Dear Dad-

Dear Dad,


If I ever hear airmen griping and complaining, I jump into them pretty quickly, now. Most people over here have nothing to gripe about compared to Marines. Marines are different. They have a different outlook on
life.

One Marine Private was here for several days because he was a lower priority evacuation patient. He insisted on coming to attention and displaying proper military courtesy every morning when I came through on
rounds. He was in a great deal of pain, and it was a stressful to watch him work his way off the bed and onto his crutches. I told him he was excused and did not have to come to attention while he was a patient,and he informed me that he was a good Marine and would address "Air Force Colonels standing on my feet, Sir." I had to turn away so he would not see the tear in my eye. He did not have "feet" because we amputated
his right leg below the knee on the first night he came in.

I asked a Marine Lance Corporal if there was anything I could get him asI was making rounds one morning. He was an above the knee amputation after an IED blast, and he surprised me when he asked for a trigonometry
book. "You enjoy math do you?"

He replied, "Not particularly, Sir. I was never good at it, but I need to get good at it, now."

"Are you planning on going back to school?" I asked. "No sir, I am planning on shooting artillery. I will slow an infantry platoon down with just one good leg, but I am going to get good at math and learn how to shoot artillery". I hope he does.

I had the sad duty of standing over a young Marine Sgt. when he recovered from anesthesia - despite our best efforts there was just no way to save his left arm, and it had to come off just below the elbow.

"Can I have my arm back, sir?" he asked.

"No, we had to cut it off, we cannot re-attach it." I said.

"But can I have my arm?" he asked again.

"You see, we had to cut it off."

He interrupted, "I know you had to cut it off, but I want it back. It must be in a bag or something, Sir."

"Why do you want it?" I asked.

"I am going to have it stuffed and use it as a club when I get back to my unit." I must have looked shocked because he tried to comfort me,"Don't you worry now, Colonel. You did a fine job, and I hardly hurt at
all; besides I scratch and shoot with my other hand anyway."
God Bless the Marines
Col. Brett Wyrick

Heros, every one of them!

Semper Fi

Capt B

Comments

[Peggy]

Oh Captain... My Captain..
Thank you through the tears...
Oh how I love my Marines..
The Proud, The Few! The Brave!
Please God, Bless them one and all.

[Anna]

Semper Fi is not a catch-phrase or even just a motto, it is a way of life! The Marines are awesome!

[seaurchin]

The Navy is in my blood, but my heart is with the Marines!! These last two posts only begin to explain why. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for our Marines!

Semper Gratus

[Ben USN (Ret)]

Nothing on earth can compare to the Honor, Courage, Fortitude, Character, Nobility, Inspiration and Love of Valiant Heroes such as these!!!
Semper Fi, Semper Gratus, andGod bless you all.

[Matt]

That is awesome. Talk about commitment.

[GunnNutt]

How can you guys and gals be so awesome and so sick at the same time? I can just see that Seargant bonking someone on the head with his stuffed arm!

I love it!

[Marty]

Wow.

[jordan]

The stud-factor has always been high in the Corps, and these guys are no exception. Stuffing the arm and using it to bonk people over the head? Hear that lion roar!

[Laura, Marine mom from Ohio]

Wow--these guys are true heroes!
I would not want to be on the receiving end of that clubbing with the arm--you Marines are awesome!

[Mrs. Diva]

Thanks Capt B...these are the amazing men that so few ever know about!

[Karin]

Wow-nothing like a good cry. I am blessed to be able to read about such honorable men! God bless them all!

[mjnaples]

I agree with Marty.....WOW.

[Donna, Los Osos, CA]

Ditto on the WOW and tears!
Semper gratus,
Donna

[A Military Mom]

Now that is what you call the will, to never say, never.
May God bless him.
What a nice story. Stories like that puts real life into perspective.

[Janet]

I could not decide whether I was going to let my heart burst with pride or weep so I have been doing both! God bless them and you. Thanks, Capt B.

[Barb]

I love the bit about stuffing the arm for use on his fellow Marines! Gives a whole new meaning to 'lending a hand' ;-) An awesome sense of humor to go along with the dedication, an awesome combination indeed!

[The Sanity Inspector]

Glad these guys are on our side!

[Karen I.]

God bless our Marines!

[chtrbx]

Exceptional warriors,exceptional Americans these Marines....

[MissBirdlegs in AL]

What they ALL said! It's hard to type & bawl at the same time.

[Papa Ray]

Thanks for getting that out Captain. We need to remind people just great our young men and women are.

I sent it [link] out to my small group via email.

Continue the Mission.

Papa Ray
West Texas
USA

[Barbara from CA]

This is another of your posts that makes me tearful. I wish I had a Marine in my family and not just in my heart. Thanks again.

[linda s.]

Outstanding, Capt B!

[Lyn in Duluth]

God Bless them all! What a wonderful post. It was a tear jerker though. Well worth the tears. Thank you for posting it.

[Gypsy]

A myriad of emotions reading this Capt B...smiling and proud through the tears.

God bless our Marines one and all!

Semper Gratus!!

[David Quinton]

Every time I see a marine on the street as I walk I shake his hand, tell him thank you and that I wish I had the balls to do the work he and his brothers do every day. God bless the marines.

[SSgt Post]

Thank You, Sir! Good to see how my wounded Brothers are doing.

[Chad Strong]

God Bless these Marines! I am a Marine and now a police officer in Charlotte, NC and just lost two good friends, one being a Marine, to an ambush on a domestic call. And I read this and I am bawling in tears. I could never be more proud to be a United States Marine!

[Lisa]

My son just left for Parris Island 7 weeks ago. As I wonder what is ahead of him, I am inspired by men like you for hope. I am so proud of him. I can tell you for sure he has lived more in these past few weeks because he was born to be a marine. There is something so special about you guys. Unstoppable! Praise God!

[Thao Tran]

God damnit... Why did you have to make me cry? Good or Bad, I thank you. Semper Fi.

[SSGT A.R. Lattimore KILO 3/7]

Remember this ladies and gentlemen. Hardships strengthens rather than weakens GOOD MARINES. SO EVERY LAST ONE OF MY DEVILDOG BROTHERS & SISTERS ARE FREAKING AWESOME!!!!! OOOORRRRAAAAHHHH

[discount coach]

You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.

[buy from taobao]

If we understand differences is so big, we use the knowledge to reduce the pain, the differences of the human body is cheerful, at least

[Zach Dunlop]

Im not a marine yet because i just turned 17 and still am in high school but i am a marine at heart you could say and this little article is just a boost for everyone to see the devotion to this society or way of living!

[Mike]

Semper FI

[Ted Siok]

Semper Fi! WE are proud of you. Ted Siok, Wales, MA

[Barefoot Running]

This is a in fact good read for me, Must admit that you are human being of the best bloggers I ever saw. Thanks for posting this informative article

[UGGs On Sale]

Thank you for sharing such great information with us. I really appreciate everything that you've done here and am glad to know that you really care about the world that we live in

[Hogan]

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[Tiffany Outlet]

Hello! I'm in here? Very honored to be invited to this. I also very happy; Here let me realize that life's laughter, anger, sorrow and happiness. All in all, life is good.

[Chris S]

Im a Marine, I will always be one....all the pain and suffering, my hearing loss,bad knees and back surgery.My vision goes in and out...the VA cutter said it was from looking through a scope from prolonged periods of time. Hard to sleep....I have not slept more then 4 hours at a time in 20 years...the rest I wont say...what I can say is Im proud...first to fight.Im humbled by the stories I have read...I would give my life to be with my brothers now in the big sandbox.I thought I was hard...I am nothing compared to these warriors...I salute you my brothers and when we die [for me soon perhaps]we will party in heaven...or we will rule in Hell...so be it and to our enemies

[charlie]

لإo the woman behind the hero sitting on the chair do not cry I know that he lost part of his body, but remember that he left the memory of freedom for many people and the lives of many people for the better offer you the highest degree of respect and appreciation of these are the few proud Ihaft Lord Almarinc

[Mulberry Factory Shop]

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