By Bill Bradley, contributing editor
Miami Dolphins offensive line coach Jim Turner discussed his motivations to join the Marines prior to Thursday night's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
"I spent four years in the Marine Corps as an infantry officer," Turner said during the "USAA Salute to Service." "My father made a living at the Boston Globe in the press room. A lot of the men in the press room were Vietnam vets, so I heard all the stories.
"I was greatly affected by their love of country and their sacrifice for their country."
Turner said he enlisted after the Persian Gulf War, which started in 1990.
"I was 25 years old, and I went to the recruiter and that was it," he said. "It was everything that I thought being a Marine would be. All of the stories that I had heard that set me up for that moment were true."
Turner was hired by the Dolphins after spending almost 20 years as an assistant coach in college football.
"Some of the things that I feel that are my strengths today -- as a leader, as a coach -- I feel my training in the Marine Corps, my experience in the Marine Corps was second to none (in helping that)," he said.