Marine photo shuts up college kids crying for free tuition

Marine James Erickson posted on Twitter a scathing reply to calls for free college. (Twitter)

A Marine with a feisty spirit was able to send a scathing message to the Million Student March for free college tuition taking shape across the nation with a simple photo that expressed way, way more than 1,000 words.

Beneath a selfie of himself in full Marine camouflage gear, James Erickson wrote on his Twitter handle of @SayHiJames: "I wanted money for school, so I marched too ... #millionstudentmarch. This one was about 25 miles ... #USMC."

The 25 miles was a reference to the length of road march he was required to make as a Marine.

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His comments come on the heels of a Facebook message call for a Million Student March that pulled in 115 colleges across the nation and an unknown number of students demanding free college, tuition-debt forgiveness and higher minimum wages for campus employees, as reported by WND.

Social media was quick to notice Erickson's subtle suggestions to these college kids: join the military. Pay for school yourself. Get a job.

One wrote of Erickson's post: "Boom! Well played."

Another, the Independent Journal found: "That ends the controversy."

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A third: "@SayHiJames ... Ditto. My education was earned through military service. I must have rucked hundreds of miles in my career."

Another: "Yeah ... I paid for my college tuition with 4 years in Naval service."

And yet one more: "@SayHiJames how a Marine wins the internet."