Charley Henson, 90, Lawrence, second from right, makes the first cut from a U.S. Marine Corps birthday cake Friday as the oldest Marine present at a ceremony at the Dole Institute of Politics. At left is Sgt. Jared Hastings, 22, a sophomore at KU, who was the youngest Marine present. At far right assisting Henson is Cpt. Jose Nicholas.

Sen. Pat Roberts, center, greets pastor Gary Teske, far right, Friday at a Dole Institute of Politics celebration marking the U.S. Marine Corps' 232nd birthday. Attending the event, from left, are Col. Steve Brown, Erv Hodges, Roberts, Capt. Jose Nicholas and Teske.

U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas still remembers the gruff Marine recruiter who in the late 1950s told him that if he survived boot camp he’d become part of the greatest fighting force in the world.

“That pitch was wrapped in elements of commitment and purpose,” Roberts said Friday as he attended the Marine birthday party in Lawrence. “We are celebrating those elements as of today.”

Roberts, a Republican, spoke to at least 100 people who attended this year’s Marine Corps birthday party at Kansas University’s Dole Institute of Politics. The Corps’ birthday is today and it is now 232 years old.

Roberts followed a family tradition and joined the Marines in 1958. He was discharged in 1962 and left reserve status as a captain. Roberts helped to write the Marine guerrilla warfare manual, which he said still has relevance to today’s wars.

In his speech, Roberts was both serious and humorous as he talked about his Marine experiences.

“We have received from those who preceded us the eternal spirit, which has animated our Corps and has been the distinguishing mark for Marines in every age,” Roberts said in concluding his address and using a quote by Lt. Gen. John Lejeune, the Marine commandant from 1920 to 1929.

On the humorous side, Roberts read from a list of things he said Marines know but members of Congress don’t. A few of them:

¢ “Once you are in a good fight it is too late to ponder whether or not it was a good idea.”

¢ “Diplomacy is the art of saying ‘nice doggie’ until you can find a bigger rock.”

¢ “Remember that professionals built the Titanic and amateurs built the Ark.”

Also speaking at the event was Col. Steve Brown, deputy commander of the Marine mobilization command in Belton, Mo. Brown noted the Marine sense of pride that dates back to the origin of the United States.

“We take an oath to the idea of the United States of America,” he said.

Sgt. Jared Hastings, 22, was recognized as the youngest Marine in terms of service to attend the birthday party. A Kansas University student, he joined on Sept. 8, 2003. Hastings said he was impressed with the gathering and that it showed the community’s ties to Marines.

“I like to see so many come out for the Marine Corps,” he said.

The oldest Marine present was Charlie Henson, 90, who joined before World War II. He also worked as a Marine recruiter. He declined to compare Marines during his service with those of today.

“I wouldn’t want to try to do that,” Henson, of Lawrence, said. “I don’t know them.”

Also attending was John McCoin, 76, of Lawrence, who wore brown Marine fatigues and cap. He joined the Marines in 1948 and was on active duty until 1952, when he became a reservist.

McCoin said he wanted to be a Marine to get away from the “disorganized chaos” of home.

“I joined the Marines, which was like organized chaos,” he said with a chuckle.