Wounded Warrior - A Tribute To The Marines!

I have a friend. A really, really good friend, a retired Lt. Col of the United States Marine Corps. Tad teaches at a local college where I once taught and we initially became acquainted via a college forum where he and I found ourselves to be two of only a very small handful of conservatives.

Tad keeps me posted on lots of things, but today he sent me an email concerning one Marine wounded in Iraq one Lt. Col. Tim Maxwell.

Col. Maxwell received grievious injuries in the performance of his duties and writes about the process of recovery. As I am in the process of recovery from lung cancer, I found his article to be particularly moving and inspiring. Col Maxwell is currently stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. and he exemplifies all the qualities we have come to expect from our heroes in the service of the United States.

A short quote from this remarkable Marine:

But I have learned something too: what it is like to be a wounded warrior.

We tend not to complain about our injuries too much. Most of us know others who are worse off � a guy with a bad leg knows a guy who lost a leg, or both legs. I, with a brain that is "cracked," know youngsters with brain injuries who are unable to walk or talk. We all know someone who died. So, it is not a good thing to complain. We are tough guys. We are all going to whip it.

And that is because in the Corps, we really learn to be part of a team. Not like sports, where players switch teams for more money. I am talking about a life-and-death team. Warriors will not switch teams � if they can help it.

But when they are wounded, they have lost control. They are off the "A" team. All their friends will tell them, as they board the helicopter to fly away, to take care of themselves. Not to worry about the team. They'll be OK. But they want to be back with their team.

[...]

And the goofy part? Marines do not whine. Therefore, I shall not whine. I agree with it all. I think it is good for us wounded Marines to whip it � the injury, the sadness and confusion. When you're in the hospital, your morale is OK. You are with other wounded warriors. You can chat about it. Sometimes we just look at each other in the hallway, and nod. That's all. Acknowledgment.

Col Maxwell, this old, ex-Army grunt Stands and tosses you a SALUTE and if I may be so bold as to say to all my Marine friends, Tad, Mustang, Ogre, Michael and so many others

Semper Fidelis

Note: If you would like to e-mail Col. Maxwell and all the others at the wounded warrior barracks write (and I strongly encourage you to do so) woundedteam@sempermax.com

The Mudville Gazette

A tip of the GM Derby to ROFASIX for the animated gif which they don't know I stole; until they get this trackback that is.