Fallujah in June. A “routine” patrol, or at least it was until the IED went off just in front of the HMMWV. A Navy corpsman attached to a Marine rifle company bundles out with his brothers in arms and heads out on a foot race in search of the triggerman. They reach a door, go inside and find…
A frantic mother and a sick baby:
When Walsh and the Marines came to one doorway, M-4 rifles up and ready, a woman emerged from a room, holding an infant and saying, over and over again,
I didn’t make it thru the end with dry eyes. Oh to have the people of America know what is being done in their name…
Glad you posted this to get the attention out and about….
Another of the most amazing stories I have read about our people in Iraq. Another of the stories about what is really happening over there. Another of the stories that more Americans – and more of the world, needs to hear.
It’s a pity that this is the type of story that won’t get widely reported. I’ll send up a prayer for Mariam, her family, and the families of the Marines, especially those of the Walsh family.
This is so painful. I wholeheartedly believe that we must fight this War on Terror, but it’s almost unbearable to lose such good men. I pray to God every day that the sacrifices our troops are making will be worth it in the end.
I agree, it really is a story more people need to know. One everyone should know – in honour of Chris’ and the others’ memories, they saved the baby; in honour of all of them, the world needs to hear this story. For so many reasons.
But my first thought as I was reading this, before I read the other comments, what I wanted to say was I’m sorry. That’s all really, just I am sorry.
Breaks my heart…yet swells it with pride in our fine military men and women.
There’ll be about 60 more people who know this story, ‘cuz I just sent ‘em a link. Thanks, Lex.
Chris Walsh reminds me that the MTV generation does in fact have a chance at leading our country into the 21st Century. He and the men and women serving our Armed Forces continue to buoy my spirits in these troubled days we live in. His and Mariams story is both tragic and triumphant, I feel hope as I head into another holiday season, and pained for the loss of another brother in arms. Vaya Con Dios Chris Walsh.
I’m stunned. I don’t know what to say…except that I feel our country is truly blessed to have young men like these. How wonderful that Mrs Walsh could have that connection to her son through Mariam.
I also couldn’t make it through the story with dry eyes. I should have checked your post before posting mine at Milblogs but I’m going to leave it anyway and say you posted first. My CO showed me the story this morning and I put it on the wall at work.
Thanks for that link, Lex. I’m passing it around, too. Although friends & I already think highly of the US military, this only adds to our admiration of you all. Truly, we Americans are a special people, unique in the world. We come not to conquer but to serve and save, often at risk to our own lives.
I’ll default to what I usually post on this blog and ask, “Where do we find such men?”
Got something in my eye, too.
This one gets filed under “why we serve”. I’ll sign on the line again nexth month because we have shipmates like Chris Walsh out there, and maybe, just maybe, they’ll need an old man’s advice or encouragement or TINS or something along the way.
RIP, Doc, you done good.
I am left a bit speechless after reading that. And I seem to have drawn down my kleenex supply a little…
Every time I think I cannot gain any more respect for the medic/corpsman community, something like this comes along and proves me wrong. What a story!
prayers for all of them.
“Chris was waiting his whole life for this”
man.
If only he could have seen it through… he would have realized what a difference he made. At least his mother knows, and got to hold baby Miriam.
I wish the rest of the world could realize that our military is made up of more men like Chris Walsh than the so-called “baby-killers”, “abusers” and “rapists” the media focuses on.
I don’t just have tears, I have an ache in my heart for Walsh, the other soliders, for Mariam and her family and for Maureen Walsh. What incredible strength and honor they all exhibited. As BigFred says above – where do they come from?
And I too shall circulate this as far and wide as I possibly can. Blessings upon all the Marines; blessings upon all soldiers everywhere.
I want to hug them all – is that possible?