'Lost Boy' finds the Marine Corps

The Grand Rapids Press ^ | 05/12/2005 | Ted Roelofs

[murdocj]

WYOMING [(MI)]-- He lost his parents at age 4 to his homeland's brutal civil war. He survived a 600-mile march to neighboring Ethiopia. Then, this "Lost Boy" of Sudan languished in a Kenyan refugee camp for nine years before coming to West Michigan as a refugee in 2000.

Now, Simon Majak figures it's time that he gives back -- by putting on the uniform of the U.S. Marine Corps.

"This is my new country," said Majak, 22, who expects to ship out Saturday for boot camp in California. "Joining the Marines is my way of saying thank you."

[murdocj]

From my town and on the front page of the GR Press yesterday.

[timtoews5292004]

Sounds like a young man of outstanding character. May God bless his life in the Marines and beyond.

[texas_mrs]

GOD BLESS HIM!!!!!!!!!!!

[tet68]

Thank YOU Simon, will be proud to call you a fellow
MARINE.

Ooorah!

[SFC Chromey]

OUTSTANDING!

[TightyRighty]

For a minute I thought you were talking about one of these Lost Boys:

They don't look like Marine material though!

[SAMS]

Gunnery Sgt. Olsen was confident he would pass as well. "He is a smart kid. He just has a problem with the language barrier."

Which will probably cause him a problem in boot camp..this young man has all my prayers!! God Bless him.

[Aleighanne]

God Bless him! And Good Luck!

[lsee]

Some of these lost boys have grown up to be some of the most patient, soulful people I have ever met. My sister's church hosted a group of these young men a couple of years ago and every single one of them seemed to have a depth of character you'd expect in someone much older, possibly from having been the caregiver to so many other younger children their whole lives. Some orphans might go through similar circumstances and become hardened in such a way that they see only their own needs. Many of these orphans, on the other hand, took solace in their hardships by taking on the lives of others above their own needs. Their story is a moving one. I wish this fellow the best.

[marron]

quoting:

Majak knows he may end up in Iraq.

But as one who endured so much just to make it to America, he is philosophical about the risks.

"I don't consider that a lot," he said of combat. "If you are in the fire, you can get out. Your days are calculated by God."

[FeeinTennessee]

Thank God for great men like him! I wish him luck! I've heard of the Lost Boys. They strived hard in the US to make it and loves America. I just wish everyone who comes here has the same attitude.

[Mr. Jazzy]

God bless that man.

He will earn his (our) Eagle, Globe and Anchor!


Semper Fi

[Gator101]

They don't look like Marine material though!

Yeah, but I bet they would be pretty good at night-ops!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We have many Spanish speaking young men joining the Marines. I'm sure he will catch the DI's drift pretty quickly without a perfect command of English.

[Balding_Eagle]

Good catch.

[murdocj]

Just found this, as well, from 2000:

The epic journey, covering thousands of miles, was done on foot. They often went without food and water, while facing the perils of wild animals and constant fighting. Many cannot remember exactly where their journey began.

"It was very hard, very terrible, with no food and water for days. We suffered a lot and there was much fighting," said Simon Majak, 17, as he sat nervously in the check-in area of Nairobi's international airport.

He was dressed in a white sweat shirt emblazoned with the U.S. Refugee Program logo, blue trousers and new white tennis shoes provided by the International Organization for Migration, which is organizing the resettlement program. He said his parents were killed in the war in 1992.

Sitting next to him was his 15-year-old sister, Adeng, who, with the help of relatives, made it to Kakuma after their parents died. Now, they only have each other, Simon said, and the prospect of a new and safer life.

"I'm going to save my life there. It's going to be a better life," he said. "I hope to get work. I do not know what type because I have not been there, but I will get the work I can do."

at http://www.sudanlostboys.org/articles/201222_sudanese_lost_boys_prepare.htm

How many 17 year-olds say that and then follow through? This guy is a winner. He'll overcome any language trouble to make a good Marine. I'm positive.

[marmar]

Oh........I don't know. He did survive a 600 mil march. That was determination.....He was young and with little food and water. I think he will do fine. His big plus is his faith.

[twigs]

I've seen these lost boys from Sudan on TV from time to time. Life has not been easy for them, but for the most part, they've really tried to put the worst behind them and make the most of their futures. This young man sounds like he'll make an excellent marine!

[Blood of Tyrants]

May God protect and bless you, Simon Majak.

[RonF]

Are these guys citizens? As far as I am concerned, any non-citizen with an Honorable Discharge should be immediately granted citizenship. If a non-citizen is KIA, that privilege should devolve to their spouse and heirs.