Ronald Reagan once said "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children what it was once like in the United States when men were free."
One of the men ensuring that freedom doesn't fade into annals of history is Gunnery Sergeant William "Spanky" Gibson. Gunnery Sergeant Gibson deployed to Iraq in January of 2006 with the United States Marine Corp. While conducting a foot patrol, he was shot by a sniper in his left knee while attempting to pull an injured Iraqi soldier out of harms way. The injuries he sustained caused him to lose his left leg, just above the knee.
After an agonizing rehabilitation and being fitted with a special prosthetic leg, Gunnery Sergeant Gibson went on to train for and compete in the Marine Corp Marathon as well as compete in the "Escape from Alcatraz" swim. A grueling feat for anyone. Then again, Gunny in no ordinary man. He's a United States Marine. Ooh-Rah!
The sacrifices that make him an extraordinary human being are shrugged off as being just part of the job. After an chance meeting with Marine Corp General James Mattis, he was asked what, if anything Mattis could do for him. His reply? To re-deploy to Iraq. He got his wish. He returned to Iraq as the first full leg amputee to return to the front lines.
"The Iraqis are where we were 232 years ago as a nation. Now they're starting a new nation, and that's one of my big reasons for coming back here. I wanted to tell the people of this country that I'm back to help wherever I can." Gunnery Sergeant Gibson.
Some people work an entire lifetime and wonder if they ever made a difference to the world. Marines don't have that problem. Amen.
Simon Conway had the privilege of interviewing Gunnery Sergeant Gibson on his radio show yesterday. In a blog about the show, Simon mentions that Gunny wants letters - lots of them.
This is your opportunity to say thank you to a true American hero. Please do me a favor and take a second to send a short note to the Gunny, via Simon or if you don't have time leave a few words in the comments section of his blog. Simon will be forwarding the letters and/or emails to the Gunny and his buddies. It will only take a second and it would mean the world to the guys to know they are in our thoughts and prayers.
God Bless
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