thedrifter
11-03-06, 07:19 AM
A Brave Wish
Terminally ill boy becomes honorary Marine
Published Friday November 3 2006
By LORI YOUNT
The Beaufort Gazette
Sgt. Brandon Rasnick joined the Marine Corps "so the world is safe."
And during his short time in the Corps, the 7-year-old honorary Marine from Florida, donning a miniature set of camies and freckled dimples, commanded a Black Hawk helicopter, swept a building for insurgents, learned to bark orders like a drill instructor and is attending a Marine Corps birthday ball today in a sharp blue dress uniform.
To help him in his missions, dozens of Marines past and present gathered on Parris Island on Thursday to make Brandon's wish of becoming a Marine come true.
Brandon has cystic fibrosis, an inherited chronic disease in which unusually thick, sticky mucus clogs the lungs and causes infections. Make-a-Wish-Foundation, which works to make wishes come true for children with life-threatening illnesses, granted him a wish about 1 1/2 years ago. Brandon said he "wanted to save the world; he wanted to be a soldier," said Brandon's mother, Deanne Rasnick.
"It shows me what a genuinely good person he is," she said. "It's what he felt from his heart."
Brandon already spent one week at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and visited with Marines from the 4th Landing Support Battalion based in Savannah this week, including Wednesday's helicopter ride.
At Parris Island on Thursday, Brandon received a "high-and-tight" haircut, took orders from drill instructors, ate in a mess hall, learned some martial arts and drill and received a set of camies and dress blues specially made for his size.
He replied with "thank you" in a hoarse voice typical of drill instructors and recruits in training because they shout everything they say.
Chris Wildenthaler, a former Marine and member of the local Women Marines Association, spent five months fashioning Brandon's dress blues from a donated adult uniform. He'll wear them when he accompanies his mother to the base's ball for enlisted personnel tonight.
"It gives me a lot of prestige to have made his wish come true, and he's able to attend the ball in proper uniform," she said, her eyes watering. "Maybe if he comes back when he's old enough, he might be able to go through boot camp and wear the real
thing."
Brandon, his mother and his 13-year-old sister, Marissa, will return home to Fort Myers, Fla., Saturday. But Brandon said if his health permits, he'll be back to Parris Island.
"I'd like to go into Iraq," he said of his aspirations as a Marine. "To save people and so they don't bomb our country."
http://beaufortgazette.com/ips_rich_content/20061103_NWS_Make_A_Wish_1_11032006-large.jpg
Bob Sofaly/Gazette
Drill instructors with D-Company, First Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, had their hearts softened by a 7-year-old boy who wanted to become a Marine. Brandon Rasnick, who has cystic fibrosis, had the red carpet rolled out for him as he was issued his official U.S. Marine Corps drill instructors cover and frame by Delta Company 1st Sgt. Ansil Lewis on Thursday afternoon.
http://beaufortgazette.com/ips_rich_content/20061103_NWS_Make_A_Wish_2_11032006-large.jpg
ob Sofaly/Gazette
Sgt. Mark Allen, a drill instructor with Delta Company, First Recruit Training Battalion at U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, shows Brandon Rasnick where recruits sleep and stow their gear. Rasnick, who has cystic fibrosis, was given a uniform, a drill instructor hat and a new set of dress blues to attend today's Marine Corps Birthday Ball.
Ellie
Terminally ill boy becomes honorary Marine
Published Friday November 3 2006
By LORI YOUNT
The Beaufort Gazette
Sgt. Brandon Rasnick joined the Marine Corps "so the world is safe."
And during his short time in the Corps, the 7-year-old honorary Marine from Florida, donning a miniature set of camies and freckled dimples, commanded a Black Hawk helicopter, swept a building for insurgents, learned to bark orders like a drill instructor and is attending a Marine Corps birthday ball today in a sharp blue dress uniform.
To help him in his missions, dozens of Marines past and present gathered on Parris Island on Thursday to make Brandon's wish of becoming a Marine come true.
Brandon has cystic fibrosis, an inherited chronic disease in which unusually thick, sticky mucus clogs the lungs and causes infections. Make-a-Wish-Foundation, which works to make wishes come true for children with life-threatening illnesses, granted him a wish about 1 1/2 years ago. Brandon said he "wanted to save the world; he wanted to be a soldier," said Brandon's mother, Deanne Rasnick.
"It shows me what a genuinely good person he is," she said. "It's what he felt from his heart."
Brandon already spent one week at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and visited with Marines from the 4th Landing Support Battalion based in Savannah this week, including Wednesday's helicopter ride.
At Parris Island on Thursday, Brandon received a "high-and-tight" haircut, took orders from drill instructors, ate in a mess hall, learned some martial arts and drill and received a set of camies and dress blues specially made for his size.
He replied with "thank you" in a hoarse voice typical of drill instructors and recruits in training because they shout everything they say.
Chris Wildenthaler, a former Marine and member of the local Women Marines Association, spent five months fashioning Brandon's dress blues from a donated adult uniform. He'll wear them when he accompanies his mother to the base's ball for enlisted personnel tonight.
"It gives me a lot of prestige to have made his wish come true, and he's able to attend the ball in proper uniform," she said, her eyes watering. "Maybe if he comes back when he's old enough, he might be able to go through boot camp and wear the real
thing."
Brandon, his mother and his 13-year-old sister, Marissa, will return home to Fort Myers, Fla., Saturday. But Brandon said if his health permits, he'll be back to Parris Island.
"I'd like to go into Iraq," he said of his aspirations as a Marine. "To save people and so they don't bomb our country."
http://beaufortgazette.com/ips_rich_content/20061103_NWS_Make_A_Wish_1_11032006-large.jpg
Bob Sofaly/Gazette
Drill instructors with D-Company, First Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, had their hearts softened by a 7-year-old boy who wanted to become a Marine. Brandon Rasnick, who has cystic fibrosis, had the red carpet rolled out for him as he was issued his official U.S. Marine Corps drill instructors cover and frame by Delta Company 1st Sgt. Ansil Lewis on Thursday afternoon.
http://beaufortgazette.com/ips_rich_content/20061103_NWS_Make_A_Wish_2_11032006-large.jpg
ob Sofaly/Gazette
Sgt. Mark Allen, a drill instructor with Delta Company, First Recruit Training Battalion at U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, shows Brandon Rasnick where recruits sleep and stow their gear. Rasnick, who has cystic fibrosis, was given a uniform, a drill instructor hat and a new set of dress blues to attend today's Marine Corps Birthday Ball.
Ellie