Posted by lex, on February 20, 2008
And then there’s Gunny Sergeant “Spanky” Gibson:
Gunny Gibson lost his entire leg after an Iraqi sniper fired a round through his knee in Ramadi in 2006 – May 16, 2006 – just 19 months ago. He is the first full leg amputee to be returned to the fight – redeployed as an active marine. This Gunny had been in the marines for 18 years – that is who he is. He said all he wanted to do was get back into the fight. He said returning to Iraq was his first step back to feeling like he was a marine again. He runs half marathons with his prosthetic and it was when he swam in a race from Alcatraz and ended up at the feet of General Mattis out in California. As he emerged from the water General Mattis asked him what he could do for him – he said, “Sir, send me back to Iraq.” It was the only way he said that he would feel whole again.
Where do we find such men?
BTW, the link has the Gunny’s email, if anyone wants to render proper honors.
