The Few, The Proud

When we were stationed in the desert of southern California, I liked to tell people we resided at an exclusive, gated community with great security...

Our house at The Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command was only a few years old and the nicest military quarters we’ve been assigned, but the very best thing about living on that base was getting to know our Marines Corps neighbors and their families.

As a whole (and, as with any generalization, there are always exceptions), Marines remarkably live up to their stereotypical image of being honest, no-nonsense, loyal, hard-working and dedicated. Exactly the kind of people you want on your side in most any situation. And whether or not you agree with what they are tasked with or where they are deployed, Marines do jobs that I (and most people I know) simply cannot even imagine undertaking.

Since RWT’s accident, we’ve been spending a good deal of time at a military hospital and are once again around a lot of Marines. However, this time is more heartbreaking. The majority of these Marines are at the hospital to be put back together after being injured in Iraq. And most of them are so very, very young.

But the Marines and their families are still as tough and strong as those we met in California. While sitting in the waiting room during RWT’s hand surgery, I spoke at length with a mother of a 22-year-old Marine who had lost a good deal of one leg due to an improvised explosive device. The Marine was in the tenth hour of his sixth surgery in the eight days since the explosion. The docs where doing everything they could to save his leg even though there is a 95% chance of infection that will result in the loss of his leg (at the very least). His mother’s view on the situation: “He is a smart boy who can do a lot regardless of his legs.” Then she told me how her son is determined to get better as soon as possible so he can return to his unit.

Now I imagine there are plenty of Marines who are hurt in Iraq and never, ever want to go back there. No one could ever fault them for feeling that way and it is certainly an easier sentiment to understand. But what is more puzzling to the average person are those Marines who do want to return. From how I understand it (and not being a Marine, I don’t think I can ever really know), they realize how much of a positive effect their actions can have on other people's lives and how what they do is important on a scale much larger than themselves. (And how many people can really say that about their job?)

Regardless of their views on returning to active duty, I hope that some of the young Marines we've seen at the hospital will eventually become leaders of our country. Their bravery and first-hand experiences with combat can provide them with a perspective on war that could be invaluable in determining our nation's role in future conflicts.

But mainly, I wish them all well no matter where they end up. And, as hokey as this sounds, I appreciate their sacrifice of their youth and health in the support of our country. These Marines have certainly earned the right to be proud and I pray the numbers of them that are permanently disabled and killed are few.