In The News
Obama visits wounded
Jennifer Hlad (Jacksonville Daily News)
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE — President Barack Obama spoke at Camp Lejeune on Friday in front of thousands of Marines.
He singled out two who could not be there.
On April 25, 2008, the Department of Defense announced the April 22 deaths of Lance Cpl. Jordan C. Haerter, 19, of Sag Harbor, N.Y., and Cpl. Jonathan T. Yale, 21, of Burkeville, Va. were attributed to “wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.”
Less than a year later, the two Camp Lejeune Marines were honored as heroes. [more]
Crestron Honors U.S. Marines with Home Theater
PRO AV News Service
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE — Crestron hosted its second Eagles Program dedication ceremony last week for the Wounded Warriors Battalion East at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Crestron and base officials cut the ribbon on a new home theater donated to provide comfort and entertainment for Americans recovering from injuries sustained during combat overseas. [more]
A Visit From NY
Jennifer Hlad (Jacksonville Daily News)
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE — Friday was Sgt. Mark Schumaker's first day with Wounded Warrior Battalion East, and he walked away carrying a huge plastic bag full of presents.
“Today's the day I checked in ... It's Christmas,” Schumaker said. “I think I've gotten more for Christmas here than I'll get when I go home this year.”
The gifts - including T-shirts, toiletries, snacks, televisions and iPods - were hand-delivered Friday to the Wounded Warrior barracks by volunteer firefighters from Schumaker's home state of New York. [more]
“In Honor of Veterans” LtCol Siebenthal served as the guest speaker at the DAV Veteran's Day Ceremony.
Suzanne Ulbrich (Jacksonville Daily News)
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Nine-year-old Jacob Garcia is familiar with service to the country.
“My father is a Marine, my cousin is in the Navy and my grandfather was a Marine,” said Jacob, who attended Tuesday's Veterans Day Ceremony with his mom Karen Garcia and grandmother Martha Kent as a way to honor those veterans in their family as well as those in their community.
The Disabled American Veterans Chapter 16 held the event as a tribute to veterans past and present. [more]
“The Real Heroes Take Center Stage” SSgt Jackson and Cpl Gray are guests at a Carolina Panthers game.
Andrew Mason (Panthers.com)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — C.J. Wilson's eyes lit up Tuesday.
They were as wide as the light bulbs above the field at Bank of America Stadium, and his smile was just as bright. In one hand, he clutched a laundry marker, looking for someone — anyone — to sign the gray t-shirt he carried.
The only thing that reminded you that he was 23 years old — and not 16 years younger — was his 6-foot-1 inch frame and the moustache above his upper lip. He was, for this moment, a young boy coming face to face with his heroes. [more]
“'I want to be a Marine,' says Injured Lance Corporal” BAMC patient LCpl Matthew Bradford talks about his future plans-hopefully in the Marines.
Tony Perry
It's common for Marines wounded in combat to want to remain in the corps despite their injuries.
But few have shown the grit of Lance Cpl. Matthew Ryan Bradford, who lost his eyesight and both legs in an explosion in Haditha, Iraq, on Jan. 18, 2007.
The 22-year-old spent months in military and Veterans Affairs hospitals, undergoing surgeries, being fitted for prosthetic eyes and learning to walk on prosthetic legs. [more]
ECU Students Design Prototype Wounded Warrior Barracks
Jennifer Hlad (Jacksonville Daily News)
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE — As the Marine Corps and Camp Lejeune move forward with construction on a new barracks and care center for wounded warriors, some East Carolina University interior design students had the opportunity to offer their own insight for the project.
A handful of ECU students in the College of Human Ecology have spent most of the semester designing a wounded warrior barracks - creating plans for the space they would create if money was no object.
“We're dreaming about the barracks of the future,” said Hunt McKinnon, a lecturer at ECU who oversaw the students' work and accompanied three of the students to Camp Lejeune on Wednesday to present the designs. [more]
Landstuhl Marines Celebrate Birthday
Steve Mraz (Stars & Stripes)
LANDSTUHL, Germany — Tradition was upheld Friday afternoon at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center as the U.S. Marine Corps celebrated its 233rd birthday.
A full crowd at Landstuhl’s Heaton Auditorium watched as the Marines paid tribute to their heritage with cake, a video from the Marine Corps commandant and a guest speech. [more]
Staying Power: Marines Call Wounded Care Highest Priority After War
Fred W. Baker III (American Forces Press Service)
WASHINGTON — Marine Lt. Gen. Ronald S. Coleman, deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs, spoke with American Forces Press Service about the Marine Corps' wounded warrior care program and the Corps' policy of allowing seriously injured Marines to return to active duty. The following questions and answers were taken from that interview. [more]
Wounded Warrior Diaries: Marine Celebrates 'My Life' Day of Recovery
Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg
WASHINGTON — Some people join the military for the educational opportunities, or for the travel benefits. Others join for the challenge.
Seeking that challenge was the main motivator for one young Marine who joined the Corps in January 2002. Staff Sgt. Daniel Kachmar, who grew up in Pittsburgh, said he had a calling to join the Marine Corps. [more]
Staying Power: Marine Returns to Help Others on Road to Recovery
Fred W. Baker III (American Forces Press Service)
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO — When Marine Staff Sgt. Daniel Kachmar extends his right hand to greet combat wounded Marines, there is an instant rapport.
A combat veteran himself, having fought in both Iraq and Afghanistan, Kachmar, 24, can trade stories of blood and war; of buddies lost and battles fought. [more]
Call Center Provides Assistance to Wounded Marines
Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg
WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment's Call Center is dedicated to helping wounded Marines and their families with various issues and referral assistance.
Navy Cmdr. William Tanner, the Wounded Warrior Regiment's regimental surgeon, said the call center is operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week. [more]
November is Warrior Care Month
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
The Secretary of Defense Robert F. Gates announced that November is Warrior Care Month today. Warrior Care Month is a DoD wide effort aimed at increasing awareness of programs and resources available to wounded, ill, and injured service members, their families, and those who care about them. [more]
New Regiment Lets Marines Take Care of Marines
Fred W. Baker III (American Forces Press Service)
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE — In January 2006, as Marine Lt. Ray Baronie was lying in a hospital bed recovering from wounds he suffered in Iraq, a Marine lieutenant colonel in his dress uniform, sporting a question mark-shaped scar on the side of his head, paid him a visit. [more]
