My Son The Marine

In March 2023, my sweet little boy became a United States Marine. By June 2025, he had been promoted to the rank of corporal.

Graduation Boot Camp- March 2023

At this moment, I am simultaneously bursting with pride and gripped by fear. Gavin has chosen a path that will place him directly in harm’s way. As hard as it is to contemplate my death, the idea of losing my son is something I cannot fathom—let alone reconcile with what it means to be his father. My most sacred duty as a parent has always been to keep him safe, to ensure that he is the one mourning me someday—not the other way around.

And yet, as much as the thought of his death would shatter me, I’m even more afraid of what could happen to his soul if he’s ever forced to take a life. The act of pulling a trigger and ending someone else’s existence might destroy—or at least wound—the soul of this tenderhearted young man. Gavin has always stood out for his empathy. He speaks about his friends with a compassion that sets him apart. He never passed up a chance to hug the dogs or smother them with affection. He couldn’t walk past someone homeless without insisting that we do something to help in some way.

At first, I couldn’t understand why he would want to be a Marine. His future was secure. He was going to college, and I had made it clear that his mother and I would cover the cost of his education. He never expressed a fascination with war or the military. When he first told me, I hoped it was a passing phase—like when he was younger and wanted to grow up to be a cartoon character. But it quickly became clear that this was different. He was more committed to this path than anything else he had pursued.

Gavin arranged his first meeting with the recruiter on his own. He gathered nearly all the necessary paperwork, and when I had to request something—such as medical records—he asked me about it daily until they arrived. Without any prompting, he began studying for the aptitude test and working out every day to meet the Marines’ grueling physical requirements. He even finished high school a semester early so he could join in time to be eligible for the assignment he coveted: Marine Security Forces.

For a long time, I struggled to understand his motivation. That changed the day we met with the recruiter. The sergeant asked Gavin why he wanted to become a Marine. I stepped away to give him space, but stayed close enough to hear his answer.

He didn’t hesitate.

He said that he had lived an easy life—that everything he’d ever needed or wanted had been handed to him. He wanted to accomplish something that was entirely his own. And he wanted a career where he could help others.

For the first time, I understood. He has chosen an honorable path—and for the right reasons. It is not the one I would have chosen for him, but in the end, that is quite irrelevant. It is his path. And regardless of my fears, it is my job to support and love him.