1 00:00:00,009 --> 00:00:02,410 Welcome to today's ceremony . We are 2 00:00:02,410 --> 00:00:04,577 gathered here to witness and celebrate 3 00:00:04,809 --> 00:00:06,829 the re-enlistment of Staff Sergeant 4 00:00:06,829 --> 00:00:09,210 Joey Jones into the United States 5 00:00:09,210 --> 00:00:13,210 Marine Corps . At this time , 6 00:00:13,329 --> 00:00:15,218 please welcome today's host , the 7 00:00:15,218 --> 00:00:17,610 Secretary of War , Pete Hegseth , and 8 00:00:17,610 --> 00:00:19,290 Staff Sergeant Joey Jones . 9 00:00:32,009 --> 00:00:34,120 Mr . Secretary , the floor is yours . 10 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:37,358 Well , please take your seats , please . 11 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,689 How we doing ? What a beautiful day . I , 12 00:00:41,979 --> 00:00:44,090 and I have this beautiful set of note 13 00:00:44,090 --> 00:00:46,312 cards as , as the secretary . Thank you 14 00:00:46,312 --> 00:00:48,423 for being here , Secretary Duffy . As 15 00:00:48,423 --> 00:00:48,419 he knows , they prepare these wonderful 16 00:00:48,419 --> 00:00:50,641 remarks and then you just ignore them . 17 00:00:50,641 --> 00:00:52,697 Um , because we have the pleasure of 18 00:00:52,697 --> 00:00:54,808 honoring an incredible American today 19 00:00:54,808 --> 00:00:56,641 and had an opportunity to , uh , 20 00:00:56,641 --> 00:00:58,808 re-enlist him . In the Marine Corps. , 21 00:00:58,808 --> 00:01:00,919 Mr . Commandant , thank you very much 22 00:01:00,919 --> 00:01:00,849 for all the work your entire team did 23 00:01:00,849 --> 00:01:03,430 to make this happen , Mr . Secretary . 24 00:01:03,849 --> 00:01:06,016 A lot of work went into saying , hey , 25 00:01:06,016 --> 00:01:08,071 this is the kind of American we want 26 00:01:08,071 --> 00:01:10,293 back in uniform , uh , not just because 27 00:01:10,293 --> 00:01:12,349 of what he did and what he's done in 28 00:01:12,349 --> 00:01:14,127 uniform , but because of how he 29 00:01:14,127 --> 00:01:16,238 represents the fighting men and women 30 00:01:16,238 --> 00:01:18,349 of our country . So a lot of you knew 31 00:01:18,349 --> 00:01:20,682 Joey , Sergeant Jones long before I did . 32 00:01:20,849 --> 00:01:23,019 Um , and know about what he did on the 33 00:01:23,019 --> 00:01:25,186 battlefield , whether it was being a , 34 00:01:25,186 --> 00:01:27,186 a radio tech first in Iraq and then 35 00:01:27,186 --> 00:01:29,408 switching over to EOD and then going to 36 00:01:29,408 --> 00:01:31,463 Afghanistan . I think it was over 80 37 00:01:31,463 --> 00:01:33,630 IEDs that you were a part of disabling 38 00:01:33,630 --> 00:01:35,741 and then one got the better of them . 39 00:01:35,741 --> 00:01:37,852 He tells the story better than I do , 40 00:01:37,852 --> 00:01:39,963 uh , I do . Um , but then what he did 41 00:01:39,963 --> 00:01:42,130 to inspire . Both at Walter Reed , and 42 00:01:42,130 --> 00:01:44,769 then afterward , um , in , in the , the 43 00:01:44,769 --> 00:01:47,047 service organizations he was a part of , 44 00:01:47,047 --> 00:01:49,269 whether it was the boot campaign , uh , 45 00:01:49,269 --> 00:01:51,380 and then the books he's written , and 46 00:01:51,380 --> 00:01:53,436 then what he does , what he has been 47 00:01:53,436 --> 00:01:55,325 kind of as a , a wingman or was a 48 00:01:55,325 --> 00:01:58,290 wingman for me at Fox , as I don't 49 00:01:58,290 --> 00:02:00,346 think there's a better spokesman for 50 00:02:00,346 --> 00:02:02,650 the Marine Corps , uh , understanding 51 00:02:02,650 --> 00:02:04,817 what it's all about , what it means to 52 00:02:04,817 --> 00:02:06,817 serve , the brotherhood that exists 53 00:02:06,817 --> 00:02:08,928 than , than how Joey talks about it . 54 00:02:09,330 --> 00:02:11,274 On television so that the American 55 00:02:11,274 --> 00:02:13,979 people understand it and connect to it 56 00:02:13,979 --> 00:02:16,039 in a , in a visceral way . Uh , you 57 00:02:16,039 --> 00:02:18,206 could talk about it academically . You 58 00:02:18,206 --> 00:02:20,095 could talk about it , um , from a 59 00:02:20,095 --> 00:02:22,429 detached , but , but perspective , or 60 00:02:22,429 --> 00:02:24,540 you can talk about it having lived it 61 00:02:24,540 --> 00:02:26,651 the way he has . And if you spend any 62 00:02:26,651 --> 00:02:28,762 time with him , which I know a lot of 63 00:02:28,762 --> 00:02:30,818 you have , uh , you know it's in his 64 00:02:30,818 --> 00:02:33,151 bones . It's in his heart and soul , uh , 65 00:02:33,151 --> 00:02:35,262 wearing that uniform . Uh , Semper Fi 66 00:02:35,262 --> 00:02:37,429 means that for him every day , whether 67 00:02:37,429 --> 00:02:39,540 he's in wearing camouflage or wearing 68 00:02:39,540 --> 00:02:41,429 the makeup that we wear when they 69 00:02:41,429 --> 00:02:43,540 powder it on our faces over it . More 70 00:02:43,540 --> 00:02:45,762 paint . That's right , more paint . I'm 71 00:02:45,762 --> 00:02:47,929 sorry . Uh , he's just a , he's just a 72 00:02:47,929 --> 00:02:49,929 good human being who does the right 73 00:02:49,929 --> 00:02:52,151 things for the right reasons . And when 74 00:02:52,151 --> 00:02:54,262 he first , uh , when I first got word 75 00:02:54,262 --> 00:02:53,630 that he was interested in getting back 76 00:02:53,630 --> 00:02:56,589 in uniform , uh , it actually didn't 77 00:02:56,589 --> 00:02:59,070 surprise me . Uh , one , because I know 78 00:02:59,070 --> 00:03:01,860 your , your passion . And , and , and , 79 00:03:01,970 --> 00:03:04,210 and it was motivating for me to know 80 00:03:04,210 --> 00:03:06,770 that that meant , um , that meant that 81 00:03:06,770 --> 00:03:08,937 you were seeing the types of things we 82 00:03:08,937 --> 00:03:11,048 were doing , changing the environment 83 00:03:11,048 --> 00:03:10,809 in a way that , hey , I want to be a 84 00:03:10,809 --> 00:03:12,809 part of that too , and then you can 85 00:03:12,809 --> 00:03:14,753 help amplify that even more to the 86 00:03:14,753 --> 00:03:16,753 young people of America . And we've 87 00:03:16,753 --> 00:03:18,587 seen that with record recruiting 88 00:03:18,587 --> 00:03:20,531 numbers last year , and then we're 89 00:03:20,531 --> 00:03:22,642 beating those records this year , and 90 00:03:22,642 --> 00:03:24,865 then alongside the re-enlistments , the 91 00:03:24,865 --> 00:03:26,976 young Americans are looking up at the 92 00:03:26,976 --> 00:03:29,198 men and women in uniform and saying , I 93 00:03:29,198 --> 00:03:31,031 want to do that profession , the 94 00:03:31,031 --> 00:03:33,198 profession of arms . And when they see 95 00:03:33,198 --> 00:03:35,476 that the guy they know on TV . TV , uh , 96 00:03:35,476 --> 00:03:37,587 that they maybe only know from TV and 97 00:03:37,587 --> 00:03:39,809 they know that he served , wants to get 98 00:03:39,809 --> 00:03:42,031 back in uniform and be a part of that . 99 00:03:42,031 --> 00:03:44,142 Man , that , that , that gives me the 100 00:03:44,142 --> 00:03:46,198 shivers just saying it . And I think 101 00:03:46,198 --> 00:03:48,420 it's an absolute no-brainer . And so we 102 00:03:48,420 --> 00:03:50,420 appreciate you guys jumping through 103 00:03:50,420 --> 00:03:50,195 whatever hoops had to be jumped through . 104 00:03:50,274 --> 00:03:52,274 That's what we do around here these 105 00:03:52,274 --> 00:03:54,385 days . Uh , and , and it's , it's the 106 00:03:54,385 --> 00:03:56,496 right , the right answer at the right 107 00:03:56,496 --> 00:03:58,441 time . So it's , It's just been an 108 00:03:58,441 --> 00:03:58,410 honor to get to know he's a friend . 109 00:03:58,789 --> 00:04:00,789 Here we are , just a couple of 9/11 110 00:04:00,789 --> 00:04:03,067 vets . No , seriously , like we're not , 111 00:04:03,139 --> 00:04:05,028 let's , let's , let's be honest . 112 00:04:05,028 --> 00:04:07,250 There's not , both of us went and I was 113 00:04:07,250 --> 00:04:09,528 a platoon leader , you were an EOD guy , 114 00:04:09,528 --> 00:04:11,639 um , had no expectations for anything 115 00:04:11,639 --> 00:04:13,750 beyond serving our countries in these 116 00:04:13,750 --> 00:04:15,861 conflicts . And I , I raised my right 117 00:04:15,861 --> 00:04:15,419 hand to serve my country and do my part 118 00:04:15,419 --> 00:04:17,586 and come home and we both got involved 119 00:04:17,586 --> 00:04:19,752 in veterans organizations and veterans 120 00:04:19,752 --> 00:04:21,697 causes . I , I didn't even mention 121 00:04:21,697 --> 00:04:21,299 Capitol Hill where you worked at the , 122 00:04:21,420 --> 00:04:23,642 the VA committee . Like you just wanted 123 00:04:23,642 --> 00:04:25,587 to advocate for the guys doing the 124 00:04:25,587 --> 00:04:27,864 things , for the folks doing the stuff . 125 00:04:27,864 --> 00:04:30,142 And that's all I ever wanted to do too . 126 00:04:30,142 --> 00:04:32,031 And then through , Um , the , the 127 00:04:32,031 --> 00:04:34,250 stories that only God writes . Uh , it 128 00:04:34,250 --> 00:04:36,417 brought us both to Fox . It brought us 129 00:04:36,417 --> 00:04:38,639 our paths together , working on films , 130 00:04:38,639 --> 00:04:40,750 working on books , working on shows , 131 00:04:40,750 --> 00:04:42,861 working on specials , trying to bring 132 00:04:42,861 --> 00:04:45,028 to life , uh , what a modern warrior's 133 00:04:45,028 --> 00:04:46,639 life looks like , what those 134 00:04:46,639 --> 00:04:48,861 experiences are . and the struggles are 135 00:04:48,861 --> 00:04:50,917 alike , but it was always rooted , I 136 00:04:50,917 --> 00:04:53,139 think , for the both of us , in a heart 137 00:04:53,139 --> 00:04:55,250 for the soldiers , in a heart for the 138 00:04:55,250 --> 00:04:57,472 Marines , in the heart with a heart for 139 00:04:57,472 --> 00:04:59,472 the folks doing the heavy lifting . 140 00:04:59,472 --> 00:05:01,583 Knowing that now that we're on TV and 141 00:05:01,583 --> 00:05:03,472 the bright , the , the lights are 142 00:05:03,472 --> 00:05:05,639 bright , it's not about us . Just like 143 00:05:05,639 --> 00:05:07,694 I watched you , it's not about him . 144 00:05:07,694 --> 00:05:09,917 It's about how do I amplify back to the 145 00:05:09,917 --> 00:05:11,750 audience an understanding of the 146 00:05:11,750 --> 00:05:13,917 brotherhood , and understanding of the 147 00:05:13,917 --> 00:05:15,972 sacrifice , and understanding of why 148 00:05:15,972 --> 00:05:18,083 it's so special and should be revered 149 00:05:18,083 --> 00:05:20,306 for what it is . You do such a good job 150 00:05:20,306 --> 00:05:22,083 at that . Uh , I stop and watch 151 00:05:22,083 --> 00:05:24,250 television on Saturday and Sunday when 152 00:05:24,250 --> 00:05:26,028 he's on , if he's commenting on 153 00:05:26,028 --> 00:05:25,970 something . And you know that 154 00:05:25,970 --> 00:05:28,137 difference , right , Sean ? Like there 155 00:05:28,137 --> 00:05:30,359 are people you stop and you watch . And 156 00:05:30,359 --> 00:05:32,581 you stop and you watch him because he's 157 00:05:32,581 --> 00:05:32,359 got something meaningful to say based 158 00:05:32,359 --> 00:05:34,581 on a life experience . And now he's got 159 00:05:34,581 --> 00:05:36,692 a chance to put the uniform back on . 160 00:05:36,692 --> 00:05:38,748 He's gonna be here in the Pentagon . 161 00:05:38,748 --> 00:05:38,399 He's gonna report to my office every 162 00:05:38,399 --> 00:05:41,029 day , Monday morning , 7 a.m. whether 163 00:05:41,029 --> 00:05:43,140 he likes it or not . Uh , but we're , 164 00:05:43,140 --> 00:05:45,251 we are privileged to have you back in 165 00:05:45,251 --> 00:05:47,418 service . You never really left . Uh , 166 00:05:47,418 --> 00:05:49,473 and , and now here you are . Raising 167 00:05:49,473 --> 00:05:51,696 that right hand , serving our country , 168 00:05:51,696 --> 00:05:53,918 it's a proud moment for me . I've had a 169 00:05:53,918 --> 00:05:55,918 lot of wonderful , proud moments in 170 00:05:55,918 --> 00:05:58,085 this job , but to look a friend in the 171 00:05:58,085 --> 00:06:00,251 eye , a patriot in the eye who's given 172 00:06:00,251 --> 00:06:00,190 so much and now wants to sign up and 173 00:06:00,190 --> 00:06:02,869 give even more is really cool . So 174 00:06:02,869 --> 00:06:04,980 congratulations . God bless you , and 175 00:06:04,980 --> 00:06:07,147 let's , uh , let's do this thing . How 176 00:06:07,147 --> 00:06:08,647 about that ? Outstanding . 177 00:06:12,170 --> 00:06:14,226 Ladies and gentlemen , please remain 178 00:06:14,226 --> 00:06:15,892 seated for the reading of the 179 00:06:15,892 --> 00:06:17,614 certificate of re-enlistment . 180 00:06:23,100 --> 00:06:24,711 United States Marine Corps , 181 00:06:24,711 --> 00:06:27,420 certificate of re-enlistment . Be it 182 00:06:27,420 --> 00:06:29,739 known that Staff Sergeant Johnny J . 183 00:06:29,779 --> 00:06:31,420 Jones has been accepted for 184 00:06:31,420 --> 00:06:33,364 re-enlistment in the United States 185 00:06:33,364 --> 00:06:35,253 Marine Corps . Your re-enlistment 186 00:06:35,253 --> 00:06:37,420 reflects uncommon devotion and loyalty 187 00:06:37,420 --> 00:06:39,642 to the country and to the Corps . It is 188 00:06:39,642 --> 00:06:41,864 a special kind of commitment that makes 189 00:06:41,864 --> 00:06:43,587 the Corps unique and respected 190 00:06:43,587 --> 00:06:45,587 throughout the world . The Corps is 191 00:06:45,587 --> 00:06:47,420 proud to have you in its ranks , 192 00:06:47,420 --> 00:06:50,029 presented this 20th day of May 2026 , 193 00:06:50,339 --> 00:06:53,730 signed W . Field , Major General , 194 00:06:53,850 --> 00:06:56,072 United States Marine Corps commanding . 195 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,006 Ladies and gentlemen , please rise for 196 00:07:01,006 --> 00:07:02,783 the administering of the oath . 197 00:07:11,209 --> 00:07:13,542 Raise your right hand . Repeat after me . 198 00:07:13,542 --> 00:07:15,542 I state your full name . I , Johnny 199 00:07:15,542 --> 00:07:17,820 Joseph Jones , do solemnly swear , do 200 00:07:17,820 --> 00:07:19,987 solemnly swear that I will support and 201 00:07:19,987 --> 00:07:22,209 defend , that I will support and defend 202 00:07:22,209 --> 00:07:24,431 the Constitution of the United States , 203 00:07:24,431 --> 00:07:26,542 the Constitution of the United States 204 00:07:26,542 --> 00:07:28,431 against all enemies , against all 205 00:07:28,431 --> 00:07:30,264 enemies , foreign and domestic , 206 00:07:30,264 --> 00:07:32,487 foreign and domestic , that I will bear 207 00:07:32,487 --> 00:07:34,431 true faith , that I will bear true 208 00:07:34,431 --> 00:07:36,598 faith and allegiance to the same , and 209 00:07:36,598 --> 00:07:36,459 allegiance to the same . That I will 210 00:07:36,459 --> 00:07:38,626 obey the orders , that I will obey the 211 00:07:38,626 --> 00:07:40,737 orders of the President of the United 212 00:07:40,737 --> 00:07:42,959 States , of the President of the United 213 00:07:42,959 --> 00:07:45,181 States , and the orders of the officers 214 00:07:45,181 --> 00:07:46,903 and the orders of the officers 215 00:07:46,903 --> 00:07:49,015 appointed over me , appointed over me 216 00:07:49,015 --> 00:07:51,237 according to regulations , according to 217 00:07:51,237 --> 00:07:53,348 regulations , and the Uniform Code of 218 00:07:53,348 --> 00:07:55,459 Military Justice and the Uniform Code 219 00:07:55,459 --> 00:07:57,626 of Military Justice . So help me God . 220 00:07:57,626 --> 00:07:59,570 So help me God , congratulations . 221 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:11,179 I . There is . 222 00:08:20,109 --> 00:08:22,331 I'll keep that . How about that ? We'll 223 00:08:22,331 --> 00:08:25,070 get it to you . Ladies and gentlemen , 224 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:26,216 please be seated . 225 00:08:30,559 --> 00:08:32,169 Staff Sergeant Joey Jones . 226 00:08:39,330 --> 00:08:41,441 A 40 year old staff sergeant with all 227 00:08:41,441 --> 00:08:43,441 these people in the room waiting to 228 00:08:43,441 --> 00:08:45,650 hear me speak . Oh , man , I should 229 00:08:45,650 --> 00:08:48,690 have been a televangelist . I'd be rich . 230 00:08:49,049 --> 00:08:51,219 Hey , listen , um , Corporal Daniel 231 00:08:51,219 --> 00:08:53,880 Greer . Gunner start Floyd Holley . 232 00:08:54,869 --> 00:08:57,630 Corporal Chris McDonald . The list goes 233 00:08:57,630 --> 00:09:00,400 on and on and on . Um , you don't hear 234 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:02,344 me speak without mentioning Daniel 235 00:09:02,344 --> 00:09:04,400 Greer . Usually I mention the others 236 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:08,059 too . Um . That's , that's We 237 00:09:08,059 --> 00:09:10,281 can't forget them . We can't bring them 238 00:09:10,281 --> 00:09:12,392 back , but we can honor their service 239 00:09:12,392 --> 00:09:14,337 and their sacrifice . Um , there , 240 00:09:14,337 --> 00:09:16,392 there aren't a lot of people in this 241 00:09:16,392 --> 00:09:18,503 room , and I know I got a lot of your 242 00:09:18,503 --> 00:09:18,380 time right now , so I'm gonna try to be 243 00:09:18,380 --> 00:09:20,158 brief , but , uh , I think it's 244 00:09:20,158 --> 00:09:22,324 important to let you know , uh , why , 245 00:09:22,324 --> 00:09:24,547 why would a guy do this ? Uh , it's not 246 00:09:24,547 --> 00:09:26,602 just to put the uniform on again and 247 00:09:26,602 --> 00:09:28,824 play dress up or in 3 years , get a , a 248 00:09:28,824 --> 00:09:28,650 ribbon or a medal and in 10 out of 12 249 00:09:28,650 --> 00:09:30,817 years , get another one . It's , those 250 00:09:30,817 --> 00:09:32,928 aren't important things . Um , I have 251 00:09:32,928 --> 00:09:35,150 all the accolades and opportunity to be 252 00:09:35,150 --> 00:09:37,372 the , the person in front of the bull , 253 00:09:37,372 --> 00:09:40,929 the pulpit as much as I want , uh . You 254 00:09:40,929 --> 00:09:43,119 know , take 100 bombs apart , speak in 255 00:09:43,119 --> 00:09:45,286 front of this group and get nervous as 256 00:09:45,286 --> 00:09:47,719 hell . Um . What I do at Fox is 257 00:09:47,719 --> 00:09:49,830 important . I believe that , but it's 258 00:09:49,830 --> 00:09:52,108 not as important as serving my country . 259 00:09:52,349 --> 00:09:55,280 Um , What you see here is my family on 260 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:58,859 this front row . All of them . 2nd row , 261 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:01,520 3rd row . That's my family . Uh , these 262 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:03,464 are people that , uh , put me back 263 00:10:03,464 --> 00:10:05,687 together when I was injured , that love 264 00:10:05,687 --> 00:10:07,798 me , uh , that take care of me , that 265 00:10:07,798 --> 00:10:10,020 see me when I'm at my worst , uh , that 266 00:10:10,020 --> 00:10:12,076 threatened to take a leg and a wheel 267 00:10:12,076 --> 00:10:14,090 from my wheelchair away . So I'm 268 00:10:14,090 --> 00:10:16,409 incapacitated and have to , uh , calm 269 00:10:16,409 --> 00:10:19,140 down for a minute . Um , and I'm going 270 00:10:19,140 --> 00:10:21,362 to go through and , and talk about them 271 00:10:21,362 --> 00:10:23,362 just a little bit if you'll give me 272 00:10:23,362 --> 00:10:25,830 that . Um , so , But what's important 273 00:10:25,830 --> 00:10:27,750 here is the last thing that these 274 00:10:27,750 --> 00:10:30,229 people , which Margot wasn't alive yet . 275 00:10:31,059 --> 00:10:33,115 But the last thing that these people 276 00:10:33,115 --> 00:10:35,170 saw me in a uniform , the last job I 277 00:10:35,170 --> 00:10:37,115 had in uniform , my job was to get 278 00:10:37,115 --> 00:10:39,690 better . It was to heal . It's a very 279 00:10:39,690 --> 00:10:41,746 selfish thing . My job was to heal . 280 00:10:41,746 --> 00:10:44,023 The Marine Corps paid me to get better , 281 00:10:44,023 --> 00:10:46,134 and then I retired . Um , and there's 282 00:10:46,134 --> 00:10:48,190 nothing wrong with that , but it was 283 00:10:48,190 --> 00:10:50,246 unfinished business . And today they 284 00:10:50,246 --> 00:10:52,301 see me put a uniform on and raise my 285 00:10:52,301 --> 00:10:54,523 right hand , and my job now is going to 286 00:10:54,523 --> 00:10:56,690 be to support lieutenant colonel . And 287 00:10:56,690 --> 00:10:58,857 Lieutenant Colonel and Master Guns and 288 00:10:58,857 --> 00:11:00,857 everyone else that wears the Marine 289 00:11:00,857 --> 00:11:02,857 Corps uniform and the EOD badge and 290 00:11:02,857 --> 00:11:05,079 engineers too . And if my job is to get 291 00:11:05,079 --> 00:11:07,134 coffee or to type up paperwork or to 292 00:11:07,134 --> 00:11:06,859 respond to an email or to use the gift 293 00:11:06,859 --> 00:11:09,020 of gab to help them convince some 294 00:11:09,020 --> 00:11:11,242 engineers that we need that money or to 295 00:11:11,242 --> 00:11:13,353 convince the Navy , uh , that we need 296 00:11:13,353 --> 00:11:12,960 that capability . 297 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:21,549 Then that's what I'm gonna do . Um , 298 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:23,982 and if there's an opportunity for me to 299 00:11:23,982 --> 00:11:26,204 serve , there's no reason why no-legged 300 00:11:26,204 --> 00:11:28,260 40 year old staff sergeant should be 301 00:11:28,260 --> 00:11:30,371 able to put the uniform on other than 302 00:11:30,371 --> 00:11:32,482 these men believed it . And the , the 303 00:11:32,482 --> 00:11:34,427 goal here is to open that door for 304 00:11:34,427 --> 00:11:36,593 anyone else that has something left to 305 00:11:36,593 --> 00:11:38,927 give . And , uh , you know , I remember , 306 00:11:38,927 --> 00:11:40,982 uh , Comando General Amos telling me 307 00:11:40,982 --> 00:11:42,982 once a Marine , always a Marine . I 308 00:11:42,982 --> 00:11:45,204 didn't know I was going to have to cash 309 00:11:45,204 --> 00:11:47,427 that check almost 20 years later . Uh , 310 00:11:47,427 --> 00:11:49,593 and so it means a lot to me to be here 311 00:11:49,593 --> 00:11:51,760 today . Uh , the other people that are 312 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:51,309 here in this room , other than those 313 00:11:51,309 --> 00:11:53,390 that I served with are people that 314 00:11:53,390 --> 00:11:55,279 spent their life after a military 315 00:11:55,279 --> 00:11:57,001 career or without one creating 316 00:11:57,001 --> 00:11:59,130 nonprofits that literally put us back 317 00:11:59,270 --> 00:12:01,381 together and keep us motivated , that 318 00:12:01,381 --> 00:12:03,437 invest in us so that we don't become 319 00:12:03,437 --> 00:12:05,603 Tom Cruise and born on the 4th of July 320 00:12:05,830 --> 00:12:07,886 because that's what my mom thought . 321 00:12:07,886 --> 00:12:10,163 She thought I'd be in a wheelchair and . 322 00:12:10,163 --> 00:12:11,941 Probably a drunk and , uh , and 323 00:12:11,941 --> 00:12:13,941 incapable of providing for myself , 324 00:12:13,941 --> 00:12:16,052 much less others or doing things like 325 00:12:16,052 --> 00:12:17,886 that . And that wasn't her being 326 00:12:17,886 --> 00:12:19,997 negative , that was just all she knew 327 00:12:19,997 --> 00:12:19,369 because that's a narrative that 328 00:12:19,369 --> 00:12:21,591 Hollywood and culture gave her . That's 329 00:12:21,591 --> 00:12:23,702 what we saw too often after Vietnam . 330 00:12:23,969 --> 00:12:26,136 And if anything , my life's work is to 331 00:12:26,136 --> 00:12:27,913 change that , is to change that 332 00:12:27,913 --> 00:12:29,802 perspective and narrative so that 333 00:12:29,802 --> 00:12:31,969 people know the men and women that get 334 00:12:31,969 --> 00:12:34,136 injured or , uh , go through the worst 335 00:12:34,136 --> 00:12:36,247 that war has to offer in that 20-year 336 00:12:36,247 --> 00:12:38,413 war , that 1010 , 2-year wars , if you 337 00:12:38,413 --> 00:12:40,630 ever hear me say that . Um , that 338 00:12:40,630 --> 00:12:42,741 there's a lot left to give . And so I 339 00:12:42,741 --> 00:12:44,741 don't know that every man and woman 340 00:12:44,741 --> 00:12:46,908 that served in our service during that 341 00:12:46,908 --> 00:12:49,241 war and got out early , and I say early , 342 00:12:49,241 --> 00:12:51,352 didn't retire , I don't know that all 343 00:12:51,352 --> 00:12:53,686 of them need to put the uniform back on , 344 00:12:53,686 --> 00:12:55,852 but I think a lot of them need to know 345 00:12:55,852 --> 00:12:57,963 that there's a way to serve out their 346 00:12:57,963 --> 00:12:57,270 community , their family , the people 347 00:12:57,270 --> 00:12:59,492 they love , the people that love them , 348 00:12:59,492 --> 00:13:01,548 and this country . And if me putting 349 00:13:01,548 --> 00:13:03,714 the uniform on and walking around this 350 00:13:03,714 --> 00:13:05,770 Pentagon , which is like PT to me on 351 00:13:05,770 --> 00:13:08,159 these legs , if that helps in any way , 352 00:13:08,169 --> 00:13:10,280 or if these two men have their weight 353 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,058 walking around Camp Lejeune and 354 00:13:12,058 --> 00:13:14,169 Twentynine Palms , uh , if that helps 355 00:13:14,169 --> 00:13:16,169 in any way , um , take pictures and 356 00:13:16,169 --> 00:13:18,280 tell people about it , but that's not 357 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:20,502 why I'm doing it . I'm doing it because 358 00:13:20,502 --> 00:13:22,613 I have a debt left to give . I get to 359 00:13:22,613 --> 00:13:22,419 be the guy on TV that gets passed on 360 00:13:22,419 --> 00:13:24,419 the back while men like these three 361 00:13:24,419 --> 00:13:27,140 here have given almost everything they 362 00:13:27,140 --> 00:13:29,299 could shot of their life and maybe a 363 00:13:29,299 --> 00:13:31,632 couple of legs . I got that on you , uh , 364 00:13:31,820 --> 00:13:34,059 to this country . And so it just means 365 00:13:34,059 --> 00:13:36,226 the world to me to be here to finish a 366 00:13:36,226 --> 00:13:39,340 story that I started writing 21 years 367 00:13:39,340 --> 00:13:43,280 ago . Is that math right ? April 24th , 368 00:13:43,359 --> 00:13:46,099 her birthday , 2005 . Came back in 369 00:13:46,099 --> 00:13:50,090 April 26 , 2026 . So I'll be 40 in July . 370 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:52,456 And my goal is to be the young , the 371 00:13:52,456 --> 00:13:54,622 oldest staff sergeant in this building 372 00:13:54,622 --> 00:13:56,678 in the Marine Corps , at least . And 373 00:13:56,678 --> 00:13:56,320 then after that , gentlemen , feel free 374 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:58,431 to promote me as much as you'd like . 375 00:13:58,431 --> 00:14:00,709 All right . Thank you all so much . Uh , 376 00:14:01,159 --> 00:14:03,492 everyone in this room , I love you , uh , 377 00:14:03,492 --> 00:14:05,659 because you , you're choosing to serve 378 00:14:05,659 --> 00:14:07,659 your country , uh , and you're here 379 00:14:07,659 --> 00:14:09,659 because of it . Um . Staff Sergeant 380 00:14:09,659 --> 00:14:11,603 Marine Corps . I got 2 secretaries 381 00:14:11,603 --> 00:14:13,770 standing in front of me that I used to 382 00:14:13,770 --> 00:14:15,937 make fun of on TV . About , you know , 383 00:14:15,937 --> 00:14:18,159 every little thing I could because they 384 00:14:18,159 --> 00:14:20,215 were just so good at it and look how 385 00:14:20,215 --> 00:14:19,729 good they are at what they do now . 386 00:14:20,090 --> 00:14:22,250 It's , it's amazing . 3 secretaries 387 00:14:22,250 --> 00:14:24,417 actually . He's smart enough to not do 388 00:14:24,417 --> 00:14:26,639 the TV gig beforehand . I can't believe 389 00:14:26,639 --> 00:14:28,861 you wanted to run for Congress though , 390 00:14:28,861 --> 00:14:30,972 or Senate or Lord help . Uh , you got 391 00:14:30,972 --> 00:14:33,909 integrity . And I appreciate that . Um , 392 00:14:34,570 --> 00:14:36,737 nervous as hell , I'm gonna stop while 393 00:14:36,737 --> 00:14:39,070 I'm ahead . Thank you all so much . And , 394 00:14:39,070 --> 00:14:41,181 uh , I just , um , I can't wait to go 395 00:14:41,181 --> 00:14:43,348 get coffee for that guy or whatever it 396 00:14:43,348 --> 00:14:45,348 is I need to do . I'm excited . God 397 00:14:45,348 --> 00:14:47,348 bless you all . God bless America . 398 00:14:54,210 --> 00:14:56,321 Ladies and gentlemen , this concludes 399 00:14:56,321 --> 00:14:58,154 today's ceremony . Thank you for 400 00:14:58,154 --> 00:15:00,377 attending . Please come on up or down . 401 00:15:01,530 --> 00:15:03,609 And congratulate Staff Sergeant Joey 402 00:15:03,609 --> 00:15:05,650 Jones , United States Marine Corps .