thedrifter
10-06-07, 07:03 AM
As soon as Rachel Moses could gather a few good men for a group photo, she rallied every Marine standing nearby in Service Charlies.
“That includes the photographer --- you’re not getting off that easy,” Moses hollered with a chuckle from her wheelchair.
Leathernecks with Fort Worth, Texas-based Marine Aircraft Group 41 traveled to the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center Thursday to visit with Moses. Due to a condition that she said stems from her father’s exposure to chemicals during his service as a Marine in Vietnam, Moses said she’s been in and out of hospitals her entire life.
Though Moses isn’t clear as to every detail of her father’s service in the Corps, she’s crystal clear on one thing -- she loves Marines. A close friend of Moses suggested how much she’d appreciate a visit from Marines, according to Marianna Demko, an administrative officer in the medical center’s department for spinal chord injuries. The hospital staff and the Corps coordinated the visit, with leathernecks from MAG-41 volunteering to make the trip.
“We found out that she was having a hard time, and we wanted to brighten up her day and give her something she’d always remember,” said Sgt. Bounyasone Sayavongsa, a ground support equipment electrician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 41 who made the trip.
“It means so much to her,” said Demko, as Moses rolled down the hallway in her wheelchair, giggling and chatting with the Marines circled around her.
The visit was a first for Moses, who said she’d never been visited by Marines before. As conversation topics ranged from Marine Corps uniform and rank insignia to hobbies and kids, Moses was asked how she’d rate the visit on a scale of one to ten.
“I’m gonna embarrass myself here,” Moses said as she thought for a moment. “How about a 20?”
“That includes the photographer --- you’re not getting off that easy,” Moses hollered with a chuckle from her wheelchair.
Leathernecks with Fort Worth, Texas-based Marine Aircraft Group 41 traveled to the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center Thursday to visit with Moses. Due to a condition that she said stems from her father’s exposure to chemicals during his service as a Marine in Vietnam, Moses said she’s been in and out of hospitals her entire life.
Though Moses isn’t clear as to every detail of her father’s service in the Corps, she’s crystal clear on one thing -- she loves Marines. A close friend of Moses suggested how much she’d appreciate a visit from Marines, according to Marianna Demko, an administrative officer in the medical center’s department for spinal chord injuries. The hospital staff and the Corps coordinated the visit, with leathernecks from MAG-41 volunteering to make the trip.
“We found out that she was having a hard time, and we wanted to brighten up her day and give her something she’d always remember,” said Sgt. Bounyasone Sayavongsa, a ground support equipment electrician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 41 who made the trip.
“It means so much to her,” said Demko, as Moses rolled down the hallway in her wheelchair, giggling and chatting with the Marines circled around her.
The visit was a first for Moses, who said she’d never been visited by Marines before. As conversation topics ranged from Marine Corps uniform and rank insignia to hobbies and kids, Moses was asked how she’d rate the visit on a scale of one to ten.
“I’m gonna embarrass myself here,” Moses said as she thought for a moment. “How about a 20?”