thedrifter
02-19-07, 07:16 AM
Corpsman fights through injuries to treat wounded
February 19,2007
CHRISSY VICK
Debbie and Carl Christian view their son, Joshua, and the Marines he was with in Iraq as a hero.
But they say they were just doing their job.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Christian of 2nd Medical Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, was awarded a Purple Heart on a crisp Friday morning for doing that job. It was for wounds he received on April 17 last year, while deployed to Camp Hit, Iraq.
"We were returning from an unexploded ordnance call, and it was raining when we ran over a land mine," said Sgt. Kent Crawley, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with 2nd EOD Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group.
Crawley, who was driving the vehicle, was able to recover it and soon realized the Marines' "Doc" had been knocked out in the backseat. After coming to, Christian, a corpsman, despite being injured himself, immediately began to inspect the Marines for injuries.
Each of the men in the vehicle suffered a concussion, but were later able to return to work.
A month later, Christian was hit again.
"We went to a post-blast and parked beside another IED without knowing it in a safe area," said Sgt. Chris Clair, also of 2nd EOD Company. "Fifteen minutes into the call, the IED went off."
Again, immediately after the explosion, Christian tried to locate his medical bag to help others. This time, he was unable. When the Marines pulled him out of the vehicle and medically evacuated him to Germany, he had sustained a second, more severe concussion.
Now, Christian undergoes daily doctor's appointments and medical treatment. He suffers memory loss and has trouble articulating his words.
But he is still just one of the guys. He stood laughing and joking with the Marines and sailors Feb. 9. Each one of them recognizes the important of a good "Doc."
"Christian is a good corpsman," Crawley said. "A lot of corpsmen are scared of our job and don't like to help us with what we do. But Christian was always trying to help us. Sometimes we had to make him get back in the vehicle when we were out."
Christian has served in the Navy for five years and been deployed four times: once to Djibouti, once to Kuwait and twice to Iraq.
Carl Christian is proud of his son - one of three sons who serve in active-duty military. The couple has two other sons who serve in the Army National Guard.
The road has been difficult for the Christian family. But the sacrifice is worth it.
"We're proud of not only Joshua, but those with him for what they do for their country," Carl Christian said. "It's a great feeling - a wonderful feeling - knowing these guys put their life on the line for us."
Since the war began in 2003, many service members have been awarded a Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat. But Col. Steven Thompson reminded the crowd that each one is an important sacrifice.
"A lot of people would like to marginalize a Purple Heart," said Thompson, the rear 2nd Marine Logistics Group commanding officer. "It's not just a simple job. What you do for your country, your peers, is exceptional."
Contact staff writer Chrissy Vick at cvick@freedomenc.com or by calling 353-1171, ext. 239.
Ellie
February 19,2007
CHRISSY VICK
Debbie and Carl Christian view their son, Joshua, and the Marines he was with in Iraq as a hero.
But they say they were just doing their job.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Christian of 2nd Medical Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, was awarded a Purple Heart on a crisp Friday morning for doing that job. It was for wounds he received on April 17 last year, while deployed to Camp Hit, Iraq.
"We were returning from an unexploded ordnance call, and it was raining when we ran over a land mine," said Sgt. Kent Crawley, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with 2nd EOD Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group.
Crawley, who was driving the vehicle, was able to recover it and soon realized the Marines' "Doc" had been knocked out in the backseat. After coming to, Christian, a corpsman, despite being injured himself, immediately began to inspect the Marines for injuries.
Each of the men in the vehicle suffered a concussion, but were later able to return to work.
A month later, Christian was hit again.
"We went to a post-blast and parked beside another IED without knowing it in a safe area," said Sgt. Chris Clair, also of 2nd EOD Company. "Fifteen minutes into the call, the IED went off."
Again, immediately after the explosion, Christian tried to locate his medical bag to help others. This time, he was unable. When the Marines pulled him out of the vehicle and medically evacuated him to Germany, he had sustained a second, more severe concussion.
Now, Christian undergoes daily doctor's appointments and medical treatment. He suffers memory loss and has trouble articulating his words.
But he is still just one of the guys. He stood laughing and joking with the Marines and sailors Feb. 9. Each one of them recognizes the important of a good "Doc."
"Christian is a good corpsman," Crawley said. "A lot of corpsmen are scared of our job and don't like to help us with what we do. But Christian was always trying to help us. Sometimes we had to make him get back in the vehicle when we were out."
Christian has served in the Navy for five years and been deployed four times: once to Djibouti, once to Kuwait and twice to Iraq.
Carl Christian is proud of his son - one of three sons who serve in active-duty military. The couple has two other sons who serve in the Army National Guard.
The road has been difficult for the Christian family. But the sacrifice is worth it.
"We're proud of not only Joshua, but those with him for what they do for their country," Carl Christian said. "It's a great feeling - a wonderful feeling - knowing these guys put their life on the line for us."
Since the war began in 2003, many service members have been awarded a Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat. But Col. Steven Thompson reminded the crowd that each one is an important sacrifice.
"A lot of people would like to marginalize a Purple Heart," said Thompson, the rear 2nd Marine Logistics Group commanding officer. "It's not just a simple job. What you do for your country, your peers, is exceptional."
Contact staff writer Chrissy Vick at cvick@freedomenc.com or by calling 353-1171, ext. 239.
Ellie