06/20/2012
Team Stray Dogs spent the day at San Diego Navy Hospital with wounded marines and Royce Gracie, who gave a talk on his life as a fighter.
What happened after that was humbling.
We were all invited up to meet a couple of Marines who wound in action last week in Afghanistan. Royce and I met with a young Marine who had bee shot in the back of his neck with a 726 round. He was clearly in agony yet he would not stay in bed. He stood up to greet us and on seeing Royce he beamed a huge smile. His other took a photo of Royce, myself and the young marine who stumble back in agony, Royce stabilized him as his mother took the photo.
A thought entered my mind that both this Marine and the young Marine next door who lay in Intensive Care, having lost both his legs and arm were, (on the same day I was teaching a class in Berlin how to write drama for television), involved in the most dramatic day of their live in Afghanistan.
The young Marine who was shot in his neck, would not lie down until we had left the room. The fact that he is standing today, is a miracle. Physically he will make a full recovery. Emotionally the Marines who have seen action talk of seeing the Pink Mist of their friends as they depart this life. And it's something none of them will ever get over.
The Marines we met yesterday, optimizes what it is to be a hero and, whatever your political leanings, these young men and women have sacrificed their lives so people like me can teach Drama in places like Germany. A country that once threatened the lives and democracy of the free world.