The "Marine Family"

[cincymarsdad]

Yesterday, at the conclusion of my son's memorial service, after the 21 gun salute, the presentation of the folded flag, the Purple Heart, and his Lcpl warrant (awarded as of 1 August), a line of Marine officers formed to pay their respects. During the service, I told the story about how Chris in boot camp had in his book a rifle score of 220 - "Expert" - and how he was sky high about it. However, the final "pit" score came in and had him at 219.

He told me how much wanted to fire for record again and get his expert medal. He never got that chance.

Well, one of the men in the line of officers was a Marine major who pressed something into my hand and said to me:

"They never have it right in the pits."

I asked him to repeat it, not having a clue what he was talking about, so he said it again. I looked in my hand after he removed his and saw the Expert Marksmanship medal, with a fourth award bar.

This Marine major had removed it from his blouse to give it to me in honor of my son, a "mere" Lance Corporal he didn't know. Later, I overheard some of the sergeants talking among themselves about that "major whose riflry medal was missing on his dress blues" and I explained what he had done.

Then my next door neighbor came over after we were home and gave me a box with HIS expert medal in it. One of the CACO sergeants gave me HIS expert medal.

I have had many of these Marines who took part in the services over to my house (which has been overrun with food) and I can tell you they are all outstanding individuals and a credit to the Corp and the United States military. I will always be proud that my son is one of them.

[ArchAngel]

That's awesome. I'm proud of your son, even though I never met him, this story has truely touched my heart, as well as my Mothers, who was crying for an hour after reading your last post about your son. You are a great Father cincy, it's an honor knowing you.

- cincymarsdad am I missing something here, and if so I appologize, is what I read above like your son..memorial service mean what I think it means....sometimes things I read go right over my head, cause my head is not able to catch everything right away unfortunately

cincymarsdad I somehow missed the post about the lose of your son in Iraq. I am so sorry, words can not describe what must be going thru your mind and your family.

My deepest condolences to you and your family.

[SpongeJuan]

I have participated in a couple of funerals, and every time I get the chills. Just thinking about it gives me the chills. Especially when they are NCOs and they do the rollcall ceremony.

[cincymarsdad]

No apology is needed. There was an earlier post entitled "Requiem for a Marine".

There was a sergeant in my son's company named Ivy who was killed in May. An embedded reported had been emailing me and said:

"Ivy was a good man. They were all good men, but Ivy was a really good man. I think this means it's time for me to come home."

If I have counted right, Lima Company has lost 23 KIA in 5 months. They are still operational and in the field. Their eventual homecoming is going to be an experience, a hard one for me, as I'm sure to be looking for Chris somehow.

I have experienced an unexpected combination of inexpressible grief, pride, and calmness, all at once. And I know in my mind I still think he's just "away", as he has been for so much of the past 14 months since he hit the yellow footprints.

I escorted my son to the airport today with 9 Marines, one a master gunner with 28 years and not much space on his sleeves. As honors were rendered, I noticed we were positioned at a viewing area in the airport near a food court and the glass gradually became packed with onlookers as the honor guard rendered the slow salute and the ritual was performed. I hope they gained some appreciation for how Marines treat their fallen, whether O-10 or E-3 or E-1.

I now have my dad's purple heart and my son's. My dad still lives at 87 years; I'm 51. My son was 19, new Lcpl and I don't think he even knew it.

I still can't quite understand that I won't be throwing the baseball with him in a couple more months ...