Semper Fi

Via Blackfive comes this amazing story of two marines who refused to yield their ground in the face of certain death, and as a result saved at least 50 people in an act that has earned them nominations for the Navy Cross from Major General John Kelly himself:

While Iraqi police fled, Haerter and Yale had never flinched and never stopped firing as the Mercedes truck — the same model used in the Beirut bombing — sped directly toward them.

Without their steadfastness, the truck would probably have penetrated the compound before it exploded, and 50 or more Marines and Iraqis would have been killed. The incident happened in just six seconds.

“No time to talk it over; no time to call the lieutenant; no time to think about their own lives or even the American and Iraqi lives they were protecting,” Kelly said. “More than enough time, however, to do their duty. They never hesitated or tried to escape.”

With a truck loaded full of over a ton of explosives barreled toward them, the marines never hesitated, never stopped firing. Never once thought of themselves.

Better men than I. God rest their souls.

True Strength

Via Bill Quick, this tragic story of a man losing his family – and his all-too-rare, excellent attitude about it.

SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) — A Korean immigrant who lost his wife, two children and mother-in-law when a Marine Corps jet slammed into the family’s house said Tuesday he did not blame the pilot, who ejected and survived.

“Please pray for him not to suffer from this accident,” a distraught Dong Yun Yoon told reporters gathered near the site of Monday’s crash of an F/A-18D jet in San Diego’s University City community.

“He is one of our treasures for the country,” Yoon said in accented English punctuated by long pauses while he tried to maintain his composure.

“I don’t blame him. I don’t have any hard feelings. I know he did everything he could,” said Yoon, flanked by members of San Diego’s Korean community, relatives and members from the family’s church.

I got a little choked up by this one. I think its kind of sad that we’ve become so used to the blame game that when we hear about people reacting with genuine goodwill and selflessness in the face of tragedy, it is surprising. The man loses his family in this crash, and his reaction? To hope that the pilot is okay. In addition, Quick offers this sobering insight:

Sometimes, in my cynicism, I think that the average American’s reaction to experiencing a tragedy like this would be to first look for somebody or something to blame, then look for somebody to sue, and, finally, look for the government to pass some sort of law or create some sort of body to “make sure this never happens again.”

It’s humbling and uplifiting both to realize that those who come to this country seem to understand what was once called the American Way better than many of those who have been here for half a dozen generations.

My sympathies, as well as my deepest respect, go to Mr. Yoon today.

The Deadliest Weapon in the World

is a Marine and his rifle:

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan — In the city of Shewan, approximately 250 insurgents ambushed 30 Marines and paid a heavy price for it.

[…]

After calling for close-air support, the small group of Marines pushed forward and broke the enemies’ spirit as many of them dropped their weapons and fled the battlefield. At the end of the battle, the Marines had reduced an enemy stronghold, killed more than 50 insurgents and wounded several more.

“I didn’t realize how many bad guys there were until we had broken through the enemies’ lines and forced them to retreat. It was roughly 250 insurgents against 30 of us,” the corporal said. “It was a good day for the Marine Corps. We killed a lot of bad guys, and none of our guys were seriously injured.”

Proving once again why the “insurgents” don’t stand a chance, anywhere, against our boys. And check out the full story for the goods: a young corporal, who requested to remain anonymous, took out twenty insurgents even as enemy fire landed within a foot of him. Even more impressive? He didn’t miss a single shot.

“Mess with the best…”

Hat tip: Ace