Eye opener

Today I was walking around the hospital base and was really humbled by something...

I was on my way to the immunization clinic to get my yellow fever shot, and was saluted by this young Marine in a wheelchair going the opposite direction. This brave young man had a patch/bandage over his left eye and scrapes on his face. He was bandaged all over his neck, and his leg was in a cast. I believe he was one of the many Marines housed in the hospital "dorms" for those that have been wounded in Operation Enduring Freedom. As he proudly said, "Good Morning Ma'am," I smiled and offered a "good morning" back. As I was walking away, I got tears in my eyes. THESE are the men defending our country on the front lines. I haven't even been out of the country, let alone on deployment! I felt as though I should really be saluting him, for all the sacrifices he's made. It made me feel proud to be a nurse, and that I would get to take care of these men and women on a daily basis.

When I worked as a nurse's aide at St. Joe's, I would really LOVE taking care of the old men who had served. They always have the most interesting stories (and advice!).

I found some pictures online...

Pfc. Kenneth Dickerson, a 19-year-old Marine from Clive, Iowa, assigned to the Hawaii-based Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, hands out candy to two girls in Barwanah, Iraq, July 29, 2006. The 19-year-old U.S. Marine from Clive, Iowa, has spent the past four months of his deployment in Iraq teaching himself Arabic, and uses it to help his fellow Marines by serving as a translator during the unit’s daily patrols through Barwanah, Iraq. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Roe F. Seigle

Cpl. James Wright, USMC

The blast severed both of Wright's hands and severely wounded his left leg. Incredibly, Wright maintained his composure, instructing his Marines to use a radio to call for help and to apply tourniquets to his wounds. Wright also directed his Marines to concentrate fire on enemy machine gun positions, assisting in the demise of 26 enemy fighters. For his actions, Wright was later presented the Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device for valor.

Private First Class Brian Moquin, 20, USA

Friends said Moquin joined the Army to "straighten his life out" after dropping out of high school and earning a GED. Moquin was killed May 5, 2006, in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. He was a tattoo enthusiast and got seven of them on his last trip home; after learning of his death, seven of his friends got tattoos in his honor.