How Do You Repay A Hero's Sacrifice?

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Januaqry 6, 2007 | Michael Phillips

[Man of the Right]

Three years ago, a fellow Marine gave his life to save Kelly Miller. It has been a hard road since. Two mothers join forces

EUREKA, Calif. -- Kelly Miller has the dream once or twice a week.

He's on patrol in Iraq, searching a white Toyota Land Cruiser. The driver lunges out and grabs Cpl. Miller's squad leader, Jason Dunham, around the neck. The Iraqi and Cpl. Dunham tumble to the ground in a ferocious hand-to-hand struggle. Cpl. Miller beats the insurgent with a police baton. Another Marine races over to help. The Iraqi drops a hand grenade.

The force of the explosion lifts Cpl. Dunham into the air, his back arching before he falls back toward the brown-dirt road.

Cpl. Miller wakes up.

[Man of the Right]

You start by awarding Corporal Dunham the Medal of Honor, as President Bush will on Thursday. You support Mr. Dunahm's mom emotionallly, as Kevin Miller's mom has. You dedicate your life to making Corporal Dunham's sacrifice meaningful, as Kelly Miller and Bill Hampton have tried to do. And you honor all of our service members and their families as most Americans do. For non-subscribers, the article describes Kelly Miller's drunk driving accident, which injured his girl friend -- and his unit's support, from the battalion commander to his fellow grunts. It's not easy for a 23-year-old to live with the inowledge that a buddy sacrified his life for yours.

[Spok]

We try to emulate his bravery, not by being brave when it's easy or convenient, but when it matters.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Jason Dunham Memorial

[Man of the Right]

True.

[river rat]

I'm a non church attending Christian in poor standing, but the BEST advice I ever received in my struggle to deal with a similar scenario -- came from a Rabbi I met on a plane, more than 15 years after the war.

He simply advised, "Live the balance of your life as a tribute to his sacrifice and live it righteous enough and full enough for the both of you - you owe him that."

It felt like a huge weight was lifted...

Semper Fi

[PGalt]

"Live the balance of your life as a tribute to his sacrifice and live it righteous enough and full enough for the both of you - you owe him that."


Words of wisdom BUMP!

[pbear8]

How cool that God sent this excellent man to tell you what He wanted you to know.

[CWOJackson]

"How Do You Repay A Hero's Sacrifice?"

You decide to sit out the election because you're angry with the GOP because they don't support your uber-politics.

You ignore his sacrifice and those of his fellow soldiers because nothing is more important then your single issue agenda...including turning over control of the government to people who WILL NOT honor this man or support those still in danger for us.

You do everything in your power to disenfranchise voters because the GOP does not bow to your demands and must pay.

Corporal Dunham deserved better then us. God speed Marine.

[river rat]

Words written in 1779, continue to be appropriate..

Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see.

My only wish is that others could "see" without going through the horrors that many of us required to gain "vision"..

Semper Fi