© modbee.com Marine Sgt. Craig Pusley, 28, is standing watch outside Hughson Elementary School in Hughson, Calif. The school is around the block from his home.
Another Marine has taken up a post outside his local elementary school.
Marine Sgt. Craig Pusley, 28, of Hughson, told the Modesto Bee he decided to stand outside Hughson Elementary School after reading a Facebook message urging soldiers to guard their local schools after Friday's horrific Sandy Hook school massacre.
"When I enlisted, I swore to defend this country from all enemies, foreign and domestic," he told the newspaper.
The young father, who has a 3-year-old son and another on the way with his wife, Kristina, is dressed in combat fatigues, but isn't armed.
He said he doesn't need a weapon.
"I don't have a fear in the world that if someone came here, I'd have the strength and the ability to protect (the school)." he said.
© modbee.com Pusley said he decided to stand guard outside the school after seeing a Facebook message urging soldiers to stand outside their local schools.
He wasn't going to let kids in his neighborhood live in fear of coming to school.
"I just want to have a word to this community that I stand between them and any danger," he told the Bee.
Hughson goes on break for the holidays on Thursday. Pusley said he was considering coming back in January.
Friday's rampage in Newtown has sparked panic in schools across the U.S.
In San Diego on Thursday, one district decided to close schools on Thursday and Friday after receiving calls from scores of parents worried about shootings, NBC San Diego reported.
News of Pusley's watch comes days after it was reported that a Marine and father in Nashville was taking up watch outside his chidrens' school.
Staff Sgt. Jordan Pritchard also wore fatigues and did not carry a weapon while standing outside Gower Elementary School, where his two children are students.
"I feel like this is something I had to do," he told a local TV station on Tuesday.
With News Wire Services
Good for these men. Since most parents have abrogated their responsibility to protect their children, it is good to see some caring men who are willing to stand in harm's way.