future U.S. Army Soldier, and an Army Staff Sergeant (SSgt) returning from an emergency extended leave of absence:

Future Soldier: "So yeah, it's because of that Pauly Shore movie: "In The Army Now" that I want to go into Water Purification!

Army SSgt: "You know the Army is really going to send you somewhere in Africa like Chad? Egypt? It's the desert, man! Just to
teach you how to turn mud into drinking water!"

Future Soldier: "I know that! I still want to do it that badly!"

Army SSgt: "You're outta your mind! Joining & choosing Water Purification for a job because of a Pauly Shore movie!"

Future Soldier: (laughing) "Hey, better than joining because I'm looking for an adventure! Jumping out of helicopters and planes and
                       parachuting like G.I. Joe! Forget that, man, I just want to live it up with Water Purification.."

Army SSgt:     "Hey man, what about you? What branch are you joining?"

Me:                 "The Marines."

Army SSgt:     "The MARINES?! Holy shit, man! You know how crazy them dudes are?! Wow! I was stationed close to a Marine Corps
                        detachment once, you talk about crazy, dude, these guys are some strong, squared away mo' fo's, man!

Future Soldier: "The Marines , huh? The Staff Sergeant's right. They're crazy but they say the change is forever once you make it through
Parris Island."

Me:                    "Yeah, I know. All of the males in my family that joined the military went Army, Navy, or Air Force. I want to be a Marine. I
                        haven't figured out what I want to do professionally, so I figure that if I become the best...If I can become one of the elite, I
                        can at least do my time in the Marine Corps and I will know what to do when my contract is up and I am discharged."

Army SSgt:         "Okay, Okay, well, you have got yourself a very good plan."

Future Soldier:     "Yeah. Your heart and your head are definitely in the right place."

Army SSgt:         "That's still hardcore, man. The Marines . The Few. The Proud. Good luck..."

Me:                     "Thanks. Yeah, that's what drew me to them. To be the best. And in all fairness, come on fellas, do they not have the best television commercials or what? That dude is climbing a cliff, gets to the top, slays a dragon?! I mean COME ON!"

  We all shared a laugh that night & the conversation was over, and we went to sleep. I laid in bed staring at the ceiling as the "Man With the Plan." I told myself again "This is the perfect time to join, Frankie...No wars, nothing going on, just do your time and get out, go to college, and live your life." I slept sweet dreams, worry-free.

September 11th, 2001. 5:30 AM

  By shuttle bus, we arrived at our downtown Federal building where our M.E.P.S. (Military Entry Processing Station) was located. We were to be given full body physical and psychological examination, sign our contracts into the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines. My examinations had concluded at approximately 7:00 AM.

I made small talk with the Gunnery Sergeant in charge of the Marine Corps enlisted personnel at the station, and I began to read over and sign my contract, full signatures, initials, dates, etc. In the lobby, sometime after I finished signing my contract, I see my recruiter pacing the floor, nervously. I look on the big-screen television in the waiting room, and I see a burning city tower. At first glance, I think it's a new movie commercial for a movie playing in theatres...

The Gunnery Sergeant calls me into her office. I approach the office and I see she's on the phone, so I stand in the doorway. She waves me in...I don't remember what she said on the phone to who she was talking to, but she was nervous and tears were forming in her eyes. So I interjected..."What's wrong, Gunnery Sergeant?"

She looks at me, lowering the office phone with raised eyebrows: "The nation is under attack. I am driving you home personally in the next 10 minutes. They are evacuating the building, you will have to be sworn-in tomorrow."

I officially enlisted into the United States Marine Corps on September 11th, 2001. I was sworn into the Marines on September 12th, 2001 , and at the ceremony, the commanding officer of the station told us all: "Look, the country is not at a peacetime state right now because of yesterday's events. If each and every one of you were to back out now and leave and not be sworn in, and your contracts voided, feel free to do so. There is no shame in it."

Nobody flinched. Myself Included.

I was the only Marine in the city of Syracuse that was sworn in that morning. I left that building with so much patriotic pride, all I could do from that day forth whenever I saw my flag wave was stare and smile at it.

I was 18 years old. I'm 31 now and looking back, I wouldn't change a damn thing. Honorable Discharge received on September 11th, 2009. I completed my eight year contract honorably. Currently in school for Pharmacy.