My first tattoo, completed in 1989 while a United States Marine at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (modified 1992, 2003). In 1989 I was a very different person to be sure, still brainwashed and buying into the illusion of “American Democracy;” still believing in America, “the greatest nation on Earth.” I was stupid for sure, but not alone.

Anyway, the tattoo is what Marines call a “meat tag” and it is simply a tattooed version of the mandatory “dog tags” worn around all U.S. service members’ necks. In case of injury or death the information is vital for identifying the body or possible treatment with a blood transfusion; information includes name, social security number, branch of service and blood type.

I chose this tattoo because I was a proud, right wing leaning, U.S. Marine (at this point) and I was happy to prove it; and I swore to myself that it would be “the only tattoo I will ever get.” Yeah right. By the end of my service however I had begun my enlightenment and came to realize that the principles of “Honor” and “Integrity” so touted by the Marines was largely bullshit. I had been seriously punished for acting with honor and integrity and at the same time I voluntarily participated in Gulf War/Slaughter 1 (dumb ass). I had started to realize that the hypocrisy of the Marines is as the United States itself; enormous and unparalleled. As a result I developed a “fuck you” attitude towards the Marines and I still recognize the day I got out of the Marine Corps as the happiest day of my life.

Just before my discharge I had the branch of service (USMC) lined out and replaced with the word “Civilian;” my deprogramming had begun and I can ironically thank the U.S. Marines for that; so thanks! The tattoo artist who relabeled me as a “Civilian” said that in all his years tattooing nobody had done that before so he gave me the tattoo for free. In 2003 I had the social security number lined out as well.

Note; when I married later in life I took my wife’s name of O’Keefe.