thedrifter
12-17-06, 09:11 AM
Local Marine saves Iraqi baby
Saturday, Dec 16, 2006 - 05:47 PM
A group of marines searching for insurgents saw their mission quickly shift to saving the life of an Iraqi infant.
The man leading that mission grew up in the Tri-Cities. News Channel 11 spoke with him and his parents.
"He's always wanted to be a marine. We're a marine family, you know." Edward Ewing was an active marine for 20 years. His uniforms still hang in his closet. It's no wonder he's proud his son chose a similar path. “He had his mind made up when he came out of high school,” Ewing recalls. “He wanted to be a marine and go into the infantry on the front line, and that's the job he's got, and he loves it.”
Staff Sergeant Edward Ewing, Jr. just completed a 6 month tour in Iraq, patrolling the streets of Fallujah. But one night, the peace-keeping mission became a humanitarian mission when the marines met a young Iraqi mother and her baby.
SSgt Ewing told News Channel 11 what that was like. "When you see her, it's almost like you've seen just a baby girl. You didn't see a little Iraqi girl. It was like coming across a family in need here in America, but they had no idea how to do it."
Mariam was just 2 months old, suffering from a rare intestinal abnormality. Her chances weren't good.
SSgt Ewing—a father of 3—was drawn to this Iraqi family. He risked his life nearly two dozen times to sneak help to her under the cover of night. "We would continue to do our regular security patrol, going after insurgents, making hits. And after being beat at the end of the day we would say, 'hey, we have to go see the little girl.’”
The marines raised the money to bring baby Mariam to the states for medical care. Ewing believes it’s a small step toward bridging two worlds bitterly divided by culture and by war.
Back at home, SSgt. Ewing's parents couldn't be more proud. "Yeah, he did the right thing—went out of their way to save someone else's life. That's a hero"
Baby Mariam is doing well after her surgery and should head back to Iraq in the next few weeks.
SSgt. Ewing's unit is also back in the states—minus three killed by a roadside bomb.
Ellie
Saturday, Dec 16, 2006 - 05:47 PM
A group of marines searching for insurgents saw their mission quickly shift to saving the life of an Iraqi infant.
The man leading that mission grew up in the Tri-Cities. News Channel 11 spoke with him and his parents.
"He's always wanted to be a marine. We're a marine family, you know." Edward Ewing was an active marine for 20 years. His uniforms still hang in his closet. It's no wonder he's proud his son chose a similar path. “He had his mind made up when he came out of high school,” Ewing recalls. “He wanted to be a marine and go into the infantry on the front line, and that's the job he's got, and he loves it.”
Staff Sergeant Edward Ewing, Jr. just completed a 6 month tour in Iraq, patrolling the streets of Fallujah. But one night, the peace-keeping mission became a humanitarian mission when the marines met a young Iraqi mother and her baby.
SSgt Ewing told News Channel 11 what that was like. "When you see her, it's almost like you've seen just a baby girl. You didn't see a little Iraqi girl. It was like coming across a family in need here in America, but they had no idea how to do it."
Mariam was just 2 months old, suffering from a rare intestinal abnormality. Her chances weren't good.
SSgt Ewing—a father of 3—was drawn to this Iraqi family. He risked his life nearly two dozen times to sneak help to her under the cover of night. "We would continue to do our regular security patrol, going after insurgents, making hits. And after being beat at the end of the day we would say, 'hey, we have to go see the little girl.’”
The marines raised the money to bring baby Mariam to the states for medical care. Ewing believes it’s a small step toward bridging two worlds bitterly divided by culture and by war.
Back at home, SSgt. Ewing's parents couldn't be more proud. "Yeah, he did the right thing—went out of their way to save someone else's life. That's a hero"
Baby Mariam is doing well after her surgery and should head back to Iraq in the next few weeks.
SSgt. Ewing's unit is also back in the states—minus three killed by a roadside bomb.
Ellie