This is my first post on February 5th 2026. I removed myself from all social media platforms at the beginning of 2026, given they were all a big waste of time and only brought negativity into my daily life. I will be using this new blog to give my views/opinions/thoughts, like them or not, on current events or on topics of interest to me. Call this “The Colonel’s Corner,” where you can get the views/opinions/thoughts from an old man who has lived in, or visited, eighty (80) different countries, either growing up as a missionary kid in Africa, or while spending thirty-nine (39) years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from Private to the senior full-bird Colonel in The Corps when I retired six years ago…my last day on active duty was February 29th 2020. As an officer, I was an Infantry Officer with a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 0302. I experienced a few wars, during my eleven deployments around the world in support of our national security objectives. As the Afghanistan Division Chief on The Joint Staff in the Pentagon (2009-2011), I supported the efforts of generals’ McCrystal, Petraeus, and Allen in Afghanistan, making three trips there myself. I briefed the service chiefs in The Tank several times, outlining what we needed from them to support our efforts in Afghanistan. These are all my personal views and do not reflect official positions by the United States Marine Corps, or any United States governmental agency.
Why A 110 PERCENT MENTALITY? This explains it…an excerpt from my book, A 110 PERCENT MENTALITY…I’ve had this attitude ever since the summer of 1981 when I had this encounter with my Drill Instructor as a Private/Recruit in Boot Camp…Platoon 2051, Golf Company, Second Recruit Training Battalion, RTR, MCRD, San Diego, California…the very attitude that resulted in successful performance and leadership at every rank I held in the Marines…twelve ranks total (12)…enlisted from Private to Staff Sergeant and officer from Second Lieutenant to the senior full bird Colonel at my retirement from active duty…“Recruit Wilson, you scumbag,” my Drill Instructor screamed at me, “Marines don’t just give 100 percent; Marines give 110 percent.” He had just finished “thrashing” me in the classroom by making me do painful exercises to the brink of exhaustion…I was the Platoon Guide, and he had asked me why I wasn’t putting out my full effort. I had replied that I was giving 100 percent of my efforts, which prompted his infamous reply that is still ringing in my ears today, nearly four and a half decades later…”Marines give 110 percent!”
Semper Fi, MFr’s!
Colonel Daniel Hunter Wilson (RETIRED MARINE)
Author: A110PercentMentality
I grew up in Africa, the son of missionary parents who devoted their entire adult lives to helping African tribespeople in desperate need. Read all about it in my recently published Memoir, OUT OF AFRICA AND INTO THE CORPS. I spent eight years in the southern Sudan, four years in South Africa & South West Africa, and two years in Kenya. It was perfect preparation for a career in the Marines.
I led Marines for 39 years on active duty, first as an enlisted Marine from Private to the rank of Staff Sergeant, and then as a "Mustang" infantry officer for 31 years: Second Lieutenant to full bird Colonel. I was the senior Colonel in the Marines when I retired on Leap Year Day in 2020 of some 555 Colonels with almost a full ten years time-in-grade as a full bird Colonel.
A week after being notified that I would be considered by the selection board for Brigadier General in July 2016, I was falsely accused of sexual assault, and wrongfully convicted of one charge at a court martial fourteen months later in September 2017. I spent nearly 3 years in 3 different military prisons, before being exonerated "WITH PREJUDICE" in a unanimous decision by the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals for "factual and legal insufficiency." Upon my release from prison, I was forced to retire and my leadership reneged on our agreement of "no punishment" by weaponizing the retirement process to have me retired in the pay of a Lieutenant Colonel and with an "Other than Honorable" characterization of my service, which equated to "severe punishment." It was the military lawyers' way of getting their revenge for losing the most important case of their careers.
In retirement, I have written and published the true story of my case in my first book, UNDAUNTED GLADIATOR.
These are the eight books that I've currently written and published. I am working on three more books presently:
UNDAUNTED GLADIATOR
A 110 PERCENT MENTALITY
THE BATTLE OF FALLUJAH - PART II...Operation Phantom Fury
DAN 2.0 by DAN W.
THE SWAMP F0X UNLEASHED
OUT OF AFRICA AND INTO THE CORPS
PICKLEBALL BATTLEFIELD
THE BLONDE BOMBSHELL
All eight books are available on AMAZON in the following formats: Hard Cover, Paperback, Ebook/Kindle, and as audiobooks that I personally narrate.
I aspire to fix the inequities in the military legal system someday. I aspire to have HONOR restored to my military career and that JUSTICE be done in my case. I aspire to inspire in others a desire to acquire a Higher Power of their own understanding. I give all credit to any successes I've had in life to my Higher Power, whom I choose to call "GOD." "I can do all things through God who strengthens me." I dedicated UNDAUNTED GLADIATOR to God, because He imbued in me the attitude to not just survive in prison, but to thrive in prison. On account of God, I went from “Victim” to “VICTOR!” All glory be to God Almighty!
Semper Fi and Semper God!
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A 110 PERCENT MENTALITY-THE COLONEL'S CORNER 