Lapses don't affect Marine's patriotism

[Barrett808]

Lapses don't affect Marine's patriotism
One year after being wounded in Iraq, local veteran wants to return
BY SCOTT WUERZ
News-Democrat

James Sperry walks around with his pockets stuffed with notes.

It's been a year since the 20-year-old Belleville Marine returned from Iraq, wounded by an insurgent's rocket-propelled grenade that ricocheted off his helmet and exploded against a wall next to him. His short-term memory remains elusive. He has three or four head-splitting migraines a week.

Yet Sperry doesn't regret joining the Marines in 2003, fresh out of Belleville West High School at 18 years old. In fact, more than anything, he aches to get back into the fight.

"I'm working as hard as I can to get better," Sperry said. "I get reevaluated in 14 months and 10 days, and I want to re-enlist. I figure that I signed up for four years and I only served two, so I still owe two more."

Sperry and his wife, Elizabeth -- also a Belleville West grad -- live in California these days. Pregnant with their first child, she is still serving in the Marines and is stationed at Camp Pendleton near San Diego.

James Sperry has taken a job working as a technician on million-dollar recreational vehicles as he rehabilitates from wounds suffered in the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah.

"I fight it quite a bit," James Sperry said of his wounds. "I have a condition on my brain they described, basically, as permanent bruising. It's supposed to keep getting worse as I get older. Although some doctors say it won't get worse, they don't think it's going to get better. It's kind of like being senile."

(more)

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/13382036.htm?source=rss&channel=belleville_news

[madeline_con]

1. "It's kind of like being senile." n/t

[Reverend_Smitty]

2. 20 years old and he has to live like an Alzheimer's patient

very sad

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Sad. 20 years old, a dad-to-be and he's lost out on living a normal life.

Or more correctly it's been stolen from him by a demented Commander-in-Chief.

[0007]

4. Yeah, and the Carlyle Group that has made a tremendous profit

off this boy, doesn't give a fuck willy-nilly if he lives or dies.

[justasoldier]

5. ..with the blood of tyrants and patriots...

:patriot:

My father served with the Marine Corps in Vietnam - Has 100% disability from Agent Orange and PTSD.

I salute all who have served honorably.


justasoldier