Posted on 01/28/2008 4:35:13 PM PST by SandRat
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Jan. 28, 2008) -- Sgt. Jeremy F. Boutwell, a 23-year-old Marine, knows a thing or two about “honor, courage and commitment.”
Boutwell, an intelligence specialist with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, is planning for an upcoming deployment to Iraq after sustaining severe injuries during an attack in Al Anbar Province, March 14, 2004.
Boutwell was an MK-19 machine gunner with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force (forward), when the attack occurred during a motorized routine patrol.
“We were going on a patrol about to cross the Euphrates River, a spot we crossed about every day, and for some reason we stopped,” Boutwell explained. “I looked to the left and I heard a loud noise like an explosion and everything went black after that.”
The thunderous explosion caused Boutwell to lose consciousness, but he was able to regain awareness moments later.
“It felt kind of weird but everything came crashing down to reality after a while,” said Boutwell, who was a lance corporal at the time of the attack. “I could feel myself being pulled out of the truck and I could hear my buddies yelling. I could hear and feel everything, I just couldn’t see anything. The last thing I remember was the wind from the chopper. When I woke up a few days later I was in Germany.”
Boutwell said he was then transferred from Germany to Bethesda, Md., to San Antonio, where he stayed for two years undergoing a total of 18 surgeries. Boutwell depicted the pain of no longer being “in the fight” with his Marine brethren as one of the toughest moments of his life.
“Honestly, leaving Iraq was the worst time of my life,” Boutwell expressed. “It was nice being around home for about the first month because I got to see my family and friends, but then it tore me up inside knowing my buddies were still heavily engaged at the time (in Iraq).”
Boutwell said he never lost his desire to be a Marine during the surgeries and his ensuing recovery, but quickly found himself in another battle: the fight to reenlist.
“I didn’t want to get out of the Marine Corps, and I wanted to go back to Iraq,” Boutwell said. “Headquarters tried to retire me from the Corps when I was stuck down in Texas for my surgeries. But I didn’t want to get out, so I fought the decision and they finally let me lateral move to a different (military occupational specialty) and reenlist. You just really got to believe in being a Marine and believe in what you’re doing and that’ll carry you as far as you want to go.”
Boutwell is now preparing for a second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“I feel good about going back to Iraq,” Boutwell said. “I’ve been trying to go back for almost four years.”
Boutwell said he is excited about seeing the positive changes between his last deployment and his upcoming deployment.
“I’m going to be happy to see the differences from the way it was (in 2004),” Boutwell said. “The last time I was there we were in the middle of a firefight everyday, and now it’s a lot calmer. I know just from my experience from being over there the first time--we definitely made a difference over there.”
Boutwell, with the battalion’s deployment approaching, has set a few personal goals he would like to accomplish while in country.
“I want to come home without a scratch, try to learn a lot while I am there, go out on patrols and get to see and talk to the locals--you know, do something interesting,” Boutwell said.
awesome.
BUMP for excellence!
(( ping ))
Crazy son of a gun : )
How can anybody not love these guys??
Honor bound. No way else to view it.
I’ll repeat my response to Lancy. Honor bound. No way else to view it.
You just really got to believe in being a Marine and believe in what you’re doing and that’ll carry you as far as you want to go.”
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It is heartwarming to know that some traditions are still held in high esteem.
SEMPER FI Marine, from an ‘Old Gator’
Well done, Marine!
Semper Fi!
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