thedrifter
05-23-08, 04:50 AM
Marines honored for heroism
May 23, 2008 - 12:36AM
SUZANNE ULBRICH
DAILY NEWS STAFF
It had been 214 days since Homer and Linda Graham lost their son, U.S. Army Pfc. Homer Graham III, in a tragic car accident.
Seeing beyond their grief, they were determined that two Marines, who tried to save their son, receive the recognition they deserved.
Thursday, the Department of the Navy awarded Cpl. Steven Morse and Cpl. Carl McCauley Jr., with the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for risking their lives to pull Graham from his burning vehicle after it crashed and rolled on U.S. 74-76 near Lake Waccamaw on Oct. 22, 2007.
Both serve as operations clerks with Combat Logistics Battalion 26, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune.
Morse and McCauley were traveling behind Graham when the accident occurred. Morse stopped his vehicle and searched the wreckage, which was engulfed in flames, for victims. McCauley called emergency services, sought out fire extinguishers and attempted to smother the flames. Morse took over the extinguisher and used his body to shield McCauley and Waccamaw police officer Jeff Marlow, as they cut Graham's seat belt and extracted him from the wreckage.
McCauley and Morse rendered first aid and stayed with Graham until emergency responders arrived. Graham succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.
Graham's parents; his grandmother, Arlene Walker; sister, Jennifer; and a friend of the family, Lauren Wynoski, drove from Monroe to attend Thursday's ceremony.
Lt. Col. John Giltz, commanding officer of CLB 26, presented the medals. He commended McCauley and Morse for their selflessness, as well as the Grahams for their efforts to ensure the men were properly recognized for their actions.
"Cpl. McCauley and Cpl. Morse rose to the challenge," Giltz said. "Some of us go our entire life not knowing if we can meet that challenge. ... You rose and put yourselves in danger for someone you never met."
In addition to medals, the Grahams presented Morse and McCauley each with a watch with a personal inscription and a memory bracelet with their son's name on it.
"This is just a small token of our appreciation," Linda Graham said as she hugged each Marine.
After the ceremony, Homer Graham told stories and spoke proudly of his son. He said he will forever wear his son's dog tag and a copy of his son's battle orders alongside his own Vietnam era dog tag.
"Our son was in training with B-Battery, 1st Battalion, 113th Regiment, Field Artillery, to be deployed when this happened," he said. "He wanted to be No. 1 in everything .... He was very gung ho."
Morse and McCauley chose to focus on the Graham family rather than themselves.
"Our condolences to the family - our thoughts and prayers are definitely with them," McCauley said.
The Grahams said the day was part of the family's healing process.
"We never faced anything in our life that hurt that bad," Homer Graham said. "We want these men to know you don't have to fall on a grenade to be a hero."
Contact Topsail area reporter Suzanne Ulbrich at sulbrich@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8466. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.
Ellie
May 23, 2008 - 12:36AM
SUZANNE ULBRICH
DAILY NEWS STAFF
It had been 214 days since Homer and Linda Graham lost their son, U.S. Army Pfc. Homer Graham III, in a tragic car accident.
Seeing beyond their grief, they were determined that two Marines, who tried to save their son, receive the recognition they deserved.
Thursday, the Department of the Navy awarded Cpl. Steven Morse and Cpl. Carl McCauley Jr., with the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for risking their lives to pull Graham from his burning vehicle after it crashed and rolled on U.S. 74-76 near Lake Waccamaw on Oct. 22, 2007.
Both serve as operations clerks with Combat Logistics Battalion 26, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune.
Morse and McCauley were traveling behind Graham when the accident occurred. Morse stopped his vehicle and searched the wreckage, which was engulfed in flames, for victims. McCauley called emergency services, sought out fire extinguishers and attempted to smother the flames. Morse took over the extinguisher and used his body to shield McCauley and Waccamaw police officer Jeff Marlow, as they cut Graham's seat belt and extracted him from the wreckage.
McCauley and Morse rendered first aid and stayed with Graham until emergency responders arrived. Graham succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.
Graham's parents; his grandmother, Arlene Walker; sister, Jennifer; and a friend of the family, Lauren Wynoski, drove from Monroe to attend Thursday's ceremony.
Lt. Col. John Giltz, commanding officer of CLB 26, presented the medals. He commended McCauley and Morse for their selflessness, as well as the Grahams for their efforts to ensure the men were properly recognized for their actions.
"Cpl. McCauley and Cpl. Morse rose to the challenge," Giltz said. "Some of us go our entire life not knowing if we can meet that challenge. ... You rose and put yourselves in danger for someone you never met."
In addition to medals, the Grahams presented Morse and McCauley each with a watch with a personal inscription and a memory bracelet with their son's name on it.
"This is just a small token of our appreciation," Linda Graham said as she hugged each Marine.
After the ceremony, Homer Graham told stories and spoke proudly of his son. He said he will forever wear his son's dog tag and a copy of his son's battle orders alongside his own Vietnam era dog tag.
"Our son was in training with B-Battery, 1st Battalion, 113th Regiment, Field Artillery, to be deployed when this happened," he said. "He wanted to be No. 1 in everything .... He was very gung ho."
Morse and McCauley chose to focus on the Graham family rather than themselves.
"Our condolences to the family - our thoughts and prayers are definitely with them," McCauley said.
The Grahams said the day was part of the family's healing process.
"We never faced anything in our life that hurt that bad," Homer Graham said. "We want these men to know you don't have to fall on a grenade to be a hero."
Contact Topsail area reporter Suzanne Ulbrich at sulbrich@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8466. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.
Ellie