Brothers and Sisters, I have a story to tell about this Marine.
Late on a September evening in 1968, I was returning from home in Maryland to my station at USNH Quantico. I was driving southbound down I-95 in my 1970 VW Bug in Virginia approaching the Occoquan River when I apparently fell asleep at the wheel. I drove in this state for about a half-mile across what is now known as the Purple Heart Bridge and woke up immediately behind an 18 wheeler, which I collided with. I bounced off him and careened off to the left, crossing the median just south of the bridge. (There was no barrier in those days between the northbound and southbound lanes.)
I rolled across the northbound lanes until I reached the rightmost lane, where the front end of my car was flattened by a northbound 18 wheeler. He caught me with the rear wheels - if I had been there a split second earlier I would have been a goner. After bouncing off him, I came to rest near the right shoulder, still on the road. Flames began to rise from the ruptured gas tank. I struggled to get out of the car and was ultimately able to loosen the seat belt and open the door.
The impact of the second collision was so great that my pelvis was injured and I had to crawl away from the car. I made it only ten or twelve feet under my own power.
Suddenly, a number of Marines in utilities appeared on the scene. They were apparently returning from a night training exercise. They carried me 20 or 30 yards away from the burning car. Almost immediately the gas tank exploded, shooting flames high into the air. I was able to focus on the Marine who was taking charge and read his name tag - "Chase."
The ambulance came and took me to Quantico, where I was admitted through the ER to the surgical ward on which I normally served as Senior Corpsman. I saw the CO of the Hospital, Capt. Stalter, the next day. He asked me, and I was able to inform him, of the identity of the officer who led my rescue. I assume he received a well earned letter in his jacket at the least. He visited me during my hospitalization and we had a nice conversation.
I have never seen or heard of Lt. Chase in the many years that have intervened. He and his Marines very possibly saved my life. Had I lain in the spot where they found me, I probably would have burned to death. Everything in the car that was not steel was vaporized.
This event was my first experience of the Brotherhood that binds us together. Happy to say, it was not the last.
Semper Fi!
Doc
Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)