Posted on 10/10/2016 2:56:15 PM PDT by BBell
Levi Shirley wanted nothing more than to be a Marine. In high school, he taught an informal class on Marine Corps history at the recruiting office a few miles from his house and worked out with the men posted there.
His mother Susan was less excited. Her ex-husband did three combat tours in Vietnam that still haunted him. She didn’t want that for Levi.
At 23, he certainly looked like a Marine: 6 foot 5, rangy with thick brown hair. The problem was his eyesight. Susan put $4,500 on a credit card — many weeks pay at the glass factory where she worked — for Lasik surgery.
His eyesight improved, but not enough, and the Marines still rejected him.
Levi had always been a good kid, a decent student and an inveterate wiseguy. He looked out for special-needs children in school. He adored his little sister Katy. When his mother was sick, he’d place a warm cloth on her forehead.
Now he seemed adrift, uninterested in college and unsure what to do with his life. Susan hated seeing him so disappointed.
One evening as Susan was making dinner, Levi wandered into the kitchen. He had been reading Facebook posts about Islamic State and the Kurdish rebels who had been battling the group in northern Syria.
He had a plan now. “I’m joining a militia to fight ISIS,” he announced.
The outfit he wanted to sign up with was called the YPG, which in Kurdish stood for People’s Protection Units. It was loosely allied with the Kurdish fighters supported by the U.S. in the region, and its commanders eagerly welcomed foreign fighters. A number of young American and Europeans had been joining their ranks, boarding planes for remote battlefields in the Middle East.
“Are you crazy?” Susan asked him.
“Have you really thought
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I wonder if he ever said, “Don’t call me Shirley” ?
Levi Shirley was more man than all of the boys I knew in high school.
God rest his soul and may he join the ranks of the Marines who guard the streets of Heaven.
Semper fi, Levi Shirley.
He killed far more of them than the 1 of him they killed. Good ratio.
Wow...just wow...
Great story, this idealistic young man died trying to make a difference and he did.
He is one of many Obama/Clinton casualties.
That's a little harsh, considering Hillary has probably never performed that act.
I have seen plenty of Marines with glasses...
That’s the first LA times story I’ve read in years. Here was a young man who just saw what was right and did it, regardless of cost. His mom should be proud and our country should mourn his loss. The Obama/Clinton Arab Spring initiative is the gift that keeps on killing.
A hero with a conscience and selfless love for his fellow man.
‘Greater love hath no man’
Either way, it took incredible courage for him to go fight in the capacity he did, without the support that would be involved with serving in our military.
well said.
RIP Levi
A deplorable.
Nice post Meg.
So sad. A remarkable, brave, patriot lost forever. I’ll remember him in my prayers.
They probably had waivers.
The military isn't giving out too many waivers these days. Between downsizing the force and a lousy job market for young people, there's no need for them. People are lined up around the block to enlist and the military is turning away more than they sign up.
A noble man.
A man.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.