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By
Home Builder with Jesse Clifton & Associates AREC License #15292
There are moments I long for days gone by. A time when the country and world were different. More civil. More respectful of the gifts God gave us. When I was a boy it seemed the world really understood the word respect. Your parents drilled it into you day after day. You showed respect to your parents, to your elders and you certainly showed respect for the men and women in uniform who faithfully and valiantly serve the United States of America.

Gunnery Sergeant William Spanky Gibson 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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Comments (10)

Bill Kennedy
Keller Williams Greenville Upstate - Greenville, SC
Homes For Sale Greenville SC

Great point.  I was lucky to be taught respect by my father, a World War II veteran, and I hope to pass that on to my son.  We need to be VERY thankful to the men and women in uniform, both military and civil.

May 11, 2008 04:04 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Jesse,

God bless each Marine, wherever he or she is deployed, on this Mother's Day.

Mike in Tucson

May 11, 2008 04:06 PM
Lynda Eisenmann
Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA
Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Hi Jesse,

That's an amazing quote by Pres. Reagan, I've not heard that one before. Thank you for sharing it.

Gunnery Sergeant Gibson sounds like one amazing person himself. It makes me proud to be an American just to read about him. Seeing someone like that come across the finish line at a marathon is an inspiring experience. My sister and I werre registered for the Marine Corp Marathon in fall of 2001 and then stayed home right after 9/11.

Last year I did the L.A. Marathon and met an amazing Marine who had been blinded in Iraq. He did the marathon with his familie's help. Another amazing American.

 

May 11, 2008 04:45 PM
Kevin O'Shea
Coldwell Banker - White Plains, NY
White Plains, NY Real Estate

Thanks for letting us know about a brave Marine,  there is no reason why everyone who reads this can't take a minute to write a line or 2 or just a thank you.

All the best

May 11, 2008 05:34 PM
Kathy W. Clifton
Jesse Clifton Real Estate - Fairbanks, AK

The men and women in uniform certainly deserve our respect and gratitude.  Go Marines!

May 11, 2008 06:22 PM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Good post Jesse. As a Marine - Semper Fi  - - -

May 11, 2008 08:25 PM
Linda Scanlan
A Fan of AR - Burleson, TX

Jesse - thanks for this post. I just went to Simon's and left a short note. I am so thankful for our troops.

May 11, 2008 10:06 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Jesse:  GREAT patriotic post--what an awesome story!  Don't you wish more Americans had that determination and passion to represent our country and the humanity to help others--even WITH all of our limbs, we'd be hard-pressed to have this drive.  God Bless our troops.

Debe in Charlotte

May 11, 2008 11:55 PM
Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Hello Jesse,
Yes, I read and commented on Simon's post.  Respect for self, others and country....what an important lesson to learn.  Thank you.

May 12, 2008 03:51 AM
Jesse Clifton
Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

Bill - It's up to each generation to teach the next.. some, sadly, have dropped the ball.

Mike - Amen... thanks for stopping in Mike.

Lynda - Reading about folks like Gunny does make your chest swell with pride, doesn't it?  I can't help but be in awe of folks of all stripes who overcome such adversity.

Kevin - I agree.. thanks for checking it out.

KW - Yes, Ma'am.  I so agree.

Micheal - As a Marine... no such thing as a 'former' Marine is there? :)

Linda - Wonderful.. thank you!

Debe - I'm always amazed at the drive they guys have... it probably helps to be 20 something, but it's much more than that.

Cynthia - Respect for self, others and country....what an important lesson to learn.  It's one of the most important I think.

May 12, 2008 12:46 PM