[pct-l] Fw: A True Hero

[Reinhold Metzger]

I know this is not exactly on topic but being that it is Veterans Day, and
many of our fellow hikers are veterans and Donna's son Tom is a medic in a
combat unit in Iraq, I believe this post is appropriate.

The following are excerpts from two articles in today's San Diego Union.

''Cpl. Dunham did not hesitate. He jumped on the grenade to protect his
fellow Marines.  He used his helmet and his body to absorb the blast.''

Dunham, who died eight days after throwing himself on the grenade to save
the lives of two of his comrades on April 22, 2004, will be awarded the
Medal of Honor.

''Dunham would have been 25 years old yesterday, which was the Marine Corps
231st birthday. A s long as we have Marines like Cpl. Dunham, America will
never fear for her liberty.''

Cpl. Dunham served in the 7th Regiment of the 1st Marine Division, the same
unit I served in, in Vietnam, 40 years ago.
            ----------------------------------------
''With every award received and every news story published, Petty Officer
3rd Class Nathaniel R. Leoncio is becoming a military legend.

It began with his bravery on Oct. 4, 2005, in southern Ramadi.
The Navy Corpsman was serving as a medic for a Marine unit on patrol when a
series of roadside bombs struck their convoy. The explosions killed one
Marine and seriously injured three other men, including Leoncio.
At least two bombs detonated under the 6-ton Humvee that carried Leoncio,
flipping it upside down and on top of him, severing his right leg just below
the knee.
Although his right thighbone was shattered and he was bleeding internally,
Leoncio refused to be evacuated. He ignored his wounds and cared for a
severely injured Marine, likely saving the man's life.....
''Doc'' Leoncio was spitting up blood, he had shrapnel in his stomach, and
had lost so much blood, he had every right to be worried about his own
injuries, but he wasn't.
So he wouldn't bleed to death, Leoncio calmly told a marine to tie a
tourniquet on his injured leg. As he gave the instructions, Leoncio treated
a platoon commander who was bleeding profusely from a fist-sized shrapnel
wound in his hip.
Capt. Rory Quinn, who was riding in a Humwee behind Leoncio's, described
what it took to get the corpsman to leave the scene.
We had to lie to ''Doc'' and tell him all the Marines had been taken off the
battlefield before he would allow himself to be moved....
At the April 6 award ceremony at Camp Pendleton, where he was awarded the
Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device, ''Doc'' Leoncio said the
following:          ''We'd do anything for each other.   I love my Marines.
They saved my life that day.''

Is it any wonder why  the medic, corpsman, or ''Doc'' is the most beloved
and respected member of any combat unit?............Their selfless
dedication to care for and save the lives off their comrades is legendary.

Yes, I'm proud of  ''Doc''  Leoncio & ''Doc'' Tom and all of our troops and
servicemen, active or retired, where ever they may be.

THANK YOU FOR SERVING YOUR COUNTRY AND HAPPY VETERANS DAY

  Semper Fi!
JMT Reinhold Sgt. USMC 1964-68
Your trail companion and support our troops crusader

----- Original Message -----
From: "Reinhold Metzger" <reinholdmetzger at cox.net>
To: "'PCT-L'" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 2:20 AM
Subject: [pct-l] A True Hero


> DONNA,
> Having served in the USMC in Vietnam and my son doing two tours of duty in
> Iraq and Afghanistan as a Ranger and the Special Forces I know how you, as
a
> mother, must feel.
> Yes, there should be better reasons for being proud of your son yet, there
> is no act more noble than serving your country during a time of war and
> risking your life to save the lives of your comrades, that is what heroism
> is all about and being a medic in a combat unit, you can be assured that
Tom
> is the most beloved and liked member in his unit.
> Everybody loves  '' DOC'',  as we called him in the Marine Corps, he
always
> has something to make you feel better when you are in pain and is always
> there to bandage you up when you are wounded risking his life to save your
> life.
> He could have been hiking the PCT..........He chose to serve his country
> instead...........A real live action hero and patriot.
>
> YES  I  AM  PROUD  OF  TOM  AND  ALL  OF  OUR  TROOPS  WHEREVER THEY  MAY
> BE
>
> Semper Fi!
> JMT Reinhold
> Sgt. USMC 1964-68 and support our troops crusader
>