thedrifter
05-22-09, 08:40 AM
Marine Veteran Gets Special Visit
Susanne Brunner / Nightline NewsBrief Anchor/Reporter
Last updated: Thursday, May 21st, 2009 10:36:38 PM
KENNEWICK -- A disabled U.S. Marine veteran gets a very special visit at his home in Kennewick Wednesday night.
Long-retired U.S. Marine, Marvin Wood has been connected with the U.S. Marine corp since he first enlisted in 1950, but this is the first time he's met the Four-Star General, James Mattis.
General Mattis is a Tri-City native and a 1968 graduate from Richland High School. He learned about Wood at a Marine Corp luncheon and found out Wood wasn't able to attend due to his health condition. Wood has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which has reduced his lung capacity to 20 percent. General Mattis decided to go to Wood's home to thank him for his 20 years of service.
General Mattis says, "We have a saying in the Marine Corp. "Once a Marine, always a Marine." So Wood is a part of the family here and he's not as physically as good as he was when he was a young Marine. And so i just stopped by to see him and pay my respects to him."
Friends and family joined Wood to mark this special occasion.
"You can't explain it [the feeling], these are pretty special people," Marvin Wood says.
Wood's time in the Marines consisted of serving in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was sprayed with the defoliant chemical agent orange while serving in Vietnam. Wood has been retired for 40 years now and has lived in Kennewick with his wife for almost 20 years.
Ellie
Susanne Brunner / Nightline NewsBrief Anchor/Reporter
Last updated: Thursday, May 21st, 2009 10:36:38 PM
KENNEWICK -- A disabled U.S. Marine veteran gets a very special visit at his home in Kennewick Wednesday night.
Long-retired U.S. Marine, Marvin Wood has been connected with the U.S. Marine corp since he first enlisted in 1950, but this is the first time he's met the Four-Star General, James Mattis.
General Mattis is a Tri-City native and a 1968 graduate from Richland High School. He learned about Wood at a Marine Corp luncheon and found out Wood wasn't able to attend due to his health condition. Wood has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which has reduced his lung capacity to 20 percent. General Mattis decided to go to Wood's home to thank him for his 20 years of service.
General Mattis says, "We have a saying in the Marine Corp. "Once a Marine, always a Marine." So Wood is a part of the family here and he's not as physically as good as he was when he was a young Marine. And so i just stopped by to see him and pay my respects to him."
Friends and family joined Wood to mark this special occasion.
"You can't explain it [the feeling], these are pretty special people," Marvin Wood says.
Wood's time in the Marines consisted of serving in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was sprayed with the defoliant chemical agent orange while serving in Vietnam. Wood has been retired for 40 years now and has lived in Kennewick with his wife for almost 20 years.
Ellie