Double amputee still serves Corps as martial arts instructor

USMC Press Release ^ | Aug. 22, 2005 | Cpl. Jonathan Agg

[IonImplantGuru]

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va(Aug. 22, 2005) -- Throughout the annals of Marine Corps history, inspired quotations have framed the heroics of great Marines, transforming passing moments into epic legends to be forever retold and celebrated by the generations of warriors who follow.

Never to be forgotten is the rallying cry of Gunnery Sgt. Dan Daly at the Battle of Belleau Wood, France, on June 4, 1918: “Come on you son’s of bitches! Do you want to live forever?”

[snip]
So too will a contemporary Marine be remembered, not only for his extraordinary act of courage and composure under fire, but for a few plainly spoken words that captured the hearts of citizens and generals alike: “Sir, I couldn’t pass out. I was in charge.”

Spoken by then Cpl. James Wright, these simple words epitomized the fighting spirit of the Marine NCO.

Wright, now a sergeant, was retelling the harrowing experience of how he lost both hands and suffered wounds to a leg in an insurgent ambush in Iraq from his hospital bed at Bethesda National Naval Medical Center. Sitting at his bedside was Major Gen. Thomas S. Jones, Training and Education Command commanding general, who was visiting wounded veterans at the hospital that day.

Jones listened to the young reconnaissance Marine explain how he continued to lead his Marines in returning fire and eventually out of the kill zone. Amazed, the general asked how he managed to keep from going into shock and passing out. Wright replied, “Sir, I couldn’t pass out. I was in charge.”

[IonImplantGuru]

Semper Fi, Leatherneck!

[LongElegantLegs]

Marines don't die without permission.

[RichInOC]

“Sir, I couldn’t pass out. I was in charge.”

There's a guy who clanks when he walks.

[dighton]

“Sir, I couldn’t pass out. I was in charge.”

[clintonh8r]

One of my instructors at The Basic School (1968) was a double amputee (legs). I'll never forget him.

[Mo1]

PING

[capydick]

“Sir, I couldn’t pass out. I was in charge.”

Compare this character with the man who said

It depends on what the definition of is is. And:

"A lot of wonderful people love their country and hate the military.

[Brad's Gramma]

Ping, Tonkin...thanks for the ping, Mo...and God BLESS this man!!!

[Americanwolf]

OOOH RRAAH!

[MikefromOhio]

[ghostrider]

Ouch! What a good epitaph for the rapist.

[ASOC]

Solid brass, no doubt about it.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Some guys just aren't into that post-traumatic stess stuff. This guy is a real Marine. That maggot Swofford is just a braindead "Jarhead." Guess which one the Leftwing kooks in Hollyweird make a movie about.

[rightwinggoth]

http://www.5minutestolive.com/quicktime/mrnolegs.html

[LasVegasMac]

Solid brass, no doubt about it.

No way. Brass is too soft.

Stainless steel.

Warrior - defined.

LVM

[Pilsner]

Enhglish pilot Douglas Bader lost both legs in an airplane crash in the 1930s. It ended his RAF career, until WWII broke out, when he was allowed to come back as an instructor. Shortly thereafter he got a slot as a combat pilot and became one of the RAF's leading aces. He was shot down over France and set out the last half of the war in a German POW camp.

[LongElegantLegs]

Oooh, that was quick! ;-)

[MikefromOhio]

yep hehe

[Pilsner]

Just read the whole story. I know the Corps is trying to resist award inflation, but all this guy gets is a Bronze Star?

[SandRat]

OK some of you might need these.

[DAC22]

To steal a quote:

"where do they find these men"

[MNJohnnie]

Sir, I couldn’t pass out. I was in charge.” ,p> And there is the source of America's greatness made clear. To the Creator, I give thanks that in this sad and sorry age, my country still produces men like this.

[SandRat]

In today's military they step forward on their own to stand as Horatio at the Gate guarding the citizenry from the barbarians.

[Lazamataz]

Incredible story; stupendous man.

[lowbridge]

bump

[Rummyfan]

"where do they find these men"

My sentiments exactly. Where do we find these men?

[opbuzz]

This ain't the Army, where a SF Lt Col can get a Bronze Star for being the admin officer!

[Panzerfaust]

For over 200 years, the Marines have not had to find these men. Rather, these men have found the Marines. I can only believe that they somehow just know that the Marines need them and they answer the call.

[phoenix0468]

When I was 16 I was given a waiver to join the military and was being recruited by the Navy. I went to the fair that year, just after turning 17 and bumped into the Marine recruiter. He had a pull up bar and was challenging young men like myself to do some. I was there with my brother and we set out on a competition. he jumped up there, and being in pretty good shape, pumped out 35 or so pull ups. Not bad for a man of any age. I had been in wrestling for the past six years and was in better shape, I stopped at 60. I thought it was a nice round number. "Why did you stop?" the Marine Gunny asked me. "I didn't feel like showing off." was my reply to him. He told me I would make a fine Marine. I thanked him and told him I was joining the Navy, to his chagrin.

Thinking back on that day (often) I feel I made the worst mistake of my life. I should have joined the Marines. I would have done well with the physical challenges of the Marine Corp., but what I needed most at that time was the character building it would have given me.

Keep up the great work Marines, Semper Fi.

[phoenix0468]

When I was 16 I was given a waiver to join the military and was being recruited by the Navy. I went to the fair that year, just after turning 17 and bumped into the Marine recruiter. He had a pull up bar and was challenging young men like myself to do some. I was there with my brother and we set out on a competition. he jumped up there, and being in pretty good shape, pumped out 35 or so pull ups. Not bad for a man of any age. I had been in wrestling for the past six years and was in better shape, I stopped at 60. I thought it was a nice round number. "Why did you stop?" the Marine Gunny asked me. "I didn't feel like showing off." was my reply to him. He told me I would make a fine Marine. I thanked him and told him I was joining the Navy, to his chagrin.

Thinking back on that day (often) I feel I made the worst mistake of my life. I should have joined the Marines. I would have done well with the physical challenges of the Marine Corp., but what I needed most at that time was the character building it would have given me.

Keep up the great work Marines, Semper Fi.

[Calpernia]

Throughout the annals of Marine Corps history, inspired quotations have framed the heroics of great Marines, transforming passing moments into epic legends to be forever retold and celebrated by the generations of warriors who follow.

Never to be forgotten is the rallying cry of Gunnery Sgt. Dan Daly at the Battle of Belleau Wood, France, on June 4, 1918: “Come on you son’s of bitches! Do you want to live forever?”

[Calpernia]

Thanks for the ping!

[Larry Lucido]

Wright replied, “Sir, I couldn’t pass out. I was in charge.”

Future Senator, Governor, or President material.

[Delta 21]

Outstanding read! Hardcore Marine bump.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[roaddog727]

Bump

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[USMCPOP]

Makes me proud to be a part of the Marine Corps family.

Here's another young Marine who was wounded but wants to stay in, in case his platoon goes back to the sandbox.

http://www.tackledesign.com/about.php

Scroll down to the picture of Capt. Kuniholm.

[IonImplantGuru]

He [double amputee Dauglas Bader, British WW II ace) was shot down over France and set out the last half of the war in a German POW camp.

As a Stalag prisoner, Bader made several escape attempts. The frustrated Jerries finally confiscated his artificial legs to prevent further attempts.

[nutmeg]

ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Now facing a medical board that will likely end his career, Wright refuses to sit idly by.

The Marine was offered, and eagerly accepted, a job as a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instructor at the Martial Arts Center of Excellence here for at least the next several months until he is medically retired from the Marine Corps.

Wright said he was grateful for the chance to return a sense of normalcy to his life. “As active as I was as a Marine, it wasn’t in my nature to be sitting around (the hospital) doing nothing,” said Wright. “For me to have the opportunity to come back to work has reintroduced me to my life and my passion to be a Marine. I’m grateful for them giving me a chance to come down here. They didn’t know what to expect, so it was a big step on their part.”

Thanks for this wonderful and heartwarming story.

[RaceBannon]

One of the guys from my Church got a bronze star for serving in Kuwait in this war for his excellence in pushing papers and materials.

[RaceBannon]

Amazed, the general asked how he managed to keep from going into shock and passing out. Wright replied, “Sir, I couldn’t pass out. I was in charge.”

Ya know, I got chiggers once at Camp Lejuene.......

[The Red Zone]

Jones listened to the young reconnaissance Marine explain how he continued to lead his Marines in returning fire

Shooting back sans hands... now that's quite a trick.

[JoeSixPack1]

...I got chiggers once at Camp Lejuene.......

Obviously you used the wrong restroom in j'ville!! (or you were hanging around swoop circle too long) I know, I know,, chiggers... yeah right! :-)

Semper Fi, Sgt James Wright, you are a Marine's Marine.

[Ulysses]

This is the same Marine who was shown saluting President Reagan's casket back in '04. Great story...

[metesky]

Yes please. I'm a pretty hard bitten old man, but somebody seems to have turned the faucet on.

[stumpy]

This "old" Viet Nam Marine Corporal had the opportunity to imbibe a few "libations" with this young man 5 days before he returned to Iraq and was wounded. Semper Fi "Eddie", Come back and I'll do it again.

[semaj]

Want to read some good quotes? Then check this out:

The Legend Continues.