thedrifter
11-10-07, 05:59 AM
Wounded Marines say trip 'validation'
Saturday, November 10, 2007
By NIKI DOYLE
Times Staff Writer niki.doyle@htimes.com
Heroes Weekend honors soldiers hurt in combat
At 39, Marine Sgt. Jerrol Olson is tired of sitting around and waiting to heal.
After a sniper shot him in the arm, leaving a gaping hole and wounds that had to be repaired with a metal rod, he didn't do much other than go to the doctor and take his medicine.
So when the opportunity arose for the California Marine to spend five days in Huntsville as part of Heroes Weekend, held by the Semper Fi Community Task Force, he said, "Why not?"
Olson, who had just arrived at a social for the 17 Marines of the Wounded Warrior Regiment, said he's been overwhelmed by the experience.
"It's not a vacation; it's more than that," he said. "A vacation is sitting by the river and drinking a beer with friends. This is validation."
The social at the Historic Huntsville Depot Roundhouse and a Friday night outing to see the Huntsville Havoc hockey team play are just a small part of Heroes Weekend.
The Huntsville Track Club and the Semper Fi Community Task Force are holding a Heroes 5K today, and a Marine Corps ball and a career fair round off some of the activities.
Several organizations, including the task force and Still Serving Veterans, have pitched in to feed and house the Marines.
And they've certainly been well fed, said Staff Sgt. Jim Wittkop of the task force.
"They showed up as people, and they'll go home as cargo," he said. "But really, it's our way of saying thank you."
The soldiers are part of the Wounded Warriors Regiment, a new group created by the Corps this spring to track and assist Marines as they make the transition back to civilian life.
That assistance is what caused 23-year-old Nick Thomas to made the trek from his hometown of Trafford, a town near Birmingham.
He's trying to find a job, and although he's not sure where he wants to go to college, he knows that he wants a degree.
This trip is about getting back to civilian life, said Thomas, who injured his knee after tripping a wire and running to safety.
"I just got lucky," said Thomas, who said he didn't hesitate when he saw the wire pull a pin. "Some guys weren't so lucky."
Marine veteran Tom Tyler said it's comforting to be in the presence of his fellow men.
The 20-year-old Dothan native caught viral meningitis during his nine-month deployment, but Tyler said he feels lucky to return mostly unharmed and able to socialize like he did Friday night.
"It's not every day that you get to hang out with other Marines," he said.
Ellie
Saturday, November 10, 2007
By NIKI DOYLE
Times Staff Writer niki.doyle@htimes.com
Heroes Weekend honors soldiers hurt in combat
At 39, Marine Sgt. Jerrol Olson is tired of sitting around and waiting to heal.
After a sniper shot him in the arm, leaving a gaping hole and wounds that had to be repaired with a metal rod, he didn't do much other than go to the doctor and take his medicine.
So when the opportunity arose for the California Marine to spend five days in Huntsville as part of Heroes Weekend, held by the Semper Fi Community Task Force, he said, "Why not?"
Olson, who had just arrived at a social for the 17 Marines of the Wounded Warrior Regiment, said he's been overwhelmed by the experience.
"It's not a vacation; it's more than that," he said. "A vacation is sitting by the river and drinking a beer with friends. This is validation."
The social at the Historic Huntsville Depot Roundhouse and a Friday night outing to see the Huntsville Havoc hockey team play are just a small part of Heroes Weekend.
The Huntsville Track Club and the Semper Fi Community Task Force are holding a Heroes 5K today, and a Marine Corps ball and a career fair round off some of the activities.
Several organizations, including the task force and Still Serving Veterans, have pitched in to feed and house the Marines.
And they've certainly been well fed, said Staff Sgt. Jim Wittkop of the task force.
"They showed up as people, and they'll go home as cargo," he said. "But really, it's our way of saying thank you."
The soldiers are part of the Wounded Warriors Regiment, a new group created by the Corps this spring to track and assist Marines as they make the transition back to civilian life.
That assistance is what caused 23-year-old Nick Thomas to made the trek from his hometown of Trafford, a town near Birmingham.
He's trying to find a job, and although he's not sure where he wants to go to college, he knows that he wants a degree.
This trip is about getting back to civilian life, said Thomas, who injured his knee after tripping a wire and running to safety.
"I just got lucky," said Thomas, who said he didn't hesitate when he saw the wire pull a pin. "Some guys weren't so lucky."
Marine veteran Tom Tyler said it's comforting to be in the presence of his fellow men.
The 20-year-old Dothan native caught viral meningitis during his nine-month deployment, but Tyler said he feels lucky to return mostly unharmed and able to socialize like he did Friday night.
"It's not every day that you get to hang out with other Marines," he said.
Ellie