I listened to the story of this hero on NPR's 'All Things Considered' this evening as I returned from work, (after sunset AM talk radio doesn't come in, so don't flame me for listening to 'The People's Republic' radio), and had tears rolling down my face by the time it was finished. I am in awe of such heroes as him. Good article about him in the New Hampshire Union Leader.
From your link
How in the world did he get in Arlington??
Mom must be in awful mourning, unless he got a Medal of Honor or Silver Star.
Thanks SO much for the ping. It puts so many things into proper perspective.
I graduated from NYU in 1968. I was NROTC my freshman year, until the university kicked it off campus. Greenwich Village in the 60's at the height of the VietNam demonstrations, was a wild place. It wasn't fun..( I ended up in PLC at Quantico, and was commissioned when I graduated. Much easier system..) I had a full four year academic scholarship, which was the main reason I chose NYU. Over the years, despite my intense dislike of the college, and the political culture, I've donated to the school an amount well in excess of the value of my scholarship. I felt it was a reasonable payback. I haven't given anything since 1992, though I'm still on all the mailing and fundraising lists, and receive numerous solicitations. Last month I got a request for a contribution in honor of a long retired professor. I admired her greatly, took several of her classes, and she was an unofficial, and valued mentor to me for four years. I thought about it, and over Thanksgiving, wrote out, and mailed a good-sized check. Post Turkey euphoria, I guess.
This afternoon, I heard that NYU, right after the appeals court decision that schools could ban military recruiters on campus, had just done so. I called my bank...the check had NOT yet been cashed. I stopped payment..(BTW, the BEST$25 I've spent in a long time)...and emailed the school to let them know I had done so, and why, and told them to immediately remove my name from any and every mailing list they had.
Marine went into battle woundedAwed ping. Thanks to all of you who served. I cannot imagine what you all have gone through, can only say I am so grateful to you.
By MARK HAYWARD
Union Leader Staff
http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=47444The former Timberlane student who died as a Marine in Fallujah Friday had been injured about a week earlier and was still limping when he returned to battle, his mother said yesterday.
Lance Cpl. Dimitri Gavriel had shrapnel throughout his leg, said Penelope Gavriel from her Haverhill, Mass., home. A Marine buddy of her son had relayed the information to his own mother, who spoke to Mrs. Gavriel yesterday.
"It was something that he didn't have to do. He could have very well stayed in bed and nursed his wounds. He was limping, but he felt well enough to go," Mrs. Gavriel said. "The psychological state and the training of these men is unbelievable, probably beyond logic. That is why they are heroes."