thedrifter
06-11-07, 07:03 AM
Requiem for a fighter
By: Gail Chatfield - Commentary
Years from now, when the wounds of this war have healed, we may come to terms with its human cost, the monetary costs having been long forgotten.
Until such time, we mourn yet another young Marine from Camp Pendleton, Cpl. Jason S. Clairday, who was just 21 years old when he was killed in December 2004 in Fallujah. Two and a half years later, his widow ">www.nctimes.com/articles/...6_07.txt"> received the Navy Cross on his behalf .
Young Jason was recognized by his country as a hero, but he probably tells the Marines he meets in heaven that he was just doing his job. They would nod understandingly.
When wives and mothers send their loved ones off to war, they must at some point whisper in those young ears, "Keep your head down." I know I would. But warriors don't listen to their mothers; they rely instead on their Marine Corps training.
Young Jason did not keep his head down when he rescued a wounded Marine from the roof of a house after his squad came under fire from insurgents. He did not keep his head down when he returned fire, or when he led an assault into the house where the insurgents had barricaded themselves. After being shot in both legs, he took the lead position and re-entered the house throwing grenades and emptying his rifle. He was mortally wounded but the lives of his fellow Marines were saved.
It's in a mother's DNA to "take a bullet" to protect her child. But what makes a young man risk his life for his fellow Marines? For answers to questions like this, I go to those who can explain it best, because everything I know about war, I learned from Marine Corps veterans of World War II.
Navy Cross recipient retired Lt. Col. Paul McLellan explained it this way: "You just keep going. You think about the danger. You can't help but think about it, but you have a job to do and you just keep moving forward."
"Adrenaline is going and when it shoots in, fear leaves you," says retired Sgt. Maj. Mike Mervosh, speaking about his time on Iwo Jima. "I'll put it this way: We all wanted to live but we weren't afraid to die. We knew that our families ... our country are pretty well safe and that is what we are here for."
"The guy next to you knows you are going to be there and you know damn well he's going to be there and it really isn't much beyond that," recalls Bill Swanson, a corporal who was on Bougainville. "You don't want to let the other guys down, and you don't want to be the first man to let the Marine Corps down. Our world was just us."
Young Jason continued the legacy of the Marines who have gone before him, and he honorably gave his life for his mates. Simply put, I guess, young men and women enlist to safeguard their country, but they fight to safeguard their friends.
Ellie
By: Gail Chatfield - Commentary
Years from now, when the wounds of this war have healed, we may come to terms with its human cost, the monetary costs having been long forgotten.
Until such time, we mourn yet another young Marine from Camp Pendleton, Cpl. Jason S. Clairday, who was just 21 years old when he was killed in December 2004 in Fallujah. Two and a half years later, his widow ">www.nctimes.com/articles/...6_07.txt"> received the Navy Cross on his behalf .
Young Jason was recognized by his country as a hero, but he probably tells the Marines he meets in heaven that he was just doing his job. They would nod understandingly.
When wives and mothers send their loved ones off to war, they must at some point whisper in those young ears, "Keep your head down." I know I would. But warriors don't listen to their mothers; they rely instead on their Marine Corps training.
Young Jason did not keep his head down when he rescued a wounded Marine from the roof of a house after his squad came under fire from insurgents. He did not keep his head down when he returned fire, or when he led an assault into the house where the insurgents had barricaded themselves. After being shot in both legs, he took the lead position and re-entered the house throwing grenades and emptying his rifle. He was mortally wounded but the lives of his fellow Marines were saved.
It's in a mother's DNA to "take a bullet" to protect her child. But what makes a young man risk his life for his fellow Marines? For answers to questions like this, I go to those who can explain it best, because everything I know about war, I learned from Marine Corps veterans of World War II.
Navy Cross recipient retired Lt. Col. Paul McLellan explained it this way: "You just keep going. You think about the danger. You can't help but think about it, but you have a job to do and you just keep moving forward."
"Adrenaline is going and when it shoots in, fear leaves you," says retired Sgt. Maj. Mike Mervosh, speaking about his time on Iwo Jima. "I'll put it this way: We all wanted to live but we weren't afraid to die. We knew that our families ... our country are pretty well safe and that is what we are here for."
"The guy next to you knows you are going to be there and you know damn well he's going to be there and it really isn't much beyond that," recalls Bill Swanson, a corporal who was on Bougainville. "You don't want to let the other guys down, and you don't want to be the first man to let the Marine Corps down. Our world was just us."
Young Jason continued the legacy of the Marines who have gone before him, and he honorably gave his life for his mates. Simply put, I guess, young men and women enlist to safeguard their country, but they fight to safeguard their friends.
Ellie