thedrifter
12-24-05, 08:51 AM
Bushes lift injured Marine's spirits
Kristen Reed
Orlando Sentinel
Sentinel Staff Writer
December 24, 2005
Garron Guess made it home Friday just in time for the holidays.
The Marine lance corporal was supposed to be in Fallujah for Christmas, but the 20-year-old Pierson man was shot in his left leg earlier this month.
"I'm very happy he's home," his mother, Lisa Guess, said Friday from the family's home.
"He was very, very fortunate. There were many other sons that weren't as fortunate."
On Wednesday, the soldier received a presidential coin during a visit from President Bush and first lady Laura Bush at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
This weekend, family members will travel to Pierson to celebrate Christmas with him.
Garron Guess, who graduated from DeLand High School, joined the Marines two years ago and was deployed to Iraq in March for a one-year tour. His unit remains in Fallujah, where Guess ran supply convoys around the country.
He didn't want to share much about his nine months overseas, but his mother said it was a "once in a lifetime experience" to meet the president and his wife this week.
"It was very moving and inspiring," Lisa Guess said.
Garron Guess received his latest military coin from the president while the two talked about his injury and recovery, he said.
Commanders in the military use coins to improve morale, foster unit spirit and honor service members for their hard work. Guess said he has received several coins, including ones from the commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Michael Hagee, and the Corps' chaplain.
The coins given out by different officers are specially minted, including the president's.
"That's the best one I got," Guess said.
Kristen Reed can be reached at kreed@orlandosentinel.com or 386-851-7924.
Ellie
Kristen Reed
Orlando Sentinel
Sentinel Staff Writer
December 24, 2005
Garron Guess made it home Friday just in time for the holidays.
The Marine lance corporal was supposed to be in Fallujah for Christmas, but the 20-year-old Pierson man was shot in his left leg earlier this month.
"I'm very happy he's home," his mother, Lisa Guess, said Friday from the family's home.
"He was very, very fortunate. There were many other sons that weren't as fortunate."
On Wednesday, the soldier received a presidential coin during a visit from President Bush and first lady Laura Bush at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
This weekend, family members will travel to Pierson to celebrate Christmas with him.
Garron Guess, who graduated from DeLand High School, joined the Marines two years ago and was deployed to Iraq in March for a one-year tour. His unit remains in Fallujah, where Guess ran supply convoys around the country.
He didn't want to share much about his nine months overseas, but his mother said it was a "once in a lifetime experience" to meet the president and his wife this week.
"It was very moving and inspiring," Lisa Guess said.
Garron Guess received his latest military coin from the president while the two talked about his injury and recovery, he said.
Commanders in the military use coins to improve morale, foster unit spirit and honor service members for their hard work. Guess said he has received several coins, including ones from the commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Michael Hagee, and the Corps' chaplain.
The coins given out by different officers are specially minted, including the president's.
"That's the best one I got," Guess said.
Kristen Reed can be reached at kreed@orlandosentinel.com or 386-851-7924.
Ellie